Search Results (1,612)

The construction sector contributes significantly to global greenhouse gases, accounting for 39% of worldwide emissions. Multi-story wood buildings (MSWBs) present a sustainable alternative to traditional emissions-intensive construction materials like concrete and steel. However, only a few studies have investigated how potential customers perceive MSWBs, which influences their acceptance and demand. This study uses a concept-driven scoping review to explore perceptions and concerns about living in MSWBs and to understand barriers to their adoption. Through a narrative synthesis of 20 peer-reviewed articles, this study uncovered five key themes: environmental sustainability, fire safety, human well-being, structural durability, and costs. These findings highlight opportunities and challenges for MSWBs’ market growth and inform future communication strategies to enhance public acceptance and promote sustainable construction and the built environment. Full article

Background: Dental caries remains one of the most prevalent chronic diseases worldwide. Fluoride has long been recognized as a cornerstone of caries prevention through enamel remineralization, inhibition of demineralization, and antibacterial activity. However, controversies persist regarding systemic exposure, potential health risks, and ethical debates over community water fluoridation. Previous reviews often focused on isolated interventions, whereas a critical synthesis of mechanisms, clinical efficacy, safety, and public health perspectives is still lacking. Methods: This narrative review synthesized peer-reviewed publications from 2000 to 2025 retrieved from PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and leading dental journals. Emphasis was placed on randomized controlled trials, systematic reviews, meta-analyses, and major policy documents. Evidence was thematically appraised across mechanisms of action, clinical applications, comparative efficacy, safety, and sociocultural considerations. Results: Fluoride consistently shows preventive and therapeutic benefits across multiple delivery forms, including toothpaste, varnishes, mouthrinses, supplements, and silver diamine fluoride, with particular advantages for high-risk groups such as children, orthodontic patients, and older adults. Nonetheless, study heterogeneity, variations in protocols, and concerns regarding fluorosis and possible neurodevelopmental effects highlight persistent uncertainties. Comparative analyses reveal trade-offs between efficacy and acceptance, for example, the high caries-arrest rate of silver diamine fluoride compared with its esthetic drawback. Emerging alternatives such as nano-hydroxyapatite, fluoride-containing bioactive glass, and probiotic-based approaches are promising but currently supported by limited clinical data. Conclusions: Fluoride remains central to caries prevention, yet its optimal use requires balancing benefits against risks, addressing cultural and socioeconomic barriers, and tailoring strategies to individual and community contexts. This narrative synthesis underscores the need for well-designed multicenter randomized controlled trials, longitudinal studies to refine safe exposure thresholds, evaluations of novel biomaterials and delivery systems, and the incorporation of patient-reported outcomes to guide future evidence-based policies and clinical practices. Full article

Rapid advancements in peer-to-peer (P2P) streaming technologies have significantly impacted digital communication, enabling scalable, decentralized, and real-time content distribution. Despite these advancements, challenges persist, including dynamic topology management, high latency, security vulnerabilities, and unfair resource sharing (e.g., free rider). While software-defined networking (SDN) and blockchain individually address aspects of these limitations, their combined potential for comprehensive optimization remains underexplored. This study proposes a distributed SDN (DSDN) architecture enhanced with blockchain support to provide secure, scalable, and reliable P2P video streaming. We identified research gaps through critical analysis of the literature. We systematically compared traditional P2P, SDN-enhanced, and hybrid architectures across six performance metrics: latency, throughput, packet loss, authentication accuracy, packet delivery ratio, and control overhead. Simulations with 200 peers demonstrate that the proposed hybrid SDN–blockchain framework achieves a latency of 140 ms, a throughput of 340 Mbps, an authentication accuracy of 98%, a packet delivery ratio of 97.8%, a packet loss ratio of 2.2%, and a control overhead of 9.3%, outperforming state-of-the-art solutions such as NodeMaps, the reinforcement learning-based routing framework (RL-RF), and content delivery networks-P2P networks (CDN-P2P). This work establishes a scalable and attack-resilient foundation for next-generation P2P streaming. Full article

