This study explores the potential of digital preservation in the documentation of colonial cultural heritage in Egypt. It also explores the stories behind historical wars to revive these sites and attract different segments of visitors. Documentation of these sites should enhance Egyptian colonial cultural heritage sites, which include battlefields, war memorials, commanders’ palaces, assassination and murder spots, cemeteries, and mausoleums. The purpose of this study was fulfilled through field visits supplemented with in-depth interviews with experts on colonial heritage sites in Egypt. The findings showed that technology could play a key role in implementing the storytelling documentation and interpretation of colonial history and its relevant events at the Egyptian sites. However, to date, these sites have not made the best use of technology for digital preservation and documentation due to many challenges. The study recommends that decision-makers should integrate technological innovation, which can revitalize the communities built on the ruins of colonialism and revive the heritage of popular resistance. Technological innovation could be implemented not only in digital preservation and documentation but also in service and marketing of these colonial heritage sites.
We report a method for effectively and homogeneously incorporating carbon nanotubes (CNTs) in the form of double-wall (DWCNTs) and multi-wall (MWCNTs) structures into commercial paints without the use of additives, surfactants, or chemical processes. The process involves the physical mixing of the nanotubes and polymers using the cavitation energy of an ultrasonic bath. It is a simple, fast method that allows for uniform distribution of carbon nanotube bundles within the polymer for direct application. Due to the hydrophobic properties of the carbon nanotubes as grown, we used paint samples containing 0.3% by mass of both types of CNTs and observed an improvement in waterproofing through wettability and water absorption through immersion tests on the samples. Different solvents such as water, formaldehyde, and glycerin were used, and the results showed an increase in paint impermeability of 30% and 25% with the introduction of DWCNTs and MWCNTs, respectively. This indicates a promising, economically viable, and revolutionary method for applying nanotechnology in the polymer industry.
Alginate-silver nanocomposites in the form of spherical beads and films were prepared using a green approach by using the aqueous extract of Ajwa date seeds. The nanocomposites were fabricated by in situ reduction and gelation by ionotropic crosslinking using calcium ions in solution. The rich phytochemicals of the date seed extract played a dual role as a reducing and stabilizing agent in the synthesis of silver nanoparticles. The formation of silver nanoparticles was studied using UV-Vis absorption spectroscopy, and a distinct surface plasmon resonance peak at 421 nm characteristic of silver nanoparticles confirmed the green synthesis of silver nanoparticles. The morphology of the nanocomposite beads and film was compact, with an even distribution of silver nanoclusters. The catalytic property of the nanocomposite beads was evaluated for the degradation of 2-nitrophenol in the presence of sodium borohydride. The degradation followed pseudo-first-order kinetics with a rate constant of 1.40 × 10−3 s−1 at 23 ℃ and an activation energy of 18.45 kJ mol−1. The thermodynamic parameters, such as changes in enthalpy and entropy, were evaluated to be 15.22 kJ mol−1 and −197.50 J mol−1 K−1, respectively. The nanocomposite exhibited properties against three clinically important pathogens (gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria).
In today’s digital education landscape, safeguarding the privacy and security of educational data, particularly the distribution of grades, is paramount. This research presents the “secure grade distribution scheme (SGDS)”, a comprehensive solution designed to address critical aspects of key management, encryption, secure communication, and data privacy. The scheme’s heart lies in its careful key management strategy, offering a structured approach to key generation, rotation, and secure storage. Hardware security modules (HSMs) are central to fortifying encryption keys and ensuring the highest security standards. The advanced encryption standard (AES) is employed to encrypt graded data, guaranteeing the confidentiality and integrity of information during transmission and storage. The scheme integrates the Diffie-Hellman key exchange protocol to establish secure communication, enabling users to securely exchange encryption keys without vulnerability to eavesdropping or interception. Secure communication channels further fortify graded data protection, ensuring data integrity in transit. The research findings underscore the SGDS’s efficacy in achieving the goals of secure grade distribution and data privacy. The scheme provides a holistic approach to safeguarding educational data, ensuring the confidentiality of sensitive information, and protecting against unauthorized access. Future research opportunities may centre on enhancing the scheme’s robustness and scalability in diverse educational settings.
In today’s rapidly evolving world, the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies has become paramount, offering unparalleled value propositions and unparalleled consumer experiences. This study delves into the transformative impact of five AI activities on brand experience and consumer-based brand equity within the retail banking landscape of Lebanon. Employing a quantitative deductive approach and a sample of 211 respondents, the research employs structural equation modeling to analyze the data. The findings underscore the significant influence of four AI marketing activities on brand experience, revealing that factors such as information, accessibility, and customization play pivotal roles, while interaction has a less pronounced effect. Importantly, the study unveils that brand experience acts as a partial mediator between AI marketing activities and consumer-based brand equity. These revelations not only illuminate pathways for retail banks in Lebanon to refine their AI strategies but also underscore the importance of leveraging AI-driven marketing initiatives to bolster customer equity, acquisition, and retention efforts in an increasingly competitive market age.
Previous studies support the direct relationship between outdoor physical activity and natural spaces in cities. The Active City and Nature concept explores the relationship between urban, green and active environments; it aims to demonstrate the scientific evidence for the need for action to be taken to increase participation in active living and sport, leading to healthier cities and communities. Our research seeks to analyse the city’s natural spaces as scenarios to encourage physical activity and sport, through a combined study of qualitative research techniques: the use of a digital webGIS platform, collaborative maps made by citizens, and surveys conducted with citizens and the local government. This methodology has been tested in the city of Malaga, the European City of Sport 2020. The study of the city’s main sport areas, the waterfront and natural green spaces provided data on the types of physical activity taking place in each of these areas and the physical activity needs of citizens. This research argues that it is important to know the criteria of local communities for physical activity and/or sport in natural environments, as well as the main demands expressed. This will provide valuable information to design and manage natural public spaces as a means of promoting physical activity and healthy habits.
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