Search Results (18,078)

Introduction: Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease that impairs daily functioning and quality of life. Despite effective therapies, asthma control remains suboptimal and may improve through greater engagement of community pharmacists. This study assessed the knowledge, practices, and perceived barriers of community pharmacists regarding asthma management in the Aseer region, Saudi Arabia. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted using a self-administered online questionnaire covering demographics, asthma-related knowledge, practice, and perceived barriers. Results: A total of 290 community pharmacists participated. Overall, 64.8% showed high asthma-related knowledge, while 51.7% reported high asthma counseling practice. Pharmacists showed strong knowledge of asthma symptoms, triggers, determinants of poor control, and counseling on medication-related adverse effects, but moderate knowledge of asthma control assessment, guideline-based management, and treatment-related side effects. Commonly reported services included patient education on asthma and medications, identification of modifiable risk factors, and discussion of treatment side effects, whereas written asthma action plans, symptom control assessment, and follow-up visits were less common. In multivariable logistic regression, high knowledge (p = 0.002), interest in asthma training (p < 0.001), and greater work experience (p = 0.01) were associated with higher counseling practice, while patient volume showed a borderline association (p = 0.051). Conversely, higher practice (p = 0.002), working in independent community pharmacies (p < 0.001), and pharmacy location (p = 0.034) were associated with higher asthma knowledge. Conclusions: Community pharmacists demonstrated moderate-to-high knowledge of asthma management, but gaps remain in guideline-based practice and follow-up. Strengthening guideline-oriented training and pharmacist integration into asthma care may improve outcomes. Full article

This paper analyzes the creation and management of a robotics student team, introducing a “flexible project management” approach tailored to educational, voluntary and competitive settings. Drawing on the Beyond Robotics team as a case study, it presents adaptable methodologies addressing challenges such as voluntary participation, limited resources, and member turnover. The framework covers recruitment, skill development, communication, creativity, and continuity planning through mentorship and knowledge transfer. By applying agile and lean methods, it identifies best practices to enhance team resilience, innovation, and sustainability, offering educators and student leaders a practical guide for effective organization and long-term success. Full article

Continuous-Variable Quantum Key Distribution (CV-QKD) offers practical advantages for secure communication, but laser linewidth-induced phase noise remains a critical performance limitation. This work presents a comprehensive simulation-based analysis quantifying the impact of laser linewidth on secret key rate (SKR) in Gaussian-modulated coherent-state CV-QKD systems. We develop a detailed noise model incorporating detector electronics, Raman scattering, phase recovery, ADC quantization, and laser relative intensity noise. Through systematic parameter sweeps spanning linewidths from 10 Hz to 250 kHz, modulation variances from 1 to 20 SNU, and fiber distances up to 100 km, we identify three distinct operational regimes and optimization strategies for both transmitted local oscillator (TLO) and local–local oscillator (LLO) configurations under homodyne and heterodyne detection. Results show that metropolitan-scale links (50 km) require linewidths below 5 kHz to maintain secure operation, with performance decreasing beyond 25 kHz. We demonstrate that modulation variance must be jointly optimized with laser quality, with optimal values decreasing from 3–4 SNU at narrow linewidths to 2–2.5 SNU at moderate linewidths. The analysis reveals asymmetric sensitivity in LLO systems where local oscillator linewidth degrades performance more strongly than signal laser linewidth. These quantitative findings provide practical design guidelines for achieving secure CV-QKD operation over metropolitan distances with realistic hardware constraints, supporting deployment of defense-grade quantum communication networks. Full article

Six decades ago, the scientist from Stanford University, W.P. Little, announced a crusade to search for superconductivity, assumed to be heat-resistant in organic materials. Although such an ambitious goal was never realized in practice, this proposal gave rise to the entire ecosystem of studies on “synthetic metals,” creating a diverse community of material, experimental, and theoretical activities in low-dimensional electronic systems. We shall briefly review some key steps in this history, examine its main branches, and recall the consequences that remain on the agenda today. Particularly, we shall focus on a phenomenon of electronic ferroelectricity, whose roots can be found in the suggestion of a would-be superconducting polymer. Full article

