Search Results (17,915)

Project-Based Learning (PBL) has become an important pedagogical strategy for developing technical and professional competencies in engineering education through authentic, multidisciplinary experiences. This paper presents a PBL case study conducted in an undergraduate Computer Engineering course in which students designed and implemented Smart Fisio Borregos, an Internet of Things (IoT) and Artificial Intelligence (AI) system designed as both a learning vehicle for students and a prototype tool intended to support rehabilitation training through real-time exercise guidance and monitoring; the educational effectiveness of the rehabilitation-support function has not yet been formally validated. The project followed a prototype-driven methodology that integrated low-cost sensors, embedded systems, cloud databases, computer vision, and AI services into a unified platform. The resulting prototype incorporated equipment occupancy monitoring, environmental control, RFID-based access management, a web dashboard for data visualization, and a computer-vision module based on MediaPipe Pose Landmarker for exercise analysis and feedback. The project provided students with opportunities to apply knowledge from programming, embedded systems, databases, networking, and AI while developing collaboration, problem-solving, and project-management skills. The paper describes the pedagogical framework, system architecture, implementation process, and project outcomes, illustrating how multidisciplinary engineering projects can be used to create authentic learning experiences connected to real-world challenges. The proposed approach offers a replicable model for integrating IoT and AI technologies into engineering curricula while contributing to educational innovation related to health and well-being. The study aligns with Sustainable Development Goal 3 (Good Health and Well-Being) and Sustainable Development Goal 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure). Full article

The objective of this systematic review was to analyze the scientific evidence published between 2015 and 2025 on the impact of active tourism in reducing sedentary behavior among children and adolescents, and its implications for health promotion and the economic development of the sector. The PRISMA 2020 guidelines were followed, with searches conducted in PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science, including 13 studies with approximately 3100 participants across school, extracurricular, and residential camp contexts. The results show a consistent decrease in sedentary time during participation in active tourism programs, with moderate reductions in short-term interventions (≈5–15% or 20–30 min/day) and substantial decreases of up to 1.5–2 h per day in immersive programs. This displacement is mainly accompanied by increases in light physical activity, more limited improvements in moderate-to-vigorous physical activity, and reductions in screen time when the use of electronic devices is restricted. Overall, active tourism emerges as an effective and safe intervention with biopsychosocial benefits to counteract sedentary lifestyles in the young population. Furthermore, it demonstrates considerable applied potential as a driver of economic development by generating demand for educational, recreational, and tourism services, fostering destination diversification, and promoting sustainable territorial growth models. Full article

Health care empowerment is essential for self-care, informed decision-making, and appropriate use of health services among university students. This cross-sectional pilot study examined the association between selected social determinants of health and health care empowerment among university students in Peru. A sample of 336 undergraduate and graduate students from six universities completed an online survey that included the Empowerment Scale for Health Care Empowerment in University Students (ECSU). The instrument demonstrated adequate psychometric properties (Cronbach’s α = 0.859; McDonald’s ω = 0.835). Descriptive analyses and ordinal logistic regression were conducted to identify factors associated with health care empowerment and its dimensions. Income level, family type, and housing situation were associated with overall empowerment. Lower income levels and extended family structures were associated with lower empowerment levels, while university type and educational level were associated with specific dimensions related to decision-making and the ability to empower others. The explanatory capacity of the models was modest (pseudo-R² = 5.0–12.8%). These findings provide preliminary evidence on the relationship between social determinants and health care empowerment in university students. However, results should be interpreted with caution due to the cross-sectional design and convenience sampling. Future studies using probabilistic sampling and longitudinal designs are needed to confirm these associations. Full article

