Search Results (1,181)

Background/Objectives: Adequate hydration is essential for health; however, water consumption behaviors are influenced not only by physiological needs but also by hydration knowledge and perceptions of drinking water quality. Empirical evidence examining these factors in Eastern European populations remains limited. This study aimed to assess hydration knowledge, water consumption patterns, and attitudes toward drinking water quality among adults in Romania, and to examine their associations with daily water intake and water source preferences. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted between November 2024 and November 2025 among adults residing in Romania. Data were collected from 165 participants using an anonymous, self-developed, paper-based questionnaire administered in person to adult patients attending routine visits in four primary care clinics in Arad, Romania, using a convenience sampling approach. The questionnaire assessed sociodemographic characteristics, hydration knowledge, water consumption behaviors, and attitudes toward drinking water quality. Descriptive statistics, chi-square tests, correlation analyses, and multivariable linear and logistic regression models were applied to identify factors associated with daily water intake, adequate hydration (≥2 L/day), and bottled water consumption. Results: Hydration knowledge was moderate overall and was significantly associated with education level and gender. Higher hydration knowledge was positively correlated with daily water intake (r = 0.21, p = 0.006) and was independently associated with higher intake and adequate hydration (OR = 1.28, 95% CI: 1.10–1.49; p = 0.002). Greater trust in tap water was also positively associated with daily intake (r = 0.27, p = 0.001) and adequate hydration (OR = 1.31, 95% CI: 1.12–1.54; p < 0.001). Lower trust in tap water and stronger beliefs regarding bottled water were significant predictors of bottled water use as the primary drinking water source. Education level emerged as a consistent predictor across multiple hydration-related outcomes. Conclusions: Hydration knowledge and perceptions of drinking water quality are key, modifiable factors associated with water consumption behaviors. Educational strategies integrated into primary care and transparent communication regarding tap water safety may support adequate and sustainable hydration among adults. Full article

Nail clipping can cause fear, anxiety, and stress (FAS) in dogs and cats and possibly long-term aversion to veterinary care. We conducted an anonymous, online, mixed-methods survey to characterise the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of Australian veterinary nurses, technicians, and other veterinary staff regarding nail clipping in dogs and cats. Among 242 valid responses, 71.9% (n = 174/242) performed nail clipping multiple times per week. Dogs (72.4%, n = 165/228) and cats (59%, n = 134/227) frequently displayed FAS (score > 2/5) during nail clipping. Most respondents (79.8%, n = 193/242) reported being injured while performing nail clipping. Respondents reporting a negative attitude towards nail clipping were 5.5 times (95% CI = 1.7–17.8) more likely to report being injured during a nail clip compared to those with a positive attitude. Respondents reported feeling pressure to persevere with nail clipping when it was unnecessary or when animals exhibited severe FAS. Where used, pre-visit pharmaceuticals and sedation were reported to effectively reduce FAS (dog: p = 0.015; cat: p = 0.152), along with non-pharmaceutical interventions such as gentle handling and counter-conditioning. Respondents perceived nail-clipping to be a difficult, undervalued task. Increased training of veterinary team members regarding nail clipping could improve animal welfare and the safety of veterinary team members. Full article

This paper presents a two-layer consistency control framework for the collaborative assembly of multiple aircraft in complex environments, comprising a low-level control layer and a high-level guidance layer. The control layer develops a robust anti-interference law by integrating an extended state observer (ESO) with Backstepping for attitude control and employing constrained Backstepping for velocity regulation. The guidance layer ensures safe and coordinated assembly. A time-varying communication topology is adopted to guarantee collision-free maneuvers. An assembly trajectory is generated for each aircraft based on a position allocation strategy and the Dubins path planning method. To achieve time-coordinated arrival, a speed consensus protocol is designed, guiding the aircraft into a sparse formation. Subsequently, consensus-based control laws for both attitude and velocity are implemented to transition into a tight formation. The effectiveness of the proposed framework is validated through aircraft six-degree-of-freedom (6-DoF) simulations, which confirm that it significantly improves the safety and robustness of the multi-aircraft assembly process. Full article

