Arts and Humanities

Abstract: Background/Objectives: Professional combat sport athletes represent a unique population characterized by extreme training demands, repeated high-impact loading, and strict weight-class requirements. Despite growing interest in fighter health and performance, limited data exist on comprehensive body composition and bone health characteristics among elite professional fighters across organizations and weight divisions. The purpose of this study was to assess body composition, bone mineral content (BMC), and bone min-eral density (BMD) in a cohort of world-class professional fighters and to examine sex-based differences in these variables. Methods: Fifty-two professional fighters (45 males, seven females) competing across multiple combat sport organizations (including UFC, Bel-lator/PFL, WBO Boxing, and BFKC) underwent whole-body dual-energy X-ray absorptiom-etry (DXA) assessments. Variables measured included body weight, body fat percentage, fat mass, lean mass, BMC, BMD, and bone T- and Z-scores. An independent-samples t-test was used to compare males and females, with statistical significance set at p < 0.05. Results: Of the total sample of 57 subjects, 20% (10 male, 2 female) are current or past world cham-pions. Male and female fighters were similar in age (30.1 ± 5.4 vs. 33.6 ± 5.6 years; p = 0.163). Bone health indices were notably high in both sexes, with elevated T-scores (males: 2.7 ± 1.1; females: 2.3 ± 1.1; p = 0.407) and Z-scores (males: 2.6 ± 1.0; females: 2.0 ± 1.0; p = 0.182), indicating substantially greater bone density compared to age- and sex-matched norms. Males exhibited significantly greater BMC (3728.0 ± 558.2 g vs. 2569.9 ± 344.4 g; p < 0.001) and BMD (1.5 ± 0.1 vs. 1.3 ± 0.1 g·cm⁻²; p < 0.001) than females. Body weight, lean mass, and lean mass plus BMC were also significantly higher in males (all p < 0.001). Females demonstrated a higher body fat percentage (21.0 ± 2.1% vs. 14.6 ± 2.0%; p < 0.001), though absolute fat mass did not differ significantly between sexes. Body weight (R2 = 0.427) and lean mass (R2 = 0.484) were the most significant predictors of bone mineral density. Conclusions: World-class professional fighters exhibit exceptionally high bone mineral density and favorable body composition, likely reflecting the combined effects of resistance training, impact loading, and long-term athletic development.

Abstract: Reflexivity was built for a researcher whose instruments were of a different kind than her object. That assumption has quietly failed. When a researcher uses a large language model to code griefbots, recommender systems, or synthetic media, instrument and object come from the same technical population, and the properties her codebook detects (retention by default, smoothness, ambiguous reply status) are simultaneously operating inside the coding. I call this her infrastructural position, and it is not a variant of the social position reflexivity has long theorised. Participant objectivation ascends to a meta-level, an ascent available because the researcher is not a case in her own study. Infrastructural position denies the ascent; the move it permits is lateral. Against the regress objection, catalogued in the sociology of scientific knowledge three decades ago and unresolved there, I distinguish two ambitions. The completeness model seeks self-transparency and is destroyed by the regress. The calibration model is not, because it claims no epistemic privilege at all: it replaces transparency with auditability, and replaces a terminus with a published claim-to-level dependency map. This concedes Lynch’s case against reflexivity as a source of privileged knowledge and reconstructs a method on the far side of it. I demonstrate the model with tool-as-case: turning the algorithm audit on the auditor’s own instrument, under criteria published in object-facing form first. The sharpest consequence is not that model-assisted omission is uncheckable, true of human coding too, but that it is correlated across every study using the same model.

