Search Results (10,156)

Background: Although pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) has demonstrated strong clinical efficacy in preventing HIV infection among men who have sex with men (MSM), real-world utilization remains suboptimal. In South Korea, MSM constitute a major population within the domestic HIV epidemic; however, PrEP uptake has not increased pro-portionally to awareness. This discrepancy has been conceptualized as the “awareness–uptake gap,” reflecting multi-level barriers beyond individual knowledge. Purpose: This integrative review aimed to compare PrEP awareness, acceptance, and utilization among MSM populations in South Korea and international settings, and to identify structural, institutional, and psychosocial determinants contributing to the awaness, uptake gap. The study further sought to derive practical implications for nursing practice and health policy. Methods: An integrative literature review was conducted following Whittemore and Knafl’s five-step methodology and reported in line with PRISMA guidance. Electronic searches were performed in PubMed, Google Scholar, RISS, ScienceON, and DBpia for peer-reviewed studies published between 2015 and 2025 in English or Korean. The final search was completed on 31 January 2026. A total of 5952 records were identified, and 187 studies met the inclusion criteria after screening and duplicate removal. Quality appraisal was conducted using AXIS, Newcastle-Ottawa Scale, RoB 2.0, CASP, and MMAT according to study design, and the findings were synthesized within an environmental–structural–individual framework. Results: The included studies consistently showed that awareness of PrEP exceeded actual uptake. Across settings, the awareness–uptake gap was shaped by policy environment, service accessibility, stigma, privacy concerns, economic burden, institutional complexity, and provider preparedness. Comparative evidence from China, Thailand, Belgium and France, Brazil, and West Africa further suggested that awareness alone did not ensure uptake when service pathways were fragmented, culturally unsafe, or poorly understood. Conclusions: Closing the awareness–uptake gap requires integrated policy and practice strategies that extend beyond cost reduction. Strengthening confidentiality systems, simplifying service pathways, and enhancing provider competency—particularly through nurse-centered PrEP navigation and counseling models—may support more sustainable PrEP expansion among MSM populations in global settings. Full article

Bed separation is a common geological phenomenon in the overburden strata during coal mining, which easily induces water inrush hazards, surface subsidence hazards, and other engineering disasters, thus seriously threatening the safety and efficiency of coal mining operations. This paper presents the spatiotemporal evolution characteristics and dynamic prediction of bed separation. The different boundary conditions before and after coal mining disturbance are considered to calculate and predict the location, spatial dimension and spatiotemporal evolution process of bed separation development. Theoretical analysis and scale model tests are used to study the distribution and process of bed separation development with comparisons made between the pre- and post-mining conditions. Formulas for the dynamic prediction of bed separation and a criterion for identifying bed separation development locations are proposed. The vertical propagation coefficient (K_s) and the horizontal development coefficient (K_l) of bed separation are proposed to quantitatively predict the vertical propagation extent and horizontal expansion scale of bed separation space with the advancement of the panel, providing key indicators for the dynamic prediction of bed separation evolution. The results show that the size and duration of bed separation space increase abnormally in the presence of thick and hard strata. This study provides a theoretical basis and practical guidance for the design and optimization of bed separation water hazard prevention and overburden grouting for subsidence control. Full article

The Xi’an Beilin Museum preserves a large collection of archeological photographic negatives and films dating from the 1950s to the early 1980s. These images document significant archeological discoveries, including Tang dynasty imperial tomb murals, the excavation of the terracotta warriors, and various historical grottoes and stone carvings. As unique visual records of cultural heritage, these materials provide valuable references for studying environmental deterioration processes and for guiding conservation and restoration practices. However, long-term storage under uncontrolled environmental conditions has resulted in severe degradation of the negatives, including mold contamination, emulsion layer powdering, deformation, and partial detachment. Among these deterioration phenomena, microbial growth is particularly destructive because fungal hyphae cause light scattering and image obscuration, preventing scanning and digital archiving. In this study, mold species present on the negatives were isolated and identified using morphological observation and ITS rDNA sequence analysis. Based on the characteristics of the microbial contamination, targeted removal and restoration treatments were applied to recover the original image information. Furthermore, preventive protection strategies were implemented through the development of antifungal storage materials and protective containers. The results establish an integrated conservation approach combining microbial identification, restoration treatment, risk elimination, and preventive protection, providing a scientific basis for the long-term preservation of historical photographic archives. Full article

