Search Results (140)

Traditional systems in real life lack transparency and ease of use due to their reliance on centralization and large infrastructure. Furthermore, many sectors that rely on information technology face major challenges related to data integrity, trust, and counterfeiting, limiting scalability and acceptance in the community. With the decentralization and digitization of energy transactions in smart grids, security, integrity, and fraud prevention concerns have increased. The main problem addressed in this study is the lack of a secure, tamper-resistant, and decentralized mechanism to facilitate direct consumer-to-prosumer energy transactions. Thus, this is a major challenge in the smart grid. In the blockchain, current consensus algorithms may limit the scalability of smart grids, especially when depending on popular algorithms such as Proof of Work, due to their high energy consumption, which is incompatible with the characteristics of the smart grid. Meanwhile, Proof of Stake algorithms rely on energy or cryptocurrency stake ownership, which may make the smart grid environment in blockchain technology vulnerable to control by the many owning nodes, which is incompatible with the purpose and objective of this study. This study addresses these issues by proposing and implementing a hybrid framework that combines the features of private and public blockchains across three integrated layers: user interface, application, and blockchain. A key contribution of the system is the design of a novel consensus algorithm, Proof of Energy, which selects validators based on node roles and randomized assignment, rather than computational power or stake ownership. This makes it more suitable for smart grid environments. The entire framework was developed without relying on existing decentralized platforms such as Ethereum. The system was evaluated through comprehensive experiments on performance and security. Performance results show a throughput of up to 60.86 transactions per second and an average latency of 3.40 s under a load of 10,000 transactions. Security validation confirmed resistance against digital signature forgery, invalid smart contracts, race conditions, and double-spending attacks. Despite the promising performance, several limitations remain. The current system was developed and tested on a single machine as a simulation-based study using transaction logs without integration of real smart meters or actual energy tokenization in real-time scenarios. In future work, we will focus on integrating real-time smart meters and implementing full energy tokenization to achieve a complete and autonomous smart grid platform. Overall, the proposed system significantly enhances data integrity, trust, and resistance to counterfeiting in smart grids. Full article

The L-type calcium channels (LTCCs) function as the main entry points that convert myocyte membrane depolarization into calcium transients, which drive every heartbeat. There is increasing evidence to show that maladaptive remodeling of these channels is the cause of heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) and heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF). Recent experimental, translational, and clinical studies have improved our understanding of the roles LTCC expression, micro-domain trafficking, and post-translational control have in disrupting excitation–contraction coupling, provoking arrhythmias, and shaping phenotype specific hemodynamic compromise. We performed a systematic search of the PubMed and Google Scholar databases (2015–2025, English) and critically evaluated 17 eligible publications in an effort to organize the expanding body of work. This review combines existing data about LTCC density and T-tubule architecture with β-adrenergic and Ca²⁺/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaMKII) signaling and downstream sarcoplasmic reticulum crosstalk to explain how HFrEF presents with contractile insufficiency and how HFpEF shows diastolic calcium overload and stiffening. Additionally, we highlight the emerging therapeutic strategies aimed at restoring calcium homeostasis such as CaMKII inhibitors, ryanodine receptor type 2 (RyR2) stabilizers, and selective LTCC modulators without compromising systolic reserve. The review establishes LTCC dysregulation as a single mechanism that causes myocardial dysfunction while remaining specific to each phenotype, thus offering clinicians and researchers a complete reference for current concepts and future precision therapy approaches in heart failure. Full article

This article examines Healthy Homes, a program intended to initiate a new approach to housing repairs and maintenance in remote communities in the Northern Territory of Australia. It argues that while the evidence for associations between poor housing and poor health outcomes is clear, greater attention should be paid to the implementation of health-focused housing interventions. Healthy Homes was examined through interviews with public servants, Aboriginal community-controlled organisation staff, and householders, alongside participant observation during maintenance projects and Condition Assessment Tool inspections. Routine housing, inspections, and expenditure datasets were also analysed. Across 5498 houses subject to Healthy Homes and over a twenty-month period, only 1315 Condition Assessment Tool inspections were completed, which is the key mechanism for generating preventive maintenance work. Expenditure on repairs and maintenance was stable between the old maintenance model and under Healthy Homes. Most Healthy Homes remote housing maintenance contracts were awarded to Aboriginal business enterprises. This article finds that Healthy Homes did not effectively shift remote property management to prioritise preventive maintenance. Issues with data collection and monitoring, program implementation, and contractual arrangements impeded more consistent and effective attention paid to the condition of housing health hardware. Future investment into the implementation of health-focused remote housing preventive maintenance programs must attend to the details of program design, including the data collection processes and contractual terms for service providers. Full article

