BackgroundCognitive impulsivity is a multifaceted construct associated with symptom severity, functional impairment, and poor quality of life in eating disorders (EDs) and mental ill-health. However, objective assessment of cognitive impulsivity is piecemeal and complex, with many assessment tools lacking psychometric evaluation and ecological validity. Furthermore, validated assessment tools are rarely perceived to be engaging or meaningful by individuals who complete them, limiting their utility in research and forming a barrier to clinical translation. Thus, although cognitive impulsivity predicts treatment engagement and outcomes, it is rarely assessed or addressed in a clinical context.ObjectiveWe aimed to redesign and evaluate the Cognitive Impulsivity Suite (CIS), a validated gamified assessment battery of cognitive impulsivity, through user-centered co-design, agile game development, and user-centered evaluation. This collaborative study partnered researchers with individuals with lived experiences (LEs) of EDs and commonly co-occurring mental ill-health, and game development experts.MethodsIn a sequential mixed methods design, we first defined user requirements through inductive thematic analysis of data from 2 focus groups incorporating 7 individuals with LE of EDs and commonly co-occurring mental health conditions (mean age 27.6, SD 7.03 y; 4 women, 2 men, 1 nonbinary), researchers, clinicians, and technology professionals. Agile game development was achieved through 6-week-long sprints, involving game developers and a play-testing team of researchers. During LE evaluation, we collected and analyzed data from an expanded sample (n=18; mean age 30.5, SD 6.56 y; 12 women, 3 men, 2 nonbinary), using a pragmatic blending of qualitative and quantitative research methods. This included inductive and deductive thematic analysis of “thinking aloud” data, descriptive statistics, and ANOVA tests of the Game User Experience Satisfaction Scale, short version (GUESS-18) surveys.ResultsWe co-designed guiding principles and ideas for aesthetics, story concepts, and gameplay features, which closely aligned with leading theories of psychological well-being, clinical evidence concerning ED recovery, and gamification frameworks. Qualitative evaluations of the new tool, CIS Papillon Park, showed user engagement and motivation were driven by opportunities for autonomy, personal accomplishment, and simulated interpersonal relationships, aligning with approaches to gamification based on self-determination theory. In quantitative evaluation, a mean GUESS-18 composite score of 45.9 (SD 9.85) showed CIS Papillon Park achieved sound overall user satisfaction, with subscale scores revealing strengths in usability, narrative, visual and audio aesthetics, and personal gratification.ConclusionsThe contributions of this study are grounded in its integration of user-centered co-design and evaluation, agile game development, and theory-driven approaches to cognitive assessment and gamification, to redesign and evaluate a validated online task battery. The resulting CIS Papillon Park combines appealing aesthetics, gamification elements that address cognitive, emotional, and social needs, and accessible playing experiences, which maximized user satisfaction and engagement while prioritizing psychological safety. Next steps involve psychometric evaluation and dissemination.

BackgroundIndividuals living with type 1 diabetes (T1D) are at an increased risk of experiencing psychological distress; however, there remains a scarcity of scalable and widely accessible support services, particularly for adolescents and young adults. To address this gap, digital mental health interventions are becoming an increasingly important area of innovation in diabetes care.ObjectiveThis study aimed to explore qualitative feedback regarding the “Lift: Thriving with Diabetes” (Lift) well-being app, designed to support emotional well-being among adolescents and young adults with T1D, which was recently tested in a 12-week feasibility trial conducted in New Zealand and the United States.MethodsOf the 59 adolescents and young adults and 22 support people who participated in the main Lift feasibility trial, 13 agreed to participate in this secondary qualitative study. Participants attended a virtual focus group or 1-on-1 interview to discuss their experiences using the app and to explore their perspectives on the app’s engagement, functionality, and perceived impact on well-being and diabetes-related coping. Transcribed audio recordings were analyzed using directed content analysis, guided by the Mobile Application Rating Scale end-user framework (with topics of engagement, functionality, aesthetics, and information quality) and interpreted from a realist theoretical position.ResultsIn total, 9 adolescents and young adults (mean age 21.5, SD 2.06 years; n=5, 56% men) and 4 support people (2 fathers, 1 friend, and 1 partner; mean age 31.3, SD 18.92 years; n=2, 50% men) completed interviews. Overall, participants viewed Lift as engaging, easy to use, and emotionally impactful. The most positive feedback focused on the app’s interactive features, particularly a well-being tree that “grew” with increased engagement, and its “calming” visual aesthetics. Users also reported meaningful emotional or behavioral impact, particularly in promoting connection, self-awareness, and practical coping strategies in living with T1D. However, user feedback also highlighted areas for improvement, including the need for improved content pacing, personalization, connection with other digital health tools, and greater gamification to sustain long-term engagement. Participants consistently expressed a desire for content tailored to their age, role (eg, support person vs young person), and personal preferences (eg, voice, pace, tone, and interactivity).ConclusionsFindings underscore the potential of user-driven, emotionally intelligent digital tools to enhance well-being and connection for young people with T1D, as well as their support people. These insights can inform the refinement of Lift and the development of broader digital health interventions aimed at promoting well-being and fostering meaningful, sustained impact.