Veterinary practice involves frequent interactions with pet owners that may be conflictual, emotionally charged, and ethically complex. These relational demands may contribute to burnout and related distress, but the evidence remains scattered across outcomes and study designs. This scoping review mapped the literature on how veterinarian–client communication and relational experiences are associated with burnout among veterinarians. Five databases were searched, and 17 studies met the inclusion criteria. Most were quantitative, with qualitative and mixed-methods studies also identified. Overall, the findings showed that repeated relational friction with clients, emotionally demanding end-of-life conversations, financial conflicts, and blurred boundaries around availability can contribute to burnout risk. The review also identified mechanisms linking these experiences to distress, particularly emotional reactivity and the effort required to regulate emotions during difficult interactions. Protective factors included supportive teams, autonomy, structured communication training, and interventions such as Acceptance and Commitment Training. These findings suggest that burnout in veterinary practice is shaped not only by workload, but also by the relational demands of client-facing care. Prevention efforts should therefore combine individual support with team-based and organizational strategies that strengthen communication practices and reduce avoidable interpersonal strain. Full article

Background/Objectives: TCIRG1-associated infantile osteopetrosis is a severe hereditary disorder caused by impaired osteoclast function, leading to osteosclerosis, hematological abnormalities, neurological complications, and early mortality. Early diagnosis and intervention are critical. Methods: A literature-based analysis was performed on clinical manifestations, outcomes of allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT), immunomodulatory therapy, and experimental gene therapy and cell-based approaches, including lentiviral vectors and patient-derived induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs). Results: Allogeneic HSCT is the only established curative therapy, restoring osteoclast function and preventing severe complications. Early transplantation with HLA-matched donors and myeloablative conditioning provides optimal outcomes. Interferon γ1b can transiently enhance osteoclast activity but is not curative and shows variable efficacy. Preclinical studies demonstrate that lentiviral TCIRG1 delivery and transgenic correction in patient-derived iPSCs restore osteoclast function and bone resorption, with stable gene expression and minimal toxicity. Base and prime editing approaches offer potential for precise correction of single-nucleotide TCIRG1 variants, minimizing risks associated with double-strand DNA breaks. Conclusions: Allogeneic HSCT remains the standard therapy for TCIRG1-associated infantile osteopetrosis. Gene therapy and cell-based strategies represent promising adjuncts or alternatives, potentially avoiding immune-related complications and expanding therapeutic options. Further studies are needed to ensure safety, stable engraftment, and long-term efficacy, supporting translation of gene therapy into clinical practice. Full article

Background/Objectives: Fever is a common concern among parents, often leading to heightened anxiety and misconceptions about its management. While fever phobia has been extensively studied in Western countries, data from the Middle East—particularly Iran—remain limited. Understanding parental knowledge and anxiety in this cultural context is essential for developing targeted educational interventions. This study aims to assess parental knowledge, behavior, and anxiety regarding fever in children and to identify factors associated with higher levels of anxiety among Iranian parents, thereby contributing culturally specific evidence to the international literature on pediatric fever management. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted involving 552 parents from Tehran, Iran, recruited through convenience sampling. Data were collected using self-administered questionnaires assessing demographic characteristics, knowledge about fever, treatment practices, and anxiety levels using a 10-point Likert scale. Principal component analysis (PCA) was performed to examine the underlying factors influencing parents’ decisions to reduce fever. Univariate and multivariate linear regression analyses on standardized z-values were conducted to determine the predictors of fever-related anxiety. Results: Results showed that 67.4% of parents experienced anxiety when managing their child’s fever, with 65.6% perceiving fever as harmful. Fear of febrile seizures (77.4%) and brain damage were significant concerns motivating parents to reduce fever. Female parental sex (β = 0.336, p = 0.004) and the perception of fever as harmful (β = 0.058, p < 0.001) were the strongest predictors of fever-related anxiety. The PCA identified two key factors influencing fever management behavior: well-being protection and medical risk prevention. Parents commonly treated fever using combinations with either Paracetamol or Ibuprofen (47.6%). Conclusions: Parental anxiety about fever in Iran is largely driven by misconceptions, especially regarding febrile seizures and brain damage. Culturally tailored education and clear communication from healthcare providers are essential to reduce these fears, improve fever management, and decrease unnecessary antipyretic use. Full article

Dietary habits are pivotal in preventing chronic noncommunicable diseases, as vegetable-rich diets provide over 25,000 bioactive phytochemicals that modulate cell-signaling and metabolic pathways. Consequently, nutraceuticals and functional foods are increasingly recognized for their potential to prevent chronic pathologies. Among functional foods, Phaseolus vulgaris L. (common bean) stands out as a critical resource for global nutrition and disease prevention. Beyond its role in food security and environmental sustainability, the common bean offers extraordinary nutrient density, providing a unique “protein plus fiber” package and a source of health-promoting active ingredients. In this review, special emphasis is placed on the bean’s role in preventing or mitigating cardiovascular diseases and cancer, driven by bioactive molecules that modulate metabolic and cell-signaling pathways. Practical evidence of this growing interest is demonstrated by the surge in scientific literature over the last 50 years, as shown by PubMed and Scopus data. By synthesizing data from original research and existing reviews, this work highlights how incorporating common beans into the diet represents a strategic, health-conscious choice with potential therapeutic benefits for human health. Full article