The geometric precision of ballastless tracks critically determines the performance and safety of high-speed railways. Traditional manual fine adjustment methods remain labor-intensive, iterative, and sensitive to human expertise, making it difficult to achieve sub-millimeter accuracy and global consistency. To address these challenges, this paper proposes a virtual-model–enabled pre-adjustment framework for high-speed ballastless track construction. The framework integrates a dual-frame SLAM-based and multi-sensor measurement system based on RC-SLAM principles and a local attitude compensation model, enabling accurate 3D mapping and reconstruction of long-track segments under extended-range and GNSS-denied conditions typical of linear infrastructure scenarios. A constraint-based global optimization algorithm is further developed to transform empirical fine adjustment into a computable geometric control problem, generating executable adjustment configurations with engineering feasibility. Field validation on a 1 km railway section demonstrates that the proposed method achieves sub-millimeter measurement accuracy, improves adjustment efficiency by over eight times compared with manual operations, and reduces material waste by $2800–$7000 per kilometer. This paper demonstrates a previously unexplored execution-level workflow for long-rail fine adjustment, establishing a closed-loop paradigm from measurement to predictive optimization and paving the way for SLAM-driven, simulation-based, and multi-sensor–integrated precision control in next-generation railway construction. Full article

Food fraud represents a growing global challenge with significant implications for public health, market integrity, sustainability, and consumer trust. Beyond economic losses, fraudulent practices undermine the environmental and social sustainability of food systems by distorting markets, misusing natural resources, and weakening incentives for authentic and responsible production. Despite the establishment of harmonized frameworks of the European Union for official controls, the increasing complexity of food supply chains has exposed persistent gaps in fraud detection, particularly for high-value products such as those with PDO (Protected Designation of Origin) and PGI (Protected Geographical Ιndication) Certification. This study investigates the perceptions, attitudes, and experiences of frontline inspectors in Greece to assess current challenges and opportunities for strengthening official food fraud controls. Data were collected through a structured questionnaire, validated by experts and administered nationwide, involving 122 participants representing all major national food inspection authorities. Statistical analysis revealed significant institutional differences in perceptions of fraud prevalence, with mislabeling of origin, misleading organic claims, ingredient substitution, and documentation irregularities identified as the most common fraudulent practices. Olive oil, honey, meat, and dairy emerged as the most vulnerable product categories. Inspectors reported relying primarily on consumer complaints and institutional databases as key tools for identifying fraud risks. Food fraud was perceived to contribute strongly to losses in consumer trust in food safety and product authenticity, as well as to the erosion of sustainable production models that depend on transparency, fair competition, and responsible resource use. Overall, the findings highlight detection gaps, uneven resources across authorities, and the need for improved coordination and capacity-building to support more efficient, transparent, and sustainability-oriented food fraud control in Greece. Full article

Objectives: The purpose of the current research is to examine and analyze the attitudes of healthcare service users towards the integration of remote medical services into ophthalmology in Bulgaria, including teleglaucoma. Methods: A cross-sectional survey study was conducted among 902 healthcare users during the period from May 2023 until December 2024. Descriptive statistics, parametric, and non-parametric tests for hypothesis testing were used. Results: The present study outlined predominantly positive attitudes towards the use of telemedicine services in ophthalmology, with 69.6% of respondents reporting a positive overall opinion in the final assessment. The greatest support was observed during remote consultations with a familiar doctor (77.4%) and during continuous follow-up of eye conditions (55.2%). Willingness to use such services was lower in emergencies or when contacting an unfamiliar specialist. A significant correlation was established between socio-demographic characteristics and attitudes—respondents with greater education levels (p = 0.006), men, and younger participants were more positive towards telemedicine (p < 0.05). The high level of awareness about glaucoma, particularly among those with university-level education, served as a positive prerequisite for the implementation of teleophthalmology services related to its monitoring. Mobile applications and digital solutions were evaluated as beneficial means of facilitating communication and increasing adherence to treatment. Regarding the use of artificial intelligence, certain skepticism and insufficient awareness levels were observed, which required additional efforts to increase trust and digital literacy among users. Conclusions: The implementation of telemedicine services into ophthalmology has potential but outlines the necessity of considering the individual attitudes of applying coherent quality and safety standards and of directed awareness campaigns, especially towards the groups of lower technological and healthcare literacy. Full article

