Search Results (44,607)

The issue of Out-of-School Children (OOSC) presents a significant policy challenge in Sindh, Pakistan, where 44% of 5–16-year-olds are not attending school. This study examines how different leadership strategies in government and Public-Private Partnership (PPP) schools address this crisis. Drawing on transformational leadership theory and institutional theory, this research investigates the influence of school governance structures—specifically government schools, Education Management Organizations (EMOs), and Sindh Education Foundation (SEF) schools—on school leaders’ abilities to increase student enrollment and retention. Through a multiple case study design, this study collects qualitative data from three school heads, augmented by perspectives from vice principals and teachers. The findings indicate that leadership agency is constrained in government schools due to centralized decision-making, while PPP schools, particularly SEF schools, offer more autonomy, enabling more adaptive and community-centered leadership strategies. This study concludes that decentralized governance in SEF schools is more effective in addressing the OOSC issue, particularly in marginalized areas. These findings offer valuable insights for policymakers seeking to enhance educational access in regions with similar socio-economic challenges. The implications of this research underscore the need for flexible, context-specific leadership models to combat the OOSC crisis. Full article

With the advancement of resilience concepts, enhancing resilience capacity has become an effective approach to addressing rainwater and flooding issues. Most rural planning and construction efforts adopt urban planning models from economically developed regions, often leading to surface hardening, which subsequently causes drainage difficulties and severe surface water accumulation during the rainy season. In contrast, traditional Lingnan villages, exemplified by Guangdong’s Changqi Ancient Village, continue to function normally in flood-prone areas, suggesting that their water management knowledge merits investigation. Previous research on rainwater management in traditional Chinese villages has predominantly been qualitative, lacking scientific data support. This study employs an eco-social resilience perspective, combining field surveys and interviews with villagers, and utilizes the SWMM (Storm Water Management Model) software to conduct both qualitative and quantitative analyses of Changqi Ancient Village. The findings reveal the following: (1) The SWMM effectively quantifies rainwater and flood management in traditional villages. (2) From an ecological resilience perspective, the village’s geographical location is crucial. The topography, along with a rainwater regulation system comprising rivers, ponds, ditches, and permeable pavements, significantly influences the village’s drainage performance. (3) From a social resilience perspective, community participation is vital to the long-term stable development of traditional villages. This includes post-disaster collective fundraising by villagers for the restoration of rainwater and flood management facilities, the formulation of village regulations, and the construction and restoration of spiritual sites. (4) From an eco-social resilience perspective, the eco-social resilience system exhibits adaptive cyclical characteristics, where the geographical environment and the local economy significantly shape the ecological spatial patterns of Changqi, while positive interaction between nature and human society ensures the system’s dynamic equilibrium. Full article

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a complex and chronic condition that requires the use of various pharmacological agents for its management. Despite advancements in IBD research, the multifaceted mechanisms involved continue to pose significant challenges for strategic prevention. Therefore, it is crucial to prioritize safe and effective treatment strategies using the currently available pharmacological agents. Given that patients with IBD often require multiple medications due to combination therapy or other underlying conditions, a comprehensive understanding of drug interactions is essential for optimizing treatment regimens. In this review, we examined the pharmacological treatment options recommended in the current IBD management guidelines and provided a comprehensive analysis of the known pharmacokinetic interactions associated with these medications. In particular, this review includes recent research results for the impact of anti-drug antibodies (ADAs) on the concentrations of biological agents used in IBD treatment. By leveraging detailed interaction data and employing personalized dosing strategies, healthcare providers can improve therapeutic outcomes and minimize adverse effects, ultimately improving the quality of care for patients with IBD. Full article

