Research Output

يعرض المؤلّف أزمة اللجوء والهجرة من باب الأبعاد اللاهوتية والإنسانية والوطنية منطلقًا من الكتاب المقدّس وتعليم الكنيسة، والواقع المرير الذي يعيشه اللاجئون من جهة واللبنانيون من جهة أخرى. إذ بين واجب محبة اللاجئ وتقديم الضيافة والإغاثة والعون والحماية له اللذين تفترضهما التعاليم الإنجيلية والكنسية والإنسانية، وواقع الحال الناجم عن ضيق الموارد المالية والمساحة الجغرافية والكثافة السكانية مع ما ينتج عنها من مشكلات كبيرة، ثمة تعارض. تحاول هذه الدراسة الإضاءة عليه وعلى إمكانية معالجته بما لا يتناقض مع التعاليم الكنسية والمصالح الوطنية غير الشعبوية

يعرض المؤلّف واقع من اضطُر إلى اللجوء ومن اضطُر إلى الهجرة والتحدّيات المتعدّدة التي يواجهها كلّ منهما في ارتحاله، بعيدًا عن أرض أجداده ونمط الحياة الذي تربّى عليه.

يبقى هذا الكتاب المتواضع وديعة بين يديّ القرّاء يحتاجه ويعود إليه في كلّ مرّة تطرحُ أزمة النزوح والهجرة علامات استفهام كبيرة

بعدما أعلن البابا فرنسيس اليوبيل العادي لسنة 2025 تحت عنوان: "الرجاء لا يُخيِّب"، يتناول المؤلّف معنى الرجاء وتأثيره على المستوى الروحي والكنسي واللاهوتي والوطني في لحظة يختبر فيها لبنان والشرق الأوسط مخاضًا عسيرًا، متسائلًا عن معنى الرجاء في حياة المؤمنين والمؤمنات ومدى قوته في دفعهم نحو الابتعاد عن الإحباط واليأس من جهة، ونحو الانخراط في خدمة العدالة والحياة الوطنية والاجتماعية من جهة أخرى

وفيما يحدّد ستة مخاطر تهدّد الكنيسة، في الظرف الراهن، يشدّد المؤلّف على الحاجة لتلقّف شعلة الرجاء كقوّة تضيء حياة الكنيسة بقوّة الروح القدس، كي تتجدّد على مستوى الأشخاص والمؤسّسات وتسلك حياة الفقر والتجرّد وتتبنّى النهج السينودسي

ويشدّد على أن التجدّد في الكنيسة هو علامة الرجاء، لذلك يدعوها إلى أن تتبنّى لغة لاهوتية وراعوية جديدة ومعاصرة، من دون أن تتخلّى عن تعاليمها المقدّسة وتقليدها وما توارثته عبر الأجيال من خبرات ومسؤولية

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a gastrointestinal functional disorder characterized by unclear underlying mechanisms. Several theories propose that hyperactivation of the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis leads to elevated cortisol levels and increased sensitivity of gut wall receptors. Given the absence of prior literature on this topic, our study aimed to investigate the potential for diagnosing IBS based on morphological changes in the pituitary gland, specifically its volume and grayscale intensity. Additionally, we aimed to assess whether factors such as gender, age, and body mass index influence these parameters. This retrospective study involved 60 patients, examining the volume and grayscale characteristics of their pituitary glands in the presence of IBS. Our findings revealed a positive correlation between pituitary gland volume and IBS diagnosis, although no significant correlation was observed with grayscale intensity. Due to the limited existing research and the small sample size of our study, further investigation with a larger cohort is warranted to validate these results.

Irritable bowel syndrome, diagnosis, volume calculation, pituitary, gastrointestinal tract

Robotics has emerged in several domains in the current century. However, in the restoration field, mainly in coffee shops, applications are still limited. Therefore, RoboBrew presents a groundbreaking fully automated system poised to transform the restaurant and coffee industries into a new era. At its core, RoboBrew features an advanced coffee maker system designed to deliver exceptional performance. This system precisely doses coffee beans to ensure consistency in every brew, while a cutting-edge robot arm manages cup handling with high precision. Customers interact with a user-friendly LCD interface to place their orders, and RoboBrew efficiently moves the cup through the preparation process, from placement to delivery. The system's objectives include precise dosing, temperature regulation, robotic coordination, and seamless system integration to achieve a quick, effective, and delicious coffee experience. Initially considering stainless steel for durability and hygiene, the choice of premium plastic and wood materials balances cost-effectiveness with performance. Testing reveals that RoboBrew performs admirably in all aspects except response time, with no significant errors observed and a cost of less than 500 US dollars, far below competing systems. This system enhances customer satisfaction, and operational efficiency, and provides valuable insights into robotics and automation. RoboBrew not only supports academic and professional goals but also innovates the coffee industry, delivering a superior coffee experience through advanced technology.

Coffee Machine, User-Friendly Interface, Robotics System, Automation in Restauration Systems High-Precision.

