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The purpose of this paper is to address the challenging issue of developing a quantitative approach for the representation of cultural significance data in heritage information systems (HIS). The authors propose to provide experts in the field with a dedicated framework to structure and integrate targeted data about historical objects' significance in such environments.

This research seeks the identification of key indicators which allow to better inform decision-makers about cultural significance. Identified concepts are formalized in a data structure through conceptual data modeling, taking advantage on unified modeling language (HIS). The design science research (DSR) method is implemented to facilitate the development of the data model.

This paper proposes a practical solution for the formalization of data related to the significance of objects in HIS. The authors end up with a data model which enables multiple knowledge representations through data analysis and information retrieval.

The framework proposed in this article supports a more sustainable vision of heritage preservation as the framework enhances the involvement of all stakeholders in the conservation and management of historical sites. The data model supports explicit communications of the significance of historical objects and strengthens the synergy between the stakeholders involved in different phases of the conservation process.

This collaborative paper presents three case studies on four scholars' experiences with remote data collection. The authors highlight the challenges and strengths of online qualitative research across three disparate projects: an interdisciplinary exploration of matrilineal heritage, an examination of Irish women's sexual identity and an investigation of dress practices among Tz'utujil-Maya.

Qualitative researchers traditionally go into the field to explore and understand social phenomena. At the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, while people faced the daily realities of a worldwide crisis from within their homes, remote data collection became a necessary strategy to pursue knowledge. As a result, researchers adapted to unknowns regarding recruiting, scheduling, technology, interviewing and analysis.

Participant and researcher experiences during the adaptation to remote interviewing yielded important lessons on research strategies.

Outcomes from these studies highlight the potential value of online data collection alongside the necessity for flexibility in designing and conducting qualitative research.

Megaprojects can play a crucial role in achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and tackling Global Challenges. However, they are often criticized for their massive resource consumption, poor cost/time performance and significant social-environmental impacts, including irreversible environmental damage. This study aims to chart the evolution of research on megaprojects sustainability and to offer a roadmap for future developments.

This study adopted a systematic literature review (SLR) to identify emerging themes and gaps. This study follows a three-step process of planning, conducting and reporting, based on the Tranfield approach. The overview of megaprojects sustainability research was captured through bibliometric analysis. In addition, content analysis was carried out to reveal the development of this field and get an insight into the future directions towards sustainability transition.

This study provides a longitudinal, in-depth analysis of megaprojects sustainability studies. Drawing on sustainability science and project management theories, we introduce a three-dimensional analytical framework consisting of sustainability, scope and stakeholder. This framework explains the evolution of megaprojects sustainability research from sustainability of megaprojects, to sustainability for megaprojects and then to sustainability by megaprojects. Three future avenues are proposed: (1) SDGs orientation at multi-level; (2) scope enlargement at temporal and spatial scales and (3) inclusive development for stakeholders.

This research contributes to the literature by providing a comprehensive and forward-looking analysis of megaprojects sustainability research. The framework and three research agendas provide a comprehensive picture of megaproject sustainability research; the agenda for future research is intended to inspire more studies and disruptive actions towards sustainability transition.

Social exclusion is a complicated psychological phenomenon with behavioral ramifications that influences consumers' lifestyles and behaviors. In contrast, anthropomorphism is a phenomenon that marketing strategists employ and that occurs in customers' lives as a result of social isolation. The literature discusses these two complicated structures as ones that require investigation based on consumer judgments. The purpose of the current study is to understand the fundamental motivations that underlie the propensity for anthropomorphizing in people who suffer social isolation through their pets.

To look into the motivations driving these themes, a study technique with three distinct components was created. Cyberball was employed as a technique to manipulate social exclusion in the initial stage of this research methodology. Two scenarios, one of which had an anthropomorphizing tendency and the other of which did not, were presented to participants who had suffered social exclusion and advanced to the second phase in order to determine the anthropomorphizing tendency. The Attachment to Pets Scale (LAPS), which Johnson et al. (1992) created based on the social support provided by pets, was utilized while creating the scenarios. The Zaltman method was applied as an interviewing technique in the third stage of the research design, with the interviewees being guided by visuals that reflected their emotions and thoughts.

The results of the data analysis were evaluated in light of social psychology. A more thorough expression of the complex relationship between anthropomorphism and those who experience social exclusion has been made. The findings showed that when people anthropomorphize their pets in response to feelings of social exclusion, the motivations that emerge include pure love, loyalty, animals' need for a human, living creature and embracing. The study emphasizes that these ideas will be helpful in customers' interactions with anthropomorphic objects.