Color, as a core element in artistic images, not only contributes to visual aesthetics but also plays a crucial role in expressing emotions, constructing thematic narratives, and conveying semantic information. While existing deep learning approaches for art style recognition primarily focus on structural and textural features, they often overlook the perceptual and psychological dimensions of color. To address this gap, this paper proposes a color perception-aware deep learning framework for artistic style classification. Our method integrates psychologically motivated color preprocessing-including saturation enhancement and adaptive transformation in HSV and Lab color spaces-into a standard ResNet-50 backbone, enabling the model to better capture stylistically relevant chromatic cues. Evaluated on the WikiArt dataset (27 styles), our approach achieves a test accuracy of 90.2% ± 0.3, outperforming current state-of-the-art methods without resorting to larger architectures or multi-modal inputs. The results demonstrate that explicitly modeling human color perception can yield significant performance gains in art style recognition using only image data. Beyond classification, we discuss the broader implications of precise color feature extraction for applications such as digital restoration, artwork authentication, and creative content recommendation. Finally, we outline future directions in color-aware AI for art, emphasizing its potential in emotional analysis, generative art, and interdisciplinary research at the intersection of computer vision and art history.

Focusing on Girls Like Us (2021) and Rap Star Dream Maker (2024), this study examines how female rappers strategically navigate gender expression, affective alliances, and negotiated authenticity within the field of Chinese hip-hop reality shows. Drawing on hip-hop feminist theory and critical discourse analysis, the study offers a comprehensive interpretation of lyrics, visual aesthetics, mentors’ critiques, and audience danmu (bullet comments). The study reveals how female expression is simultaneously enabled and constrained by the intersecting pressures of patriarchal norms, platform logic, and state governance. Female rappers, through performative self-positioning and strategic discursive negotiation, challenge dominant expressive boundaries. Although expressions of “sisterhood” are rooted in genuine emotional and political solidarity, they are often repackaged as consumable “emotional moments” that obscure their structural significance. Meanwhile, the hip-hop ideal of “keeping it real” has been reshaped under the interplay of pressures from the state and platform into a form of “negotiated authenticity” that aligns with mainstream ideology and commercial demands. Taken together, these dynamics constitute a form of “instrumental empowerment,” in which the conditions enabling female rappers’ visibility simultaneously constrain its reach. This study aims to contribute to hip-hop feminist and media scholarship by theorizing female rappers’ visibility under techno-state capitalism.