Background: The Nursing Work Environment (NWE) plays a critical role in determining the quality of care, staff well-being, and organizational performance, particularly in oncology settings. Despite increasing attention, a comprehensive synthesis of organizational factors shaping oncology NWEs has been lacking. This scoping review aimed to describe the key features of oncology NWEs and to explore the outcomes associated with these characteristics. Methods: A scoping review was conducted following the Joanna Briggs Institute guidelines. Peer-reviewed studies published in English or Italian were included without time restrictions. Literature searches were performed in MEDLINE via PubMed, CINAHL, and Scopus between January and April 2025. Results: Twenty studies met the inclusion criteria. Key organizational characteristics of oncology NWEs were grouped into the following four domains: leadership and organizational support; workload and resource availability; ethical climate and collegial relationships; and physical and structural conditions of care settings. Across the studies, a positive NWE was frequently reported to be associated with improved nurse-related outcomes and, to a lesser extent, with patient-related outcomes. However, these associations should be interpreted with caution due to the heterogeneity of contexts and the predominance of cross-sectional designs. Conclusions: The NWE is a strategic element in delivering effective, safe, and sustainable oncology care. Practical actions for nurse managers and healthcare leaders include implementing leadership training programs, ensuring adequate staffing and resource allocation, fostering open communication, and promoting interdisciplinary collaboration. These measures are essential to protect staff well-being and guarantee high-quality, patient-centered care. Full article

Background/Objectives: Mindfulness has expanded from seated meditation to include embodied practices emphasizing somatic awareness and emotional regulation. Dance offers a creative, accessible pathway to mindfulness, especially in non-clinical settings where movement-based approaches may better support self-regulation, interoception, and well-being. This scoping review investigated empirical studies on dance-based mindfulness interventions targeting non-clinical, amateur and recreational populations. Methods: Six databases (PubMed, PsycINFO, Scopus, ERIC, Web of Science, and Google Scholar) were searched for peer-reviewed studies published between 2010 and 2025. Eligible studies combined dance with mindfulness and somatic movement practices and were conducted with non-professional participants of all ages in non-clinical settings. Study selection, data extraction, and appraisal followed PRISMA-ScR guidelines. Results: Ten empirical studies met the inclusion criteria, spanning diverse populations from primary school children to older adults. Interventions included Dance/Movement Therapy, ballet with yoga, Sufi-inspired group dance, and school- or community-based mindful movement programs. Reported outcomes included improvements in body awareness, emotional regulation, stress reduction, self-compassion, social connection, and overall well-being. A thematic synthesis identified five domains: (1) psychological and emotional outcomes, (2) embodiment and self-compassion, (3) relational and social benefits, (4) feasibility and acceptability, and (5) sustained and preventive effects. Conclusions: Dance-based mindfulness interventions in recreational contexts show promising psychosomatic and emotional benefits. Although the current empirical base is limited and methodologically diverse, this scoping review provides a necessary foundation for understanding this emerging field. There remains a strong need for interventions that are theoretically grounded, culturally sensitive, and pedagogically integrated, particularly within classroom-based dance educational contexts. Full article

Social Communication Disorder (SCD) involves persistent verbal and non-verbal communication difficulties, significantly impacting children and adolescents’ social interactions. Traditional interventions, while valuable, face practical limitations, including difficulties replicating real-world social contexts and low engagement among some learners. This paper examines Virtual Reality (VR) as an innovative intervention tool for SCD through a comprehensive review of empirical studies (2010–2024). Analysis of 11 peer-reviewed studies, encompassing both autism spectrum disorder (ASD)-specific and broader SCD populations, revealed five key themes being discussed in the current literature: usability and acceptability, social skills training, gaze and attention tracking, measurement and assessment, and applications in inclusive education. Our findings demonstrate VR’s potential as a mediating tool between therapeutic interventions and real-world social interactions, offering controlled yet naturalistic environments that enable safe, structured practice while maintaining engagement. The alignment with cognitive science principles enhances learning processes through effective management of cognitive demands. Building on these findings, we propose implementation strategies for educational and therapeutic settings, addressing design considerations, delivery methods, and outcome evaluation. This synthesis advances the understanding of VR as an innovative, scalable approach to supporting social communication development in children and adolescents. Full article

