Search Results (458)

Forests are critical ecosystems that play a fundamental role in supporting biodiversity and maintaining climate stability. However, forest monitoring and exploration present huge challenges due to the vast scale and complex terrain. This paper proposes a novel bionic robot, PteroBot, designed to support a new paradigm for forest exploration inspired by the locomotion of Pteromyini. PteroBot is capable of regulating its gliding posture via a flexible membrane, enabling low-energy and low-disturbance mobility within forest environments. An adaptive gliding control system tailored to the robot’s structure is developed and its effectiveness is validated through aerodynamic analysis, simulation, and experimental testing. Results show that under a cascaded closed-loop attitude controller, PteroBot achieves an average glide ratio of 2.02 and demonstrates controllable turning via attitude modulation. Additionally, comparative tests with UAVs demonstrate that PteroBot offers significant advantages in energy efficiency and acoustic disturbance. Experimental outcomes confirm that PteroBot offers a biologically inspired and ecologically compatible solution for forest exploration, with strong potential in applications such as environmental monitoring, habitat assessment, and covert reconnaissance. Full article

Background: The rapid advancement of mobile health [mHealth] applications significantly improved healthcare accessibility. However, the adoption of these applications among the elderly population remains uncertain. This study aims to assess the attitudes of elderly individuals in the Aseer region, Saudi Arabia, toward mobile health applications, focusing on awareness, perceived benefits, usability concerns, and privacy issues. The findings will help guide strategies to enhance digital health adoption among older adults. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among elderly individuals [≥60 years] residing in the Aseer region. A total of 500 participants were recruited using a non-probability convenient sampling technique. Data were collected through structured face-to-face interviews utilizing a validated questionnaire covering demographic characteristics, awareness, usage patterns, perceived benefits, and barriers to mHealth applications. Descriptive and inferential statistical analyses were performed using SPSS version 23.0. Results: The study included 500 elderly individuals in the Aseer region, Saudi Arabia. The majority of participants [70.4%] were aware of mobile health applications, with higher awareness among younger elderly [60–69 years, p = 0.008], individuals with higher income [p = 0.015], and those living with family [p < 0.001]. Mobile health apps were widely used, primarily for contacting healthcare providers [83.8%], managing appointments [79.4%], and medication management [79.2%]. Participants perceived these apps as highly useful, particularly for disease monitoring [mean = 4.34] and healthcare communication [mean = 4.34]. Awareness was negatively correlated with age [r = −0.109, p = 0.015], emphasizing the need for targeted educational interventions to enhance digital health adoption among older populations. Conclusions: Despite growing awareness, mHealth application usage remains limited among the elderly in the Aseer region due to digital literacy challenges and usability concerns. Addressing these barriers through user-friendly designs, targeted education, and privacy assurance measures may enhance adoption. Policymakers and healthcare providers should implement tailored interventions to promote digital health solutions for this population. Full article

Tobacco smoking remains a critical public health concern in Indonesia, particularly in Aceh Province, where male smoking prevalence reaches 56.12%. Cultural permissiveness and weak enforcement of tobacco control regulations have contributed to this high prevalence. Women, especially wives, are central figures in family health and may play an essential role in influencing household smoking behavior. However, their roles and strategies remain underexplored, especially in conservative cultural settings. This qualitative study employed a Participatory Action Research (PAR) approach to examine the roles of women in controlling the smoking behavior of family members in Aceh. A total of 75 research subjects were selected from three districts (Aceh Singkil, Gayo Lues, and Pidie Jaya) using a combination of purposive sampling and snowball sampling methods. Data were collected through semi-structured in-depth interviews and were analyzed thematically using NVivo 15 software. The analysis framework was based on Lawrence Green’s PRECEDE model, which includes predisposing, enabling, and reinforcing factors. This study found that women demonstrated progressive attitudes toward smoking, evolving from passive acceptance to active responsibility. They employed both persuasive strategies (health education, emotional appeals, and motivation) and coercive actions (household smoking bans, threats, and withdrawal of privileges). Women also positioned themselves as health monitors and guardians within the household. Despite cultural limitations and gender hierarchy, many participants reported partial or complete success in encouraging their husbands to quit smoking, particularly when supported by religious norms and health awareness. Women play a pivotal role in shaping smoking-related behavior in the family. Empowering women through participatory frameworks and culturally tailored interventions can enhance their effectiveness as health advocates. This study underscores the need to integrate gender-sensitive strategies into national tobacco control policies, especially in culturally conservative regions. Full article