The growing interest in decentralized finance (DeFi), driven by advancements in blockchain technologies such as Ethereum, highlights the crucial role of smart contracts. However, the inherent openness of blockchains creates an extensive attack surface, exposing participants’ funds to undetected security flaws. In this work we investigated the use of deep reinforcement learning techniques, specifically Deep Q-Network (DQN) and Proximal Policy Optimization (PPO), for detecting and classifying vulnerabilities in smart contracts. This approach utilizes control flow graphs (CFGs) generated through EtherSolve to capture the semantic features of contract bytecode, enabling the reinforcement learning models to recognize patterns and make more accurate predictions. Experimental results from extensive public datasets of smart contracts revealed that the PPO model performs better than DQN and demonstrates effectiveness in identifying unchecked-call vulnerability. The PPO model exhibits more stable and consistent learning patterns and achieves higher overall rewards. This research introduces a machine learning method for enhancing smart contract security, reducing financial risks for users, and contributing to future developments in reinforcement learning applications. Full article

Melioidosis, caused by Burkholderia pseudomallei, is a potentially fatal infection, particularly affecting individuals with chronic conditions such as diabetes or kidney or liver diseases. This review examines melioidosis in India over the past two decades, focusing on its prevalence, risk factors and clinical manifestations. A PubMed search (2000–2024) identified a rise in melioidosis publications, with most from Southern India, followed by Eastern India, and an increase post-2019. Eight studies from 2010–2022 identified fever (86%), cough (26%) and joint pain (23%) as the most common symptoms, while diabetes (75%), alcohol abuse (19%) and cancer (6%) were primary predisposing factors. Severe clinical manifestations were also observed, including bacteremia (50%), pneumonia (37%) and splenic abscess (18%). Although environmental exposure risks were not significantly high, individuals with diabetes or chronic kidney disease, particularly those working in high-risk environments, were more likely to contract melioidosis. Cryptic environmental factors that might bridge known epidemiological risk factors are also addressed. The review emphasizes the increasing awareness and research in clinical epidemiology and also highlights a gap in studies on antimicrobial treatments, vaccines and environmental surveillance. Targeted interventions in diabetes and poverty hotspots could help control the disease more effectively. Full article

This paper highlights the transition from traditional procurement systems to the newly introduced eProcurement system in Saudi Arabia, emphasizing the differences and improvements and their implications for sustainable development. The new system aims to enhance transparency, clarify purchasing methodologies, and build trust with the government through effective governance of government purchases and tender management. Guided by Royal Decree, this system aligns with the eProcurement Program to transition into digital processes for proficient bids and government purchases, contributing to more efficient and sustainable procurement practices. While some public agencies have attempted to adopt the new model contract for executing construction projects, it has faced challenges due to its lack of alignment with the best practices and sustainability considerations. The authors argue that many large projects remain exempt from this system, which poses obstacles to achieving the goals of sustainable economic development. The objective of this paper is to explore the newly revised Saudi procurement contracts in comparison with traditional public works contracts, with a focus on how they address socio-economic and environmental sustainability. The research provides an overview of various aspects related to public works contracts (PWCs) in Saudi Arabia, including framework agreements, online reverse auctions, industry localization, knowledge transfer, traditional lump sum contracts, two-phase tenders, and construction project competitions, analyzing their alignment with sustainable development goals. There is limited literature on recent models introduced by the Saudi government, but there are extensive resources on general contract law principles and international public policy. This foundation helps with understanding the legal aspects of public works contracts in Saudi Arabia, their alignment with international standards, and their implications for fostering sustainable development. By examining the literature, researchers can gain insights into the legal and policy framework governing public works contracts in Saudi Arabia and their role in promoting sustainability. The importance of this research lies in its comparative analysis, offering valuable insights into the evolution of procurement practices in Saudi Arabia and their contribution to sustainable socio-economic growth. Full article