Animal-vehicle collisions (AVCs) pose a significant threat to road safety, wildlife conservation, and transportation systems worldwide. Advances in artificial intelligence (AI) and computer vision have enabled intelligent detection and mitigation systems aimed at reducing such collisions. This review synthesizes the current state of AI-powered AVC prevention systems, examining deep learning architectures, multimodal sensor technologies, real-time processing frameworks, and system-level integration strategies. We analyze the transition from traditional computer vision methods to modern deep neural networks, evaluate sensor fusion approaches, and assess existing wildlife detection datasets and benchmarking practices. Key technical challenges are identified, including environmental variability, long-range detection constraints, dataset scarcity, cross-species generalization limitations, and real-time safety requirements. Rather than framing AVC prevention solely as an object detection task, this review conceptualizes it as a safety-critical perception and risk assessment pipeline operating under strict latency and deployment constraints. Persistent gaps in wildlife-specific detection, standardized evaluation protocols, and scalable edge deployment are discussed. To organize these insights, we present WildSafe-Edge as a conceptual reference architecture derived from the literature, synthesizing system-level design considerations and highlighting open research directions. Future research directions include transfer learning, synthetic data augmentation, vehicle-to-everything (V2X) integration, and edge-centric architectures to enable robust, real-world collision mitigation systems. Full article

Estimates suggest that approximately 400 million dogs are kept as pets worldwide. Despite their popularity, around 10% to 30% are surrendered to rescue shelters each year. Shelter workers play a pivotal role in the success of dog adoptions and provide ongoing support to help owners keep these dogs in their homes. However, research that captures their perspectives and experiences regarding the dog adoption process remains limited. Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Queensland shelter teams participated in six focus group discussions to share their perspectives and experiences of the dog adoption process in their shelters. Reflexive thematic analysis of the gathered data generated three themes: 1. “Doing great adoptions” starts with an inclusive, well-resourced application process and a skilled team. 2. Finding the right fit involves navigating the duality of carer and advocate through honest, informative interactions with the whole family. 3. Successful outcomes involve supporting and educating the public to care for and keep their dog. This grounded understanding of the challenges facing shelters in their work could provide valuable feedback to help shelter leaders and staff develop policies and practices that support positive adoption outcomes, tailor programmes to local needs, and reduce return rates. Full article

This paper studies the reliability and availability of a k-out-of-(M+S) retrial machine repair system with two-way communication, consisting of M primary components and S warm standby components. The system incorporates the retrial behavior of failed components. When the repairman becomes idle, he initiates outgoing calls after a random period either to failed components in the orbit for repair or to components outside the orbit for preventive maintenance. The main contribution of this study is the incorporation of proactive repairman behavior, which more realistically captures operational practices in certain engineering systems. By employing the matrix analytic method together with a recursive approach, the steady-state probabilities of the system are obtained, and several important performance measures are derived. Furthermore, the Runge–Kutta method is used to evaluate the system reliability and the mean time to failure. A sensitivity analysis is conducted to investigate the effects of key system parameters, supported by numerical experiments and graphical illustrations. Finally, a cost–benefit model is formulated, and a genetic algorithm is implemented to determine the optimal values of the decision variables that minimize the cost–benefit ratio. Full article

Coal and gas outbursts remain one of the most critical dynamic hazards in underground coal mining, driven by complex interactions among geological, gas-related, and structural factors. In this study, a dataset comprising 90 documented coal and gas outbursts occurred in Zonguldak Coal Basin was analyzed using the Decision-Making Trial and Evaluation Laboratory (DEMATEL) method. Hierarchical levels of significance among key controlling factors were formed and the relative influence levels of the parameters were comparatively evaluated to determine their contribution to the outburst risk mechanism. The study focuses on prominence-based interpretation supported by total influence matrix heatmap rather than conventional cause–effect diagrams. The results indicate that the prominence index provides a clear hierarchy of factor importance reflecting a structurally symmetric interaction pattern among the selected variables. Mining depth, gas content, and moisture content together account for more than 70% of total system importance, identifying them as the dominant drivers of coal–gas outbursts. Fault distance shows a secondary influence, whereas seam thickness and inclination exhibit comparatively minor contributions. The results indicate that the interaction structure of outburst risk factors is balanced, and that risk is primarily governed by their combined influence. Therefore, prominence-based evaluation and heatmap visualization provide a more reliable and practical basis for identifying critical factors and prioritizing risk control strategies. The results provide practical guidance for risk prioritization and preventive planning in deep and gas-rich coal mines. Full article