Suicidal ideation among college students is a multicausal public health concern shaped by individual, family, social, and academic factors. Although prior research has consistently documented associations between psychological distress and suicide risk in this population, most studies analyze risk factors in isolation, leaving the joint contribution of variables across ecological levels insufficiently understood. The present study, framed within Bronfenbrenner’s ecological model of human development and Joiner’s interpersonal theory of suicide, examined the simultaneous influence of clinical, protective, academic, and victimization variables on suicidal ideation in college students. A cross-sectional design was employed with a sample of 553 undergraduate and graduate students (68.9% women; mean age = 20.93 years, SD = 3.81) from the University of Málaga (Spain), recruited through snowball and convenience sampling. Participants completed validated self-report measures of suicidal ideation (Paykel Suicide Scale), depression and anxiety (HADS), eating disorders (CBCAR), self-esteem (RSE), academic stress (SISCO), academic procrastination (APS-SF), bullying, cyberbullying, and social exclusion (QAEU), social support (QFSSS), family satisfaction, healthy habits, and family history of mental illness. Data were analyzed through Pearson and Spearman correlations and a robust multiple linear regression (ordinary least squares with HC3 robust standard errors and bias-corrected and accelerated bootstrap confidence intervals from 5000 resamples), complemented by an ordinal regression as a sensitivity analysis. The regression model accounted for 44.1% of the variance in suicidal ideation, with depression, anxiety, eating disorders, family history of mental illness, and bullying showing significant positive associations and self-esteem the strongest protective association. An ordinal regression sensitivity analysis yielded a consistent pattern, supporting the robustness of these findings. Family and social support, although correlated with lower ideation, lost statistical weight in the multivariate models, suggesting that their contribution operates indirectly, mainly through depression and self-esteem. Findings support the integration of clinical, social, and personal-resource components into college prevention programs, prioritizing early detection of psychopathology, anti-bullying protocols, interventions to strengthen self-esteem, and greater visibility of campus psychological services. Full article

Background: Personalized precision medicine adapts therapeutic strategies to individual characteristics. In psychiatry, suboptimal outcomes with antipsychotics are often related to adverse drug reactions, poor adherence and therapeutic failure. Pharmacogenetics, particularly CYP2D6 genotyping, can improve clinical outcomes through genotype-guided therapy. This study aimed to design and implement a pharmacogenomic and pharmacokinetic testing program for long-acting injectable (LAI) antipsychotics within the Galician Health Service to enhance personalized psychiatric care. Methods: The pilot program encompasses pharmacogenetic and pharmacokinetic testing. Inclusion criteria were broad, covering patients initiating or receiving LAI antipsychotic therapy, as well as those with prior adverse reactions in order to explore scenarios where pharmacogenetic and/or pharmacokinetic data could help with clinical decisions. Structured workflows, interdisciplinary training and integration of results into the electronic health record supported implementation. A pharmacogenetic panel was specifically designed for psychiatric care, targeting clinically relevant variants in CYP2D6, CYP3A4 and ABCB1. Results: A total of 540 patients were included, with primary testing reasons being clinical follow-up (54.6%) and oral-to-LAI transition (38.5%). The CYP2D6 phenotypes were 55% normal, 34% intermediate, 6.3% poor and 4.3% ultrarapid metabolizers. Atypical metabolism was observed in 6.7% of patients for CYP3A4 and in over half for ABCB1. Plasma drug levels were within the therapeutic range for most patients, though some measurements were above or below expected values. Conclusions: This pilot demonstrates a scalable, evidence-based approach to precision psychiatry for LAI antipsychotics, integrating pharmacogenetic and pharmacokinetic testing into routine care. The framework facilitates genotype-guided decision-making and supports broader adoption of pharmacogenomics in psychiatric practice. Full article

The increasing number of new battery electric vehicle (BEV) registrations worldwide and the development of advanced batteries with higher energy density and pack capacity have contributed to large volumes of batteries approaching the end of their first service life. The retired batteries may be repurposed in second-life applications or recycled. The degradation profile of BEVs is a critical determinant in second-life potential of the retired batteries. This study presents a comprehensive analysis of calendar and cycle mechanisms in lithium iron phosphate (LFP) and nickel manganese cobalt oxide (NMC) batteries across 37 commercially available BEV models in the European Union (EU) market. Three scenarios are considered, based on the operational temperature—Scenario I with a 273.15 K, Scenario II with a 298.15 K, and Scenario III with a 318.15 K operational temperature—and two degradation metrics are determined for each analyzed BEV: state-of-health (SoH) and remaining capacity at end-of-life (EoL). The results show that the SoH of both chemistries is highly dependent on the state-of-charge (SoC), temperature, depth of discharge (DoD), and real usable capacity. Moreover, the Tesla Model 3–Premium RWD, Volkswagen ID.3, ID.4, and ID5–GTX, and the Tesla Model Y–Premium AWD all exhibit a remaining capacity between 40 and 77 kWh at EoL, depending on degradation profile, making them a viable option for second-life applications. Full article