Most people in the world now live in urban areas and their shared quest for better cities is embodied in several Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations. These indicate that successful cities need jobs, adequate housing stock, effective governance, and other support systems. At the most basic level, they need a basket of core public works services like clean water and efficient transit, among others. These must be provided to improve public trust in government by addressing equity and affordability while also improving operational and cost efficiency. These targets are moving as transitions are occurring from stove-piped to integrated services, even while social contracts between government and the private sector are also shifting. Essential tools to improve cities include urban planning and infrastructure development, but applying them effectively faces challenges like climate change, inequality, social disorder, and even armed conflicts. This paper focuses on seven core public works services for drinking water, wastewater, stormwater, trash collection, mass transit, streets and traffic control, and disaster management. It reviews how these have evolved in the US, how they are organized under the federalism system, and how the goal of integrated management is being pursued. Challenges to integrated approaches include increasing responsibilities but lack of funding, political stress, and rule-driven and internally oriented management. Methods for performance assessment are explained under legacy systems based on methods like indicators and benchmarking applied to public works systems. Current methods focus on regulatory targets and the details; information has been shallow and not always timely. This paper projects how the performance assessment of core public works systems can be broadened to address goals like those of the SDGs and assesses why it is difficult to rate major systems. Examples of the activities of NGOs are given and an example of how progress toward SDG6 is included to show why performance management of integrated management applied to linked systems is needed. Performance dashboards with open government are currently the most common pathways, but emerging methods based on data analytics and visualization offer new possibilities. Reviewing the status of public works management shows that it is an important branch of the field of public administration, and it can be presented as a professional field with its own identity. The findings will support educators and researchers as well as provide policy insights into public works and stakeholder engagement. Full article

BIM represents a significant step towards digitalization and innovation in the public construction sector in Italy, and as of 1 January 2025, its adoption became mandatory for all public work. Recognizing the importance of this shift, the Sapienza University of Rome developed a set of standards and guidelines between 2018 and 2024. These guidelines have now been officially adopted by the Buildings Maintenance Area of Sapienza for the application of BIM in service and work contracts. They are consolidated into a document known as the Sapienza Protocol, which serves as a reference for the creation of information-rich models of university heritage buildings, encompassing both existing structures and those to be constructed from scratch. The Sapienza Protocol outlines a modeling process that integrates surveying, geometric modeling, and an informational framework, combining theoretical principles with methodological approaches tested in the HBIM research domain. This approach ensures that both the technical and historical characteristics of buildings are appropriately represented. The purpose of this manuscript is to describe the evolution of the Sapienza Protocol, from its initial version to its current form. It highlights operational procedures and technical solutions, showcasing how the protocol has adapted to address the complex needs of managing and preserving architectural heritage in a digital context. Full article

The food and agriculture sector is a cornerstone of critical infrastructure (CI), underpinning global food security, public health, and economic stability. However, the increasing digitalization and connectivity of operational technologies (OTs) in this sector expose it to significant cybersecurity risks. Blockchain technology (BT) has emerged as a transformative solution for addressing these challenges by enhancing network security, traceability, and system resilience. This study presents a comprehensive review of BT applications in OT security for food and agriculture CI, employing bibliometric and content analysis methods. A total of 124 relevant articles were identified from six databases, including the Web of Science Core Collection and MEDLINE^®. Bibliometric analysis was conducted across five dimensions: publication year, literature type, journal distribution, country contributions, and keyword trends. The findings are meticulously organized through tables, charts, and graphs. The year 2018 marked a surge in research within this domain, with the IEEE Internet of Things Journal and IEEE ACESS emerging as the most prolific journals, each boasting nine publications. The United States, China, and India are at the forefront in terms of journal citation counts. Our analysis determined that a reference count of 37 serves as an appropriate threshold. Otoum Safa stands out as the author with the highest number of published articles, totaling four. Keywords such as “blockchain”, “internet of things”, “smart contract”, “security”, and “critical infrastructure” appear with significant frequency. The statistics, trends, and insights gleaned from this bibliometric analysis can guide researchers in the OTCI field to forge a coherent and logical research trajectory. Content analysis further identified six key research areas within this domain: identity authentication and data verification, secure access control, attack detection and perception, data security and protection, data backup and recovery, and attack assessment and attribution. Based on these insights, a general framework is proposed to guide future research and practical applications of BT in securing OT within food and agriculture CI. This study systematically analyzes the current research landscape, challenges, and opportunities for BT in securing the OT critical to food and agriculture CI. By bridging the gap between blockchain innovations and the operational needs of the food and agriculture sector, this work contributes to advancing strategic implementation and improving the security of CI systems. Full article