Cannabis is one of the most commonly utilized recreational drugs. However, increasing evidence from the literature suggests harmful implications on cognition. Thus, the main aim of the current review is to summarize literature findings pertaining to the impact of cannabis on neurocognitive skills, focusing on the imaging biomarkers provided by MRI. Two reviewers navigated the literature independently using four main search engines including PubMed and Cochrane. Articles were first evaluated through their title and abstract, followed by full-text assessment. Study characteristics and findings were extracted, and the studies’ quality was appraised. 47 articles were included. The majority of the studies were of a case-control design (66%), and the most studied neurocognitive skill was memory (40.4%). With task-based fMRI being the most commonly utilized MRI technique, findings have shown significantly varying decreased and increased neuronal activity within brain regions associated with the cognitive tasks performed. Results suggest that cannabis users are significantly suffering from cognitive deficits. The major significance of this review is attributed to highlighting the role of MRI. Future research needs to delve more into validating the negative effects of cannabis, to enable stakeholders to take action to limit cannabis usage, to foster public health and wellbeing.

Cannabis, neurocognitive skills, cognition, brain, MRI

Alors que l’article 16 de la loi du 2 avril 1951 interdit aux Libanais de contracter un mariage civil sur le territoire libanais, l’article 25 de l’arrêté n° 60 L.R. du 13 mars 1936 relatif au régime des communautés religieuses, autorise les Libanais à célébrer un mariage civil à l’étranger — sous réserve des dispositions de l’arrêté n° 53 du 30 mars 1939, qui a expressément exclu les musulmans du champ d’application de l’arrêté 60. Le mariage civil célébré à l’étranger est reconnu au Liban et soumis à la loi civile de l’autorité de célébration. Les tribunaux civils libanais sont, en principe, compétents pour connaître des litiges qui en découlent, conformément à l’article 79 NCPC. En revanche, le mariage religieux — qu’il soit célébré au Liban ou à l’étranger — demeure régi par le droit religieux et relève de la compétence des juridictions religieuses libanaises. Aujourd’hui, on observe une multiplication des mariages célébrés à la fois sous une forme civile et religieuse. C’est ce que nous désignons par les cas de double célébration du mariage. Ces mariages soulèvent de nombreuses difficultés, notamment celle de déterminer lequel des deux mariages — civil ou religieux — doit être privilégié par le juge pour identifier la juridiction compétente et la loi applicable aux litiges qui en découlent. L’examen de trois décisions récentes rendues en la matière montre que la jurisprudence demeure constante dans sa préférence pour le mariage religieux, en s’appuyant sur des motifs qui ne paraissent plus convaincants ni adaptés à l’évolution sociale de la société libanaise, en l’absence de tout texte légal explicite réglant clairement cette question.

Double célébration du mariage – mariage civil – mariage religieux – loi applicable- compétence juridictionnelle – mariage mixte – Art. 79 NCPC – Art. 25 de l’arrêté 60 LR.

La 4e chambre civile du Tribunal de première instance du Mont-Liban, compétente en matière de statut personnel, a rendu le 13 mars 2025 une décision remarquable en reconnaissant comme légitime un enfant né hors mariage d’un couple libanais. Cet article a pour ambition de commenter cette décision, à bien des égards, courageuse, à l’heure où la filiation et les matières de statut personnel en général continuent à relever en principe de la compétence des autorités religieuses dans l’ordre interne libanais.

Filiation – mariage mixte – pluralisme communautaire – mariage civil à Chypre – Droit international privé libanais – coordination des systèmes religieux et laïcisés – Mariage druzo-musulman – légitimation – enfant naturel

International terrorist attacks have become a perceived threat to all countries across the globe and resulted from a complex set of factors Money laundering and Terrorist financing have been described by many as lifeblood of crime and is a major threat to economic and social well-being of societies Fraud cases increasing dramatically with the expansion of modern technology and global communication, resulting in substantial losses to businesses As a result of the conflict between the different financial institutions sectors and ML, the banks have developed technologically intelligent weapons The purpose of this paper is to show the implementation impact of monitoring system that incorporates AI to detect suspicious transactions in Lebanese bank The results show that the implementation of AI monitoring lead to massive cost savings The AI system enhanced the accuracy of the analysis over large amount of data The results show that the false positive detected matches were reduced by 30%.

Artificial intelligence; Money Laundering; Terrorist Financing; Monitoring System, Know Your Customer.

Purpose: This study aims to assess whether orthodontic bonding systems prevent orthodontic-induced white spot lesions (OIWSLs), exploring efficacy and identifying associated factors through a comprehensive systematic review of existing evidence.

