Search Results (229)

This review examines the historical development, ethnopharmacology, traditional applications, phytochemistry, and pharmacological attributes of Atractylodis Rhizoma (AR). Data were collected from a range of electronic databases, academic libraries, and classical literature. In China, AR is highly valued for its medicinal properties. Research has identified 327 compounds, including sesquiterpenes, triterpenes, flavonoids, and phenolics, which contribute to its diverse pharmacological activities, such as antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, hepatoprotective, and neuroprotective effects. AR is particularly effective in treating modern gastrointestinal disorders and influenza. As a traditional herb with a rich historical background, AR exhibits significant therapeutic potential. This review aims to correlate its active components with its primary therapeutic effects and highlight existing research gaps. Current studies primarily focus on extraction methods and pharmacodynamics. Future research should employ multi-omics and molecular biology techniques to further elucidate active components and their targets, while also addressing the challenge of low bioavailability. Full article

Extended Reality (XR) technologies are rapidly reshaping human–computer interaction; however, persistent ambiguity in the use of core terms (VR, AR, MR) hampers cumulative knowledge building, cross-study comparability, and technical standardisation. This review evaluates the XR conceptual landscape across four primary dimensions: the historical evolution of core definitions, the synthesis of contemporary theoretical frameworks, the critical extensions of the Reality-Virtuality (RV) Continuum, and the alignment between academic taxonomies and industry practices. This review evaluates the XR conceptual landscape across four primary dimensions: the historical evolution of core definitions, the synthesis of contemporary theoretical frameworks, the critical extensions of the Reality-Virtuality (RV) Continuum, and the alignment between academic taxonomies and industry practices. To address this issue, we conducted a PRISMA-guided systematic literature review across four major databases (IEEE Xplore, ACM Digital Library, Scopus, and Web of Science), complemented by seminal and industry sources. Of the 173,677 retrieved records, 59 studies were included in the synthesis. Using thematic synthesis, we mapped the historical evolution of definitions and conceptual models and identified recurring analytical dimensions. The results indicate a clear paradigm shift from Milgram’s one-dimensional Reality–Virtuality continuum—originally grounded in visual display technology—towards a multidimensional conceptual space that integrates subjective user-experience constructs (e.g., coherence and plausibility) with objective system characteristics. The included studies cover 1968–2025, with marked acceleration in the 2020s: 2022 alone accounts for the highest annual count (9 studies), and nearly half of the corpus (47.5%) was published in 2021–2025. We further show that industry actors pragmatically re-bound these academic concepts for product and market positioning, leading to systematic divergences between academic and industrial definitions. By distilling key turning points and synthesising core analytical dimensions into a structured lens, this review provides a historically grounded, actionable understanding of the XR conceptual landscape to support terminological alignment across research and practice. Full article

The proliferation of digital health education content (DHEC) offers a transformative opportunity for medical training worldwide. While students in high-income countries routinely integrate these tools, their use and impact in low-resource settings such as Mozambique remain poorly understood. Exploring this topic offers interesting possibilities at the intersection of global health equity, digital literacy, and pedagogical innovation. This study assessed how Mozambican medical students engage with online health videos, examining the types of content they search for, preferred platforms, perceived benefits, and attitudes toward integrating these materials into medical training. A quantitative cross-sectional survey was administered to 151 second-year medical students at the Catholic University of Mozambique and Alberto Chipande University. A structured online questionnaire, comprising multiple-choice, Likert-scale, and open-ended questions, was used. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, cross-tabulation, chi-square test, and Cramer’s V effect size. All students (100%) reported searching for online health videos. They primarily do so via YouTube (92.1%) and use mobile phones (98.7%). Students mainly searched topics related to basic biomedical sciences (60%). They reported that video enhances their learning (86.8%), academic work (11.3%), and other skills (1.9%). Mean scores for utility (4.06), self-reported knowledge gain (4.05), and interest in continuing use (4.30) reflected positive perceptions. Furthermore, an overwhelming majority (91.4%) supported the institutional production of educational videos, whereas 8.6% disagreed, citing videos as a tool that diverts students’ focus from reading and a preference for traditional classes. No statistically significant gender-based differences were observed in usefulness, learning levels, or core interest in continuing to search for online videos (p > 0.05). Online health videos are widely used and positively perceived by Mozambican medical students as a supplementary learning tool. The findings highlight the need for institutions to create curriculum-aligned video libraries and strengthen students’ digital literacy, an affordable strategy for enhancing medical education in low-resource contexts. Full article