Background: In low-resource health systems, official mHealth platforms often face usability and infrastructure barriers. In India, Community Health Workers (CHWs) and their supervisors have pragmatically turned to WhatsApp as an informal digital infrastructure. While widely adopted, its dual role as both a support system and a source of burden remains underexplored. Aim: To examine the patterns and purposes of WhatsApp use among CHWs and block-level supervisors; to identify perceived benefits, barriers, and risks; and to assess its influence on workflow, power relations, digital equity, and program outcomes in an Indian Aspirational District. Methods: We conducted a qualitative study between June and December 2023 in Muzaffarpur, Bihar, India. Data comprised 32 in-depth interviews and six focus group discussions with CHWs (Anganwadi Workers, ASHAs, ANMs) and block-level public health officers (total participants n = 81). We used reflexive thematic analysis following Braun and Clarke’s approach; reporting adhered to the COREQ guideline. Results: WhatsApp emerged as a de facto digital backbone for real-time communication, peer support, and program supervision, often perceived as more usable than official applications. Its informal adoption also created a triple burden: digital fatigue from information overload and blurred work–life boundaries; duplication of reporting across WhatsApp and official portals; and systemic inequities that disadvantaged older or less digitally literate CHWs, with risks of surveillance creep and data privacy breaches. Conclusion: WhatsApp simultaneously enables coordination and imposes workload and equity costs on India’s frontline workforce. Without formal policy and governance, this user-driven adaptation risks widening digital divides and accelerating burnout. We recommend clear protocols on purpose-limited use, investments in equitable digital capability and devices, and safeguards that protect worker well-being and data privacy. Full article

This study develops and operationalizes a multi-dimensional framework for sustainable building retrofit that aligns with national 2050 net-zero objectives. First, we conduct a scoping review of international standards (e.g., ISO), sustainability reporting guidelines (GRI G4), and peer-reviewed studies to define an indicator system spanning three pillars—environmental (carbon neutrality, resource circulation, pollution management), social (habitability, durability/safety, regional impact), and economic (direct support, deregulation). Building on this structure, we propose a transparent 0–3 rubric at the sub-indicator level and introduce the Sustainable Building Retrofit Index (SRI) to enable cross-case comparability and over-time monitoring. We then apply the framework to seven countries (United States, Canada, United Kingdom, France, Germany, Japan, and South Korea), score their retrofit systems/policies, and synthesize results through radar plots and a composite SRI. The analysis shows broad emphasis on carbon neutrality and habitability but persistent gaps in resource circulation, pollution management, regional impacts, and deregulatory mechanisms. For South Korea, policies remain energy-centric, with relatively limited treatment of resource/pollution issues and place-based social outcomes; economic instruments predominantly favor direct financial support. To address these gaps, we propose (i) life-cycle assessment (LCA)–based reporting that covers greenhouse gas and six additional impact categories for retrofit projects; (ii) a support program requiring community and ecosystem-impact reporting with performance-linked incentives; and (iii) targeted deregulation to reduce uptake barriers. The paper’s novelty lies in translating diffuse sustainability principles into a replicable, quantitative index (SRI) that supports benchmarking, policy revision, and longitudinal tracking across jurisdictions. The framework offers actionable guidance for policymakers and a foundation for future extensions (e.g., additional countries, legal/municipal instruments, refined weights). Full article

The hybrid work environment significantly undermines the social well-being of employees in the workplace. Existing research predominantly addresses academics’ well-being challenges without offering practical strategies to counter these issues. This study identifies strategies that higher education institutions must adopt to enhance the social well-being of their academics in hybrid work settings. It employs Demerouti’s Job Demands-Resources (JD-R) model and Baumeister and Leary’s theory of the need to belong as its theoretical framework. Using a cross-sectional qualitative approach, semi-structured interviews were guided by an interview schedule to gather data. The sample comprised 23 academics from three campuses of North-West University, and thematic analysis was utilized to analyse the data. The study revealed that growth strategies, such as training, development, and mentoring, are crucial for fostering a sense of belonging, strengthening work relationships, and helping academics connect in a hybrid work environment. Support strategies like providing peer support, management support, physical resources, effective communication, and improvements in job quality enhance academics’ social well-being in this setting. Relationship strategies, which entail organizing social events and promoting a positive organizational culture, are key to encouraging social well-being in the hybrid work environment. Additionally, reward strategies, such as recognition and direct compensation, are essential for reinforcing a sense of belonging, improving work relationships, and enhancing social connections in a hybrid work environment. Intentional, coach-oriented, sensible, and inclusive leadership is vital. The findings offer valuable insights for higher education institutions to adopt a more comprehensive approach to managing the well-being of academic employees. This highlights the need to focus not only on mental and psychological health but also on social well-being. Full article