Grassland fire risk perception constitutes a fundamental element of fire risk assessment and underpins the evaluation of response capacities in grassland regions. This study examines Qinghai Province, the fourth-largest pastoral region in China, as a case study to develop an evaluation index system for assessing residents’ perceptions of grassland fire risk. Using micro-level survey data, the study quantifies these perceptions and applies a quantile regression model to investigate influencing factors. The results indicate that: (1) the average grassland fire risk perception index among residents in Qinghai Province’s grassland areas is 0.509, with response behaviors contributing the most and response attitudes contributing the least; (2) Residents in agricultural areas perceive higher risks than those in semi-agricultural/semi-pastoral or purely pastoral areas, and individuals in regions with moderate dependency ratios and moderate fire-susceptibility conditions demonstrate the highest performance, whereas those in pastoral and high-susceptibility zones exhibit signs of “risk desensitization”; (3) risk communication and information dissemination are the primary drivers of enhanced perception, followed by climate variables, whereas individual characteristics of residents attributes exert no significant effect. It is recommended to monitor the impacts of climate change on fire risk patterns, update risk information dynamically, address deficits in residents’ cognition and capabilities, strengthen behavioral guidance and capacity-building initiatives, and foster a transition from passive acceptance to active engagement, thereby enhancing both cognitive and behavioral responses to grassland fires. Full article

A high-precision coal seam model is crucial to improving the adaptability of unmanned mining technology to geological conditions. However, the accuracy of a coal seam model constructed with boreholes and geophysical data is far from the required accuracy of unmanned mining (sub-decimeter level). Therefore, it is necessary to collect geological data revealed by mining and to update the coal seam model dynamically. As a solution to this problem, this paper proposes a new method for conducting off-site geological surveying of longwall faces by integrating multi-source monitoring data. The spatial attitudes of hydraulic supports are monitored to estimate the local dip angles of longwall face. A roof line calculation model was established, which integrates the local inclination angle of the longwall face, the number of hydraulic supports, and the roof elevation of the two roadways. Meanwhile, the local coal–rock columns at the camera observation point are extracted automatically using image segmentation and a proportional relationship between the picture and the actual scene. Coal and rock walls and a support guarding plate in the longwall face image are identified accurately using the coal-rock support segmentation model trained with U-net. Then, the height of the coal (or rock) wall above the coal–rock interface is estimated automatically according to the image segmentation and the similar proportion equation of actual longwall face and longwall face image. Combined with mining height information, the local coal–rock column can be extracted. Finally, the geological surveying profile of longwall face can be obtained by integrating the estimated roof line and local coal–rock columns. The field test demonstrated the efficacy of the method. This study helps to address a long-standing limitation of insufficient geological adaptability of intelligent mining technology. Full article

Background: Calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) inhibitors represent a novel class of medications for the prevention and treatment of migraines. Given their expanding role in migraine management, pharmacists are increasingly expected to be knowledgeable about their use. However, limited data exist regarding pharmacists’ awareness and engagement with CGRP inhibitors in Saudi Arabia. Objective: To assess the knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) of pharmacists in Saudi Arabia toward CGRP inhibitors for migraine management and identify areas for improvement. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted from October 2024 to January 2025 among licensed pharmacists in Saudi Arabia using an online questionnaire distributed via social media platforms, pharmacy networks, and in-person outreach. The survey consisted of 26 questions across four sections: demographics, knowledge, attitudes, and practices. Descriptive statistics and regression analyses were performed to evaluate the data using SPSS version 29. Results: A total of 419 pharmacists participated (response rate: 98.8%). Most practiced in community pharmacies (90.5%) and the Western region (48.2%). Overall, pharmacists demonstrated moderate knowledge (54.7%), attitudes (55.6%), and practices (49.9%) toward CGRP inhibitors in migraine management. While 54.7% were familiar with CGRP inhibitors, only 37.2% were aware of relevant clinical guidelines, and 32.5% recognized adverse effects such as hypertension. Regarding attitudes, 32.2% believed CGRP inhibitors were superior to conventional therapies, but over 50% expressed neutral views across key items. Practice patterns revealed limited engagement, with more than half reporting neutral responses toward patient education, interdisciplinary collaboration, and safety monitoring. Conclusions: The study highlights moderate awareness but suboptimal application of CGRP inhibitor knowledge among pharmacists. Notable gaps exist in guideline familiarity, patient education, and interdisciplinary collaboration. Targeted training and inclusion of CGRP inhibitors in pharmacy curricula and continuing education programs are warranted to support effective migraine management. Full article