As a contribution to the literature, the study findings offer the five major motivations underpinning these beliefs. These findings may help marketing scientists comprehend social exclusion and anthropomorphism, thereby benefiting the individual and society.

The majority of research in the literature (Chen et al., 2017; Epley et al., 2008; Eyssel and Reich, 2013; Waytz et al., 2019) verified that people who were socially excluded would use anthropomorphism, but no studies were discovered about the motivations outlined in the current study. The results of this investigation should add to the body of knowledge in this area. The pet was employed as an anthropomorphism tool in the current study because it is the object that a person chooses to anthropomorphize deliberately and independently. It adds to the study's originality by explaining in the individual's own terminology how he will feel as a result of his social isolation, how he will make up for it and potential responses he may have. In addition to all of these contributions, the study's primary goal of analyzing the motivations behind anthropomorphism yields significant findings that are relevant to both industry and academic research.

This performance autoethnography may or may not be interpreted as a continuation of a conversation regarding the experiences of those with devalued statuses in academic settings. The authors rely on “strange accounting” to consider their experiences in the academy from various standpoints: before and after promotion, before and after leaving academia. While reflecting on our past experiences, we introduce the concept of “everyday precariousness” as a way of explaining the normalization of instability, insecurity, and negative affect that is part of everyday life for those with devalued statuses in academic settings and beyond. Everyday precariousness is an embodied experience for those in vulnerable positions. Normalized exposure to risks, such as discrimination, harassment, bullying, or structural instability, produces an undercurrent of threat that permeates academic culture. Our stories of everyday precariousness span race, ethnicity, class, academic roles, and gender boundaries (among many others). Analyzing these experiences furthers previous work on the uses of strange accounting as well as the dynamics of status silencing. In the final analysis, unresisted and unabated, everyday precariousness and status silencing can lead to institutional failure and resonance disasters.

State agencies responsible for wildlife management and habitat preservation have historically relied on revenues generated from traditional sources, such as hunting and fishing licenses (consumptive users). This conventional funding model tends to overlook the shift in demographics and preferences toward non-consumptive activities like wildlife watching and nature tourism, as well as the indirect benefits from such activities. To address this disproportionate representation, innovative funding mechanisms are being explored throughout the Rocky Mountain West to provide avenues for inclusive conservation funding that incorporates non-consumptive users, such as recreational fees, conservation-oriented merchandizing, and co-branding partnerships with small businesses. Inspired by this methodology, initiatives like the University of Wyoming’s, “WYldlife for Tomorrow” (WFT) have been developed as an innovative approach that fosters collaboration between state agencies, businesses, educational institutions, and local communities for the purpose of creating sustainable funding streams for wildlife and habitat conservation. By responding to the evolving trends in hunting and fishing interests, this collaborative effort holds the potential to establish a sustainable model for wildlife management programs.

This chapter reports on a study that examined the impact of COVID-19 within a context of poverty and existing emotional vulnerabilities amongst girls in an informal settlement in South Africa. Findings highlight the young people's resilience, hope and determination to stand together and draw upon each other's strengths through extremely difficult experiences. Data were collected through a survey with 19 girls aged between 12 and 17 years and analysed using Maslow's theory of human motivation (1943) and Brammer's crisis theory (1985). Living conditions and socio-economic status influenced the girls' experiences of the COVID-19 lockdowns. Social distancing, in particular, was found to be a challenge in their living conditions. Despite this, the study found the girls to be sophisticated caring agents; they were resourceful, supportive of each other and resolute in their plans for the future, despite the impact of the pandemic. Recommendations are made for further research with female adolescents to inform future strategies and interventions in South Africa's informal settlements.

Assistive technology has been developed to assist the visually impaired individuals in their social interactions. Specifically designed to enhance communication skills, facilitate social engagement and improve the overall quality of life, conversational assistive technologies include speech recognition APIs, text-to-speech APIs and various communication tools that are real. Enable real-time interaction. Using natural language processing (NLP) and machine learning algorithms, the technology analyzes spoken language and provides appropriate responses, offering an immersive experience through voice commands, audio feedback and vibration alerts.

These technologies have demonstrated their ability to promote self-confidence and self-reliance in visually impaired individuals during social interactions. Moreover, they promise to improve social competence and foster better relationships. In short, assistive technology in conversation stands as a promising tool that empowers the visually impaired individuals, elevating the quality of their social engagement.