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a complex neurodevelopmental condition characterized by deficits in social communication, repetitive behaviors, and sensory sensitivities. While genetic factors contribute significantly to ASD risk, a growing body of evidence implicates environmental exposures and immune-mediated mechanisms in the etiology and severity of ASD. This review synthesizes peer-reviewed findings on (1) maternal immune activation, (2) environmental toxicant co-exposures, (3) maternal autoimmune disease, and (4) cerebral folate deficiency (via folate receptor alpha autoantibodies), detailing their mechanistic contributions to core and associated ASD symptoms. Collectively, these findings illuminate converging neuroimmune and metabolic pathways that, when disrupted in utero, substantially alter the developmental trajectory of the brain and increase the likelihood of ASD. Such interruptions leading to developmental changes can trigger immune activation from environmental sources of infection and pollution, with these triggers compounded in cases of autoimmune disease or cerebral folate deficiency. Understanding these mechanisms provides a foundation for early identification, stratified risk assessment, and the development of targeted prenatal interventions. Thus, a lesson we learn from autism is that neurodevelopmental disorders should be understood as the product of combined genetic vulnerabilities and modifiable prenatal and postnatal influences. Further exploration of this framework will open paths for precision intervention and prevention. Full article

Background/Objectives: Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD) affects approximately 5% of children globally and is characterized by motor difficulties that can negatively impact physical activity levels and increase the risk of obesity. Understanding the behavioral and physiological profiles of children with DCD is essential for early intervention. This cross-sectional study compared physical activity, dietary habits, and obesity indicators between children with DCD and their typically developing (TD) peers. Methods: A total of 243 children (134 boys, 109 girls) aged 6.65 to 11.65 years (M = 9.50, SD = 1.38) from two mainstream schools in the Chartered Community of Navarre, Spain, participated in the study. Children with conditions that could explain poor motor development were excluded based on DSM-5 Criterion D. Motor competence was evaluated using the FUNMOVES (n = 243) and MABC-2 tools (n = 49). Physical activity was assessed using the Physical Activity Questionnaire for Children (PAQ-C), dietary habits with the Krece Plus questionnaire, and obesity indicators through bioimpedance analysis (Body Mass Index and body fat percentage). Regression analyses were adjusted for age and sex. Results: Children classified with probable DCD (pDCD) using FUNMOVES showed significantly higher BMI (95% CI: 0.96 to 4.30 kg/m²) and body fat percentage (95% CI: 3.99 to 10.24%) than TD peers. Differences in physical activity were not statistically significant between DCD and TD (95% CI: −0.68 to 0.01. No significant differences were found in dietary quality. When assessing motor development with MABC-2, the results followed similar trends but lacked statistical significance. Conclusions: Children with DCD are at increased risk of overweight and obesity, primarily due to lower physical activity rather than dietary differences. Early identification and targeted interventions are essential to promote healthier lifestyles in this population. Full article

Agricultural plastic waste is a growing global concern, as the widespread use of plastics in farming paired with limited waste management infrastructure has led to environmental pollution, resource inefficiency, and practical challenges in rural communities. This review systematically analyzes international policy frameworks and technological advancements aimed at improving agricultural plastic waste management, drawing on peer-reviewed literature and policy documents identified through targeted database searches and screened by transparent inclusion criteria. Comparative analysis of national strategies, such as extended producer responsibility, regional management models, and technology-driven incentives, is combined with a critical evaluation of recycling and biodegradable innovations. The results reveal that while integrated policies can enhance collectthion efficiency and funding stability, their implementation often encounters high costs, logistical barriers, and variability in stakeholder commitment. Advanced recycling methods and emerging biodegradable materials demonstrate technical promise, but face challenges related to field performance, cost-effectiveness, and scalability. The review concludes that sustainable management of agricultural plastics requires a multi-faceted approach, combining robust regulation, economic incentives, technological innovation, and ongoing empirical assessment. These findings emphasize the importance of adapting strategies to local contexts and suggest that the successful transition to circular management models will depend on continued collaboration across policy, technology, and stakeholder domains. Full article