Materials and Methods: The study compiled to Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Two evaluators screened records, and data were extracted on orthodontic bonding systems, outcomes, and participant characteristics from PubMed/MEDLINE, Cochrane Library, and EM Premium. The search equation focused on white spot lesions and orthodontic bonding. Only in-vivo studies and clinical trials on humans were included, while in-vitro studies were excluded. The risk of bias was assessed using Cochrane's RoB2 tool for RCTs and ROBINS-I tool for non-randomized studies, evaluating key domains related to bias.

Results: The systematic review, including 12 articles with 550 participants and 2,000 teeth, revealed that bonding with nanoparticles of nCaF2-primer and amorphous calcium phosphate-containing adhesives effectively reduced WSLs. In contrast, one-step adhesive without primer (GC Ortho Connect™) was associated with higher and more severe WSLs. Fluoride-releasing primers (Opal Seal™ and Clearfil™) did not exhibit an advantage in demineralization reduction. The inclusion of TiO2 nanoparticles in two studies yielded conflicting results on antibacterial effects.

Discussion: Various nanoparticles incorporated into adhesives or primers exhibit promise in preventing white spot lesions in fixed orthodontic treatment. However, the evaluation methods used, such as clinical examinations or advanced imaging, significantly impact result interpretation. The effectiveness of orthodontic adhesives in preventing WSLs should balance between biocompatibility, bond strength and demineralization control tailored to patient-specific needs.

enamel demineralization, fixed orthodontics, orthodontic adhesive, prevention, white spot lesion

Purpose: This in vitro study aimed to compare the shear bond strength (SBS) and Adhesive Remnant Index (ARI) scores of two-step orthodontic bonding systems: self-etching primer (SEP) and a self-adhesive composite. Both systems were compared to a control group with a conventional three-step adhesive.

Methods: A total of 72 extracted maxillary and mandibular premolars were randomly divided into four groups (n = 18): group 1(XT), the control group, used Transbond™ XT (conventional adhesive; 3M Unitek, Monrovia, CA, USA); group 2 (GC) used GC Ortho Connect™ (self-adhesive composite; GC Orthodontics Inc., Tokyo, Japan); group 3 (GCP) used GC primer with GC Ortho Connect™; and group 4 (SEP) used Transbond™ Plus Self-Etching Primer with Transbond™ XT. Teeth were stored in water at 37 °C for 24 h prior to SBS testing using an Instron 5543 device (Instron, Norwood, MA, USA), and ARI scores were assessed under a stereomicroscope. Data were analyzed using analysis of variance (ANOVA) and nonparametric tests.

Results: In total, 60 samples were analyzed. The GCP group exhibited the highest SBS (8.35 MPa ± 1.99), significantly higher than the XT (4.99 MPa ± 1.32, p < 0.001) and SEP (5.69 MPa ± 2.10, p = 0.001) groups. The GC group (7.50 MPa ± 1.92) also showed higher SBS than XT (p = 0.003) and the SEP group (p = 0.048). ARI scores showed no significant difference between groups overall (p = 0.303), but the GCP group had significantly higher ARI scores than the SEP group (p = 0.023).

Conclusion: GC Ortho Connect™ with or without primer demonstrated superior bond strength compared to conventional and self-etching systems, making it a viable alternative for clinical use. Further in vivo studies are needed to confirm these findings.

Bonded restorations, Composite Resin, Craniofacial orthodontics, Glassionomer cement, Non-bonded restorations, Orthodontics

La guerre israélienne a marqué la disparition du Hezbollah comme acteur déterminant, militaire et politique, au Liban. Il demeure néanmoins représentatif de la communauté chiite, qui peine à s’incarner dans d’autres structures. Son désarmement au profit des forces armées nationales est toujours en attente, et le désordre syrien pourrait lui donner de nouvelles ouvertures. Plus largement, la stabilisation de l’État libanais dépend de réformes profondes, politiques et économiques, très complexes à mettre en œuvre.

Israël, Hezbollah, Désarmement, Monopole des armes, Réfugiés, Réformes.

Après la chute du régime syrien de Bashar al-Assad en Syrie, le 8 décembre 2024, des zones d’ombre demeurent et méritent d’être examinées, parmi lesquelles sa propagande fondée sur la langue de bois, la fabrication d’une image positive, alors qu’en réalité ce régime était autoritaire voire extrêmement répressif vis-à-vis du peuple syrien. L’objet de cet article est d’étudier comment les médias pro-régimes syriens ont tenté de contrôler l’opinion publique après l’éclatement de la révolution syrienne de 2011 et, tout récemment, en utilisant un discours minimisant les crimes et les excès commis par ses services de sécurité, tout en redorant son image.

