Search Results (15,209)

Understanding and predicting how tourists move through a city is a challenging task, as it involves a complex interplay of spatial, temporal, and social factors. Traditional recommender systems often rely on structured data, trying to capture the nature of the problem. However, recent advances in Large Language Models (LLMs) open new possibilities for reasoning over richer, text-based representations of user context, even without a dedicated pre-training phase. In this study, we investigate the potential of LLMs to interpret and predict tourist movements in a real-world application scenario involving tourist visits to Verona, a municipality in Northern Italy, between 2014 and 2023. We propose an incremental prompt engineering approach that gradually enriches the model input, from spatial features alone to richer behavioral information, including visit histories, time information, and user cluster patterns. The approach is evaluated using six open-source models, enabling us to compare their accuracy and efficiency across various levels of contextual enrichment. The results provide a first insight about the abilities of LLMs to incorporate spatio-temporal contextual factors, thus improving predictions, while maintaining computational efficiency. The analysis of the model-generated explanations completes the picture by adding an interpretability dimension that most existing next-PoI prediction solutions lack. Overall, the study demonstrates the potential of LLMs to integrate multiple contextual dimensions in tourism mobility, highlighting the possibility of a more text-oriented, adaptive, and explainable T-RS. Full article

Poliovirus wastewater surveillance (WWS) is an important complementary system to acute flaccid paralysis surveillance and a substitute surveillance for enteroviruses in stool samples of children, within global poliovirus eradication efforts. However, current guidelines provide limited data on sampling schemes for polio-free countries. This study aims to provide a summary of sampling schemes used for poliovirus WWS in studies done in countries of European Union (EU), together with an analysis of their objectives and a comparison with studies done in other countries. The study selection for this literature review was based on three sources: a World Health Organisation literature review, the PubMed database, and a systematic literature review of WWS of communicable disease agents. From 1446 studies, 72 studies published between 1 January 1995 and 5 September 2024 were included in the qualitative analysis. These studies were analysed by country of origin, objective, sampling site, catchment population size, sampling frequency, sampling method and sample volume. The results indicate that most studies from EU countries had conducted poliovirus WWS directly in line with World Health Organisation recommendations, despite these being primarily designed for developing countries. Our review may encourage countries to optimise their poliovirus WWS systems based on their own risks for poliovirus introduction and circulation. Full article

This study examines how 3D-printing orientation affects the mechanical behavior and environmental impact of polymer materials and heterogeneous PLA/TPU composites. Tensile properties of PLA, TPU, and PLA/TPU heterogeneous samples were systematically compared in horizontal and vertical printing orientations. Results show that printing orientation governs mechanical performance: vertical printing generally reduces ductility and exhibits unstable post-peak behavior, with heterogeneous samples performing worse than their single-material counterparts. In contrast, horizontal printing enhances strength, ductility, and energy absorption due to continuous load transfer along the filament path, improved interlayer adhesion, and larger effective contact areas. Specifically, TPU demonstrates higher ductility and energy absorption in the horizontal orientation, while PLA achieves higher strength but lower ductility; both materials degrade substantially in the vertical orientation. For heterogeneous composites, vertical printing yields the poorest outcomes due to load transfer across multiple perpendicular interfaces and thermal shrinkage mismatch, which promote crack initiation and propagation. Horizontal printing delivers an optimal balance of strength and toughness via stronger interface bonding. Life cycle assessment (LCA) indicates that horizontal printing reduces environmental burdens by lowering energy consumption and waste, whereas vertical printing amplifies these impacts, particularly for TPU and composite systems. Based on these findings, we recommend employing horizontally printed PLA/TPU heterogeneous composites to achieve favorable load paths and interface integrity while prioritizing bio-based PLA to enhance sustainability. Full article

