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Found 6289 publications

The Impact of Digital Transformation on Interpersonal Relationships and Mental Well-Being in Higher Education Institutions

Publication Name: Studies in Systems Decision and Control

Publication Date: 2026-01-01

Volume: 238

Issue: Unknown

Page Range: 941-952

Description:

Digital transformation of higher education institutions has introduced changes in the depth and quality of human interactions that affect both interpersonal relationships and mental well-being. This paper investigates the impact of digitalization on interpersonal relationships and mental well-being within higher education institutions. By delving into Social Support Theory and Social Cognitive Theory, this study assesses the influence of technological advancement on social connections. Through a systematic literature review, this study synthesizes previous research on the benefits and challenges that digital transformation presents in building supportive social networks. Findings indicate that the utilization of new digital platforms and tools might enhance inclusivity, accessibility and flexibility, however, it also negatively affects the development of meaningful interpersonal relationships, which are crucial for maintaining mental well-being. The lack of such strong social bonds was found to be a source of isolation and decreased social cohesion. This study concludes the critical call for balancing digital and in-person interactions. To create a supportive smart university environment, institutions should provide designated digital literacy support and foster a culture that values and encourages meaningful social engagement. This will contribute to interpersonal growth and efficient collaboration and will assist institutions to build more connected academic communities that nurture interpersonal development and social competences, which are vital for cultivating mental well-being.

Open Access: Yes

DOI: 10.1007/978-3-031-85398-2_83

Coffees Brewed from Standard Capsules Help to Compare Different Aroma Fingerprinting Technologies—A Comparison of an Electronic Tongue and Electronic Noses

Publication Name: Chemosensors

Publication Date: 2025-07-01

Volume: 13

Issue: 7

Page Range: Unknown

Description:

With the development of various new types of instrumental aroma sensing technologies, there is a need for methodologies that help developers and users evaluate the performance of the different devices. This study introduces a simple method that uses standard coffee beverages, reproducible worldwide, thus allowing users to compare aroma sensing devices and technologies globally. Eight different variations of commercial coffee capsules were used to brew espresso coffees (40 mL), consisting of either Arabica coffee or a blend of Robusta and Arabica coffee, covering a wide range of sensory attributes. The AlphaMOS Astree electronic tongue (equipped with sensors based on chemically modified field-effect transistor technology) and the AlphaMOS Heracles NEO and the Volatile Scout3 electronic noses (both using separation technology based on gas chromatography) were used to describe the taste and odor profiles of the freshly brewed coffee samples and also to compare them to the various sensory characteristics declared on the original packaging, such as intensity, roasting, acidity, bitterness, and body. Linear discriminant analysis (LDA) results showed that these technologies were able to classify the samples similarly to the pattern of the coffees based on the human sensory characteristics. In general, the arrangement of the different coffee types in the LDA results—i.e., the similarities and dissimilarities in the types based on their taste or smell—was the same in the case of the Astree electronic tongue and the Heracles electronic nose, while slightly different arrangements were found for the Scout3 electronic nose. The results of the Astree electronic tongue and those of the Heracles electronic nose showed the taste and smell profiles of the decaffeinated coffees to be different from their caffeinated counterparts. The Heracles and Scout3 electronic noses provided high accuracies in classifying the samples based on their odor into the sensory classes presented on the coffee capsules’ packaging. Despite the technological differences in the investigated devices, the introduced coffee test could assess the similarities in the taste and odor profiling capacities of the aroma fingerprinting technologies. Since the coffee capsules used for the test can be purchased all over the world in the same quality, these coffees can be used as global standard samples during the comparison of different devices applying different measurement technologies. The test can be used to evaluate instrumentational and data analytical developments worldwide and to assess the potential of novel, cost-effective, accurate, and rapid solutions for quality assessments in the food and beverage industry.