With rapid urbanization, the urban heat island (UHI) effect has intensified, posing challenges to human health and ecosystems. This study explores the impact of sunlight exposure areas of artificial structures and human activities on land surface temperature (LST) in Hefei and Xuzhou, using Landsat 9 data, Google imagery, nighttime light data, and Point of Interest (POI) data. Building shadow distributions and urban road surface areas were derived, and geospatial analysis methods were applied to assess their impact on LST. The results indicate that the sunlight exposure areas of roofs and roads are the primary factors affecting LST, with a more pronounced effect in Xuzhou, while anthropogenic heat plays a more prominent role in Hefei. The influence of sunlight exposure on building facades is relatively weak, and population density shows a limited impact on LST. The geographical detector model reveals that interactions between roof and road sunlight exposure and anthropogenic heat are key drivers of LST increases. Based on these findings, urban planning should focus on optimizing building layouts and heights, enhancing greening on roofs and roads, and reducing the sunlight exposure areas of artificial structures. Additionally, strategically utilizing building shadows and minimizing anthropogenic heat emissions can help lower local temperatures and improve the urban thermal environment. Full article

Background/Objectives: Chronic severe neuropathic pain (NP) affects one in 10 individuals over the age of 30 in North America. Standard pharmacological interventions are associated with significant side effects and have limited effectiveness. Diets seeking to improve physiological health, support gut barrier integrity, and decrease systemic inflammation have recently emerged as powerful tools conferring neuroprotective and anti-inflammatory effects, potentially reducing the overall morbidity and mortality of multiple neurological and metabolic diseases. This systematic review aimed to synthesize the literature around NP outcomes following dietary interventions compared to routine standard of care. Methods: Following PRISMA guidelines, an initial search yielded 15,387 records after deduplication. Six interventional trials specifically assessing dietary interventions for neuropathic pain were included and analyzed. The dietary lifestyle interventions included low-fat plant-based, plant-based fasting-mimicking, low-calorie, potassium-reduced, gluten-free, and intermittent high-protein/Mediterranean diets. Results: The included studies described some statistically significant improvements in pain severity on objective quantitative sensory testing, electrophysiology, imaging, and subjective questionnaires. The overall risk of bias was moderate, with only one trial demonstrating a low risk of bias across all assessed domains. No serious adverse events were identified, and dietary interventions were generally well tolerated. Conclusions: The data collected and synthesized in this systematic review indicate that dietary lifestyle interventions may offer a low-risk, low-cost, low-tech option for chronic neuropathic pain management, potentially improving quality of life and reducing overall morbidity. However, given substantial variability across studies and a moderate risk of bias, further research is warranted to substantiate these findings. Full article

Cell culture banks play a crucial role in advancing biomedical research by providing standardized, reproducible biological materials essential for various applications, from drug development to regenerative medicine. This opinion article presents a comprehensive overview of cell culture banks, exploring their establishment, maintenance, and characterization processes. The significance of ethical considerations and regulatory frameworks governing the use of cell lines is discussed, emphasizing the importance of quality control and validation in ensuring the integrity of research outcomes. Additionally, the diverse types of cell culture banks—primary cells, immortalized cell lines, and stem cells—and their specific contributions to different fields such as cancer research, virology, and tissue engineering are examined. The impact of technological advancements on cell banking practices is also highlighted, including automation and biobanking software that enhance efficiency and data management. Furthermore, challenges faced by researchers in accessing high-quality cell lines are addressed, along with proposed strategies for improving collaboration between academic institutions and commercial entities. By unlocking the potential of cell culture banks through these discussions, this article aims to underline their indispensable role in driving innovation within biomedical research and fostering future discoveries that could lead to significant therapeutic breakthroughs. Full article

The integration of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) with artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) has fundamentally transformed precision agriculture by enhancing efficiency, sustainability, and data-driven decision making. In this paper, we present a comprehensive overview of the integration of multispectral, hyperspectral, and thermal sensors mounted on drones with AI-driven algorithms to transform modern farms. Such technologies support crop health monitoring in real time, resource management, and automated decision making, thus improving productivity with considerably reduced resource consumption. However, limitations include high costs of operation, limited UAV battery life, and the need for highly trained operators. The novelty of this study lies in the thorough analysis and comparison of all UAV-AI integration research, along with an overview of existing related works and an analysis of the gaps. Furthermore, practical solutions to technological challenges are summarized to provide insights into precision agriculture. This paper also discusses the barriers to UAV adoption and suggests practical solutions to overcome existing limitations. Finally, this paper outlines future research directions, which will discuss advances in sensor technology, energy-efficient AI models, and how these aspects influence ethical considerations regarding the use of UAVs in agricultural research. Full article