Autonomous UAV/UGV swarms increasingly operate in contested environments where purely digital control architectures are vulnerable to cyber compromise, communication denial, and timing faults. This paper presents Guarded Swarms, a hybrid framework that combines digital coordination with hardware-level analog safety enforcement. The architecture builds on Topic-Based Communication Space Petri Nets (TB-CSPN) for structured multi-agent coordination, extending this digital foundation with independent analog guard channels—thrust clamps, attitude limiters, proximity sensors, and emergency stops—that operate in parallel at the actuator interface. Each channel can unilaterally veto unsafe commands within microseconds, independently of software state. The digital–analog interface is formalized via timing contracts that specify sensor-consistency windows and actuation latency bounds. A two-robot case study demonstrates token-based arbitration at the digital level and OR-style inhibition at the analog level. The framework ensures local safety deterministically while maintaining global coordination as a best-effort property. This paper presents an architectural contribution establishing design principles and interface contracts. Empirical validation remains future work. Full article

Background/Objectives: Seasonal influenza imposes a significant burden on pediatric public health. Despite official recommendations and full insurance coverage, vaccination rates among children in Slovakia remain critically low. This study aims to analyze the attitudes, beliefs, and determinants of parental hesitancy regarding childhood influenza vaccination in the post-pandemic context. Methods: A single-center cross-sectional survey was conducted between February and March 2025 using convenience sampling among parents of children attending a pediatric immunoallergology center. An anonymous questionnaire collected data on demographics, risk perception, and attitudes. Data from 301 parents were analyzed using descriptive statistics, chi-squared tests, and odds ratios (OR) to identify key predictors of hesitancy. Results: Only 27.6% of parents expressed willingness to vaccinate their children, while 42.5% were opposed and 29.9% hesitant. Statistical analysis revealed no significant association between parental university education and vaccination intent (p > 0.05), indicating that vaccine hesitancy in this specific setting was present across all educational backgrounds. However, the source of information proved to be a critical determinant: consulting a pediatrician significantly increased the odds of acceptance (OR = 6.32; 95% CI: 3.54–11.28), whereas reliance on the internet and social media was a significant predictor of refusal (OR = 0.29; 95% CI: 0.17–0.50). The primary reported barrier was fear of adverse effects (70.4%), which significantly outweighed doubts about efficacy (30.2%). Conclusions: Parental hesitancy in Slovakia is a widespread phenomenon pervasive across all educational backgrounds, driven primarily by safety concerns and digital misinformation. The contrast between the protective influence of pediatricians and the negative impact of digital media underscores that clinical encounters are currently the most effective firewall against hesitancy. Public health strategies must therefore pivot from general education to empowering pediatricians with active, presumptive communication strategies. Full article