Background: Mobile health (mHealth) applications have shown promise for the primary and secondary prevention of diseases in high-risk individuals. Implementing mHealth solutions for secondary prevention and early alert systems in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) could have significant societal benefits. However, the attitudes of at-risk populations towards these technologies, including concerns about technological literacy and privacy, have not been thoroughly investigated. As technology incorporation expands, these issues are expected to change. This study aimed to evaluate the attitudes of post-ACS patients towards varying levels of intrusive mHealth applications and how these attitudes evolved over a five-year period. Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out with two cohorts of post-ACS inpatients (110 patients each from 2014 and 2019), who were surveyed using a 39-item questionnaire assessing their technological literacy and opinions on support tools and intrusive technologies, such as wearables and GPS tracking. Results: The two cohorts exhibited stable demographic characteristics, but in 2019, participants showed higher technological literacy and increased engagement in travel and physical activities. Notably, there was a significant rise in hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and family history of Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) in the 2019 cohort. Acceptance of remote health monitoring improved significantly in 2019, influenced by technological literacy. Conclusions: Attitudes towards eHealth solutions and remote biosignal monitoring post-ACS may change over time with increased technological literacy. Future research should address patient-specific concerns that could affect the acceptance of new technological solutions to enhance post-ACS outcomes. Our findings emphasize the importance of improving technological literacy to boost the adoption and effectiveness of eHealth interventions. Full article

Shaft alignment is adversely affected by the increasingly severe coupled hull–raft deformation in deep-diving, highly integrated submersibles, thereby compromising operational safety and potentially amplifying vibration noise. To address to this issue, this paper investigates an intelligent alignment control method for the floating raft air spring mounting system (ASMS) applied to marine propulsion unit (MPU) under coupled hull–raft deformation conditions. A multi-objective alignment control algorithm was developed based on the NSGA-II optimization method within an N-step receding horizon optimal control framework, enabling simultaneous achievement of shaft alignment attitude adjustment, hull deformation compensation, raft deformation suppression, and pneumatic energy consumption. Experimental validation was conducted on two distinct ASMS prototypes to evaluate the control algorithm. Tests performed on the ASMS for MPU (MPU-ASMS) prototype demonstrated effective compensation of hull-induced deformations, maintaining shaft alignment offsets within ±0.3 mm and angularities within ±0.5 mm/m. Concurrently, experiments on the floating raft ASMS for the stern compartment (SC-FR-ASMS) achieved precise control of axial offsets within ±0.3 mm, angularities within ±0.5 mm/m, and vertical displacements of critical monitoring points within ±1 mm. The adaptive control strategy additionally proved effective in suppressing raft deformation while simultaneously optimizing pneumatic energy consumption. This research provides robust theoretical and technical foundations for intelligent vibration isolation systems in deep-sea equipment to accommodate extreme-depth-induced hull deformation and large-scale raft deformation. Full article

The structural safety monitoring of industrial heritage is of great significance for global urban renewal and the preservation of cultural heritage. However, traditional tilt monitoring methods suffer from limited accuracy, low efficiency, poor global perception, and a lack of intelligence, making them inadequate for meeting the tilt monitoring requirements of super-high-rise industrial heritage chimneys. To address these issues, this study proposes a tilt monitoring method for super-high-rise industrial heritage chimneys based on LiDAR point clouds. Firstly, LiDAR point cloud data were acquired using a ground-based LiDAR measurement system. This system captures high-density point clouds and precise spatial attitude data, synchronizes multi-source timestamps, and transmits data remotely in real time via 5G, where a data preprocessing program generates valid high-precision point cloud data. Secondly, multiple cross-section slicing segmentation strategies are designed, and an automated tilt monitoring algorithm framework with adaptive slicing and collaborative optimization is constructed. This algorithm framework can adaptively extract slice contours and fit the central axes. By integrating adaptive slicing, residual feedback adjustment, and dynamic weight updating mechanisms, the intelligent extraction of the unit direction vector of the central axis is enabled. Finally, the unit direction vector is operated with the x- and z-axes through vector calculations to obtain the tilt-azimuth, tilt-angle, verticality, and verticality deviation of the central axis, followed by an accuracy evaluation. On-site experimental validation was conducted on a super-high-rise industrial heritage chimney. The results show that, compared with the results from the traditional method, the relative errors of the tilt angle, verticality, and verticality deviation of the industrial heritage chimney obtained by the proposed method are only 9.45%, while the relative error of the corresponding tilt-azimuth is only 0.004%. The proposed method enables high-precision, non-contact, and globally perceptive tilt monitoring of super-high-rise industrial heritage chimneys, providing a feasible technical approach for structural safety assessment and preservation. Full article

