From rehabilitation to prevention: The evolving role of physical therapy in healthcare policy transformation and health equity—A systematic review based on South Korea’s development experience

With the rise of the global concept of green healthcare, the role of physical therapy in transforming healthcare policies has been further extended to the fields of resource conservation and environmental sustainability. Using a systematic literature review methodology and taking South Korea as a representative case, it systematically analyzes how physical therapy, through non-pharmacological interventions, preventive services, and the application of digital technologies. It found that physical therapy can significantly reduce the consumption of medical resources, decrease the generation of medical waste, and improve service efficiency. It also explores the evolution of laws of physical therapy in terms of policy frameworks, educational approaches, and service delivery models. The research shows that South Korea has made physical therapy the core carrier of environmentally friendly medical interventions by integrating green technologies, optimizing service processes, and reconstructing the primary service network. Thus, it promotes the innovation of healthcare policies towards low-carbon and high-efficiency directions. Driven by the continuous evolution of healthcare policies, physical therapy has transformed from a tool for postoperative rehabilitation into the main body of data-based and legalized public health interventions, participating in health governance, and achieving quantifiable results, and cost-effectiveness in aspects such as accessibility, user awareness, fairness, and effectiveness. These reform practices provide a law-based governance paradigm for global health policy transformation, offering empirical references for countries to optimize healthcare governance frameworks through institutional innovation. Particularly in critical areas such as health equity, well-being in aging populations, and integrated community care, physical therapy demonstrates substantial structural institutional value. This paper recommends that, during healthcare policy transitions, countries should strengthen the institutional integration of physical therapy from multiple dimensions, including legal frameworks, financial support, and professional training, to enhance system resilience and promote comprehensive health and well-being

Visitor perceptions of over tourism: Text-mining insights from Seoul and Bali

This study examines the impact of overtourism on visitor experiences in Bali, Indonesia, and Seoul, South Korea, by analyzing online user-generated reviews from popular tourist locations. The selected sites in Seoul include Myeongdong Shopping Street, Bukchon Hanok Village, and Hongdae Street, while Bali’s sites comprise Penglipuran Village, Kuta Beach, and Seminyak. A total of 1080 reviews per city (360 per location) were collected to ensure a robust and balanced dataset for comparative analysis. To extract visitor perceptions related to congestion, crowding, and other overtourism indicators, reviews were sourced using Outscraper.com, a web-based data extraction tool. A keyword-based filtering approach was applied, focusing on terms such as “noisy,” “traffic,” and “tourist” to identify relevant reviews that reflect visitor concerns about overcrowding and its associated effects. To maintain objectivity and representativeness, 360 reviews per location were randomly selected from the filtered dataset, ensuring a balanced sample of visitor opinions across both urban and island-based tourism destinations. By applying text-mining techniques, this study uncovers key themes and sentiment patterns that define visitor experiences in over-touristed areas. The findings offer valuable insights for tourism stakeholders seeking to mitigate the negative effects of overtourism while improving destination sustainability and visitor satisfaction

Bubbles help in troubles: Contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) as a predictor of recurrence for TIA/stroke in low-grade internal carotid artery stenosis

Introduction: Contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) allows the visualization of atherosclerotic plaque neovessels, which are the hallmark of carotid plaque instability. Aim: The purpose of our prospective study was to check the correlation between carotid CEUS analysis and the recurrence of TIA/stroke in patients with a previous recent TIA/stroke and neurological impairment congruent with vascular stenosis. Materials and methods: From November 2021 to May 2023, 62 consecutive patients (mean age 73.8 ± 12.2, 51 female) with a TIA/stroke in the previous 30 days underwent carotid ultrasound and carotid CEUS in an outpatient setting after 10 days from the acute event. The inclusion criteria were one atherosclerotic plaque inside the internal carotid artery, congruent with symptoms, which was causing a stenosis of less than 50% (low-grade stenosis). The carotid plaque neovascularization scoring method was score 0: no visible microbubbles within the plaque (A); score 1: minimal microbubbles confined to periadventitial (B); and score 2: microbubbles present throughout the plaque core (C). During the 6-month, 12-month, and 18-month follow-ups, we checked TIA/stroke recurrences. A multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed. P < 0.05 was considered significant. Results: In our series, 22% of patients have a CEUS score of 0, 35% have a CEUS score of 1, and 43% have a CEUS score of 2. At six-month follow-up, we found 21% TIA/stroke recurrences in CEUS score 2, despite the ongoing best medical therapy as per guidelines. At 12-month follow-up, we did not find any recurrence of cerebrovascular events. In Cox regression analysis, CEUS-detected neovascularization was independently associated with TIA/stroke recurrence (hazard ratio, 5.37; 95% confidence interval, 1.36–2.31). Conclusions: Plaque neovascularization, detected by CEUS, is an independent predictor of TIA/stroke recurrence at six-month follow-up in patients with carotid atherosclerosis despite low-grade stenosis. This diagnostic method can guide the best surgical vs. medical choice in the treatment of low-grade carotid stenosis, which is determined by soft atherosclerotic plaque