Digital transformation of libraries is a key driver of the development of scholarly communication, open access, and knowledge management; however, its sustainability largely depends on institutional and legal conditions. This study examines the level of legal literacy among library professionals and the institutional barriers affecting the digital transformation of academic and public libraries in the Republic of Kazakhstan. A mixed-methods research design was employed, combining a quantitative online survey of library professionals with a qualitative analysis of open-ended responses provided by library managers. The findings indicate that, despite a relatively high level of basic digital skills, legal literacy related to copyright, licensing, and open access remains insufficiently institutionalized. Significant differences were identified between academic and public libraries, reflecting variations in their institutional missions and managerial priorities. Based on the interpretation of empirical results and their comparison with international literature, the study proposes a conceptual model of digital–legal transformation of libraries that integrates digital competencies, legal literacy, and institutional support mechanisms. Additionally, a phased roadmap is developed to support the sustainable implementation of open-access practices and the development of institutional repositories within a nascent open science ecosystem. The study’s results inform the development of institutional digital strategies for libraries and contribute to the design of professional development programs for library staff. Full article

The agricultural sector in the world and Sub-Saharan Africa faces the pressing challenge of meeting the growing food demand driven by the exponential population growth. With smallholder poultry farming playing a critical role in food and nutritional security, this systematic review synthesizes literature from the past two decades to assess the adoption of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) among smallholder poultry farmers in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). The review focuses on the benefits and barriers impacting this adoption. Following the PRISMA methodology, 19 peer-reviewed studies were analyzed to explore how ICT facilitates market participation, enhances information exchange, and improves producer livelihoods. The included studies in this review were sourced from four major academic databases: Science Direct, Web of Science, Wiley online library, and EBSCOhost. The findings reveal that ICT adoption significantly reduces information asymmetry, enables farmers to access market and production knowledge, and thus improves their profitability and inclusion in informal and formal market platforms. The review underscores the potential of targeted policy interventions and digital platforms to empower smallholder poultry farmers, enhance their commercialization, and contribute towards agricultural sustainability in the region. This study highlights the critical need for increased ICT accessibility, capacity building, and infrastructural improvements to support the digital transformation of smallholder poultry farming in Sub-Saharan Africa. Full article

This study investigated the individual and interactive effects of thermal and acoustic parameters on university students’ concentration and satisfaction in a library environment. Measurements of temperature, relative humidity (RH), and sound pressure level (SPL), alongside questionnaire surveys assessing students’ concentration, environmental perceptions, and satisfaction, were conducted over ten continuous working days in four library rooms. The results revealed significant interactive effects between operative temperature (To), RH, and background noise level (LA90) on students’ concentration and overall satisfaction, highlighting the importance of an integrated approach to managing Indoor Environmental Quality (IEQ). Furthermore, multi-objective optimization using the NSGA-II algorithm suggested optimal ranges for To (22.6–24.8 °C), RH (41.0–48.4%), and LA90 (45.0–48.5 dB(A)). Existing library conditions surpassed these optimal levels, particularly on the first floor, indicating a pressing need for interventions to enhance student well-being and academic performance. Overall, this study provides insights into the interactions between thermal comfort and acoustic quality, offering recommendations for creating more conducive learning environments that boost student satisfaction and performance. Full article

Academic libraries support the mission and vision of their institution; in the case of most universities, this means providing a variety of services and resources in support of the research enterprise. This case study documents one library’s support for open access publishing to explore how it directly supports the research mission of a Carnegie Research 2 university. By leveraging relationships and investing existing collections resources and workflows—the sequence of decisions and labor through which librarians make scholarly and artistic works discoverable, accessible, and support their preservation—in open access publishing, the library has materially increased the visibility of locally produced scholarship and become a more visible campus collaborator. Full article

Background/Objectives: Fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) is a chronic condition characterized by widespread pain, fatigue, sleep disturbances, and psychological symptoms. Aquatic exercise offers the benefits of physical activity with reduced mechanical stress. This meta-analysis evaluated the effectiveness of AE on pain, functional physical status, and health-related quality of life. Methods: A PRISMA-guided systematic review and meta-analysis (PROSPERO CRD42025115158) included randomized and non-randomized trials up to October 2025 from MEDLINE (PubMed), Cochrane Library, PEDro, CINAHL Complete, SPORTDiscus, and Academic Search Ultimate. Eligible participants were adults diagnosed with FMS undergoing AE programs, alone or combined with other modalities. Standardized mean differences (SMD) with 95% confidence intervals were pooled using random- or fixed-effects models. Methodological quality, risk of bias, and certainty of evidence were evaluated using the PEDro scale, the RoB 2.0 tool, and the GRADE approach. Results: 27 trials (n = 1785; >95% women; mean age 44–62 years) were included. AE significantly improved pain (SMD = −0.92; 95% CI: −1.03 to −0.80; p < 0.00001), physical function (SMD = −0.74; 95% CI: −0.84 to −0.63; p < 0.00001), and HRQoL (SMD = 0.57; 95% CI: 0.42 to 0.72; p < 0.00001). Effects were consistent across time frames, though overall heterogeneity was considerable (Tau² = 4.93; I² = 97%). The mean PEDro score was 5.2/10, and RoB 2.0 indicated moderate methodological limitations mainly due to a lack of blinding. Evidence certainty was low for the main outcomes and moderate for adverse events. Conclusions: Aquatic exercise is an effective and safe complementary therapy for patients with FMS, alleviating pain while enhancing function and quality of life. However, methodological variability and small sample sizes warrant further high-quality trials to confirm these findings and explore underlying mechanisms. Full article