Background/Objectives: Psychological well-being is an important indicator of occupational mental health among special education teachers, as it is closely associated with work engagement, professional performance, and attitudes toward students with disabilities. Despite its importance, limited research has examined factors associated with psychological well-being among special education teachers in Arab contexts. Therefore, this study examined the level of psychological well-being among special education teachers and investigated the relative contributions of mindfulness and empathy. In addition, the study tested the mediating role of empathy in the relationship between mindfulness and psychological well-being. Methods: A cross-sectional quantitative predictive correlational design was employed with a sample of 259 special education teachers in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Data were collected using an Arabic-adapted version of Ryff’s Psychological Well-Being Scale, the short form of the Five-Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire, and the Empathy Scale for Teachers. Path analysis was conducted to test a partial mediation model examining the mediating role of empathy in the relationship between mindfulness and psychological well-being. Results: The findings indicated high levels of psychological well-being among special education teachers. Mindfulness and empathy accounted for significant variance in psychological well-being, and path analysis showed that empathy partially mediated the relationship between mindfulness and psychological well-being. Conclusions: These findings highlight the potential importance of mindfulness and empathy in relation to the psychological well-being of special education teachers and suggest the value of giving greater attention to these dimensions in pre-service preparation and ongoing professional support programs. The study also contributes context-specific evidence from Saudi Arabia to the literature on teacher well-being in special education. Full article

(1) Background: Ambulatory services are the main interface between populations and health systems, yet their benefits are unevenly distributed due to structural inequalities—systemic differences rooted in the social, economic, and political organisation of society. Inequities in access and quality are well documented, but patient safety remains the least examined. (2) Methods: Following Joanna Briggs Institute methodology and PRISMA-ScR guidelines, PubMed/MEDLINE and Scopus were searched for studies published from 2010 to 2026. In total, 44 studies were included, predominantly from the USA (n = 31), and synthesised narratively. (3) Results: Inequalities operated through geographic maldistribution, financial barriers, exclusionary institutional cultures, and market-driven practices. Access and quality were each addressed by 17 studies, whereas only four examined patient safety directly; the limited safety evidence indicated disproportionate diagnostic errors, medication-safety failures, and care-coordination breakdowns among vulnerable groups. Evidence was concentrated in the USA. (4) Conclusions: Structural inequalities are well documented for access and quality but are markedly under-studied for patient safety—the principal evidence gap identified. Patient safety warrants treatment as an equity outcome, measured with stratification by structural disadvantage and addressed through system-level interventions. Full article

Depression, anxiety disorders and sleep disorders are becoming increasingly prevalent among college students. While psychotherapy and pharmacotherapy remain important interventions, their practical implementation in university settings may be constrained by factors including limited service accessibility, scheduling constraints, privacy concerns, stigma, and poor long-term adherence. As a low-threshold supportive intervention that can be readily integrated into campus environments, art healing offers a complementary approach to promoting college student mental health. This review includes 20 studies retrieved from the Web of Science and PubMed databases. These studies provide evidence for the mental health benefits of auditory art, visual art, and integrated art healing. The findings indicate that music-based interventions (the primary form of auditory art) have relatively robust supporting evidence for alleviating stress and anxiety; visual art and integrative art healing also yield measurable positive mental health outcomes. However, existing research is limited by heterogeneous intervention delivery protocols, small sample sizes, short follow-up periods, and substantial variation in methodological quality. Current evidence supports art healing as a complementary strategy for mental health promotion in higher education settings, rather than an alternative treatment modality. Future work should test standardized protocols in multi-site student samples. Long-term follow-up designs to further clarify its target populations, underlying mechanisms, and sustained efficacy. Full article