This study investigates user acceptance of the IBON Monitoring system, a mobile app that uses image recognition to identify bird species. Using the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM), it surveyed 100 faculty and students at Romblon State University to assess factors like perceived usefulness, ease of use, computer literacy, and self-efficacy. Results showed that usefulness and ease of use significantly influence user attitudes and intentions. The findings suggest actionable recommendations for improving IBON system adoption, including training programs to enhance computer literacy and self-efficacy and strategies to demonstrate the system’s relevance to user needs. Future research should explore additional external factors, such as cultural influences and user experience design, and conduct longitudinal studies to assess sustained use and impact on biodiversity monitoring outcomes. This study underscores the importance of fostering user acceptance to maximize the potential of innovative technologies like IBON Monitoring in advancing biodiversity conservation efforts. Full article

Young children’s problematic media use (PMU) is a growing concern, and parents are critical in shaping early digital habits. However, research often overlooks the dyadic interplay between mothers’ and fathers’ attitudes and parenting practices. This study examined how parents’ favorable attitudes toward child screen media (PASU) predict their own (actor) and their partner’s (partner) mediation behaviors, and how these behaviors subsequently mediate the path to children’s PMU. Drawing on survey data from 1802 matched urban Chinese mother–father pairs, we employed an Actor–Partner Interdependence Mediation Model (APIMeM) within a structural equation modeling (SEM) framework. This dyadic model simultaneously tested actor, partner, and indirect mediation paths connecting parental attitudes to PMU via eight specific parenting practices. Results showed that more positive PASUs predicted each parent’s own supportive behaviors (e.g., high-quality dialogue, autonomy support) but not restrictive limits. Partner effects were modest and asymmetric: mothers’ positive attitudes predicted greater knowledge in fathers, whereas fathers’ positive attitudes were linked to lower communication quality from mothers. Of all parenting dimensions, only higher communication quality (both parents) and mothers’ hands-on monitoring directly predicted lower PMU. Mediation analyses confirmed communication quality as the sole reliable pathway: each parent’s favorable attitudes indirectly lowered PMU by enhancing their own dialogue, but fathers’ attitudes simultaneously increased PMU by eroding mothers’ dialogue. These findings spotlight constructive conversation and coordinated dyadic strategies—especially safeguarding maternal dialogue—as critical targets for interventions aimed at curbing early PMU. Full article

This paper investigates the interval type-2 (IT2) fuzzy adaptive fixed-time bipartite consensus self-triggered control for multiple quadrotor unmanned aerial vehicles with deferred full-state constraints and input saturation under cooperative-antagonistic interactions. First, a uniform nonlinear transformation function, incorporating a shifting function, is constructed to achieve the deferred asymmetric constraints on the vehicle states and eliminate the restrictions imposed by feasibility criteria. Notably, the proposed framework provides a unified solution for unconstrained, constant/time-varying, and symmetric/asymmetric constraints without necessitating controller reconfiguration. By employing interval type-2 fuzzy logic systems and an improved self-triggered mechanism, an IT2 fuzzy adaptive fixed-time self-triggered controller is designed to allow the control signals to perform on-demand self-updating without the need for additional hardware monitors, effectively mitigating bandwidth over-consumption. Stability analysis indicates that all states in the closed-loop attitude system are fixed-time bounded while strictly adhering to deferred time-varying constraints. Finally, illustrative examples are presented to validate the effectiveness of the proposed control scheme. Full article