Autoritaire, Bashar al-Assad, image, langue de bois, propagande, Syrie, terrorisme

A survey was circulated across social media platforms and messaging applications in Lebanon from February to May 2023, 746 adults’ opinions, not hospitalised at the time, re the importance of various factors in the hospital selection process. We performed an exploratory factor analysis to examine the underlying structure of our 70-question survey. Reliability analysis was conducted using Cronbach’s alpha and McDonald’s omega. Factor scores were derived by aggregating raw scores and computing the mean. The results identified 8 key factors that accounted for 58.02% of the total variance, The factors exhibited good internal consistency, as indicated by Cronbach’s alpha values for each factor. Ranked by importance the factors are: staff qualities (α=0.773), administrative services (α=0.801), reputation (α=0.773), ease of access (α=0.704), room attributes (α=0.796), architectural and physical surroundings (α=0.828), luxury amenities (α=0.849) and affiliation and ownership (α=0.661). This insight provides an opportunity for hospital managers to refine the services to elevate their competitive edge.

Staff quality, service, patient selection, cross-sectional study, hospital management

The work presented in this paper is to be read within the context of a connected autonomous vehicle (CAV). This context makes it possible to consider dividing the overall operational domain (operational design domain: ODD) of the vehicle into three sub-domains, relating to the areas of comfort (ODD1), road-holding (ODD2), and emergency situations (ODD3). Thus, based on information from the CAV’s proprioceptive and exteroceptive sensors, in addition to information from the infrastructure and other vehicles, supervision makes it possible, at any time, to identify the ODD in which the vehicle is located and to propose the most appropriate strategy, particularly for suspension control. Work already carried out by the authors made it possible to determine a crone sky hook (CSH) strategy for suspension control, 100% comfort-oriented for ODD1, a mixed crone sky hook—crone ground hook (CSH-CGH) strategy, oriented towards road-holding for ODD2, and a CGH strategy oriented towards safety for ODD3. In this paper, a comparative study focusing on security (ODD3) is presented. It concerns two versions of the CGH strategy (nominal CGHN and generalized CGHG). More precisely, for the comparative study to be meaningful, the control loops of the two versions have the same speed (iso-speed constraint), and the performance indices are normalized with respect to the values obtained in fault mode when the actuator is faulty. Notably, the CGHG version is part of the dynamics of fractional systems.

Connected autonomous vehicle; operational design domain; crone controller; system behavior

The study aims to establish typical values for common interventional cardiology performed at Lebanese American University Medical Center-Rizk Hospital. Air kerma-area product (PKA), cumulative air kerma at patient entrance reference point (Ka,r), fluoroscopy time, and number of images were retrospectively collected for 950 IC procedures from May 2022 to November 2023. Typical values were determined as the median value of the distribution of exposure parameters for coronary angiography (CA), percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), CA+PCI and transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) procedures. The values were compared to Lebanese national and international diagnostic reference levels (DRLs) to define future optimization steps. The typical values were 14, 41, 37 and 33 Gy. cm2 for PKA and 260, 877, 782 and 295 mGy for Ka,r concerning CA, PCI, CA+ PCI and TAVI procedures, respectively. These values were lower than the national DRLs and those reported in other countries suggesting the Implementation effective radiation protection practices at LAUMC-RH.

Diagnostic reference level, patient radiation exposure, interventional cardiology procedures, patient dosimetry, radioprotection

Background: One of the major contributors to homeostasis at the level of the central nervous system, specifically the brain, is the glymphatic system, which is described as an exchange occurring at the level of and between the interstitial fluid and cerebrospinal fluid that has been linked to neurodegenerative processes. Methods: Fourteen studies were included after PROSPERO registration and a literature search. Screening, reviewing, and data extraction were performed by two reviewers. Quality assessment scales were used. General continuous and subgroup analysis, heterogeneity tests, and random effect models were run using SPSS. Forest plots were constructed based on subgroup analysis. Results: Significant correlations (p < 0.05) were detected between MRI indices and outcomes quantifying neurodegenerative diseases. Studies on Alzheimer’s disease showed a positive correlation between diffusivity indices and cognitive scores. Studies on Parkinson’s disease showed negative correlations between diffusivity indices and disease severity, progression, and motor function (p < 0.05). As for other conditions, the conclusions remain uncertain, yet positive results were detected (p < 0.05). Conclusions: Positive significant correlations were deduced between the ALPS index and cognitive scores, indicating that low cognition is correlated with a low ALPS index and enlarged PVSs. Negative significant correlations were deduced between ALPS indices and UPDRS scores, indicating motor dysfunction is correlated with lower ALPS indices and enlarged PVSs. Finally, MRI parameters may help to deduce disease progression across subgroups. Despite the presence of heterogeneity between studies, significant correlations with moderate to large effect sizes were detected. Glymphatic dysfunction measured through MRI indices is correlated with neurodegenerative changes across various neurological conditions.

MRI, glymphatic system, lymphatic drainage, neurodegeneration, brain, ALPS.

