A salinity gradient solar pond (SGSP) is a large and deep artificial basin of layered brine, that collects and stores simultaneous solar energy for use in various applications. Experimental and theoretical studies have been launched to understand the thermal behavior of SGSPs, under different operating conditions. This article then traces the history of SGSPs, from their natural discovery to their current artificial applications and the progress of studies and research, according to their chronological sequence, in terms of determining their physical and dynamic aspects, their operation, management, and maintenance. It has extensively covered the theoretical and experimental studies, as well as the direct and laboratory applications of this technology, especially the most famous and influential in this field, classified according to the aspect covered by the study, with a comparison between the different results obtained. In addition, it highlighted the latest methods to improve the performance of an SGSP and facilitate its operation, such as the use of a magnetic field and the adoption of remote data acquisition, with the aim of expanding research and enhancing the benefit of this technology.

Art studies and activities for older adults have received significantly less attention as a result of prohibitively expensive materials that are unfit for commercial use, and research utilizing digital technology to investigate artistic activities for older adults is extremely limited. The purpose of this article is to analyze and review recent research in these fields to summarize the current trends. The literature review comprised 108 articles from databases that included Scopus, ScienceDirect, and Google Scholar. The papers were subjected to a thorough examination by the VOSviewer program and researchers, who utilized content analysis to classify them into four themes: 1) inclusive design; 2) accessibility; 3) digital art therapy and 4) digital technology environments. Further investigation and development are necessary to propose a novel approach to instructing senior-level art utilizing cutting-edge technologies, which could be enhanced by the findings of this review article.

In the current era of globalization, the need arises to train individuals who are spiritually enriched, creatively developed, and culturally grounded through the advancement of education and science, as well as through art and culture. These individuals must be capable of integrating artistic creativity into their professional activities. In this context, the issue of fostering values of historical and cultural significance through virtual reality technologies emerges as a novel area of research. The study aims to reveal the essence of the concept "virtual museum" and test the level of perspective art teachers' readiness for utilizing the virtual museum in their professional activity to foster their cultural values of artic creativity. Employing quantitative and qualitative methods, the study encompassed questionnaires, tests, and assignments administered to 135 university students divided into control and experimental groups. To diagnose students' readiness to utilize virtual museum technology in their professional activities, three components (motivational, cognitive, and operational), criteria, indicators and levels of readiness were identified. Findings indicate that there is a noticeable difference between the experimental group's results before and after completing the authors' elective course titled "Methodology of using the virtual museum". This demonstrates the effectiveness of this course conducted with the experimental group. The study highlights the importance of perspective art teachers' acquisition of knowledge, skills and competences necessary to implement the virtual museum method in their teaching activity through the proposed elective course incorporated into the university educational process in order to foster students' cultural values of artic creativity.

This paper explores the interconnected dynamics between governance, public debt, and domestic investment (also known as gross fixed capital formation (GFCF) in South Africa). It also highlights domestic investment as a key driver of economic growth, noting a consistent decline in investment since the country’s democratic transition in 1994. Moreover, this downward trend is exacerbated by excessive public debt, poor governance, and increased economic risks, discouraging domestic and foreign investments. The analysis incorporates two theoretical perspectives: endogenous growth theory, which stresses the significance of local capital investment and innovation, and institutional governance theory, which focuses on the role of governance in promoting economic development. The study reveals that poor governance, rising debt, and high economic risks have impeded GFCF and economic stability. By utilizing quantitative data from 1995 to 2023, the research concludes that reducing public debt, improving governance, and minimizing economic risk are critical to revitalizing domestic investment in South Africa. These findings suggest that policy reforms centered on good governance, effective debt management, and economic stabilization can stimulate investment, promote growth, and address the country’s economic challenges. This study offers insights into how governance and fiscal policies shape investment and capital formation in a developing nation, providing valuable guidance for policymakers and stakeholders working towards sustainable economic growth in South Africa.

QR code transforms the way retailers offer their shopping experiences in the current context. In response, various retailers adopted innovative approaches such as QR code-based applications to attract their consumers. A QR code-based virtual supermarket refers to a space where goods or services are traded in a virtual space using a smart app-based QR code. To fully understand the opportunities of this type of supermarket applying QR-code technology, initial research is required to assess consumers’ use intention. This study has examined the antecedents of the adoption of QR code-based virtual supermarket among Vietnam consumers using the expanded Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) and explored the moderating effect of perceived risk on the relationship between attitude and consumers’ intention to use QR code-based virtual supermarket. A questionnaire was used to collect data from a sample of 335 consumers in Vietnam. The findings revealed that the antecedents are effective in predicting consumers’ attitudes and intentions toward QR code-based virtual supermarket adoption. The results showed the negative moderation effects of perceived risk for the effect of attitude on consumers intention. In addition, practical implications are supported for the application of new shopping technology and are likely to stimulate further research in the area of virtual supermarket shopping.

This paper explores how compassion can be defined as a transformative moral technology through analysis of Martha Nussbaum’s idea. Nussbaum contends that compassion goes beyond just feeling pain for others’ suffering; it also involves acknowledging the severity of suffering, understanding that it is not solely the victim’s fault, and recognizing the suffering individual as one of our most important goals and projects. Through a literature review that considers reductive explanations, we establish that compassion encompasses cognitive, affective, and conative capacities that are crucial for moral reasoning, knowledge, and judgment, all stemming from the experience of human suffering. These capacities of cognition, affection, and conation are supported by the system of reasoning and moral perspective known as techne, episteme, and oikeiosis as systems of reasoning and morality perspective. We argue that compassion is more than just an emotion or feeling, it is catalyst for moral action, as its essence lies in “suffering with; suffering together.”