Ageing is a dynamic biological process involving interconnected physiological, psychological, and social changes, making the promotion of healthy ageing a global public health priority. The World Health Organization (WHO) defines healthy ageing as the process of developing and maintaining functional ability that enables well-being in older age. The WHO’s Decade of Healthy Aging (2021–2030) outlines four key action areas: changing attitudes toward ageing, creating age-friendly environments, delivering integrated and person-centred care, and ensuring access to long-term care. This Perspective examines yoga, a holistic mind–body practice integrating physical postures, breath regulation, and mindfulness, as a potentially safe, adaptable, and scalable intervention for older adults. Evidence suggests that yoga may improve flexibility, balance, mobility, and cardiovascular function, reduce pain, and support the management of chronic conditions commonly associated with ageing. Psychological and cognitive research further indicates reductions in stress, anxiety, and depressive symptoms, alongside potential benefits for attention, memory, and executive function. Improvements in health-related quality of life (HRQoL) have been reported across physical, psychological, and social domains, with benefits sustained through regular practice. Adaptations such as chair-based practices, restorative postures, and the use of props enhance accessibility and safety, allowing participation across diverse functional levels. Mindfulness and breath-focused components of yoga may additionally support emotional regulation, resilience, and psychological well-being, particularly among older adults experiencing stress or limited mobility. Yoga interventions are generally well tolerated, demonstrate high adherence, and can be delivered through in-person and digital formats, addressing common access barriers. Despite this growing evidence base, yoga remains underintegrated within health policy and care systems in the US, UK, and India. Strengthening its role may require coordinated efforts across research, policy, and implementation to support healthy ageing outcomes. Full article

Education and post-licencing training programmes for novice drivers are widely implemented to improve road safety, yet their effectiveness remains debated. This study evaluates short-term attitudinal changes relating to participation in a mandatory post-licencing training programme for novice drivers in Slovenia. A within-subject pre–post survey methodology was used to evaluate self-reported driving attitudes across six safety-related domains among 225 novice drivers at a Slovenian driving training centre in 2024. Paired t-tests revealed minor yet statistically significant improvement following the programme in perceived support for the additional driver training, lowered overconfidence, heightened care in speeding and intersection behaviour, and enhanced attitudes towards vehicle operation and utilization of safety equipment. Attitudes regarding attention and adherence to traffic regulations showed negligible shifts, indicating a strong baseline attitude towards safe driving. The findings indicate a modest but fairly consistent short-term change in attitudes after programme participation. Due to the lack of a control group and dependence on self-reported data, the findings should be seen as evaluative rather than causative, necessitating more longitudinal and behavioural research to evaluate long-term and behavioural effects. Full article

Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) in educational settings is a vital responsibility that is often inconsistently implemented. There is a need for research to bridge the gap between policy and practice. This study employed a cross-sectional mixed-methods design in six schools in the capital city of Indonesia to identify key implementation barriers, strategies, and compliance levels in OHS. Data were collected from 217 teachers using a structured KPAP (Knowledge, Attitudes, Perceptions, Practices) survey and from an additional 38 teachers via Focus Group Discussions (FGDs). Quantitatively, teachers showed highly positive attitudes (99.4% viewing OHS as a professional duty) and generally positive perceptions but implementation practices were sub-optimal (e.g., low participation in drills and PPE usage), showing a gap between awareness and action. Qualitatively, the main barriers identified were a lack of specific OHS regulation or guidance for schools, limited resources/infrastructure, and the perception of OHS as a low priority. Management strategies focused on external collaboration and ongoing in-school initiatives. In conclusion, a significant gap exists between OHS awareness and its integration into school management, highlighting the urgent need for strengthened governance, comprehensive policies, and sustained capacity-building to ensure a proactive, safe, and sustainable school environment for staff and students. Full article

Background: Teamwork and effective communication are widely recognized as essential pillars for the safety and quality of healthcare. However, in Portugal, no validated instrument had previously been available to assess healthcare professionals’ attitudes toward teamwork. This study aimed to translate, culturally adapt, and validate the TeamSTEPPS^® Teamwork Attitudes Questionnaire (T-TAQ) for the Portuguese context, resulting in the Portuguese version of the instrument. Methods: A methodological study with a quantitative approach was developed. The translation and cultural adaptation process followed internationally recognized guidelines. The sample consisted of 162 healthcare professionals (136 nurses and 26 physicians) from a hospital in Lisbon. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis techniques were used to assess construct validity. The internal consistency of the scale was analyzed using Cronbach’s alpha coefficient. Results: The Portuguese version comprises 30 items distributed across five dimensions: Effective Leadership Support, Team Functional Performance, Teamwork Coordination, Willingness to Engage in Teamwork, and Team Functioning Supervision. The scale demonstrated a total explained variance of 53.9% and an overall internal consistency coefficient (α) of 0.86, indicating good reliability. Confirmatory factor analysis supported the five-factor structure of the scale (χ²/df = 1.461; CFI = 0.900; GFI = 0.821; RMSEA = 0.054; MECVI = 4.731). Conclusions: The T-TAQ-PT proved to be a valid, reliable, and robust instrument for assessing healthcare professionals’ individual attitudes toward teamwork, contributing to the development of research and clinical practice in the Portuguese context. Full article