Ce manuel indispensable permet l’acquisition des méthodes et compétences clés pour comprendre et maîtriser les concepts de la gestion financière. Dans une nouvelle édition enrichie de nouveaux exercices et cas concrets, les étudiants et étudiantes apprendront à mettre en pratique la théorie de la finance d’entreprise. Comment réaliser un diagnostic financier ? Comment une entreprise choisit-elle ses investissements et comment les finance-t-elle ? Quels sont les outils à la disposition de l’entreprise et des investisseurs ? Comment couvrir les risques financiers ? Autant de questions qui trouveront leurs réponses grâce aux :

situations concrètes qui illustrent les concepts ;

nombreux exemples qui facilitent l’acquisition des connaissances fondamentales en finance d’entreprise et de marché ;

conseils méthodologiques et éclairages de professionnels ;

exercices pour s’évaluer et s’entraîner ;

exercices en anglais et aux lexiques pour se familiariser avec l’anglais de la finance.

Un ouvrage à mettre entre toutes les mains des étudiants et étudiantes en licence ou en bachelor.

Objective: This case report aims to elucidate the clinical complexities of Pseudotumor Cerebri Syndrome and its variant, Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension, by presenting an atypical case. Addressing diagnostic challenges and management strategies for Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension in a young male of normal body weight following head trauma is the main target of this study. Consequently, early detection and comprehensive diagnostic approaches are crucial.

Methods: Neuroimaging and ophthalmological techniques were used in tracking the diagnosis and management of this unusual neuro-ophthalmological condition. High-resolution images used for assessments of the brain and cervical spine are provided by the SIGNA Architect 3T Magnetic Resonance Imaging machine. Topcons Optical Coherence Tomography and ophthalmoscopes provide in-depth retinal imaging and internal eye exams. Furthermore, thorough assessment of the retinas structural and vascular integrity is made possible by the use of fundus cameras and Fundus Fluorescein Angiography equipment which helps with precise diagnosis and efficient treatment planning.

Results: The clinical presentation, diagnostic process and treatment of a 22-year-old Lebanese male was documented in this study after he experienced visual disturbances due to a car accident. This study reported the patient's medical history, symptoms, and progression and despite recording normal Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Magnetic Resonance Angiography findings, ophthalmological examinations revealed stage four bilateral papilledema. This has led to an Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension diagnosis. After only one and a half months, the patient's condition significantly improved after treating with acetazolamide and prednisone, showing an 80 % improvement in papilledema. However, at a recent follow-up, the patient revealed that his symptoms had progressively recurred including severe headaches and visual disturbances that eventually required cerebrospinal fluid shunting to regulate his condition. This case-report shed the light on the limitations of conventional neuroimaging in diagnosing Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension and the imperative role of ophthalmological assessments.

Conclusion: This atypical presentation of Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension brought to light diagnostic and treatment challenges especially in non-obese male patients. In order to identify papilledema and other indications of elevated intracranial pressure; this case highlights the value of thorough diagnostic methods such as light-based imaging techniques. Significant clinical improvement is assured by an early and accurate diagnosis combined with the appropriate treatment. The case findings highlight the need for medical professionals to manage more collaboratively and with greater awareness in order to ensure timely intervention and improved patient outcomes. To better understand the diagnostic and therapeutic nuances in similar presentations future research should concentrate on larger cohort studies.

Idiopathic intracranial hypertension, Pseudotumor cerebri syndrome, Magnetic resonance image, Retinal nerve fiber layer, Optical coherence tomography, Case report

The recent massification and globalization of higher education coupled with the changing trends in global economy have seen a surge in benchmarking and ranking practices at the international level. Quality rankings rely on public information gathered mainly from reputational surveys, some input measures, and indicators of research performance. While all these rankings and related indicators have questionable validity as predictors of effective student learning, they have become highly influential on academic behavior, often encouraging institutions to invest time, resources, and effort in improving their rated reputation and image rather than actually improving their academic standards. At the same time, the quality ranking score significantly impacts reputational surveys; reputation is, therefore, both the outcome and the medium of rankings. Consequently, basing the reputation of a higher education institution on rankings and surveys bears several pitfalls as reputation holds many facets, and it would be simplistic to reduce it to one aspect. Nevertheless, universities have a lot to gain from a good reputation (and a good ranking as a matter of fact) and should, therefore, be able to assess it, monitor it, and even control it. The first purpose of this paper is to demonstrate that reputation is not limited to international rankings and surveys. The second one is to propose a list of indicators that higher education institutions can use to assess their own institutional reputation thoroughly, based on objective metrics. Measuring those “reputational indicators” would help identify areas of improvement and serve as a roadmap for institutions wishing to work on building their reputation, monitoring it, and enhancing it.