This review examines South Africa’s escalating flood vulnerability through a synthesis of over 80 peer-reviewed articles, historical records, policy reports, and case studies. Using a PRISMA-guided analysis, the study identifies key climatic drivers, including extreme rainfall from tropical–temperate interactions, cut-off lows, and La Niña conditions that interact with structural weaknesses such as inadequate drainage, poorly maintained stormwater systems, and rapid urban expansion. Apartheid-era spatial planning has further entrenched risk by locating marginalised communities in floodplains. Governance failures like weak disaster risk reduction (DRR) policies, fragmented institutional coordination, and insufficient early warning systems intensify flood vulnerabilities. Catastrophic events in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) and the Western Cape (WC) illustrate the consequences exemplified by the April 2022 KZN floods alone, which caused over 450 deaths, displaced more than 40,000 people, and generated damages exceeding ZAR 17 billion. Nationally, more than 1500 flood-related fatalities have been documented in the past two decades. Emerging resilience pathways include ecosystem-based adaptation, green infrastructure, participatory governance, integration of Indigenous knowledge, improved hydrological forecasting, and stricter land-use enforcement. These approaches can simultaneously reduce physical risks and address entrenched socio-economic inequalities. However, significant gaps remain in spatial flood modelling, gender-sensitive responses, urban–rural disparities, and policy implementation. The review concludes that South Africa urgently requires integrated, multi-scalar strategies that combine scientific innovation, policy reform, and community-based action. Embedding these insights into disaster management policy and planning is essential to curb escalating losses and build long-term resilience in the face of climate change. Full article

By 2030, the world population is projected to reach approximately 9.7 billion. One of the core objectives of the global sustainable development goals (SDGs), adopted from the 1996 World Food Summit, is to eradicate hunger by that time, meaning ensuring food security for all. The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) defines food security as follows: “Food security exists when all people, at all times, have physical and economic access to sufficient, safe, and nutritious food that meets their dietary needs and food preferences for an active and healthy life.” Conceptually, it is posited that food security can be understood as a nexus of four elements: Food security = Availability + Access + Utilization + Stability of a food system. This study focused specifically on the food availability component of food security. It addresses a critical gap in the existing literature: the limited understanding of the role farmworkers and their families play in sustaining food systems. Specifically, it explores how the children of Haitian farmworkers in the United States perceive agricultural labor through the lens of their family’s experiences, including their personal willingness to engage in it and their advocacy for others to pursue such work. Although qualitative in nature, this study employed the Political Economy of the Food System, also referred to as Agrifood Systems Theory or the Political Ecology of Food Systems, as its guiding theoretical framework, as it aligns closely with the study’s objectives. The data were collected between December 2022 and June 2023. The sample consisted of eight young adults (ages 18 to 29), all of Haitian descent. Overall, the findings indicated that participants commonly reported feeling a sense of inferiority and a lack of interest in and respect for farmwork as a profession during their upbringing, particularly in comparison to peers from non-farmworker households and those outside of their immediate communities. This sense of inferiority was attributed to several factors, including their upbringing, the inherent vulnerability associated with farm work, and the long-term physical toll agricultural work had on both themselves and their parents. The study’s findings carry important implications for practitioners, scholars, policymakers, and all stakeholders involved in achieving food security. They underscore the urgent need to reform labor policies and improve the conditions surrounding farm work, making it a more appealing, dignified, desirable, and sustainable occupation in the face of a growing world population. Full article

Currently, citizens of the Western world are struggling with (1) the rapid growth and increasing densification of cities and (2) the excessive time spent of citizens indoors. This article aims to contribute to changing this paradigm through proposals for organizing outdoor spaces in schools that are easy to implement and that allow new generations to experience the multiple benefits of using the outdoors. To encourage such use, we propose using school outdoor spaces for teaching/learning activities, complementing spaces traditionally committed to play, sports, and peer socialization. The presented proposals were developed using a collaborative methodology involving the school community, supervised by final-year students and professors from the University of Lisbon’s MSc. in Architecture program. The results demonstrate a wide range of ideas capable of stimulating learning among children and young people, as well as encouraging teachers to increase outdoor teaching activities. The implementation of these proposals will certainly have a positive impact on the planning and construction/qualifying of cities, providing their citizens with greater and better use/enjoyment of outdoor space, as well as all the benefits associated with it. Full article