Abstract: Within the framework of predictive coding, language comprehension is conceptualized as a process of probabilistic inference, wherein comprehenders leverage contextual priors to anticipate upcoming input. However, the extent to which this process is modulated by extralinguistic factors-specifically emotional valence and individual differences in empathy remains a subject of debate. Using eye-tracking, the present study examined the interplay of contextual constraint, target predictability, and verb valence in Chinese sentence reading, with trait empathy modeled as a key moderator. The results demonstrated a robust contextual predictability effect driven predominantly by facilitation, with a notable absence of canonical prediction-error costs for unpredictable words in high-constraint contexts. This pattern lends support to graded pre-activation accounts over rigid lexical prediction mechanisms. Crucially, the findings reveal that emotional valence and empathy modulate reading dynamics via functionally dissociable mechanisms. Emotional valence primarily regulated information-sampling heuristics rather than altering the speed of lexical access per se. In contrast, exploratory analyses suggested that trait empathy may be associated with differences in later eye-movement patterns: high-empathy individuals showed reduced skipping and longer late-stage processing under high uncertainty, whereas low-empathy individuals showed delayed processing costs during late integration. These findings suggest that predictive processing in Chinese is supported by probabilistic semantic constraints and is not a monolithic mechanism, but rather is dynamically shaped by the reader’s socio-cognitive profile and the affective properties of the context.

Abstract: This paper explores and articulates how storytelling, digital fabrication, and Indigenous partnership bridge Indigenous and non-Indigenous design methodologies through experimental and relational making. A biocultural approach situates design in dialogue with Indigenous and decolonial design theory and practice. Central to this exploration is Ometeotl, a culturally significant furniture-sculpture that materialises Indigenous onto-epistemologies of relationality between people and Place. By employing mycelium and Indigenous knowledges as material thinking and metaphor, the research demonstrates how biomaterials engage circular and decolonial methodologies, fostering responsive, relational design practice. Indigenous and non-Indigenous collaboration highlights biocultural design as creative process and cultural conversation, honouring Land, reciprocity, and living systems that sustain design. Reflecting on Ometeotl, the paper examines dynamics and outcomes of cross-cultural collaboration, diverse worldviews and values shaping respectful partnerships, and how Place, Indigenous knowledge, materials, and technology activate creative agency. Ometeotl positions biocultural, relational making as a pathway toward sustainable, diverse, and respectful futures.

Abstract: Advanced Design, as a discipline focused on exploring future opportunities, has the potential to significantly enhance New Product Development, understood as the process of designing and introducing new products to the market. However, organizations such as COTECMAR -the Science and Technology Corporation for the Development of the Naval, Maritime, and Riverine Industry, a mixed public and private organization- despite their extensive experience and capabilities in New Product Development, have traditionally concentrated their design efforts on addressing immediate and operational challenges. While the automotive industry has long employed concept cars to anticipate future scenarios, this practice has not been widely adopted within the shipbuilding sector, and even less so in Colombia. Within this context, an opportunity emerged to develop vision concepts - analogous to concept cars but applicable across industries -to explore potential future pathways for COTECMAR in Colombia’s Pacific Region. Through the application of DIVE, an Advanced Design technique, this research project explored and articulated ten diverse vision concepts. These range from an amphibious boat operating in conjunction with a health center built on stilts to improve access to quality visual healthcare services, to integrated tourism mobility systems composed of small yacht cruises, floating stations, and collectible tickets that connect travelers and local communities with the region’s natural and cultural assets. Across these explorations, it became evident that Advanced Design holds substantial potential to strengthen COTECMAR’s New Product Development processes. It can unlock new creative opportunities by expanding the Corporation’s product portfolio, fostering the adoption of a product–service systems approach, and enabling engagement with a broader and more diverse set of target markets.

Abstract: The purpose of this study was to explore the relationship between knitting and STEM, and its direct impact on women's desires and abilities to enter STEM fields. While prior literature demonstrates a connection between textile crafts and mathematical logic, alongside separate motivations for participating in fiber arts and STEM, a significant gap remains regarding how these two domains correlate and mutually influence one another. Data was collected through a qualitative, phenomenological research framework. Research participants included feminine-presenting individuals actively involved in both local fiber arts communities and STEM-based academia, paired with a formal structural analysis of a specific knitting pattern. Initial results revealed a strong conceptual and community-based connection between knitting and STEM, demonstrating that this intersection actively encourages women's desires and perceived self-efficacy to pursue technical pathways. Consequently, increasing participation in fiber arts could positively shift demographics in technical disciplines. However, these findings are geographically limited to the Global West—specifically the US and UK—reflecting a homogenous socioeconomic and ethnic participant base. Further longitudinal research is required to evaluate the long-term effects of these findings on demographic shifts within both STEM and fiber arts spaces over time.