The study investigates repetitive and time-consuming professional activities performed by occupational health and safety (OHS) specialists in the construction sector in Poland and their attitudes toward the use of modern digital tools, including solutions based on artificial intelligence (AI). The research was conducted using a questionnaire survey, with a purposive sample and a snowball method. A total of 102 individuals participated in the study, of whom 94 valid responses were included in the analysis. The data were examined using descriptive statistics and chi-square tests. The results showed that the most repetitive and time-consuming activities include documentation analysis, report preparation, inspections, and communication. Nearly 46% of respondents indicated that selected elements of their work could be automated or supported by digital tools, while 33% reported using AI-based solutions in everyday practice. Statistically significant relationships were identified between respondents’ age and both their level of concern about new technologies and their perception of technological support potential. No significant relationships were found for enterprise ownership or size. The findings indicate substantial potential for the implementation of digital and AI-supported tools in routine OHS activities. Future research should involve larger and more homogeneous samples, incorporate probabilistic sampling, and explore organisational and competence-related factors influencing technology adoption. Full article

Psychosis is a frequent and disabling non-motor complication of Parkinson’s disease (PD). Clozapine and quetiapine are widely used in the treatment of Parkinson’s disease psychosis (PDP). We conducted an exploratory study to compare patient experiences with physician prescribing practices. Patients with PDP hospitalized at a university center completed semi-structured interviews on perceived efficacy, adverse effects, and daily functioning. Neurologists and geriatricians attending training sessions completed a structured questionnaire on prescribing patterns, attitudes toward clozapine, and perceived treatment burden. Data were analyzed thematically and triangulated across cohorts. Eleven patients (mean age 81 years; nine treated with quetiapine, two with clozapine) were included. Most quetiapine-treated patients reported persistent hallucinations, sedation, dizziness, and reduced autonomy. Fourteen physicians completed the survey and most preferred quetiapine, citing monitoring logistics and agranulocytosis risk as barriers to clozapine. Overall, patient priorities centered on symptom control and independence, whereas physician decisions emphasized feasibility and safety. Facilitating clozapine monitoring and incorporating patient-reported outcomes into routine care may improve patient-centered PDP management. Full article

Objective: Cosmetic products are widely used, yet public awareness of their potential health risks and of cosmetovigilance remains limited. Given that studies increasingly highlight chemical exposure associated with cosmetics, this study aimed to assess public knowledge, attitudes, and behaviours regarding cosmetic use, toxicity, and cosmetovigilance in Türkiye. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among the general population living in Türkiye, consisting of 700 people between January and May 2024. The study was conducted using a Google survey form. Results: Among 700 participants, 91.6% reported regular cosmetic use and 47.6% experienced at least one adverse effect, most commonly redness, itching, and burning. Adverse effects were more frequently associated with products purchased from shopping malls/cosmetic stores. Education level was significantly linked to awareness of cosmetovigilance and product preferences, with university graduates showing higher awareness and favoring both local and international brands. Conclusion: The study revealed that although cosmetic use is common in Türkiye, awareness of cosmetovigilance remains low, even among well-educated consumers. Many participants reported adverse effects but did not seek professional consultation, indicating gaps in safety practices and reporting. Strengthening public awareness and establishing effective cosmetovigilance systems are essential to ensure safer cosmetic use and protect public health. Full article