Reputation; Higher Education Institutions; Universities; Auto-Evaluation; Quality rankings; Indicators; Performance; Media visibility; Social engagement; University Social Responsibility

Radioactive iodine is used to treat thyroid benign cases and differentiated thyroid tumors. 2 approaches are used in the treatment: fixed and calculated activities. In the fixed approach, iodine doses are given based on medical indications, while the calculated approach requires proper dosimetry. The study was conducted and included all radioactive iodine treated patients over 5 consecutive years. It examined the distribution of patients in terms of gender, age and the administered activities. organ doses were calculated for 7 different administered activities using IDAC-Iodine software, specifically for the treatment of benign thyroid cases. Doses were calculated for both female and male patients. Results revealed higher effective, and organ absorbed doses in female compared to male patients. Particularly high absorbed doses were observed for thymus, salivary glands, endotracheal region, esophagus, lymphatic nodes. Ratios for organ dose per administered activity were calculated and compared to those from the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP). This highlights the value of using personalized dosimetry in iodine-131 treatments to optimize therapeutic effectiveness. Estimating organ-specific doses, especially in female patients, can help reduce radiation exposure to sensitive tissues while maintaining clinical outcomes

Thyroid; Iodine; Radioactive Treatment

There are 2.2 billion visually impaired individuals and 285 million blind people worldwide. The vestibular system plays a fundamental role in the balance of a person related to sight and hearing, and thus blind people require physical therapy to improve their balance. Several clinical tests have been developed to evaluate balance, such as the mini-BESTest. This test has been used to evaluate the balance of people with neurological diseases, but there have been no studies that evaluate the balance of blind individuals before. Furthermore, despite the scoring of these tests being not subjective, the performance of some activities are subject to the physiotherapist’s bias. Tele-rehabilitation is a growing field that aims to provide physical therapy to people with disabilities. Among the technologies used in tele-rehabilitation are inertial measurement units that can be used to monitor the balance of individuals. The amount of data collected by these devices is large and the use of deep learning models can help in analyzing these data. Therefore, the objective of this study is to analyze for the first time the balance of blind individuals using the miniBESTest and inertial measurement units and to identify the activities that best differentiate between blind and sighted individuals. We use the OpenSense RT monitoring device to collect data from the inertial measurement unit, and we develop machine learning and deep learning models to predict the score of the most relevant mini-BESTest activities. In this study 29 blind and sighted individuals participated. The one-legged stance is the activity that best differentiates between blind and sighted individuals. An analysis on the acceleration data suggests that the evaluation of physiotherapists is not completely adjusted to the test criterion. Cluster analysis suggests that inertial data are not able to distinguish between three levels of evaluation. However, the performance of our models shows an F1-score of 85.6% in predicting the score evaluated by the mini-BESTest in a binary classification problem. The results of this study can help physiotherapists have a more objective evaluation of the balance of their patients and to develop tele-rehabilitation systems for blind individuals.

Balance; mini-BESTest; Blind; IMU; Quaternions; OpenSense RT; Artificial intelligence

This policy study examines the preservation of cultural heritage through artisanal craftsmanship practices and partnerships in the Euro-Mediterranean region. Conducted under the Anna Lindh Foundation’s Call for Action – K4A, the brief explores the challenges faced by artisans and proposes feasible recommendations for ensuring the sustainability of artisanal crafts. The study identifies key obstacles in both Northern and Southern Mediterranean contexts, including the dominance of informal sectors, limited access to funding and markets, and declining interest among younger generations. By shedding light on the diverse realities of artisans, the research highlights the urgency of sustaining craft traditions as both cultural and economic assets. Policy recommendations include investing in technical education, raising public awareness, protecting local markets, fostering regional collaboration, and promoting sustainable tourism routes. These measures aim to empower artisans, preserve cultural heritage, and contribute to inclusive economic growth and social resilience in the Euro-Mediterranean region.

Cultural heritage, Artisanal crafts, Euro-Mediterranean, Policy recommendations, Sustainability, Social inclusion.

The modern world seems to be trapped between secularisation and identitarian closure. Although this is by no means new, the dominant dogma of the culture of peace in its different forms, founded on non-violence, tolerance and solidarity, seems to be crumbling, weakened at every turn by fractures where beliefs and allegiances play a major role. In that context, knowing how to examine the state of religious and cultural coexistence within a society would make for better understanding of its mechanisms, and facilitate diagnosing its potential failures. The Barometer of pluralism is the name of both a methodology, which is a tool, and its result, that is, the public report. The tool consists of a body of parameterized criteria combined with a method for collecting data, applicable for a country, a region or a locality. It has both quantitative and qualitative data.

Pluralism, Religious coexistence, Cultural diversity, Secularization, Social cohesion, Barometer of Pluralism, Mali, France, Lebanon

This study, titled “Concept in the Excavations (Civil Society)”, aims to review the concept of civil society, its purpose, and its most defining features. Civil society is characterized primarily by independence from government, non-profit nature, and voluntary participation. It also signifies a separation from family ties and tribal affiliations, with communities organizing themselves around common values, goals, and interests. Civil society encompasses a wide range of activities, including volunteer initiatives, educational support, service provision, and efforts to influence public policy. Recently, the term has gained widespread circulation as civil society organizations increasingly serve as alternatives or complements to state institutions. In Lebanon, this role is particularly evident, as such organizations are engaged in development, relief, training, and administrative support. While supporters highlight their remarkable contributions, critics argue that reliance on these organizations may undermine the role of state institutions.