Animal by-products (ABPs), comprising both edible and inedible components, offer significant nutritional, economic, and environmental value. However, their utilization differs markedly across global jurisdictions due to cultural preferences, regulatory frameworks, and technological capacities, which collectively shape consumption patterns and determine integration into food systems or diversion to industrial applications. While consumer reliance on offal remains high in the Global South, driven by tradition, affordability, and nutritional needs, its acceptance in the Global North is markedly lower, often limited by cultural aversion and perceived risks. Drawing from published evidence and primary survey data, this review examines regional consumption trends, industrial utilization pathways, and emerging valorization opportunities for ABPs. Globally, industrial use of ABPs is increasingly shifting toward advanced bioprocessing, integration within circular bioeconomy models, and high-value applications in nutraceutical, pharmaceutical, and bio-industrial sectors. An online cross-sectional survey (n = 358) conducted across Africa, North America, Europe, and Asia revealed strong regional disparities in offal consumption, with higher acceptance in parts of Africa and Asia and more selective use in Europe and North America. Respondents also indicated clear support for non-food valorization pathways, particularly animal feed, fertilizer, and energy production, alongside pharmaceutical and cosmetic applications. These findings align with the literature, where industrial valorization pathways such as collagen and gelatin extraction, rendering, and bioenergy production dominate. This review synthesized the jurisdictional disparities in consumption, regulation, technological capability, and industrial applications while highlighting emerging technological opportunities for high-value valorization. Recommendations emphasize consumer education, regulatory refinement, technological innovation, and sustainable practices to enhance the economic and environmental benefits of ABP utilization within a circular bioeconomy framework. Full article

This paper presents a high-performance and resource-efficient Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA)-based architecture for satellite telemetry transmission systems. The proposed design implements a flexible channel coding chain, including Reed–Solomon (R-S) encoding, convolutional encoding, symbol interleaving, pseudo-randomization, and Attached Synchronization Marker (ASM) insertion, in accordance with CCSDS recommendations. The architecture is fully integrated and configurable, allowing dynamic selection of coding schemes without requiring structural modifications. The system is implemented on a modern FPGA platform with a 32-bit AXI4-Stream interface at 110 MHz, reaching an effective throughput of up to 1.76 Gbps. Experimental results demonstrate reliable timing with positive setup and hold margins, allowing the system to operate at approximately 130 MHz. Power consumption is measured using Switching Activity Interchange Format (SAIF)-based switching activity, providing a realistic estimate of programmable logic power consumption. The total on-chip power is about 1.77 W for individual coding modes. It rises to 1.91 W in the concatenated setup, which is the worst-case scenario. The results show that the proposed architecture efficiently uses resources, runs reliably at high speeds, and exhibits predictable power consumption. This makes it well suited for high-reliability and energy-constrained satellite communication systems. resources are used. Full article

New quality productive forces are increasingly recognized as important drivers of coordinated regional development, with urban agglomerations acting as key vehicles for their spatial implementation. Based on the theory of new quality productive forces, this study takes the 13 cities in the Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei (BTH) urban agglomeration as its research subjects, spanning the period from 2005 to 2023, and constructs a four-dimensional evaluation index system for new quality productive forces covering economic, social, ecological, and technological dimensions. It employs the entropy method to determine indicator weights and calculate development indices for each dimension and utilizes a coupling coordination model to measure the overall and subsystem-level coordination by analyzing their spatiotemporal evolution characteristics. The results indicate a steady upward trend in the overall coordination level, progressing from a low level to an intermediate level, with the state of coordination continuously improving; spatial differentiation is significant, forming a gradient development pattern centered on Beijing, with marked disparities in coordination levels among cities. Subsystem analysis reveals an imbalanced synergy structure: while economic and ecological synergy levels are relatively high, the coupling and synergy between science and technology and the economy and society remain prominent weaknesses. Most cities in Hebei Province lack sufficient scientific and technological innovation capabilities, resulting in a weak supportive role for economic and social development. Based on these findings, this study proposes policy recommendations such as establishing a regional innovation community, promoting the integration of factor markets, and strengthening collaborative governance of the ecological environment, with the aim of leveraging new quality productive forces to drive a qualitative leap in the coordinated development of the BTH urban agglomeration. Full article