Background/Objectives: Cervical cancer (CC), caused mainly by high-risk human papillomavirus (hrHPV), remains a global health challenge despite being preventable. The disease’s incidence and mortality rates significantly vary across regions, highlighting the need for effective screening programs. The World Health Organization prioritizes CC screening to monitor and eliminate the disease. The Screening for Cervical Cancer and Early Treatment (SCCET) project aligns with this goal by adhering to the 2012 National Program for Cervical Cancer Screening and implementing the European Guidelines of Quality Assurance. Methods: The SCCET initiative facilitates access to equitable and high-quality preventive medical services for Romanian women, incorporating the Babeș–Papanicolaou smear (Pap test) and/or hrHPV DNA screening. Focused on the Muntenia Region of South Romania, the project leverages a methodical approach to gather substantial medical data on hrHPV infection rates and cervical lesions, thereby improving health management for women in the screening program. Results: Through public information and educational campaigns about HPV and its link to CC, the SCCET project has significantly enhanced participation in the screening program. In the study conducted between September 2022 and March 2023, 14,385 women aged 30 to 64 years voluntarily participated; of these, 11,996 (83.4%) underwent primary hrHPV DNA screening and were tested using the PowerGene 9600 Plus Real-Time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) system and the commercial Atila BioSystems AmpFire^® HPV Screening 16/18/HR test, version 4.1. This substantial participation indicates a positive shift in public attitudes towards CC prevention and highlights the success of the project’s outreach efforts. The study revealed an overall prevalence of hrHPV infection of 12.24%; of these, the most common genotype was other hrHPV types (9.84%), followed by HPV 16 (2.3%) and HPV 18 (0.71%). Conclusions: The SCCET project’s recent data on primary hrHPV DNA screening showcases its pivotal role in advancing the management and prevention of CC in Romania. By providing accessible, high-quality screening services and fostering public education on HPV, the initiative has made significant strides toward reducing the burden of CC. This effort aligns with global public health goals, and providing updated information on the prevalence of hrHPV types will allow the development of personalized national screening and vaccination programs to eradicate CC. Full article

Background: Immunocompromised and clinically fragile individuals are at increased risk of herpes zoster (HZ), but vaccine uptake remains low due to organizational barriers and vaccine hesitancy (VH). This study aimed to evaluate the impact of a multidisciplinary hospital-based counseling model on attitudes toward the recombinant adjuvanted zoster vaccine (RZV). The primary objective was to assess changes in VH over time using the Vaccination Attitudes Examination (VAX) scale; secondary objectives included identifying factors associated with VH, evaluating vaccine safety, and monitoring post-vaccination HZ incidence. Methods: A prospective cohort study was conducted in a large research hospital in Rome, in collaboration with the Local Health Authority. Eligible patients were offered individualized counseling and administered two doses of the RZV. VH was assessed using the 12-item VAX scale at baseline and at one-year follow-up. Multivariable linear regression analysis was performed to investigate associations between baseline characteristics and VH scores. Results: Between July 2022 and July 2023, 178 patients were enrolled, of whom 90 completed the one-year follow-up. Baseline VH was moderate (mean VAX: 2.291/6.000); higher scores were significantly associated with younger age, female sex, and rheumatologic disease (p < 0.05). After the intervention, VAX scores improved significantly across all subscales, particularly in trust in vaccine safety and benefits (p < 0.001). RZV was well tolerated; adverse events were mild and transient. Breakthrough HZ occurred in 3.33% of cases during follow-up. Conclusions: A multidisciplinary hospital-based model effectively improved vaccine attitudes and acceptance in fragile patients. Tracking VH over time with validated tools offers insights for scaling targeted interventions in high-risk groups. Full article

Advanced technologies, such as robotic process automation, blockchain, and machine learning, increase audit efficiency. Nonetheless, some Supreme Audit Institutions (SAIs) have not undergone digital transformation. This research aimed to develop a comprehensive framework for supreme audit institutions to adopt and integrate emerging technologies into their auditing processes using a hybrid theoretical approach based on the TAM (Technology Acceptance Model) and TOE (Technology–Organisation–Environment) models. The framework was informed by insights from nineteen highly experienced experts in the field from eight countries. Through a two-round Delphi questionnaire, the experts provided valuable input on the key factors, challenges, and strategies for successful technology adoption by public sector audit organisations. The findings of this research reveal that technology adoption in SAIs starts with solid management support led by the chief technology officer. They must evaluate the IT infrastructure and readiness for advanced technologies, considering the budget and funding. Integrating solutions like the SAI of Ghana’s Audit Management Information System can significantly enhance audit efficiency. Continuous staff training is essential to build a positive attitude toward new technologies, covering areas like data algorithm auditing and big data analysis. Assessing the complexity and compatibility of new technologies ensures ease of use and cost-effectiveness. Continuous support from technology providers and monitoring advancements will keep SAIs aligned with technological developments, enhancing their auditing capabilities. Full article