Background: Evidence of systematic under-counting of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis (FNIM) populations living in urban centres in Canada has been documented for the previous three census rounds (2012, 2016, 2021). Methods: In partnership with Aboriginal Health and Wellness Centre of Winnipeg, Inc. and the First Nations Health and Social Secretariat of Manitoba, a respondent-driven sampling survey of First Nations and Métis peoples living in Winnipeg was conducted and the population living in Winnipeg was estimated using the multiplier method in conjunction with participants’ responses to census participation. Results: We estimated a population of 300,000 (95% CI 248,000 to 379,000) First Nations and Métis people living in Winnipeg, three times higher than the 2021 Census count of 90,535. Interpretation: The Canadian census continues to systematically undercount Indigenous peoples living in urban centres. Improving the accuracy and precision of Indigenous population enumeration is required for equitable health services funding and delivery. Partnerships with FNIM governing and health service organizations, addition of Indigenous identity to the short form-census participation and coverage, and improved collection methods for people living in collective dwellings or experiencing housing insecurity are recommended. Full article

This study investigates the long-run relationship between socio-economic inequality, public service provision, infrastructure development, structural transformation, and quality of life in Central Asia, focusing on Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan over the 2000–2024 period. Using panel data from the World Development Indicators, the analysis applies a comprehensive econometric strategy including panel unit root tests, Pedroni cointegration tests, FMOLS, DOLS, CCR estimators, and a Panel ARDL-PMG framework for robustness. The study examines how inequality, education and health expenditure, ICT development, electricity access, economic growth, and urbanization jointly shape quality-of-life outcomes measured by life expectancy. The empirical results confirm the existence of a stable long-run equilibrium relationship among the variables. Urbanization emerges as the most powerful determinant of quality of life, indicating a highly elastic welfare response to spatial structural transformation. ICT development and education expenditure consistently exert positive effects, highlighting the importance of digital connectivity and human capital accumulation in improving welfare outcomes. In contrast, health expenditure, electricity access, and economic growth display negative long-run relationships, suggesting that these variables often reflect structural inefficiencies, transitional dynamics, or non-inclusive growth patterns in the region. The Gini coefficient shows a positive association with quality of life, which is interpreted in the context of structural transformation and sectoral reallocation processes in transition economies. Robustness checks using Panel ARDL-PMG confirm both long-run equilibrium relationships and heterogeneous short-run dynamics, with evidence of adjustment processes toward equilibrium. The findings suggest that improvements in quality of life in Central Asia are driven primarily by structural transformation, digital development, and education investment rather than aggregate economic growth alone. The study contributes to the literature by providing a comprehensive multi-country panel analysis of Central Asia, integrating infrastructure, inequality, and structural change within a unified framework. The results offer important insights into the mechanisms through which development processes translate into welfare outcomes in transition economies. Full article

Indonesia is one of the world’s most seismically active countries, experiencing frequent earthquakes that make assessing regional resilience essential for disaster risk reduction. This study dynamically evaluates socioeconomic resilience in 28 regencies/municipalities affected by destructive earthquakes between 2016 and 2022. Resilience was quantified using the Adjusted Mazziotta–Pareto Index (AMPI) at three periods: pre-event (T₀), during the event (T₁), and post-event (T₂). Index changes were interpreted as resistance (Δ₁ = T₁ − T₀), recovery (Δ₂ = T₂ − T₁), and adaptive capacity (Δ₃ = T₂ − T₀). Results show substantial regional differences in resilience trajectories: some areas experienced only minor declines during the earthquake, while others were heavily affected but recovered quickly. Cluster analysis revealed distinct typologies, including consistently high-resilience regions, rapid-recovery regions, and persistently vulnerable regions. These disparities are associated with variation in economic capacity, social vulnerability, labor market conditions, and access to health services. Overall, the findings highlight the value of a multidimensional, time-sensitive approach to measuring socioeconomic resilience. The study advances an AMPI-based temporal measurement framework and offers policy insights for development planning and disaster mitigation. Full article