Perinatal mood disorders (PMDs) affect approximately 15% of birthing persons during the pregnancy or postpartum (up to one year after birth) time period. People who recently gave birth and are of diverse backgrounds and identities, especially those who are oppressed, are disproportionately affected by PMDs and may experience these conditions differently. One such group is low-income birthing persons living in urban areas. This article will summarize PMDs, including their prevalence rates and how they are disproportionately experienced among low-income birthing persons living in urban areas. The factors to be reviewed include racism, cultural stigma, community stressors, issues with access to services, lack of resources, socioeconomic concerns, and healthcare system problems. Additionally, how PMDs among low-income birthing persons living in urban areas can be prevented, identified, and treated will be discussed. Strategies include practicing cultural humility and promoting anti-oppressive practice, building positive relationships with birthing persons, utilizing formal and informal social supports, promoting community engagement, sharing resources and tangible supports, following universal screening recommendations, addressing barriers to care, and advocating for effective policies. Full article

The globalization of the food supply chain presents complex challenges for safety assurance within a highly fragmented regulatory landscape. This review synthesizes the frameworks of eight influential jurisdictions—including the European Union (EU), the United States, China, and Codex Alimentarius—to evaluate how legal mandates function as regulatory drivers that guide the evolution of analytical chemistry. By examining legislation on Maximum Residue Limits (MRLs), positive list systems, and method validation guidelines (e.g., SANTE), we demonstrate that strict preventive controls have established chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry (LC/GC-MS/MS) as the universal standard for multi-residue screening. We show that global regulatory fragmentation is not merely an administrative artifact, but is rooted in divergent toxicological philosophies and localized dietary exposure models. This regulatory heterogeneity requires analytical laboratories to adopt a posture of “defensive technological redundancy,” forcing them to continuously optimize targeted methods against the strictest global default limits (e.g., 0.01 mg/kg). We establish that this continuous methodological escalation for ultra-trace quantification has reached practical and operational limits. Consequently, we conclude that the future of food safety testing must transition from static target-list compliance toward adaptable, non-targeted chemical profiling using High-Resolution Mass Spectrometry (HRMS), enabling laboratories to proactively address emerging contaminants, food fraud, and the complexities of modern food matrices. Full article

Deaths caused by or connected to exposure to Brazilian prisons are widely acknowledged as frequent and preventable, yet official data fails to capture their scale, causes, and circumstances. To circumvent what official administrative datasets miss, this article examines an original dataset of 1077 criminal case files from 27 Brazilian state courts involving individuals who died between 2017 and 2021 after having been incarcerated. Drawing on the systematic document review of these cases, we analyze sociodemographic characteristics, health information, causes of death, and judicial responses, distinguishing between deaths occurring in custody (“internal”) and after release (“external”). Our findings reveal pervasive omissions in basic demographic and medical information, extensive use of ill-defined causes of death, and a striking absence of investigation in most cases, including deaths under direct state custody. We identify instances of obfuscation and judicial inaction that, together with the absence of reliable administrative data, are likely to sustain institutional ignorance and normalize preventable deaths. This study advances debates on incarceration and health, state accountability, and proposes the concept of prison lethality: the capacity of carceral spaces to increase people’s exposure to health risks and harms, combined with the epistemic practices that shed light on or obfuscate this capacity. Full article

This study proposes and analyzes an integrated framework for monitoring potable water quality and laboratory effluent management in universities, with emphasis on its practical application in a Brazilian public institution. Adopting a qualitative and documentary approach, the research was based on high-impact scientific publications, institutional reports, and environmental databases. The results demonstrate that effective water and effluent governance depends on the interaction of three core dimensions: regulatory compliance, technological innovation, and institutional governance. These elements operate synergistically to ensure transparency, risk prevention, and environmental accountability. The proposed University Laboratory Water Monitoring Framework (UL-WMF) illustrates how universities can transform water control into a managerial and educational tool aligned with sustainability goals. The illustrative institutional application revealed potential for integrating Internet of Things (IoT) and Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS) technologies into environmental management routines, reinforcing universities’ strategic role in achieving global sustainability objectives. Despite relying on secondary data, this study provides a scalable foundation for decision support systems and future empirical validation. The novelty of the University Laboratory Water Management Framework (UL-WMF) lies in its integration of potable water monitoring and laboratory effluent governance into a single operational framework, addressing a gap in the existing literature and offering a model specifically tailored to the context of universities in developing countries. The applied component of the study consists of an illustrative institutional case constructed exclusively from publicly available environmental and governance reports. This illustration serves to demonstrate the operational relevance of the proposed framework, without implying field measurements or primary data collection. Full article