Abstract: Nature-themed artwork can serve as a positive distraction in pediatric healthcare settings. Yet children's perspectives are rarely considered in design decisions—particularly for window murals, which can transform views in clinical environments lacking natural scenery. This study explored adolescents' preferences for window mural subject matter in virtual pediatric hospital rooms and examined the influence of gender and age on those preferences. A cross-sectional study used an Immersive Virtual Environment (IVE) simulating 10 window mural conditions in a pediatric hospital room. Forty-four adolescents (ages 11–17) viewed the murals through VR and rated them on a 5-point facial hedonic Likert scale. Participants also ranked printed versions of the murals. Wilcoxon Signed-Rank Tests assessed preferences and group differences. The Sea, Flower, and Jungle murals were most preferred, while Abstract and Child Art murals were least favored—though still preferred over the control (blank window). Gender influenced preferences: females rated the Flower and Child Art murals significantly higher than males. No significant age-related differences were found. Adolescents prefer vibrant, nature-themed murals featuring animals and detailed scenes. All murals were preferred over a blank window view, underscoring the value of visual enhancements in patient rooms. These findings support considering child-informed, preference-based mural designs—especially in spaces without natural views—as a potential design strategy for pediatric healthcare environments.

Abstract: The icon of the Virgin “Hodegetria” (or “Glykophilousa”) from the Church of Panagia Episkopi on Santorini (Thera) represents an important surviving example of Middle Byzantine panel painting in the Aegean. This study investigates its colour palette, painting technology, and chronology through optical microscopy (OM), scanning electron microscopy coupled with energy-dispersive spectroscopy (SEM–EDS), and radiocarbon dating of the wooden support. The analytical results identify a restricted palette of cinnabar, azurite, green earth, lead white, iron-rich ochres, and carbon black. The preparation consists predominantly of gypsum with evidence of a proteinaceous component, while phosphorus detected in most paint layers suggests a proteinaceous binding medium, possibly egg tempera. Distinctive features were identified in the paint stratigraphy and pigment distribution. Homogeneous mixtures of pigments applied as single paint layers occur in three independent colour systems, while Christ’s red garment exhibits an unusual sequence of a thin hematite-rich layer over thicker cinnabar. A later repainting of the Virgin’s tunic was identified through cadmium yellow and lithopone. Radiocarbon dating of the wooden support yielded a calibrated probability distribution centred on AD 1090 ± 60, providing an independent chronological framework for assessing the previously proposed art-historical dating.

Abstract: There is a paucity of literature on anti-doping communication in Africa despite evidence that the African continent faces peculiar challenges in establishing anti-doping structures, lack of funding and lack of knowledge and information on anti-doping. The present study explored anti-doping communication and the broader context of anti-doping in Africa. The paper relied on the “dopogenic environment” concept and the socio-ecological model. A qualitative study design encompassing in-depth interviews, a field trip, and analysis of World Anti-Doping Agency documents were used. Participants were eighteen (N = 18, female: n=4) officials from African national anti-doping agencies, sports administrators, and African athletes. Data were analyzed using descriptive thematic analysis. Findings show anti-doping communication is affected by four main factors in Africa: lack of interest from policy makers, institutional mistrust, anti-doping communication limited to events and interpersonal communication and limited use of technology communication. Anti-doping communication in Africa should embrace a multifaceted and comprehensive strategy that fosters cohesive and integrative communication among all stakeholders ranging from policymakers and institutions to social groups and individual athletes.