Post-quantum cryptographic implementations in Internet-of-Things (IoT) devices are significantly threatened by physical side-channel attacks, where practical attack risks are increased by physical accessibility and resource limitations. In particular, recent work has shown that belief propagation-based attacks can recover secret keys from lattice-based digital signatures using only a single side-channel trace of the Number Theoretic Transform (NTT). This work introduces the Quantum-Randomized Number Theoretic Transform (QR-NTT), an implementation-level defense mechanism that integrates quantum-derived entropy directly into the execution flow of lattice-based signature algorithms. Rather than treating randomness as a static input, QR-NTT uses quantum entropy to introduce controlled variability in execution ordering, arithmetic factor usage, and memory access behavior while preserving mathematical correctness and constant-time execution. The proposed framework is designed for embedded platforms and remains compatible with existing post-quantum cryptographic standards and IoT communication protocols. A complete implementation on an ARM Cortex-M4 platform, coupled with commercial quantum random number generator (QRNG) hardware, demonstrates that QR-NTT significantly degrades the effectiveness of template matching and belief propagation attacks. Experimental evaluation shows a reduction in single-trace attack success rates from over 90% to below 3% and an increase of approximately two orders of magnitude in the number of traces required for successful key recovery. These security gains are achieved with moderate overheads of 18.3% in execution time and 1.8 KB of additional memory while remaining well within practical IoT constraints. The results indicate that quantum-derived entropy can be leveraged as a practical implementation-level defense against physical attacks, complementing algorithmic post-quantum security. QR-NTT demonstrates a viable path toward strengthening the real-world resilience of post-quantum IoT systems without sacrificing deployability. Full article

Recent developments in algebra, coding theory, and cryptography have shown that algebraic structures play an important role in both theoretical research and practical applications, with modern communication systems, reliable data transmission, and secure information exchange dependent on efficient coding techniques and strong cryptographic protocols [...] Full article

This article explores access intimacy as feeling, interactional practice, and political vision through an inclusive research project in Hong Kong, where 12 visually impaired adults and 35 university students collaboratively developed accessible board games. Drawing on Mingus’s interdependence framework and Valentine’s justice-based access, we position visually impaired participants as primary knowledge producers while critically examining vulnerability, power dynamics, and research ethics. Analysis of field observations and in-depth interviews reveals three key dimensions: (1) collaborative game design enabled visually impaired participants to experience emotional access by fostering friendship, recognition, and belonging beyond logistical accessibility; (2) negotiation around “independence” and “fairness” generated transformative empowerment for both visually impaired and sighted participants, reframing interdependence as strength; and (3) reciprocal vulnerability in sighted guiding practices disrupted ableist assumptions about autonomy, care, and risk, revealing care as mutual rather than unidirectional. We argue that access intimacy functions as a learnable relational skill, and that attending to it in research design, community planning, and accessibility policy fosters justice-based paradigms that move beyond accommodation toward genuine interdependence and solidarity. Full article

Population aging intensifies the need for built environments that support healthy and independent living while reducing preventable risks. This integrative review examines how architectural design, safety measures, and corporate security can function as an integrated, layered system for creating age-friendly environments across public spaces, housing, and intergenerational community settings. Drawing on a systematic search of literature published between 2010 and 2026 across databases including Scopus, Web of Science, Google Scholar, and PubMed, supplemented by international standards and policy documents, the review analyses how universal design principles, injury prevention strategies, and governance routines intersect to sustain mobility, reduce harms, and protect data, devices, and operational continuity. The findings indicate that gaps in any layer, such as inaccessible layouts, poorly maintained safety systems, or weak cybersecurity, can undermine overall effectiveness, compromise trust, and affect older adults’ autonomy. The COVID-19 pandemic further exposed these interdependencies, accelerating smart technology adoption while exacerbating digital inequality and social isolation, particularly in rural settings. This review concludes that age-friendly environments require not only barrier-free architecture and proportionate safety measures, but also robust governance structures that ensure accountability, lifecycle maintenance, and responsible data practices. Integrating these three domains provides a foundation for resilient, trustworthy, and health-promoting environments that enable older adults to remain active, socially connected, and secure. Full article