Background: The management of residual elbow instability is a challenging and compelling issue for treating physicians. To overcome inherent drawbacks of dynamic external fixators, the internal joint stabilizer (IJS) has been developed, achieving successful results, but it can sometimes cause local tenderness or anesthetic concerns in the subcutaneous layer. In addition, a bulky anconeus can pull the hardware away from the axis of rotation with an increase in the lever arm and potential issues. To address these issues, an alternative approach has been recently described in which the internal device is covered by the anconeus muscle, becoming submuscular, rather than subcutaneous. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of this alternative approach to the IJS application in maintaining a concentric elbow during and after device removal in both acute and chronic scenarios. Methods: Prospective data collection was performed with consecutive patients who had residual elbow instability treated with an IJS (Skeletal Dynamics, Miami, FL) covered by the anconeus from January 2022 and with a minimum follow-up of 12 months. Results: At a medium follow-up of 16 months, the 16 patients selected had a mean arc of flexion–extension of 123° (range: 0–140°) and a mean pronation-supination arc of 150° (range: 80–80°). The mean MEPS and DASH scores were 90.3 ± 6.2 and 6.3 ± 5.3, respectively. At the last follow-up, elbow stability and concentric reduction were confirmed with radiographic and clinical examinations. Conclusions: With a minimum follow-up of 12 months, the present study supports the safety and efficacy of the internal device in a submuscular layer. The clinical outcomes and the rate of recurrent instability are comparable to those achieved with a classic subcutaneous position. Similarly, the complication rate is not affected, and removal surgery is no more aggressive than the classic approach. Full article

Background/Objectives: Nowadays, body weight management has gained significant consumer attention due to the health megatrend. It plays a key role in preventing diseases, maintaining health, and creating a balanced diet, as well as in mental and physical health. Overweight and obesity are serious problems that can result in various non-communicable diseases; thus, managing the body weight of those who are overweight or obese without pathological changes would help reduce the prevalence of these diseases. By reducing body weight, not only individual health expenses but also public health costs could be reduced. To do so, it is necessary to assess at what levels consumers perceive their own health status, as well as the extent to which they pay attention to body weight management. Our research aimed to contribute to the foundation of public intervention programs by exploring some characteristics of body weight management among Hungarian consumers. Methods: We used a large-sample questionnaire survey involving a total of 550 people. Various statistical methods were used to analyze the data, including descriptive statistics, association tests, and hypothesis tests. Results: According to our results, those who want to lose weight are more engaged in managing their body weight than those who are satisfied with their weight or who want to gain weight, often aiming to reach an ideal weight through diet and exercise, and are willing to invest more in healthier lifestyles, both in terms of their diet and physical activity. In this regard, we did not find significant differences between the genders. Conclusions: Based on our findings, we can conclude that dietitians and doctors should play a more active role in guiding lifestyle changes since the majority of our respondents do not consider them credible sources of information on healthy eating, and they do not consult them on this topic. On the other hand, however, a much larger proportion seek information from them regarding regular physical activity, and after personal trainers, they are considered the second most authentic source of information. Full article