Background: Human papillomavirus (HPV) remains the most prevalent sexually transmitted infection in the United States (U.S.). By the age of 45, over 80% of Americans will contract HPV, which creates a significant public health concern. Despite the availability of effective vaccines, low vaccination uptake continues to be a challenge, particularly in Tennessee. Additionally, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recently expanded recommendations for HPV vaccine usage to include adults aged 27–45, suggesting a population with the potential to experience a gap in preventative care. To understand the underlying factors that may hinder Tennesseans from receiving the HPV vaccine, we conducted a cross-sectional survey from 29 June to 17 August 2023 among adults aged 18 to 45 in Tennessee. The survey was developed and informed by a scoping review regarding the various constructs and frameworks used in vaccine hesitancy and our previous qualitative work. Using theory-based instruments and previous qualitative data, this study aimed to determine the underlying factors that may hinder Tennesseans from receiving the HPV vaccine, focusing on those adults within the recently approved age range of 27–45 years old. Methods: An Exploratory Factor Analysis of 2011 participants ultimately included five factors, which explain 70.3% of the variability. These were Benefits/Trust, Perceived Susceptibility, Attitude/Behavioral Control, Perceived Barriers, and Perceived Severity. All Cronbach alphas were greater than 0.80, indicating that each factor was reliable. Results: When stratifying by various demographics, our analysis found that race emerged as a significant factor (p = 0.002), while the interaction of race and vaccination status was not significant (p = 0.753). Black respondents had significantly lower levels of Benefits/Trust than White (p < 0.001) and Asian respondents (p = 0.030), with no significant differences between White and Asian respondents. Conclusions: These findings underscore the importance of researchers, healthcare professionals, public health officials, and policymakers in addressing these demographic differences to effectively increase vaccination rates and reduce HPV-associated cancer risks in Tennessee. Further studies are needed for targeted interventions to address these disparities. Full article

The aim of this work is to analyse the quality and transparency of data on the additional costs of public works. The problem identified is the lack of detailed and accessible information that allows for an adequate analysis of the performance and final state of public works, especially in relation to prices and deadlines. This is a case study carried out in Portugal, in which information from public works contracts with a closing date in 2022 was analysed. The data were extracted from the public access portal, responsible for making available and publishing information on the execution of public works contracts. The information was subjected to a statistical treatment process seeking to identify answers to transparency issues. The originality of this study lies in the quantitative and statistical approach applied to the evaluation of the transparency of the data made available on the portal, contributing to the debate on improving public management. The results indicate the need to expand the content available on the portal since the information provided does not allow for an analysis of the final state and performance of the works carried out, especially those relating to price and deadline, which in turn limits the construction of forecasting models and performance indicators. Corrective measures are proposed that include information that allows for answering questions about transparency and that allows for the construction and analysis of statistics and indicators, contributing to identifying the need for improvements in legislation, and the adoption of mechanisms that can improve, correct and or reinforce actions with an impact on the management of public resources. Full article

Elections and voting play a crucial role in the development of a democratic society, enabling the public to express their views and participate in the decision-making process. Voting methods have evolved from paper ballot systems to e-voting systems to preserve the integrity of votes, ensuring a secure, transparent, and verifiable process. Continuous efforts have been made to develop a secure e-voting system that eliminates fraud attempts and provides accurate voting results. In this paper, we propose the architecture of a blockchain-based e-voting system called VoteChain. Developed to support the existing voting system in the state of Palestine, VoteChain aims to provide secure e-voting with features such as auditability, verifiability, accuracy, privacy, flexibility, transparency, mobility, availability, convenience, data integrity, and distribution of authority. The work introduces a smart contract designed to meet the demands of e-voting, governing transactions, monitoring computations, enforcing acceptable usage policies, and managing data usage after transmission. The proposed system also adopts advanced cryptographic techniques to enhance security. VoteChain features a web-based interface to facilitate user interaction, providing protection against multiple or double voting to ensure the integrity of the election. Furthermore, VoteChain is designed with a user-friendly and easily accessible administrator interface for managing voters, constituencies, and candidates. It ensures equal participation rights for all voters, fostering fair and healthy competition among candidates while preserving voter anonymity. A comparative analysis demonstrates VoteChain’s advancements in privacy, security, and scalability over both traditional and blockchain-based e-voting systems. Full article

Wound healing is rarely seen as a problem in healthy individuals; however, under certain pathophysiological conditions, this process can be impaired, leading to the emergence of chronic wounds, which are themselves a serious public health problem. This work aimed to review the most important recent literature on the use of nanoparticles of Ag, Au, and Zn produced from plant extracts and their application as healing agents. To that end, we provide an insight into the pathophysiology of wound healing and the main routes to obtaining metallic nanoparticles. The methodology of synthesis, which is part of the so-called green synthesis, has been the focus of several studies on the use of medicinal plants as a substrate to produce silver, gold, and zinc nanoparticles. Their use as wound healing agents is closely related to their natural antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and cicatrizing properties. Finally, we address in vitro and in vivo studies on the efficiency of metallic nanoparticles (MNPs) synthesized from plant extracts and applied to wound healing in different pharmaceutical forms. For instance, the excellent wound contraction rates obtained from silver and gold NPs, respectively, were obtained from Euphorbia milii (92%) and Plectranthus aliciae (almost 97%) extracts in in vivo and in vitro analyses. Based on the satisfactory results, we find that MNPs are a potential therapeutic alternative compared to traditional synthetic healing agents and foresee the production of new pharmaceutical drugs. Full article