Civil Society, Social Contract, Ideological Dialectics, Volunteer Activities, Non-profit Organizations, Lebanon

This article attempts to comment on the progress made since 2015 towards selected Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as presented by the report of the UN Secretary-general session 2024. The article shows the need for environmental education (EE) and questions the efficiency of moving towards education for sustainable development (ESD). It addresses also various recommendations with practical insight regarding global partnership.

Education, Education for Sustainable Development, Environmental Education, Social-Ecological Systems, Unsustainability, Human Society, Natural Resources, Global Partnership, Agenda 2030, Sustainable Development Goals

This article tries to shed the light on the need for Information and communication technology for development and questions the efficiency of this growing industry. It is an attempt to comment on the progress made since year 2015 towards the Sustainable Development Goal#17 as presented by the report of the UN Secretary-general during the session 2024.

The article addresses also various recommendations with practical perception for energizing the Global Partnership while expanding connectivity.

Communication, Communication technology, Information, Internet connections, Global Partnership, Agenda 2030, Sustainable Development Goals.

This research examines the impact of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Higher Education (HE), focusing on antecedent factors such as student situational variables, goals, and orientations, to inform future practices and policies for improving educational quality. It investigates how these factors influence students’ intention to perform when using AI tools. A survey conducted among Lebanese students collected 321 responses from those using AI in their daily academic activities. Data were analyzed using SEM and SPSS. The findings highlight key opportunities and challenges in AI implementation in HE, offering insights for both students and educators on improving AI usage. While the study provides valuable understanding of AI adoption in the Lebanese context, its generalizability is limited by cultural, institutional, and technological factors. Future research should examine these variables on a broader scale and consider longitudinal studies to track evolving student perspectives and behaviors regarding AI in higher education.

Artificial Intelligence (AI), Higher Education (HE), Student Intention, Technology Adoption, SEM (Structural Equation Modeling), AI Integration in Education

Environmental law has evolved from a restrictive mechanism into a catalyst for innovation and sustainability. This article synthesizes research on the relationship between environmental regulation, Green Entrepreneurial Orientation (GEO), and Circular Business Models (CBMs) through a systematic literature review. This review addresses how environmental law shapes GEO and CBMs and identifies the mechanisms through which regulation fosters sustainable innovation. Drawing on institutional, stakeholder, and green entrepreneurship theories, the review highlights how legislation not only pressures firms to adopt sustainable practices but also creates opportunities for competitive differentiation. Findings reveal that GEO, when supported by absorptive capacity and managerial commitment, enhances green innovation and facilitates the integration of CBMs. At the same time, stakeholder pressure, governmental incentives, and social networks act as moderating forces that strengthen regulatory outcomes. This review contributes a holistic framework by integrating legal, entrepreneurial, and circular business economy perspectives, and identifies the internal and external factors that drive sustainability transitions. Thus, the review underscores the importance of aligning internal entrepreneurial strategies with external legal frameworks to achieve resilience, long-term competitiveness, and sustainability. It concludes by identifying research gaps and calling for stronger policy–practice synergies to accelerate circular transitions.

Proactiveness, Circular business models, Stakeholder theory, Environmental law, Governmental institution, Sustainability policy, Corporate social responsibility, Green entrepreneurial orientation

This chapter explores the critical role of non-financial performance metrics in shaping corporate governance, emphasizing their impact on organizational success beyond traditional financial measures. Adopting a critical literature review approach, using Google Scholar and Scopus websites as sources of the literature, the chapter highlights how social responsibility, eco-innovation, cultural diversity, and ethical leadership contribute to sustainable business practices, enhance stakeholder well-being, and foster ethical decision-making. By leveraging non-financial indicators such as employee satisfaction, customer loyalty, environmental impact, and diversity, organizations can inspire and motivate managers, improve productivity, and ensure ethical operations. The chapter underscores the growing importance of sustainability reporting, transparency, and accountability in modern corporate governance. It concludes by reflecting on the strength of diversity and the resilience of stakeholders in driving corporate success in an era of rapid innovation.

Non-financial performance, Corporate governance, Sustainability reporting, Social responsibility, Diversity

Current literature lacks sufficient evidence on adoption of AI conversational agents (chatbots) in the healthcare industry. This research paper aims to fill this gap by investigating the acceptance of chatbots in Online Health Communities (OHCs) through a defined research model. The study examines the influence of specific features on users’ intentions and actual usage of these communities. A quantitative methodology is employed, utilizing the proposed research model to analyse users’ behavior and intentions towards AI conversational agents/chatbots in OHCs. A total of 632 responses were received from 62 countries, of which 443 were complete. The findings highlight the interconnectedness between AI conversational agents/chatbots and OHCs, particularly their impact on users’ Behavioral Intention (BI). The Trust variable is found to significantly influence participants’ Behavioral Intention (BI) and Usage Behavior (UB) towards AI conversational agents/chatbots in OHCs. Additionally, factors such as experience in chatbots, experience in technology, occupation, and geographical zones are identified as significant moderators that affect BI and UB.

e-Health, Health Communication, Health Informatics, Health Psychology, Health, Medicine and Society, Artificial Intelligence

Objective: This study investigates the intention to use health chatbots in Online Health Communities (OHCs) through socio-material and sustainability perspectives. It explores how factors such as performance expectancy, effort expectancy, social influence, facilitating conditions, fear of technological advancements, and patient trust influence both intention and actual use. The research highlights the interaction between social context and technological materiality while addressing sustainability considerations.