Edge–cloud computing has emerged as a key enabling paradigm for augmented and virtual reality (AR/VR) systems because of the stringent computational and ultra-low-latency requirements of AR/VR workloads. Designing efficient edge–cloud systems for such workloads involves multiple technical aspects, including communication technologies, service placement, task offloading and caching, service migration, and security and privacy. This paper provides a structured and technical analysis of these aspects from an AR/VR perspective. We adopt a two-stage literature analysis, in which Google Scholar is used to identify fundamental technical aspects and solution approaches, followed by a focused analysis of recent research trends and future directions using academic databases (e.g., IEEE Xplore, ACM Digital Library, and ScienceDirect). We present an organized classification of the core technical aspects and investigate existing solution approaches, including heuristic, metaheuristic, learning-based, and hybrid strategies. Rather than introducing application-specific designs, the analysis focuses on workload-driven challenges and trade-offs that arise in AR/VR systems. Based on this classification, we analyze recent research trends, identify underexplored technical areas, and highlight key research gaps that hinder the efficient deployment of AR/VR services over edge–cloud infrastructures. The findings of this study provide practical insights for researchers and system designers and help guide future research toward more responsive, scalable, and reliable edge–cloud AR/VR systems. Full article

The paper sought to examine the role of collaboration in sustaining citizen science activities and projects in academic libraries. The study applied a quantitative approach and a survey design to assess knowledge and understanding of citizen science by academic librarians to advance research relevant to SDGs. A standardised questionnaire was distributed to 185 academic librarians affiliated with the Higher Education and Libraries Interest Group (HELIG). The survey yielded a response rate of 34% since only 63 academic librarians volunteered to participate in the completion of the questionnaire. Data was analysed using SPSS version 29. Findings revealed that citizen science is a new concept in academic libraries in South Africa. To advance the use of citizen science in contributing towards SDGs, academic librarians need to raise awareness, foster collaborations, and initiate advocacy efforts to promote and support citizen science activities. The research further revealed that a work-integrated learning and community engagement department should be established within the library to advocate for citizen science activities. There is a need to visit schools to introduce citizen science at the grassroots level to increase the visibility of the field and to lay a foundation for scientific literacy at an early stage. Although the research setting was in academic libraries, for future research, it will be beneficial to conduct such a study in a public library setting to achieve varying perspectives from the community members where the concept of citizen science emanates. Full article

This article presents a comprehensive bibliometric analysis of the indexed academic literature on the application of distributed ledger technology (DLT) and blockchain in the tourism industry. Using the bibliometrix library within the RStudio environment, key bibliometric indicators were examined in order to characterize the evolution, structure, and thematic focus of this emerging field of research. The systematic literature review, which adhered to PRISMA guidelines, involved retrieving publications from the Web of Science and Scopus databases. A curated dataset of 100 relevant documents was identified and analyzed in terms of annual scientific production, leading journals, influential authors, and highly cited publications. The results indicate that blockchain technology dominates the literature, with a strong emphasis on its potential to enhance trust, transparency, and efficiency in tourism-related processes. In particular, identity management, secure transactions, and disintermediation emerge as central research themes, reflecting blockchain’s capacity to support decentralized, immutable, and privacy-preserving interactions between tourists and service providers. Overall, the findings reveal a rapidly growing and increasingly structured body of knowledge, highlighting emerging research directions and technological challenges for future studies on DLT applications in tourism. Full article