Mobile devices are widely used, yet accessibility for people with disabilities remains a critical challenge. Deaf users who rely primarily on sign language (SL) frequently encounter barriers when interacting with applications not designed for their communication needs. This study proposes a design guide for developing mobile applications tailored to sign language users. The guide was developed through the active participation of three groups: Deaf individuals, usability and user experience (UX) experts, and mobile application developers. Based on their contributions, thirteen design guidelines were defined, addressing sign language integration, visual feedback, navigation, content presentation, and interface design. The guidelines were validated through usability and UX evaluations conducted with the three participant groups. A mobile application was subsequently developed following the proposed guidelines to assess their practical applicability. The evaluation results indicate that the guide effectively supports the development of more accessible and usable mobile applications for Deaf users. Incorporating sign language-centered design principles significantly improves usability and user experience for individuals with hearing disabilities, contributing to more inclusive mobile application development. Full article

This study presents the first bioarcheological analysis of the Mnogovalikovaia culture (Middle Bronze Age) from the North Pontic region, evaluating six human skeletons (six adult males) discovered in tumuli at Novosiolovca, Burlăceni, and Ordășei (Republic of Moldova). Dental analysis reveals moderate-to-advanced occlusal wear, chipping on posterior teeth, and anterior teeth modifications indicating both dietary practices and extramasticatory activities. The characteristics of the dental morphology, including non-metric dental traits (i.e., degree of cusp expression, presence of supernumerary cusps, bilateral asymmetry and the occlusal surface shape of maxillary and mandibular second molars (M2) highlight population-specific features influenced by genetic and environmental factors. Traces of ochre on skeletons suggest specific funerary practices. The study fills a significant gap in the understanding of Mnogovalikovaia communities, providing important data on their biological and cultural characteristics, lifestyle, and funerary practices. These findings also represent a basis for future research on this population, requiring larger samples and biomolecular analysis. Full article

Today, the transformation of energy systems is at the core of climate change mitigation. This transformation brings substantial implications for citizens. Coal-to-renewable energy transitions require new workforce skills while affecting regional economies and communities. Thus, a broader interdisciplinary approach integrating energy justice and participatory methods into energy transition research is required to clarify these sociotechnical transformations. To address this gap, this article conducts a systematic review of the just energy transition literature, focusing on studies where participation plays a methodological or conceptual role. Based on a systematic review of 42 articles, our findings show that participation enables stakeholders and policymakers to widen the energy policy discussion to account for plural values and procedural justice concerns of stakeholders involved in a complex socioecological system. This inquiry is timely, as energy practitioners, policymakers, and scholars increasingly seek to operationalize justice within energy transition frameworks. However, the review reveals a discrepancy between the widespread acknowledgment that just transition processes must be participatory and inclusive, and their limited realization in practice. These findings underscore the need for greater methodological experimentation with deliberative forms of participation, broader inclusion of stakeholder groups, and the development of context-sensitive guidelines to operationalize justice in energy transitions. Full article

The demand for hardware-efficient interference suppression algorithms is growing with the increasing density in wireless communication networks. In this paper, a robust position-only null steering method for linear antenna arrays is proposed based on Honey Formation Optimization with Single Component (HFOSC), a metaheuristic algorithm founded on the ripening process of honey in beehives. By optimizing only the element locations, the proposed method avoids the use of phase shifters and attenuators, thus reducing implementation complexity while maintaining flexibility in pattern control. A 30-element linear array with Chebyshev excitation is used to test the technique under representative interference scenarios such as single-null, multiple-null, and wide-sector nulling cases, as well as constrained practical designs. The simulation results demonstrate that the proposed approach can realize strong interference suppression across different cases while maintaining the main-beam shape and acceptable sidelobe performance. In idealized discrete-interference cases, nulls below −90 dB are achieved, while in a practical constrained design with a minimum inter-element spacing of 0.5λ and a position resolution of 0.1λ, a null depth of −72.89 dB is still achieved, confirming the practical applicability of the method. Moreover, comparative results with GA, PSO, and DE over 100 independent runs illustrate that HFOSC achieves the lowest optimization cost and the smallest standard deviation, along with a favorable overall trade-off between beam preservation and null suppression, with statistically significant superiority in optimization performance. The proposed method does not require phase shifters and attenuators, providing a simple, hardware-friendly, and robust solution for adaptive interference cancellation in wireless communication systems. Full article