Abstract: Paradoxically, whilst historic Environment, Culture, Heritage, and Arts (ECHA) organisations curate knowledge for the public, thousands of them lack the required operational knowledge to manage their rapidly changeable and demanding operations. Their management requires extensive up-to-date knowledge, in accessible recorded formats (knowledge artefacts) interacting with human experience. For decades, the ECHA ecosystem, ECHAsystem [EE-kah-siss-tuhm], has been in a protracted crisis resulting in reduction of service for, and closures of, thousands of these organisations. The purpose of this cross-sectional, parallel mixed methods applied research was to develop a beneficial operational knowledge curating design to improve the ECHAsystem’s organisational sustainability. The findings demonstrated that accessible and up-to-date knowledge significantly improves processes and organisational sustainability performance. It also showed that a wise, allied development of knowledge resources, and allied application of available organisational resources, produces the greatest results. The research proposed the Athena [ah-thee-NAH] de-sign: a Knowledge Alliance coordinating the Operational Wisdom Library (OWL), in-formed by 31 networks across the ECHAsystem’s habitats and operations. The design can help individuals to grow professionally, organisations to thrive, and the ECHAsystem to achieve its aspirations. The research advocates a unified ECHAsystem benefiting from collaborative application of knowledge to deliver its public-good, intergenerational, organisational sustainability objectives.

Abstract: The rapid adoption of generative artificial intelligence (AI) in higher education has created new opportunities for learning while raising concerns about cognitive offloading, reduced mental effort, and the erosion of foundational academic skills. Although existing research highlights both the benefits and risks of AI, it provides limited guidance for instructors making practical decisions about when AI should be encouraged or constrained in instructional design.This conceptual article introduces the Bloom-Aligned AI Integration Model (BAIM), a pedagogical framework that serves as a decision-making model for AI use by aligning AI integration with the cognitive categories of Bloom’s Revised Taxonomy. The model distinguishes between independent (AI-constrained) and AI-collaborative learning activities and assessments across all levels of cognition. Bridging learning science and AI integration, BAIM draws on research related to cognitive effort, metacognition, and skill development to position AI as a variable that must be calibrated according to instructional goals. In doing so, it offers actionable instructional design guidance by linking cognitive objectives to decisions about AI use, enabling instructors to support both independent student learning and responsible engagement with AI in higher education.

Abstract: Reflectance Transformation Imaging (RTI) has long been employed across multiple re-search domains to document surface textures, inscriptions, and fine morphological features, including in paleontology. However, RTI requires specialized equipment and controlled acquisition protocols that are often impractical in fieldwork or heterogeneous documentation contexts. To overcome these limitations, Virtual Reflectance Transfor-mation Imaging (VRTI), based on high-resolution 3D models acquired through photo-grammetry or structured light scanning, has emerged as a promising alternative. This study investigates whether VRTI offers an operationally simpler yet perceptually equivalent alternative to conventional RTI for dinosaur footprint interpretation, while providing a standardised FAIR-compliant VRTI workspace implemented in an open-source 3D environment. A comparative protocol was developed and validated through a classroom experiment involving paleobiology students, who performed footprint delineation and morphological interpretation using both RTI and VRTI da-tasets derived from a dinosaur footprint from the Geological Collection of the "Giovanni Capellini Museum" of the University of Bologna. The evaluation combines quantitative statistical analysis with qualitative expert assessment to compare interpretative per-formance, while optimal PTM-based raking lighting conditions are also investigated. The results indicate that VRTI achieves footprint readability comparable to conventional RTI without introducing perceptual bias. Building on this validation, the proposed workspace demonstrates satisfactory usability and offers a reproducible, interoperable, and scalable workflow for cultural heritage documentation.

Abstract: This research paper examines the evolving role of police forces in enforcing Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) in India, a critical yet underexplored dimension of India's intellectual property regime. As India transitions into a knowledge-based economy and strengthens its IPR framework to comply with international obligations under TRIPS (Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights), law enforcement agencies have assumed increasingly significant responsibilities in combating IP crimes. This paper analyzes the legal framework empowering police action in IPR cases, examines specialized police units established for IP enforcement, evaluates operational mechanisms and challenges, and proposes recommendations for strengthening police capacity in this domain. Drawing on scholarly literature, legal provisions, and case studies, the paper reveals that while India has made notable progress in establishing specialized IP crime units and providing legal powers for police intervention, significant challenges persist including inadequate training, resource constraints, jurisdictional complexities, corruption, and coordination gaps between stakeholders. The findings underscore the need for comprehensive capacity building, inter-agency collaboration, technological modernization, and policy reforms to enhance the effectiveness of police in protecting intellectual property rights in India.