This study analyzes the phenomenon of "chromatic mimicry" in digital visual identity as a political communication tool related to the 2025 New York City (NYC) mayoral election. The study's primary focus is the semiotic anomaly that emerged following Andrew Cuomo's initial campaign defeat, which resulted in him adopting the colors of his political opponent, Zohran Mamdani. This study uses a qualitative, descriptive-comparative approach with a diachronic analysis of six digital posters from the candidates' official Instagram accounts, selected purposively. The sample includes Zohran Mamdani's visual consistency phase, the pre-anomaly phase, and Andrew Cuomo's mimicry phase during the January-November 2025 election period. The six posters were analyzed using three theories: Gestalt principles of visual organization, Kress & van Leeuwen's Grammar of Visual Design, and Ted Brader's emotional rhetoric. The results show that Mamdani successfully created "Urban Vernacular Authenticity" by using electric blue and bright orange colors derived from everyday New York City infrastructure, such as the MetroCard, taxis, and bodegas. This creates consistent place-based identification. In contrast, Cuomo's mimicry approach was ineffective due to emotional dissonance. The use of bright colors, which convey enthusiasm, contradicted the message, which was dominated by anxiety appeals about crime. This resulted in an ambiguous visual message and perceptual dissonance with the candidate's image. The study confirms that color in digital politics functions as an active semiotic infrastructure. The effectiveness of political branding depends not only on the adoption of visual aesthetics, but also on the consistency between chromatic codes and the substance of the ideological narrative.

A kaleidoscope is a cylindrical instrument with two reflecting surfaces placed at opposing angles on each end. It is filled with colourful everyday materials like beads and trinkets, which, when viewed through the inclined mirrors, polarises light, creating mesmerising symmetrical patterns. As an object, the kaleidoscope is a product of both physics and visual art, combining science and aesthetics to transform the ordinary into the spectacular and to make sense of chaos. In an unpublished conversation on the process of making theatre, South African director Barney Simon remarked that this is ‘how we must work: use the simple everyday things and rearrange them so that they create patterns – patterns that can transform ways of seeing the commonplace. The way of [making and teaching] art lies in selecting and arranging these things with care.’ (Simon 1989). As theatre-makers and lecturers in the Theatre and Performance department at the Wits School of Arts in Johannesburg, we propose that the collective practice of assembling and co-teaching our Theatre Arts 3B course is like making a kaleidoscope: we construct the curriculum by collating multiple materials – knowledges, analytical tools and academic conventions (formal and informal, hidden and overt) – which we combine with our students’ everyday encounters and experiences. We then collect these seemingly unconnected pieces, position ourselves, and reflect upon them through multiple lenses that reflect to us. It is then, through continuous debate and critique, that we can identify and (de)construct patterns that transform students’ (and our own) ways of seeing, knowing, practising and writing about Theatre and Performance. In this paper, we will disassemble and make visible the mechanics of our kaleidoscopic student-centred pedagogy, positioning ourselves as people, artists and teachers to create new, anti-hierarchical patterns that build more reflective, inclusive and decolonial teaching practices rooted in our everyday knowledge.

Purpose This study aims to explore how banks might enhance customer attitudinal loyalty in a wartime context, based on emotional attachment and psychological engagement with their digital tools, focusing on Ukraine. In conditions of geopolitical instability, understanding the psychological drivers of loyalty becomes critical for fostering financial systems’ stability. Design/methodology/approach Using survey data from Ukrainian banking customers, the authors used confirmatory factor analysis and structural equation modeling. Based on a previously validated scale, engagement was modeled as a second-order construct with five first-order dimensions: interaction, visual aesthetics, discovery, identity and civic orientation. Findings The results show that emotional attachment does not directly drive loyalty but works indirectly through engagement with digital tools. Visual design and informational discovery emerged as the strongest engagement dimensions, while interaction and civic orientation were weaker. In Ukraine’s wartime context, affective bonds alone are insufficient to sustain loyalty; attachment must be translated into psychological digital engagement to have an effect. These findings remain robust when considering only Ukrainian-headquartered banks or only traditional banks with physical branches, underscoring the central role of digital engagement in maintaining customer loyalty during crisis. Practical implications Banks operating in warzones or similarly uncertain environments should prioritize the engagement of customers – in particular, the design and content quality of their digital platforms – to enhance their loyalty. In addition, strengthening the direct psychological and emotional connection with them could offer another lever for improving loyalty. This suggests that while customers may feel proud of or connected to their domestic banks, these sentiments remain largely symbolic unless reinforced by tangible, engaging experiences with digital banking services. Originality/value This research provides new insights into banking consumer loyalty under extreme uncertainty, contributing to the literature on customer loyalty and consumer behavior during crisis. It positions digital banking tools not just as a service channel, but as a psychological anchor for customers in times of societal disruption.