Background: Digitalization and artificial intelligence-supported clinical decision support systems (AI-DSS), defined here as tools that generate patient-specific alerts, risk estimates, prioritization prompts, documentation suggestions, or related recommendation outputs intended to support rather than replace professional nursing judgment, can improve clinical decision-making, yet they may also amplify technostress and burnout, with downstream effects on missed nursing care and implementation readiness. Methods: We surveyed 239 registered nurses from a tertiary-care hospital in Timișoara, Romania (January–March 2025), including critical care (n = 60) and general wards (n = 179). Measures included a 15-item technostress scale, eHEALS, Maslach Burnout Inventory–Human Services Survey (MBI-HSS), Safety Attitudes Questionnaire (SAQ) teamwork and safety climate subscales, a 10-item missed nursing care inventory, and a six-item AI-DSS acceptance scale reflecting perceived usefulness, trust, and stated willingness to use such tools if available as an attitudinal readiness outcome rather than as routine observed use. Multivariable regression, exploratory mediation models, cluster analysis, and exploratory ROC analysis were performed. Results: Higher technostress was associated with higher emotional exhaustion (r = 0.52) and more missed care (r = 0.41), whereas eHealth literacy correlated with higher AI-DSS acceptance (r = 0.35) and lower technostress (r = −0.34). In adjusted models, technostress (per 10 points) was associated with higher missed care (β = 0.28, p < 0.001) (equivalent to 0.14 points per 5-point increase) and higher odds of low AI-DSS acceptance (OR = 1.38, p = 0.001), while eHealth literacy was associated with lower odds of low acceptance (OR = 0.71 per 5 points, p < 0.001). Burnout and the safety climate statistically accounted for approximately 35% of the technostress–missed care association. Three workflow phenotypes were identified, with the high-strain/low-literacy cluster showing the most missed care (3.5 ± 1.8) and the lowest AI acceptance (19.7 ± 5.2). An exploratory in-sample ROC model for intention to leave achieved an AUC of 0.82. Conclusions: Higher technostress clustered with worse nurse well-being, more care omissions, and lower AI-DSS acceptance, whereas eHealth literacy appeared protective. Interventions combining digital skills support, usability-focused redesign, and a stronger safety climate may reduce missed care and support safer AI implementation. Full article

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the world’s leading cause of death and continues to rise in prevalence, contributing to healthcare and economic costs. Following diagnosis, patients are advised to adopt medication regimens, increase physical activity, and modify dietary intake to reduce disease progression and prevent additional comorbidities. Oxalate is a small molecule in plant-derived foods such as spinach, potatoes, almonds, and peanuts and is also produced endogenously. Although oxalate is traditionally studied in the context of kidney stone disease, recent evidence suggests that it may be a dietary contributor to inflammation and oxidative stress in CVD. Elevated systemic oxalate levels promote reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation and activate inflammatory pathways such as nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB), mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), and the NLRP3 inflammasome, which are key players in CVD. In this narrative review, we discuss the current literature describing the role of inflammation in CVD and evaluate emerging evidence that dietary oxalate may influence immune, oxidative, and vascular mechanisms contributing to CVD development and progression. In addition, we highlight populations that may be most vulnerable to oxalate-mediated vascular effects. We conclude by describing existing gaps in knowledge and potential future directions for the field. Understanding these mechanisms further may guide dietary recommendations and delineate oxalate’s potential role as a modifiable risk factor for CVD. Full article