The human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) epidemic has been a major public health threat on a global scale since the early 1980s. Despite the introduction of combination antiretroviral therapy (cART), the incidence of new HIV-1 infections continues to rise in some regions around the world. Thus, with the continuous transmission of HIV-1 and the lack of a cure, it is imperative for molecular epidemiological studies to be performed, to monitor the infection and ultimately be able to control the spread of this virus. This work provides a comprehensive molecular epidemiological analysis of the HIV-1 infection in Cyprus, through examining 305 HIV-1 sequences collected between 9 March 2017 and 14 October 2021. Employing advanced statistical and bioinformatic techniques, the research delved deeply into understanding the transmission dynamics of the HIV-1 epidemic in Cyprus, as well as the monitoring of HIV-1’s genetic diversity and the surveillance of transmitted drug resistance. The characterization of Cyprus’s HIV-1 epidemic revealed a diverse landscape, comprising 21 HIV-1 group M pure subtypes and circulating recombinant forms (CRFs), alongside numerous uncharacterized recombinant strains. Subtypes A1 and B emerged as the most prevalent strains, followed by CRF02_AG. The findings of this study also revealed high levels of transmitted drug resistance (TDR) patterns, raising concerns for the efficacy of cART. The demographic profiles of individuals involved in HIV-1 transmission underscored the disproportionate burden borne by young to middle-aged Cypriot males, particularly those in the MSM community, who reported contracting the virus in Cyprus. An assessment of the spatiotemporal evolutionary dynamics illustrated the global interconnectedness of HIV-1 transmission networks, implicating five continents in the dissemination of strains within Cyprus: Europe, Africa, Asia, North America, and Oceania. Overall, this study advances the comprehension of the HIV-1 epidemic in Cyprus and highlights the importance of understanding HIV-1’s transmission dynamics through continuous surveillance efforts. Furthermore, this work emphasizes the critical role of state-of-the-art bioinformatics analyses in addressing the challenges posed by HIV-1 transmission globally, laying the groundwork for public health interventions aimed at curbing its spread and improving patient outcomes. Full article

Blockchain technology (BCT) is regarded as one of the most important and disruptive technologies in Industry 4.0. However, no comprehensive study addresses the contributions of BCT adoption (BCA) on some special business functionalities projected as financial variables like BCA integrity, transparency, etc. Therefore, the primary objective of this study was to close this theoretical gap and determine how BCA has contributed to the four business sectors that were selected since FinTech had the greatest potential in these domains. The PRISMA approach, a systematic literature review model, was used in this work to make sure that the greatest number of studies on the topic were accessed. The PRISMA model’s output helped identify relevant publications, and an analysis of these studies served as the foundation for this paper’s findings. The findings reveal that BCA for companies with a disrupting financial technology (FinTech) attitude can help in securing corporate transaction transparency; offer knowledge, same-data, and information sharing; enhance fidelity, integrity, and trust; improve organizational procedures; and prevent fraud with cyber-hacking protection and fraudulence suspension. Moreover, blockchain’s smart contract utilization feature offers ESG and sustainability functionality. This paper’s novelty is the projection to four business sectors of the three-layer research sequence: (i) financial variables operated as BCA functionalities, (ii) issues, risks, limitations, and opportunities associated with the financial variables, and (iii) implications, theoretical contributions, questions, potentiality, and outlook of BCA/FinTech issues. And the ability of managers or practitioners to reference this sequence and make decisions on BCA matters is considered a key contribution. The proposed methodology provides business practitioners with valuable insights to reevaluate their economic challenges and explore the potential of blockchain technology to address them. This study combined a systematic literature review (SLR) with qualitative analysis as part of a hybrid research approach. Quantitative analysis was carried out on all 835 selected papers in the first step, and qualitative analysis was carried out on the top-cited papers that were screened. The current work highlights the key challenges and opportunities in established blockchain implementations and discusses the outlook potentiality of blockchain technology adoption. This study will be useful to managers, practitioners, researchers, and scholars. Full article