The influencer economy has profoundly intervened in the daily lifestyles of contemporary youth. This study adopted a questionnaire survey method and collected 441 valid questionnaires from young people who actively explore and check in at popular venues. Data were analyzed from the dimensions of consumption decision-making, behavioral motivation, and experiential perception. The survey shows that 56.7% of respondents prioritize "whether photos can be taken well" when making consumption decisions, indicating that visual aesthetics has become an important consumption criterion. At the same time, young people have not been completely dominated by the influencer economy: 76.6% regard photo-related consumption as a way to "leave beautiful memories for themselves", rather than a means to chase online traffic or build a public image. Nearly 40% of participants actively seek a balance between taking photos and experiencing the moment. The study reveals that young people maintain rational judgment while pursuing aesthetic tastes in visual consumption, showing a complex state of being "attracted yet discerning". Moreover, the most profound impact of the influencer economy on consumption is not the replacement of quality value, but the shift of visual aesthetics from a secondary factor to the core of decision-making, making it an independent dimension parallel to product quality. This study provides an empirical reference for understanding changes in consumer culture under the era of visual communication.

The article examines the phenomenon of the “Liquid Glass” visual style, which has gained prominence alongside advances in spatial computing and the increasing performance of modern graphics processors. Over time, this approach has moved beyond a purely decorative technique and has begun to be treated as a technologically grounded model of interface design, in which the simulation of optical material properties becomes part of the rendering architecture itself. In this context, visual aesthetics are directly linked to implementation choices and the underlying graphics pipeline. The study provides a comparative analysis of methods for implementing transparent structures in web environments. It contrasts declarative CSS solutions—particularly the backdrop-filter property—with low-level graphics APIs such as WebGL and WebGPU in terms of performance characteristics and their ability to approximate physically motivated light behavior. The analysis addresses pipeline structure, the constraints of compositing-based approaches, and the potential of shader-driven techniques for simulating refraction and chromatic dispersion. At the same time, ergonomic implications are considered: while “visual tactility” may enhance the perceived materiality of interface elements, its uncontrolled use can complicate visual hierarchy and weaken the figure–ground relationship. Accessibility is treated as a central constraint rather than a secondary consideration. Transparent and dynamically changing backgrounds increase variability in perceived contrast, which complicates compliance with web accessibility standards. The article therefore examines perceptual contrast models, including APCA, and discusses adaptive techniques for luminance and background adjustment. It is argued that the effective integration of Liquid Glass into web interfaces depends on a carefully balanced engineering strategy in which visual expressiveness is aligned with performance limitations and inclusive design requirements.

Entrepreneurship and storytelling are dynamically tied as part of changing environments. In this essay, we argue that the prototype—an essential element of an entrepreneurial venture—tells a story that is shaped through time, especially by its environment. This ecological approach is inspired by Dunlop and Wilkinson Westberg’s narrative ecology,* where several concentric layers of a system shape the center. The prototype becomes a fundamental storytelling device that also shapes its environment when it acquires a considerable level of visibility and legitimacy, which reminds us of the importance of visual aesthetics and their meaning to grasp the attention of an audience. Using four examples, we suggest how the visual dimension of the prototype becomes an essential part of a story that is able to shape its environment.

This study questions Moroccan women’s ability to use TikTok as a means to challenge Western-centric feminism and confront both colonial narratives and local patriarchal norms. Drawing on decolonial feminist theory, this study analyzes fifteen videos across three pages to examine how music, visual aesthetics and written text reshape feminist agency. Through historical reclamation, humor and educational advocacy, these creators promote localized feminist expression and resist dominant power structures. The findings show that Moroccan women are not passive consumers but active producers of decolonial feminist discourse, positioning TikTok as a crucial site for reimagining gender, identity and knowledge production.