The Future Internet aims to revolutionize digital interaction by integrating advanced technologies like AI and IoT, enabling a dynamic and resilient network. It envisions emotionally intelligent systems that can interpret and respond to human feelings, creating immersive, empathy-driven learning experiences. This evolution aspires to form a responsive digital ecosystem that seamlessly connects technology and human emotion. This paper presents a computational model aimed at enhancing the emotional aspect of learning experiences within museum environments. The model is designed to represent and manage affective and emotional feedback, with a focus on how emotions can significantly impact the learning process in a museum context. The proposed model seeks to identify and quantify emotions during a visitor’s engagement with museum exhibits. To achieve this goal, we primarily explored the following: (i) methods and techniques for assessing and recognizing emotional responses in museum visitors, (ii) feedback management strategies based on the detection of visitors’ emotional states. Then, the methodology was tested on 1000 cases via specific questionnaire forms, along with the presentation of images and short videos, and the results of data analysis are reported. The findings contribute toward establishing a comprehensive methodology for the identification and quantification of the emotional state of museum visitors. Full article

This review provides a comprehensive analysis of the transformative role of artificial intelligence (AI) in predicting and preventing sports injuries across various disciplines. By exploring the application of machine learning (ML) and deep learning (DL) techniques, such as random forests (RFs), convolutional neural networks (CNNs), and artificial neural networks (ANNs), this review highlights AI’s ability to analyze complex datasets, detect patterns, and generate predictive insights that enhance injury prevention strategies. AI models improve the accuracy and reliability of injury risk assessments by tailoring prevention strategies to individual athlete profiles and processing real-time data. A literature review was conducted through searches in PubMed, Google Scholar, Science Direct, and Web of Science, focusing on studies from 2014 to 2024 and using keywords such as ‘artificial intelligence’, ‘machine learning’, ‘sports injury’, and ‘risk prediction’. While AI’s predictive power supports both team and individual sports, its effectiveness varies based on the unique data requirements and injury risks of each, with team sports presenting additional complexity in data integration and injury tracking across multiple players. This review also addresses critical issues such as data quality, ethical concerns, privacy, and the need for transparency in AI applications. By shifting the focus from reactive to proactive injury management, AI technologies contribute to enhanced athlete safety, optimized performance, and reduced human error in medical decisions. As AI continues to evolve, its potential to revolutionize sports injury prediction and prevention promises further advancements in athlete health and performance while addressing current challenges. Full article

The management of variety collections can be supported by integrating molecular data into Distinctness, Uniformity, and Stability (DUS) testing. DurdusTools is a genetic distance (GD) calculation tool that supports planning field trials in durum wheat. A commercially available single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) wheat microarray is used to profile varieties and candidate varieties. Their molecular profiles are stored in a database. SNP markers selected based on quality parameters are used to calculate the pairwise genetic distance (GD) between the varieties. Combining molecular and variety information creates a downloadable, user-friendly Excel-based output. The file shows the pairwise GD of the varieties most similar to the candidate variety of interest and selected variety information. After the first year of field trials, the DUS experts use the phenotypic assessment data together with the GD information to select genotypes to be grown in the field for side-by-side comparisons. The principles of DurdusTools allow for an easy integration of molecular data into DUS testing. Using the tool requires neither specific infrastructure nor molecular expert knowledge and was developed by its users for DUS testing purposes. This makes DurdusTools an easily accessible and user-friendly tool that supports variety selection for DUS field trials through an improved data basis. Full article

The last decade has seen a significant growth in the adoption of low-cost air quality monitoring systems (LCAQMSs), mostly driven by the need to overcome the spatial density limitations of traditional regulatory grade networks. However, urban air quality monitoring scenarios have proved extremely challenging for their operative deployment. In fact, these scenarios need pervasive, accurate, personalized monitoring solutions along with powerful data management technologies and targeted communications tools; otherwise, these scenarios can lead to a lack of stakeholder trust, awareness, and, consequently, environmental inequalities. The AirHeritage project, funded by the EU’s Urban Innovative Action (UIA) program, addressed these issues by integrating intelligent LCAQMSs with conventional monitoring systems and engaging the local community in multi-year measurement strategies. Its implementation allowed us to explore the benefits and limitations of citizen science approaches, the logistic and functional impacts of IoT infrastructures and calibration methodologies, and the integration of AI and geostatistical sensor fusion algorithms for mobile and opportunistic air quality measurements and reporting. Similar research or operative projects have been implemented in the recent past, often focusing on a limited set of the involved challenges. Unfortunately, detailed reports as well as recorded and/or cured data are often not publicly available, thus limiting the development of the field. This work openly reports on the lessons learned and experiences from the AirHeritage project, including device accuracy variance, field recording assessments, and high-resolution mapping outcomes, aiming to guide future implementations in similar contexts and support repeatability as well as further research by delivering an open datalake. By sharing these insights along with the gathered datalake, we aim to inform stakeholders, including researchers, citizens, public authorities, and agencies, about effective strategies for deploying and utilizing LCAQMSs to enhance air quality monitoring and public awareness on this challenging urban environment issue. Full article