Gypsum-based fire protection relies on thermally activated dehydration, where chemically bound water is released and evaporated, thereby providing an endothermic heat sink that delays heat penetration through assemblies. In parallel, inorganic hydrated salts are increasingly used as flame-retardant additives in gypsum-based systems to enhance heat absorption over specific temperature ranges. Fire simulation tools and performance-based fire engineering approaches require reliable kinetic data and reaction enthalpies that can be implemented as coupled thermal–chemical source terms. However, additive-specific kinetic datasets remain limited, particularly under restricted vapor exchange conditions representative of porous construction materials. This work investigates the thermal decomposition behavior and dehydration kinetics of Aluminum Trihydrate (Al(OH)₃, ATH), Magnesium Hydroxide (Mg(OH)₂, MDH), Calcium Aluminate Sulfate (3CaO·Al₂O₃·3CaSO₄·32H₂O, CAS), and Magnesium Sulfate Heptahydrate (MgSO₄·7H₂O, ESM) with emphasis on vapor-restricted conditions representative of confined porous systems. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) experiments were conducted at three heating rates (2, 10, and 20 K/min for MDH, CAS and ESM and 20, 40 and 60 K/min for GB-ATH) up to 600 °C using pinhole crucibles to simulate autogenous vapor pressure. The thermal analysis indicates that ATH and MDH exhibit predominantly single-step dehydration behavior, while ESM shows a complex multi-step mechanism. Although CAS presents a single dominant thermal peak in the DSC signal, the isoconversional analysis reveals a multi-stage reaction behavior, demonstrating that peak-based interpretation alone may be insufficient for such systems. Kinetic parameters were determined using both model-free (Starink) and model-fitting approaches in accordance with the recommendations of the Kinetics Committee of the International Confederation for Thermal Analysis and Calorimetry (ICTAC). All reactions were consistently described using the Avrami–Erofeev model as an effective phenomenological representation of the conversion behavior. The extracted kinetic triplets were validated through numerical simulations, showing good agreement with experimental conversion and reaction rate data. The resulting kinetic parameters and dehydration enthalpies provide a physically consistent dataset for the description of dehydration processes under restricted vapor exchange. These results support the development of thermochemical models for gypsum-based systems; however, their transferability to full-scale assemblies remains subject to validation under coupled heat- and mass-transfer conditions. Full article

While Generative Artificial Intelligence technology empowers content production on user-generated content platforms, it also gives rise to novel risks of disinformation dissemination. The effective governance of these risks is critical to ensuring the cybersecurity of the online ecosystem and maintaining long-term social stability. To address the collaborative governance dilemma, this study constructs a tripartite “platform-user-government” evolutionary game model based on prospect theory. It explores the evolutionarily stable strategies and stability conditions of each actor, supplemented by numerical simulations and practical case validation. The results indicate that: (1) under specific conditions, the system can converge to an ideal equilibrium {active platform governance, engaged user participation, stringent government supervision}; (2) the government’s reward–penalty mechanisms can drive the system towards this ideal equilibrium; (3) users’ digital literacy is a key variable influencing the system’s evolutionary path; (4) both the risk preference coefficient (β) and loss aversion coefficient (λ) from prospect theory have a significant moderating effect on the system’s evolution. Finally, targeted recommendations are proposed for the three aforementioned stakeholders to accelerate the improvement of China’s collaborative governance of the content ecosystem. Full article

Artificial intelligence (AI) is increasingly used to support tuberculosis (TB) screening and diagnosis, particularly through computer-aided detection (CAD) applied to chest radiography (CXR). However, the programmatic value of AI depends not only on diagnostic accuracy but also on implementation context, threshold calibration, and integration into diagnostic pathways. We conducted a narrative, state-of-the-art review of AI applications across the TB diagnosis pathway. Evidence was synthesized from World Health Organization policy documents, independent validation initiatives, and peer-reviewed studies published between 2010 and 2026, with a structured selection process aligned with PRISMA principles. CAD for CXR is the most mature AI application and is recommended by WHO for TB screening and triage among individuals aged ≥15 years in specific contexts. Across studies, CAD-CXR demonstrates sensitivity comparable to human readers, although performance varies by product, population, and imaging conditions, necessitating local threshold calibration. Evidence from implementation studies suggests improvements in screening efficiency and potential cost-effectiveness in high-burden settings. Other AI modalities, including computed tomography (CT)-based imaging analysis, point-of-care ultrasound interpretation, cough or stethoscope sound analysis, clinical risk models, and genomic resistance prediction show promising but heterogeneous results, with most requiring further independent validation and prospective evaluation. AI has the potential to strengthen TB screening and diagnostic pathways, but its impact depends on integration into health systems and evaluated using patient- and program-level outcomes rather than accuracy alone. A differentiated approach is needed, with responsible scale-up of policy-endorsed tools alongside rigorous evaluation of emerging technologies to support effective and equitable TB care. Full article