The emergence of drone-based cinematography has tremendously widened the aesthetic potential of landscape visual arts, allowing the perspectives and visual compositions otherwise challenging or inaccessible to photography or filmmaking methodologies on the ground. The paper explores the use of aerial imaging technologies in the artistic expression and spatial perception and the visual narrative of landscape art. The study investigates the effects of aerial perspective on the conventional compositional principles of the scale, symmetrical development, motions, and environmental context, by discussing theoretical grounds of visual aesthetics and spatial perception. The research paper follows a qualitative and practice-based approach to research based on the analysis of chosen landscape settings and artistic situations with the help of the drone systems with high-resolution cameras and stabilizing gimbal systems. The study analyzes the role of the change in altitude, camera movement, and dynamic framing in providing new aesthetic values of landscape representation. Also, the study focuses on the business issues such as regulatory limitations, environmental effects, and privacy concerns related to the use of drones in artistic production. According to the findings, drone cinematography can greatly increase visual diversity allowing artists to design immersive aerial shots, uncover concealed geographical formations, and introduce new narrative forms to landscape visual arts.

Color harmony is a form of visual aesthetics that exists in digital art and influences the perception, emotion and the quality of the entire design. The more complex the digital creation of art, the more the systematic means of picking out combinations of colors is becoming a necessity as a replacement of the older systems of color combinations that were picked out intuitively. The authors have discussed in this paper the computational colour theory model in visual harmony optimisation in the creation of digital artwork by integrating conventional colour theories with the latest algorithmic and data-driven techniques. The paper explains the theory of colour and colour space perceptions, and the measures of harmony, and then goes further to explain the computational methods of rule-based systems, mathematical modelling, optimization algorithms and machine learning strategies. It is recommended to introduce a comprehensive implementation structure, such as system architecture, data preparation, model training and digital art pipeline preparation. Experimental evaluation based on quantitative measurement is achieved using quantitative measures, such as perceptual color distance, harmony scoring and contrast ratio, and mean squared error and qualitative user study. The results show that machine learning and hybrid networks are more effective in the accuracy and aesthetic quality to provide more flexible and context-sensitive color suggestions. Subjectivity of color perception, biased datasets, and the complexity of computations involved is a critical concern (which will be discussed in the paper) and future prospects, including the use of individualized color models, interpretable AI, and real-time optimization systems are mentioned.

This study evaluates the effectiveness of a 2D educational adventure RPG integrating branching narratives and a Numberlink-based puzzle to enhance students’ understanding of the historical Bandung Lautan Api event. Addressing the persistent issue of low engagement in history classrooms, the research investigates whether interactive storytelling and embedded logic-puzzle tasks can strengthen learning outcomes and user experience. Using a design-based research approach, the game was tested with 23 junior high school students through a pre-test/post-test design and the Game User Experience Satisfaction Scale (GUESS-18). The results show a substantial increase in historical knowledge, with post-test scores significantly higher than pre-test scores, indicating strong knowledge acquisition following gameplay. GUESS-18 responses also reveal consistently positive user experiences, with high ratings for narrative quality, educational value, visual and audio aesthetics, and overall enjoyment. Students reported that branching choices improved immersion and reflective thinking, while the Numberlink puzzle supported active reasoning during missions. These findings demonstrate that the integration of interactive narrative structures and logic-based puzzles can effectively support both cognitive and affective dimensions of history learning. Overall, the study confirms the potential of game-based learning to enhance comprehension, motivation, and engagement, providing evidence that well-designed educational games can significantly improve learning performance and serve as a valuable supplement to conventional history instruction.