Abstract: This research paper examines the critical intersection of traditional ecological knowledge (TEK) protection, dam development, and glacial lake outburst flood (GLOF) mitigation in mountain regions, particularly the Hindu Kush-Karakoram-Himalaya (HKKH) region. Drawing from 77 peer-reviewed studies, this review synthesizes evidence on how indigenous and local knowledge systems can be protected and integrated into large-scale infrastructure projects and disaster risk reduction strategies. Key findings reveal that while TEK offers invaluable insights for GLOF early warning systems and community-based adaptation, significant gaps persist in formal protection mechanisms, particularly in dam planning contexts. The paper identifies successful participatory frameworks, documents persistent challenges in knowledge integration, and proposes policy recommendations for safeguarding TEK while enhancing climate resilience in vulnerable mountain communities. This synthesis is particularly timely given the accelerating impacts of climate change on glacial systems and the expansion of hydropower infrastructure in high-mountain Asia.

Abstract: Peer teaching has been proposed as a pedagogical mechanism to foster independent learning, willingness, and confidence in students' learning processes (Doyle, 2008). However, the empirical evidence supporting these claims in English as a Foreign Language (EFL) contexts remains limited, with few studies examining the applicability and effectiveness of peer teaching approaches in African educational settings. This quasi-experimental study examines the effect of peer teaching on students' classroom engagement—comprising behavioral, cognitive, and emotional dimensions—and English language achievement in Ethiopian secondary EFL classrooms. The study involved 91 Grade 11 students from two randomly selected sections at Dangila Higher Education Preparatory School. Six students from the experimental group (n=45) were selected and trained to peer-teach grammar lessons over a four-week period, while the control group (n=42) continued with conventional teacher led instruction. Data were collected using a classroom engagement questionnaire (Cronbach's α = 0.82) and grammar tests administered both before and after the intervention, with independent samples t-tests employed for statistical analysis. The findings revealed no statistically significant effect of peer teaching on either students' engagement or language achievement. Unexpectedly, the experimental group showed a slight decline in behavioral engagement compared to the control group, while no significant differences were observed for cognitive or emotional engagement, nor for language achievement between the two groups. These findings challenge assumptions about the universal effectiveness of peer teaching in EFL contexts, suggesting that contextual factors—including learner readiness, implementation quality, and cultural considerations—may significantly moderate its pedagogical impact. The study underscores the critical need for careful consideration of implementation conditions and learner characteristics when adopting peer teaching approaches in similar educational settings, and highlights the importance of contextual adaptation rather than uncritical adoption of pedagogical innovations.

Abstract: Writing constitutes a central component in the assessment of knowledge at the university level, as it enables students to demonstrate disciplinary understanding and academic performance. Given the frequency with which learning is evaluated through written assignments, feedback provided through written comments becomes especially relevant. Although numerous studies (Prado & Pérez, 2021; Tapia-Ladino & Correa, 2022) position feedback as a valuable and necessary pedagogical practice there is still limited research in Latin America examining how students engage with and make use of the feedback they receive. This study aims to examine how university students construct meaning from feedback through peer interactions at a regional university in Chile. The research was conducted with fourth-year students enrolled in an English as a Second Language Teacher Education program. Participants completed a written assignment in pairs and subsequently received feedback from their teacher on their work. For data collection, feedback encounters (Esterhazy & Damşa, 2019) were organized, during which general guidelines were provided to support student interactions. These interactions were audio-recorded, transcribed, and analyzed through category coding using Nvivo15 software. The findings revealed that students construct meaning from feedback through two recursive and iterative interaction sequences. The first, an extended sequence, is organized around the stages of idea generation, revision, discussion, decision-making, and elaboration. The second, a shorter sequence, includes idea generation, revision, and elaboration. Both sequences contributed to students’ decision-making and following actions in the task.