Open Access: Yes

DOI: 10.3390/chemosensors13070261

Sustainability and Energy Efficiency in Administrative Processes: A Control Theory Approach with P-graph Optimization

Publication Name: Chemical Engineering Transactions

Publication Date: 2025-01-01

Volume: 120

Issue: Unknown

Page Range: 415-420

Description:

As institutions seek to reduce their environmental impact, administrative processes must be optimized for energy and resource efficiency. This study integrates control theory with P-graph methodology to develop a structured framework for sustainable administrative workflows, focusing on university enrollment systems. P-graph-based optimization identifies minimum-energy pathways and optimal resource configurations, while Model Predictive Control (MPC) and nonlinear control enable real-time process adaptation under dynamic conditions. A Life Cycle Analysis (LCA) compares the carbon footprint of digital and paper-based workflows, evaluating IT infrastructure energy use versus traditional operations. Simulated control strategies support energy-efficient decision-making, highlighting best practices for emission reduction and operational flexibility. The result is a decision-support framework that embeds P-graph into a dynamic control context, guiding control strategy selection to minimize energy use and emissions. This scalable approach supports sustainability-oriented process management across public service domains.

Open Access: Yes

DOI: 10.3303/CET25120070

Nodal and vector finite elements in static and eddy current field problems

Publication Name: Pollack Periodica

Publication Date: 2008-08-01

Volume: 3

Issue: 2

Page Range: 85-96

Description:

The numerical analysis or design of an arrangement, which require electromagnetic field calculation, can be characterized by the electric and magnetic field intensities and flux densities. For determination of these field quantities in the electromagnetic field, one method is to find the solution of the partial differential equations of the field quantities under prescribed boundary conditions obtained from Maxwell's equations. The Finite Element Method (FEM) is a possible technique to solve partial differential equations, which is based on the weak form of the weighted residual method. The paper presents some potential formulations, which can be used for solving static magnetic field problems and eddy current field problems with the help of FEM. Some examples are also presented at the second part of the paper. © 2008 Akadémiai Kiadó.

Open Access: Yes

DOI: 10.1556/Pollack.3.2008.2.8

Exergy-Based Sustainability Assessment of Gold Mining in Colombia: A Comparative Analysis of Open-Pit and Alluvial Mining

Publication Name: Energies

Publication Date: 2025-07-01

Volume: 18

Issue: 13

Page Range: Unknown

Description:

Highlights: Exergy analysis quantifies the sustainability of a process based on the environmental burden generated by using energy resources. Open-pit mining relies on fossil fuels (53%), while alluvial mining is mostly water-dependent (94%) Strategies include improving efficiency, minimizing exergy losses, using renewables, and adopting circular economy principles. Exergy efficiency is improved by reduction in exergy inputs and exergy emissions/waste, i.e., reduction in the loss of useful energy. Findings highlight inefficiencies, guiding resource optimization, and reduced environmental impact. Thermodynamic methods such as exergy analysis enable the evaluation of environmental load (environmental impacts) by quantifying entropy generation and exergy destruction associated with using renewable and non-renewable resources throughout a production system. Based on the principle that environmental impacts occur when exergy is dissipated into the environment, this study applies exergy analysis as a tool for assessing the sustainability of gold mining in Colombia. Two extraction technologies—open-pit and alluvial mining—are evaluated by calculating exergy efficiencies, cumulative exergy demand (CExD), and associated environmental impacts. The results reveal significant differences between the two methods: open-pit mining is heavily dependent on fossil fuels (53% of input exergy), with 99.62% of total exergy destroyed, resulting in an exergy efficiency of just 0.37% and a sustainability index (SI) of 1.00. In contrast, alluvial mining relies predominantly on water (94%), with 69% of input exergy destroyed, an exergy efficiency of 31%, and an SI of 1.46. Four strategies are proposed to reduce environmental burdens: improving efficiency, minimizing exergy losses, integrating renewable energy, and adopting circular economy principles. This study presents the first application of exergy analysis to comprehensively assess the exergy cost of gold production, from extraction through refining, casting, and molding, highlighting critical exergy hotspots and offering a thermodynamic foundation for optimizing resource use in mineral processing.

Open Access: Yes

DOI: 10.3390/en18133247

SDG adoption and firm risk: The impact of ESG performance, investor confidence, and agency cost

Publication Name: International Review of Economics and Finance

Publication Date: 2025-07-01

Volume: 101

Issue: Unknown

Page Range: Unknown

Description:

This study investigates the nexus between firm-level Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) adoption and firm risk using a unique dataset of National Stock Exchange (NSE) 500 companies from 2019 to 2024. It constructs a novel SDG adoption index to assess this relationship and reveals a noteworthy reduction in firm risk associated with SDG adoption. The results remain robust after a battery of robustness checks, including endogeneity concerns using 2SLS IV and system GMM and sample selection bias through Heckman's two-stage methods. Furthermore, the mechanism test indicates that SDG adoption reduces firm risk by enhancing investor confidence, improving ESG performance, and reducing agency costs. In addition, heterogeneity analyses demonstrate that the impact is more accentuated for enterprises with higher information asymmetry, higher board gender diversity, and non-state ownership. The results carry significant implications for investors, corporations, and policymakers seeking to mitigate risk and foster sustainable practices, particularly within the context of the COVID-19 pandemic and emerging markets.