The main benefit of assistive communication technology is that it will help visually impaired people overcome communication barriers in social contexts. This technology helps them communicate effectively with acquaintances, family, co-workers and even strangers in public places. By enabling smoother and more natural communication, it works to reduce feelings of isolation and increase overall quality of life.

Research findings include successful activity recognition, aligning with activities on which the VGG-16 model was trained, such as hugging, shaking hands, talking, walking, waving and more. The originality of this study lies in its approach to address the challenges faced by the visually impaired individuals in their social interactions through modern technology. Research adds to the body of knowledge in the area of assistive technologies, which contribute to the empowerment and social inclusion of the visually impaired individuals.

This research aims to examine the educational philosophy of teachers in classrooms. Teachers' educational philosophy influences the power balance, course content function, student and teacher roles, responsibility for learning and assessment purposes and processes. The research also analyzes whether gender, qualification, specialization and experience significantly influence classroom educational philosophies.

The study utilized a quantitative research design, utilizing data from 193 teachers working in a public higher education institution in the Sultanate of Oman. The study utilized a survey method to solicit data from the respondents. Besides utilizing descriptive statistics such as mean and standard deviation, the study used analysis of variance (ANOVA) and t-test to test the hypotheses.

Analysis revealed an instructional strategy's preference, including elements of both teacher-centered and student-centered educational philosophies. Elements of progressivism, constructivism, reconstructivism and perennialism are more relevant in the teacher's instructional design. The results show no significant differences in teachers' pedagogical philosophy that exist based on gender, specialization and experience. However, teachers' age significantly influences their educational philosophy preferences.

This research centers on a public higher education institution in the Sultanate of Oman, with a particular focus on the Department of Business Studies. This resarch delimits its discussion on teachers' chosen educational philosophy. Other possible factors may also impact student retention and effective teaching and learning.

This research offers valuable insights to academicians, higher education administrators, and policymakers. Specifically, this research emphasizes the significance of employing a blended approach, which incorporates both student-centered and teacher-centered educational philosophies, to enhance student engagement, retention, and effective teaching and learning.

This research emphasizes the importance of educators' adoption of a blended educational philosophy in promoting student retention and engagement within higher education institutions. To achieve desirable outcomes, policymakers in higher education must ascertain which educational philosophy is most effective in the classroom. Additionally, ensuring congruence between preferred educational philosophy and teachers’  instructional practices is vital in facilitating effective teaching and learning.

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study is the first of its kind among teachers in higher education in the Sultanate of Oman. The outcome of this study helps detail the specific strategies teachers deploy and categorize into various educational philosophies.

Developing a reliable cost estimate at the early stage of construction projects is challenging due to inadequate project information. Most of the information during this stage is qualitative, posing additional challenges to achieving accurate cost estimates. Additionally, there is a lack of tools that use qualitative project information and forecast the budgets required for project completion. This research, therefore, aims to develop a model for setting project budgets (excluding land) during the pre-conceptual stage of residential buildings, where project information is mainly qualitative.

Due to the qualitative nature of project information at the pre-conception stage, a natural language processing model, DistilBERT (Distilled Bidirectional Encoder Representations from Transformers), was trained to predict the cost range of residential buildings at the pre-conception stage. The training and evaluation data included 63,899 building permit activity records (2021–2022) from the Victorian State Building Authority, Australia. The input data comprised the project description of each record, which included project location and basic material types (floor, frame, roofing, and external wall).

This research designed a novel tool for predicting the project budget based on preliminary project information. The model achieved 79% accuracy in classifying residential buildings into three cost_classes ($100,000-$300,000, $300,000-$500,000, $500,000-$1,200,000) and F1-scores of 0.85, 0.73, and 0.74, respectively. Additionally, the results show that the model learnt the contextual relationship between qualitative data like project location and cost.

The current model was developed using data from Victoria state in Australia; hence, it would not return relevant outcomes for other contexts. However, future studies can adopt the methods to develop similar models for their context.

This research is the first to leverage a deep learning model, DistilBERT, for cost estimation at the pre-conception stage using basic project information like location and material types. Therefore, the model would contribute to overcoming data limitations for cost estimation at the pre-conception stage. Residential building stakeholders, like clients, designers, and estimators, can use the model to forecast the project budget at the pre-conception stage to facilitate decision-making.