Vision-language models (VLMs) integrate visual and textual information and are increasingly being used as innovative tools in educational applications. However, there is a lack of evidence regarding current practices for integrating VLMs into teaching and learning. To address this research gap and identify the opportunities and challenges associated with the integration of VLMs in education, this paper presents a systematic review of VLM use in formal educational contexts. Peer-reviewed articles published between 2020 and 2025 were retrieved from five major databases: ACM Digital Library, Scopus, Web of Science, Engineering Village, and IEEE Xplore. Following the PRISMA-guided framework, 42 articles were selected for inclusion. Data were extracted and analyzed against six research questions: (1) where VLMs are applied across academic disciplines and educational levels; (2) what types of VLM solutions are deployed and which image–text modalities they infer and generate; (3) the pedagogical roles of VLMs within teaching workflows; (4) reported outcomes and benefits for learners and instructors; (5) challenges and risks identified in practice, together with corresponding mitigation strategies; and (6) reported evaluation methods. The included studies span K-12 through higher education and cover diverse disciplines, with deployments dominated by pre-trained models and a smaller number of domain-adapted approaches. VLM-supported pedagogical functions cluster into five roles: analyst, assessor, content curator, simulator, and tutor. This review concludes by discussing implications for VLM adoption in educational settings and offering recommendations for future research. Full article

Background/Objectives: Asthma, type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM), and epilepsy are prevalent chronic diseases among school-aged children, affecting safety, attendance, and academic performance. This systematic review evaluated school teachers’ knowledge, attitudes, and preparedness regarding these conditions and identified gaps that hinder effective management and inclusion. Methods: Following PRISMA guidelines, PubMed, Cochrane Library, Scopus, and Google Scholar were searched between 20 September and 9 October 2025. Forty-nine quantitative cross-sectional studies assessing teachers’ knowledge, attitudes, or preparedness toward asthma, T1DM, or epilepsy were included. The AXIS tool assessed methodological quality, focusing on clarity of objectives, sample justification, ethical transparency, and instrument validation. Results: Teachers’ knowledge was generally moderate and varied by region. Studies on epilepsy (n = 21) highlighted misconceptions and limited understanding of seizure first aid. Diabetes studies (n = 9) indicated moderate awareness but insufficient preparedness for hypoglycemia and insulin management. Asthma studies (n = 19) revealed inconsistent knowledge, particularly regarding symptom recognition and emergency response. AXIS assessment identified recurring limitations, including unjustified sample sizes, limited instrument validation, and poor reporting of non-responders. Conclusions: These findings emphasize the need to enhance school preparedness through targeted, evidence-based teacher training, clear health policies and emergency protocols, awareness and inclusion initiatives, improved collaboration among teachers, parents, and healthcare providers, and strengthened school health infrastructure. Addressing these areas is critical to ensure safe, inclusive, and supportive learning environments for children with chronic illnesses. Full article

The concept of the ‘teaching library’, which originated in the Anglo-American world, describes all activities of libraries in the field of promoting information, media, and data literacy, as well as other skills in dealing with analog and digital media. Although data literacy is explicitly mentioned in this definition, many training courses in academic libraries seem to focus more on promoting library use, information, and media literacy. Given that the creation of data management plans, along with the indexing, storage, and reuse of research data, have become standard elements of the research process, this article discusses the growing importance of academic libraries in teaching data literacy. It presents a modular course framework, developed in exchange with the university library, as a reusable model for data literacy education. The primary objective is to introduce this framework and illustrate its application; preliminary, exploratory insights from a self-assessment survey are provided to support this presentation. The limited participant count in the pre- and post-evaluations restricts the statistical generalizability of the findings but provides a solid empirical impression of the effectiveness of the course format. Results indicate substantial learning progress in fields where academic libraries have proven expertise. The main conclusion is that such library-integrated interdisciplinary courses provide a valuable framework for data literacy education and highlight strategic areas for library involvement. Full article

Kallikrein-related peptidases (KLKs) are hallmarks of higher vertebrates, in particular of mammals. While the 15 human KLKs occur in nearly all tissues and body fluids and participate in many physiological processes, they are also involved in severe diseases. Among them are prostate, ovarian and breast cancer, as well as inherited skin and neurological disorders. Thus, KLKs have become targets for inhibitory compounds in academic and commercial research. The most prominent clinical biomarker and anti-cancer target for various approaches is PSA/KLK3. Already in the distant past, natural crude extracts were the source of medicine, while purified natural compounds and their derivatives are still the basis of about 50% of all pharmaceuticals. Nevertheless, structure-based rational design and high-throughput screening of natural and synthetic compound libraries are highly effective approaches for discovering lead compounds in the development of new drugs. Recently, computer-aided virtual or in silico screening has become a rapid method for such discoveries when combined with in vitro assays using protein targets or tests in cell cultures. To date, the successful implementation of artificial intelligence (AI) in the biosciences has significantly contributed to drug discovery. Our review focuses on state-of-the-art strategies and techniques in the context of KLK targets. Full article