Open Access: Yes

DOI: 10.1016/j.iref.2025.104205

Corrigendum to:“Application of whey-protein-based edible coatings containing lemon peel powder and extract to maintain the antioxidant properties of table grapes during ambient storage”(Food and Humanity, (2025), 5, C, (100819), (S2949824425003234), 10.1016/j.foohum.2025.100819)

Publication Name: Food and Humanity

Publication Date: 2025-12-01

Volume: 5

Issue: Unknown

Page Range: Unknown

Description:

The authors regret that in the published article the reference “Hassan & Ali, 2015” was cited incorrectly in the Introduction section. The correct citation should be “Hassan & Ali, 2025 as provided below. 1. Introduction Table grapes (Vitis vinifera L.) are among the most widely consumed fruits worldwide, appreciated for their sensory attributes, including sweetness and texture, as well as their nutritional benefits (Hassan & Ali, 2025). Hassan, M., & Ali, S. (2025). Carboxymethyl cellulose coating delays quality deterioration in harvested table grapes during cold and ambient storage conditions. Progress in Organic Coatings, 200, Article 109031. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.porgcoat.2024.109031 The authors would like to apologise for any inconvenience caused.

Open Access: Yes

DOI: 10.1016/j.foohum.2025.100904

Ride-Sharing Services in Regional Context: Consumer Attitudes and Reuse Intentions in Western Hungary

Publication Name: Applied Sciences Switzerland

Publication Date: 2026-01-01

Volume: 16

Issue: 2

Page Range: Unknown

Description:

This study examines consumer attitudes and experiences related to ride-sharing services in the Western Transdanubia region of Hungary. Despite the growing global popularity of shared mobility solutions, there is little empirical evidence on regional consumer acceptance patterns in the Hungarian context. Based on a structured questionnaire survey involving 500 respondents, this research explores the relationship between satisfaction with past ride-sharing experiences and the intention to reuse such services in the future. The results reveal a high willingness to reuse among those who have already tried ridesharing, yet the correlation analysis shows that satisfaction dimensions alone are not significant predictors of reuse intention. In contrast, attitudinal factors, such as preference over other transport modes, willingness to make recommendations, and perceived accessibility, exhibit strong correlations with acceptance of ride-sharing. The findings emphasise the key role of attitudes and trust in shaping consumer decisions. The paper contributes to the literature by providing regionally grounded empirical insights and offers practical and policy-level recommendations to support the diffusion of sustainable shared mobility services.

Open Access: Yes

DOI: 10.3390/app16021055

The Challenges of Dual Education and the Role of Resilience in the Balance Between Learning and Work

Publication Name: Social Sciences

Publication Date: 2026-01-01

Volume: 15

Issue: 1

Page Range: Unknown

Description:

The rapid transformation of the 21st-century labour market requires students to be highly psychologically adaptable, especially in dual education systems where academic and work-based learning occur simultaneously. This study examines resilience as a psychological and pedagogical protective factor among students in dual vocational education and dual higher education programmes. Using a quantitative research design with validated scales measuring resilience, motivation, satisfaction, and stress, the research investigates how individual and contextual factors influence students’ adaptability. The results showed that vocational education and training students exhibited greater resilience, greater learning satisfaction, and lower levels of stress than those in higher education. Regression analysis confirmed that resilience positively contributes to academic success, while supportive mentoring and a structured learning environment enhance emotional stability and motivation. The analysis highlights that autonomy and pressure to perform are associated with higher levels of stress in higher education, underscoring the critical role of mentorship and peer support in improving adaptability. These findings emphasise that resilience is not only an individual capacity, but also a pedagogical and organisational construct; its systematic development should be integrated into the dual education framework to support student well-being, learning effectiveness, and long-term professional adaptation.

Open Access: Yes

DOI: 10.3390/socsci15010015