Private tutoring has become an increasingly popular approach for improving academic performance by providing individual or group support outside regular school hours to enhance student outcomes. In the context of mathematics tutoring, we introduce the eMath4All platform, designed to replicate traditional teaching methods through virtual tools for distance learning. Despite the growing prevalence of private tutoring, research on online tutoring platforms and their use in practice remains limited. Accordingly, this study explores the application of the eMath4All platform in two different private tutoring scenarios involving secondary school students from Romania. Study A examines group tutoring with five eighth-grade students preparing for a national examination over a three-month period, while Study B explores individual tutoring with ten students from various secondary education levels over a 12-month period. The paper analyzes how the key components of the eMath4All platform (such as the virtual whiteboard, mathematical editor, real-time audio–video communication, virtual library, assessment tool, and personal student profile) support tutoring activities. The platform is examined through a combination of platform usage data, descriptive analysis of student progression, and student-reported experience collected via questionnaires. The results of the exploratory study indicate consistent usage patterns, high engagement with platform features, and high usability ratings, highlighting the platform’s potential for supporting both individual and group mathematics tutoring. Full article

The increasing integration of intermittent renewable energy sources (RESs) into islanded Hybrid Power Systems (HPSs) is a critical step towards global energy sustainability; however, it poses significant challenges to frequency stability owing to low system inertia and stochastic power fluctuations. To address these challenges and enable higher penetration of green energy, this study proposes a novel and robust Load Frequency Control (LFC) strategy based on the Crested Porcupine Optimizer (CPO). A customized Mode-Dependent Adaptive Balloon (MDAB) controller is developed, wherein the virtual control gain is dynamically tuned based on the real-time operating modes and disturbance severity. Furthermore, to optimize communication resources and mitigate actuator wear in networked microgrids, an intelligent event-triggered (ET) mechanism is seamlessly integrated into the adaptive logic. The proposed control framework is rigorously validated through comprehensive nonlinear simulations and comparative analyses with state-of-the-art metaheuristic algorithms (GTO, GWO, JAYA, and GO). The evaluation encompasses step load disturbances, severe parametric uncertainties (+25%), realistic 24-h diurnal cycles with solar cloud shading and wind turbulence, and extended practical constraints, including Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) integration and Internet of Things (IoT) communication delays. The results demonstrate the superiority of the CPO-tuned framework, which achieved the fastest transient recovery (settling time of 3.4367 s) and the lowest absolute Integral Absolute Error (IAE). Additionally, the proposed ET-based strategy not only reduced the communication burden but also improved the overall control performance by 37% in terms of IAE compared with continuous approaches. By inherently filtering measurement noise, mitigating control signal chattering, and maintaining resilience under nonideal latency, the proposed architecture offers a highly robust and resource-efficient solution that directly guarantees the operational sustainability and reliability of modern smart microgrids. Full article

Grasslands are key terrestrial ecosystems in which root dynamics regulate soil carbon and nutrient cycling. Although grazing constitutes the predominant land use practice in grassland ecosystems, its impacts on root dynamics remain inadequately elucidated, particularly across a gradient of grazing intensities. In this two-year field experiment, an improved root window method was applied to investigate the effects of four grazing intensities (no grazing, light grazing, moderate grazing, heavy grazing) on root production, root mortality, root standing crop, root turnover, and root lifespan in the saline–alkaline grassland in northern China. The results showed that root production and root mortality exhibited pronounced seasonal dynamics, with peaks in June and August for root production and in September for root mortality. These seasonal patterns were primarily driven by precipitation and were not significantly altered by grazing intensity. Moderate grazing significantly increased root production by 51.2% through changes in soil bulk density and selective livestock grazing, supporting the intermediate disturbance hypothesis. Root turnover was predominantly shaped by plant community composition and interannual precipitation, as opposed to grazing intensity. Overall, these findings indicate that moderate grazing promotes root growth, providing important insights into the sustainable utilization of saline–alkali grassland resources. In other words, appropriate measures must be taken to effectively manage grazing activities in the fragile saline–alkaline grasslands of northern China. Full article