Materials and Methods: A quantitative approach was adopted, using the UTAUT model as a base framework, extended with variables relevant to OHCs and AI. Data were collected via an online survey distributed across platforms and networks, yielding 443 complete responses from participants in 62 countries, ensuring diversity and depth of analysis.

Conclusion: The study expands sustainability variables to include cost-effectiveness, patient outcomes, user experience, and long-term viability, with emphasis on how AI enhances diagnosis accuracy, reduces errors, and improves treatment planning.

Health Chatbots, Online Health Communities (OHCs), UTAUT Model, Technology Acceptance, Sociomateriality, Sustainability in Healthcare.

Water contamination is a real concern, and safe water demand increases with the growing world population. The development of eco-friendly and cost-effective technologies that can clean water is necessary. This study investigates the bio-synthesis of pure graphitic carbon nitride nanoparticles (GCN-NPs), zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs), and ZnO-doped graphitic carbon nitride nanohybrids (ZnO/GCN-NHs) using Ocimum tenuiflorum (OT) leaf extract, with a focus on their potential applications in wastewater treatment, cytotoxicity assessment, and antibacterial activity. GCN synthesis using plant extract was never reported in previous studies. Under direct solar light photocatalytic performance of the synthesized NPs and NHs was tested on the degradation of methylene orange (MO) dye and compared. Among the samples, the ZnO/GCN-NHs (10 mg/100 mL) exhibits good photocatalytic activity, achieving up to 47.56% degradation in 150 min of MO dye. The cytotoxicity of the bio-synthesized NPs and NHs 50 µg/mL concentration was assessed against human dental pulp stem cells and these were found to be non-toxic, indicating their potential for biomedical applications. The antimicrobial properties were also assessed using well diffusion and disc diffusion tests against four bacterial strains, i.e., two Gram-negative (Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa) and two Gram-positive (Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus dysgalactiae). The tests demonstrate significant antibacterial activity with an excellent inhibition radius against Escherichia coli 17.5 ± 1 mm, Pseudomonas aeruginosa 15.04 ± 1 mm, Staphylococcus aureus 27.5 ± 1 mm, and Streptococcus dysgalactiae 25 ± 1 mm. The enhanced photocatalytic and antimicrobial properties of the ZnO/GCN-NHs are hypothesized to be due to the increased production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) through the combination of ZnO-NPs with biosynthesized GCN.

Boron Nitride, Graphene Oxide, Green Chemistry, Nanomedicine and Nanotoxicology, Natural Products, Photocatalysis.

The Basketball Arbitral Tribunal (BAT) introduced the Payment Order Procedure (POP) mechanism to streamline the resolution of low-value financial disputes in sports, offering quick preliminary judgments to ease financial strain and encourage settlements.

This article assesses how law schools can adapt their teaching methods to modern practices without losing their traditional strengths. Based on a 2024 study of 200 students and 15 professors at Université La Sagesse in Beirut, the findings analyzed in 2025 highlight shared challenges among law faculties. Applying the 5C Framework: Communication, Collaboration, Critical Thinking, Creativity, and Content, the study calls for a balance between innovation and tradition to meet today’s professional demands.

With the escalating influx of οpen data daily, the European Commission, as per the European’s 2022 Strategic Foresight Report, prioritizes fostering equitable, greener and digital societies. The conversion of conventional services to digital platforms to support citizens in urban areas is now becoming the norm, posing challenges for accessible civic infrastructures. Open data-defined as data that can be freely used, re-used and redistributed by anyoneare expected to bring forth opportunities and societal adjustment challenges. Despite being under investigation for the past two decades, the intersection of Open Data and Smart Cities continues to be a dynamic and developing research area. The progressive implementation of Smart Cities demands the development of new skills and competences. Our systematic literature review uncovers these research gaps highlighting potential areas for development and further study. In addition, this study investigates the legal and policy frameworks regarding Open Data and Open Data for Smart Cities. It explores the impact of Open Data on Smart Cities, as well as the necessary competencies and skills required by data officers to support the implementation of Smart Cities. Furthermore, the research will examine the upskilling and reskilling strategies for data officers in Smart Cities concerning Open Data.

Career Skills, Data-driven Science, Modeling and Theory Building, Industry 4.0, Smart Infrastructure, Urban Ethnography, Urban Policy