The development of battery-powered electric aircraft for use in commercial aviation involves various performance- and safety-based challenges. Cells with high energy densities (for instance Li-Ion pouches) are required to meet the performance requirements, with those currently available encompassing a risk of thermal runaway and other failures. To enable their use, this work provides an investigation into battery abuse conditions and their effect on the overall safety of the system, tailored to electric aviation. A system architecture is presented for a battery-powered electric aircraft, including recommended mitigation methods for the presented failure modes. A framework for determining the overall State of Safety based on the relevant abuse conditions is presented. It is found that the influence of atmospheric operation conditions, flight profiles and vibrations provide the most notable differences between battery-associated risks for aircraft and ground vehicle purposes. Quantification and experimental validation of the impact of these conditions is recommended as a direction for future work. Full article

This study investigates whether a university teaching complex equipped with CSA S600 continuous air purification and sanitation units can maintain indoor air quality (IAQ) within recommended thresholds under real occupancy conditions and evaluates the impact of renovation works on IAQ. The work provides the first real-world assessment of the CSA S600 integrated monitoring system in an academic environment. CO₂, PM_2.5, PM₁₀ and VOCs were continuously measured over three months; moreover, indoor PM₁₀ values were compared with outdoor data from the regional monitoring network. Indoor CO₂ generally remained below 800 ppm, with short peaks of 1000–1500 ppm during high occupancy. PM_2.5 and PM₁₀ consistently stayed below the latest WHO guidelines, showing uniform recurring temporal patterns overtime; furthermore, indoor PM₁₀ showed limited coupling with outdoor trends, indicating the predominance of internal sources and ventilation dynamics. After renovation of the main Lecture Hall, particulate levels remained low, while VOCs showed a modest increase attributable to new materials. Overall, the findings demonstrate that the CSA S600 system effectively supports healthy IAQ in educational settings and that continuous monitoring is essential for managing occupancy-driven fluctuations and assessing the effects of structural interventions. Full article

Prior studies have shown that socio-economic and structural risks can be correlated with earthquake effects. The quantification of these effects was used to formulate robust disaster risk reduction (DRR) strategies and building codes. This is more pronounced in countries with complex tectonic settings, such as the Philippines, where strong-to-major earthquakes can occur. Here, we report the evaluation of deterministic ground shaking (GS) intensity measurements for Camarines Norte, the Philippines, with the objective of assessing and mapping the susceptibility of communities to intense ground motion. GS intensities and peak ground acceleration (PGA) were computed using the Rapid Earthquake Damage Assessment System (REDAS) software developed by the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS). The PGA was computed as a fraction of acceleration due to gravity, while GS used the PHIVOLCS Earthquake Intensity Scale (PEIS). Simulations were based on recorded earthquakes and mapped active faults near the province. Geographic information systems were used to stack and refine each simulation. Results showed that 13 earthquakes and 13 seismic source zones classified most of the province as PEIS VIII or higher, with the PGA maximum at 0.66 g. The results implied that the province is susceptible to very destructive to completely devastating ground shaking, and it is recommended to incorporate these results into DRR policymaking. Full article

Local antibiotic delivery has gained a central role as an adjunct to radical debridement in chronic osteomyelitis, allowing high antimicrobial concentrations at the infection site while reducing systemic toxicity. This narrative review summarizes the current clinical evidence on commercially available antibiotic-loadable bone substitutes, with particular focus on calcium sulfate (CaSO₄)-based systems and biphasic calcium sulfate/hydroxyapatite (CaS/HA) composites. Nineteen studies were included. Differences in formulation, resorption kinetics, antibiotic elution profile and osteoconductive behavior are discussed, alongside clinical outcomes including recurrence of infection, reoperation rates and complication patterns. Finally, based on the currently available evidence and expert recommendations, practical guidance is proposed to support carrier selection in different clinical scenarios (cavitary vs. corticomedullary defects; high-risk soft tissue; polymicrobial or resistant infections). Across published series, although heterogeneous, infection eradication rates are generally high when local carriers are integrated into structured surgical protocols. Calcium sulfate carriers provide rapid resorption and robust early antibiotic release but are associated with higher rates of sterile wound drainage. In contrast, CaS/HA biocomposites demonstrate more gradual remodeling and radiographic integration, potentially improving defect consolidation and reducing wound-related morbidity, although leakage and cost considerations remain relevant. Full article