The interaction between gut-residing microorganisms plays a critical role in the pathogenesis of Crohn’s disease (CD), where microbiome dysregulation can alter immune responses, leading to unresolved local inflammation. The aim of this study is to analyze the immunomodulatory properties of a recently developed probiotic + amylase blend in the SAMP1/YitFc (SAMP) mouse model of CD-like ileitis. Four groups of SAMP mice were gavaged for 56 days with the following treatments: 1) probiotic strains + amylase (0.25 mg/100 µL PBS); 2) only probiotics; 3) only amylase; PBS-treated controls. Ilea were collected for GeoMx Digital Spatial Profiler (DSP) analysis and histological evaluation. Histology assessment for inflammation indicated a significantly reduced level of ileitis in mice administered the probiotics + amylase blend. DSP analysis showed decreased abundance of neutrophils and increased abundance of dendritic cells, regulatory T cells, and macrophages, with a significant enrichment of five intracellular pathways related to apoptosis, in probiotics + amylase-treated mice. Increased apoptosis occurrence was confirmed by (TdT)- deoxyuridine triphosphate (dUTP)-biotin nick end labeling assay. Our data demonstrate a beneficial role of the probiotic and amylase blend, highlighting an increased apoptosis of innate immunity-associated cell subsets, thus promoting the resolution of inflammation. Hence, we suggest that the developed probiotic enzyme blend may be a therapeutic tool to manage CD and therefore is a candidate formulation to be tested in clinical trials. Full article

The impact of drought is intensifying due to climate change, leading to significant environmental consequences, particularly concerning river water quality. While drought is typically classified as meteorological or hydrological, studies assessing its environmental impacts remain limited. Drought-induced hydrological alterations in rivers often degrade water quality, necessitating the development of an environmental drought index. This study introduces a novel methodology for calculating an index to evaluate the effects of drought on river water quality, specifically applied to tributaries of the Nakdong River in South Korea. The index was constructed by reviewing existing water quality and drought indices, selecting relevant parameters, and weighting each factor following the National Sanitation Foundation Water Quality Index (NSFWQI) methodology. Factors integrated into the index encompass both meteorological and hydrological indicators, with priority given to variables measurable in real time. Real-time parameters—such as flow rate, cumulative precipitation, days without rainfall, and sensor-based metrics (pH, electrical conductivity [EC], dissolved oxygen [DO], and total organic carbon [TOC])—were incorporated. Additionally, for rivers with upstream dams, dam discharge data were included to reflect its influence on flow conditions. The applicability of the calculated index was assessed by comparing index values to observed water quality data. A class interval structure was implemented to enhance the index’s usability across diverse riverine conditions. Furthermore, the utility of the index was validated by comparing it to the basin’s target water quality, thereby assessing its sensitivity to drought-induced water quality deterioration. The environmental drought index proposed in this study enables the proactive and real-time monitoring of water quality under drought conditions. When applied to 10 tributaries of the Nakdong River, the index demonstrated a clear correlation between drought conditions and water quality deterioration. This index provides a practical tool for river management, facilitating early response strategies to mitigate water quality impacts associated with environmental drought. Full article