Background/Objectives: The transition to early parenthood is a pivotal phase influencing maternal mental health. Although parenting competence may support maternal adjustment, it is often treated as a unitary construct. This study examined the associations among foundational caregiving competence, developmental parenting and interaction competence, and eudaimonic parental well-being in first-time mothers. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted with 372 first-time mothers whose young children attended licensed infant daycare centers in northern Taiwan. Participants completed questionnaires regarding the three study constructs and demographic characteristics. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Pearson correlations, and partial least squares structural equation modeling. Results: Foundational caregiving competence was strongly associated with developmental parenting and interaction competence, which was positively associated with eudaimonic parental well-being. The direct association between foundational caregiving competence and eudaimonic parental well-being was not statistically significant after developmental parenting and interaction competence was included in the model. However, a significant indirect association was observed through developmental parenting and interaction competence. Conclusions: Relational, developmental, and role-oriented parenting competence was more closely associated with mothers’ experiences of meaning, fulfillment, and relational satisfaction than practical caregiving competence alone. Given the cross-sectional design and modest explanatory power, the findings represent preliminary associations rather than causal evidence. They may inform future parenting-support services that distinguish practical caregiving capacities from relational and developmental parenting competencies. Full article

Agroecological approaches are increasingly recognized as sustainable alternatives to conventional weed management practices. This review examines the role of soybean, potato, and winter wheat as key crops within agroecological systems for effective weed suppression. Four management strategies—crop rotation, post-harvest mulching, optimized planting density (for soybean and potato), and varietal mixtures (for winter wheat)—are evaluated for their influence on weed dynamics and overall system performance. The synthesis of current studies indicates that these practices can significantly reduce weed pressure while enhancing soil health, biodiversity, and the provision of key ecosystem services, including provisioning, regulating, and supporting functions. In addition, these approaches contribute to improved crop productivity and reduced reliance on chemical inputs. Agroecological strategies also support pest regulation, water-use efficiency, and climate resilience, promoting more sustainable and resource-efficient agricultural systems. Despite these benefits, challenges related to farmer adoption, labor requirements, and limited policy support remain. Overall, this review highlights the potential of integrated agroecological practices to achieve sustainable agricultural intensification while balancing ecological sustainability with economic viability. Further research and supportive policy frameworks are needed to facilitate the wider implementation of these approaches across diverse agroecosystems. Full article

Introduction: Multimorbidity, defined as the coexistence of two or more chronic conditions in the same person, represents a major challenge for modern health systems due to its association with adverse health outcomes, increased mortality, and high healthcare utilization. We aimed to assess the prevalence of multimorbidity in the adult population of Serbia and examine its association with demographic and socioeconomic factors and healthcare utilization. Methodology: Data were drawn from the 2019 Serbian National Health Survey. Descriptive statistics, chi-square and independent-samples t-tests, as well as univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses, were performed to examine the associations. Results: The study included 12,439 adults—48.5% men and 51.5% women (mean age: 52.83 ± 17.69). Multimorbidity was present in 35.2% of participants. It was significantly more frequent among women than men (39.65% vs. 30.53%, p < 0.001) and increased markedly with age, reaching 68.63% among individuals aged ≥80 years. Participants with multimorbidity were significantly older than those without it (p < 0.001). Higher prevalence was observed among widowed individuals, participants with lower education, economically inactive persons, those with poorer material status, and residents of Southern and Eastern Serbia (all p < 0.001). Multivariable regression analysis confirmed independent associations between multimorbidity and female sex, older age, lower education, poorer socioeconomic status, and regional disparities. Multimorbidity was a strong predictor of healthcare utilization. Individuals with multimorbidity were significantly more likely to use inpatient and day hospital services, visit specialist physicians, use prescribed medications, and receive home care (all p < 0.05). Conclusion: Multimorbidity affects more than one-third of adults in Serbia and is strongly associated with demographic and socioeconomic disadvantage. It substantially increases healthcare utilization, underscoring the need for integrated, patient-centered care and targeted public health interventions. Full article