This paper explores the correlation between street morphological complexity and aesthetic judgement perceived at street view level through the eyes of architectural and urban design experts. A literature review identified seven criteria commonly used to articulate the concept of aesthetics in street elevations, namely: rhythm, proportion, visual balance, colour coherence, material coherence, street edge continuity and street landmark. Panoramic views of 10 street elevations worldwide representing these criteria were selected to assess the correlation between visual aesthetics and complexity exposed by their urban forms. The panoramic street images were then visually manipulated through the ‘add’ and ‘remove’ technique and categorized into two groups based on the presence or absence of the aesthetic criteria. The disparity between these groups concerning changes in their visual complexity was calculated mathematically by employing ImageJ software. A t-test revealed a significant relationship between the presence of aesthetic criteria and their respective morphological complexity in street landscapes. Moreover, a quantitative association between landscape beauty and visual complexity was identified. The research revealed the strong correlation between street elevation aesthetics and morphological complexity. It adds a quantitative tool in the toolbox of architects and urban designers, assisting them to assess their novel design solutions for enhancing street elevation visual quality.

This study aims to develop a fantasy makeup concept with a natural root theme through the exploration of dry tissue and latex glue as alternative prosthetic materials. This research is a Research and Development (R&D) study using the ADDIE (Analysis, Design, Development, Implementation, Evaluation) model. Product development in this study focused on the exploration of dry tissue and latex glue as alternative media in creating root-themed fantasy makeup. Validation was conducted by three makeup experts using a Likert scale instrument from 1-5, covering aspects of visual aesthetics, elements and principles of fine art, product creativity, and element application techniques. Data were analyzed descriptively and quantitatively using a feasibility percentage formula. The results showed an achievement level of 88.48%, which is included in the "Good" category. These findings indicate that simple materials such as dry tissue and latex glue have the potential to be an economical and applicable alternative prosthetic material in fantasy makeup learning.

ABSTRACT The article analyses the development of the cameraman’s style in Kazakh cinema through the work of Murat Nugmanov (1946–2025), whose career extended from the late Soviet period to the time of independence. The contribution of the camerawork in representing narratives at different moments in the country’s search for identity is studied through three key films: Rashid Nugmanov’s The Needle (1988), Amir Karakulov’s Last Holiday (1997) and Yerlan Nurmukhambetov’s A Little Samurai (2022), co-directed with Sano Shinju. Special attention is given to the way in which shots are created through the work with lighting, camera movement and visual rhythm. While Nugmanov’s camera is never static, it remains nevertheless an observer and allows the viewer’s immersion into the character’s world. The article demonstrates how Nugmanov’s palette of tools for his camerawork changes, depending on the era, technological capabilities and artistic tasks, and how his auteur style unfolds. The relationship between visual aesthetics, the sociocultural context and the philosophy of the frame is revealed. Nugmanov’s camerawork is shown to make him a full-fledged co-author of visual meaning in Kazakhstani cinema.

This paper delves into the uncharted territories of Gond art from Madhya Pradesh, India, revealing the rich narratives and musical traditions that underpin this ancient art form. Moving beyond the widely recognized paintings, this research shines a light on the stories, myths, and legends that give Gond art its depth and meaning. Through interviews with Pradhan artists from the Gond tribe, this study exposes the concerns of the community, as their traditional art is being adapted globally, often stripped of its cultural context and significance. The paper argues that the true essence of Gond art lies not just in its visual aesthetics, but in the intricate web of stories, songs, and rituals that breathe life into the paintings. By highlighting the voices of the Gond artists, this research aims to reclaim the narrative of Gond art, celebrating its complexity and promoting a more nuanced understanding of this vibrant cultural heritage.

UF-SIENet: Frequency-selection based image enhancement for underwater object detection

The staging of theatrical performances reflects the cultural, historical, and aesthetic traditions of a society. This article analyzes the distinctive features of staging practices in Uzbek, Russian, and English theatres through a comparative methodological approach. Particular attention is given to cultural foundations, actor training traditions, directing methods, and technical stage design. Uzbek theatre is characterized by a strong connection to national cultural heritage, ethnographic elements, and emotional realism. Russian theatre emphasizes psychological depth and systematic actor training, largely influenced by the Stanislavski system and other methodological schools. English theatre combines classical dramaturgical traditions with contemporary stage technologies and experimental visual aesthetics. The study demonstrates that although these theatrical traditions share common artistic principles, they differ significantly in their staging strategies, technological integration, and conceptual directing approaches. These differences reflect their historical development and cultural contexts while contributing to the diversity and evolution of contemporary global theatre practices.