Abstract: Social media platforms and user-generated content (UGC) have become central to how travelers discover and evaluate cultural destinations. Yet lesser-known second-tier heritage sites remain substantially underrepresented in digital tourism research. This study investigates how Chinese tourists perceive and engage with the intangible cultural heritage (ICH) of Lamphun, Thailand, through UGC collected from three major Chinese social media platforms (WeChat, Douyin, and Rednote) spanning the period from 2019 to 2023. A total of 642 relevant posts were analyzed using a mixed-methods analytical framework comprising VADER-based sentiment analysis, machine learning classification of tourism intention, and TF-IDF-driven thematic clustering. Results indicate an overall predominance of positive sentiment, particularly toward social rituals, festive events, and traditional craftsmanship, with positive sentiment emerging as the strongest predictor of travel intention. Digital engagement metrics, notably likes and favorites, further amplified the impact of intention-bearing content, while thematic clustering revealed four distinct experiential dimensions, with festival and ritual-centered narratives generating the highest sentiment and tourism intention scores. These findings demonstrate the strategic value of integrating advanced UGC analytics into destination marketing frameworks, offering actionable insights for promoting underrepresented cultural heritage destinations within the increasingly competitive global digital tourism landscape.

Abstract: This study examines women’s textile knowledge in Portugal as a fundamental element of cultural heritage, situating it within domestic, social, and industrial contexts, with a particular focus on Guimarães. Drawing on a multidisciplinary approach grounded in historical and documentary evidence, it analyses how female expertise in spinning, weaving, embroidery, and lacemaking contributed to the evolution of textile practices from the fifteenth century to the present day. The findings indicate that this knowledge was pivotal to the transformation of domestic textile activities into an emerging industrial sector, shaping both production methods and cultural identity. The study concludes that recognising the historical importance of women’s textile labour is essential for understanding the development of the Portuguese industry. Furthermore, this research emphasises the urgency of preserving, transmitting, and legitimising the intangible cultural heritage inextricably linked to women’s textile mastery. It argues that integrating this legacy into contemporary creative and industrial practices can foster cultural sustainability and unlock new possibilities for future innovation, ensuring that this ancestral expertise remains a living pillar of regional identity.

Abstract: In the contemporary landscape, natural language processing (NLP) stands as a vital force, empowering computers to comprehend and engage with human languages, thereby enhancing the realm of human-computer interaction (HCI) through the utilisation of large language models (LLMs) and multilingual pre-trained language models (mPLMs). The widespread adoption of these LLMs on a global scale is obvious. However, a critical observation reveals a significant gap in their capacity to effectively recognize some low-resource African languages, a concern observed by numerous researchers. This paper endeavours to contribute to the discourse by conducting a comprehensive metadata analysis of existing African language models. Through this investigation, the aim is to outline the importance, strengths, and weaknesses inherent in these models. By shedding light on these aspects, the paper seeks to not only underscore the current limitations but also to provide valuable insights and recommendations for future research endeavours in the domain of language recognition, particularly focusing on African languages. In doing so, the paper aspires to catalyse advancements that promote inclusivity and a more nuanced understanding of linguistic diversity within the realm of natural language processing. Multilingual Testing shall be used on Cheetah to evaluate the model's proficiency strength in multiple languages, including those that are less widely spoken such as Margi and Ibibio as well as identify any language-specific weaknesses or limitations of the LLMs, especially in recognizing and understanding languages like Margi spoken in the North-East geo-political zone of Nigeria and Ibibio spoken in the South-South geo-political zone of Nigeria.

Abstract: The rise of the collaborative economy has transformed global tourism through peer-to-peer platforms such as Airbnb, enabling alternative lodging options and reshaping traditional hospitality models. This study examines the phenomenon of diffuse guest accommodations in Old Cairo, a historic neighborhood characterized by rich architectural heritage and cultural traditions, where private homes are informally used to host visitors without regulatory oversight. The research aims to assess the socio-economic and cultural implications of Airbnb-driven practices, exploring stakeholder perspectives, including residents, visitors, professionals, scholars, and government officials—on their potential for sustainable tourism development. Using qualitative methods, the study analyzes community attitudes toward strengths such as economic opportunities and cultural exchange, alongside perceived threats including heritage degradation and lack of governance. Findings reveal broad support for integrating these practices into formal tourism frameworks, recommending the introduction of a new sub-classification under the Egyptian Tourism Federation and Ministry of Tourism. The study concludes that collaborative micro-economic systems, if strategically managed, can foster sustainable tourism while preserving cultural identity in historic urban contexts.