An efficient security framework, vulnerabilities, and defense mechanisms in LoraWAN

The rapid expansion of cloud computing within business environments, along with the increasing complexity of organizational deployments, has led to a surge in cloud-based attacks on computer networks. These attacks exploit security vulnerabilities and systemic breaches. This study explores robust defense mechanisms by leveraging policy-based configurations and rule enforcement on edge network devices. These mechanisms were tested using GNS3 simulations to strengthen internal and external infrastructures against critical threats such as ICMP, CDP, and port security attacks

About therapeutic action of silver ions: A brief overview

A problem of sufficiency of the widespread worldview about the mechanism of silver ion’s therapeutic action as its toxicity and destructivity for pathogens has been raised. Is such a therapeutic action always conjugated with direct destruction of the undesirable organisms such as bacteria, fungi, and cancer cells? Several works demonstrating a stimulating action of silver preparations on viability, proliferation of cells, behavioral and cognitive functions, and fertility of laboratory animals and on plants, as well as depletion of induced inflammation, have been considered. The observed effects can not be explained from the point of view of silver ion’s toxicity. A mechanism, which is in eustress (positive stress) induction by silver ions in the exposed organism, is suggested. The mechanism is confirmed by experimental observations and centuries of successful experience in the use of silver preparations in medicine. However, for eustress realization and distress (negative stress) prevention, significant attention should be paid to the form of silver in the preparation, its dose, and the period of exposure as well as to the adaptive resources of the organism. The revealed mechanism should be taken into account at the development and testing of medicine as well as when it may be applied in clinical practice

Quality and safety indicators of multigrain bread with freshly prepared rye malt using phytoantioxydants

The quality and safety indicators of a new type of multigrain bread using freshly obtained rye malt were studied. Hydrogen peroxide as a safe prooxidation activator and aqueous phytoextracts as natural antioxidants were used for the bioactivation of grain. The choice of phytoextract was made by comparing the antioxidant properties of thyme and oregano obtained with warm (60 ℃) or hot (80 ℃) extraction. The rate of accumulation of organic acids and reducing substances was maximum during malting under the influence of thyme extract (80 ℃). Oregano extracts were used to make rye-textured flour. The paper describes a new method for producing emulsified malt, known as “rye cream”. Unlike other methods, it is proposed to use not dried malt, but freshly obtained rye malt extract. This made it possible to form the adaptogenic properties of the food system, which was evident from the results of the antioxidant activity assessment. This assessment was carried out at different stages of the bread production process. It was shown that at the stage of rye cream production, the oxidation-reduction balance of the food system was shifted towards prooxidants, so the use of phytoextracts with antioxidant properties was necessary. At the dough production stage, the balance changed in the opposite direction, and antioxidants began to dominate the food system as functional nutritional components. Multigrain bread had antioxidant activity twice as high as the standard (Borodinsky bread) and had better characteristics compared to two analogues. Under the influence of multigrain bread, the production of free radicals was inhibited more gently than under the influence of rye bread “BIO”. Another analogue, Fitness bread, had the properties of a strong prooxidant, not an antioxidant. According to the results of an objective assessment in independent laboratories, multigrain bread with rye cream met regulatory requirements for quality and safety, which was confirmed by the results of physicochemical and microbiological analysis

A Metaverse-based approach for financial literacy in Brazilian vocationalschool

This article proposes a pioneering approach to teaching Financial Education in Brazilian schools by leveraging the immersive world of Metaverse Games, specifically within the Roblox platform. Financial literacy is a critical global skill, yet making it captivating for students is a challenge. Our Roblox-based educational space creatively demystifies complex financial concepts such as assets, salary, income management, savings, debts, and investments. To assess the impact, we administered three questionnaires: a pre-test to determine initial knowledge, an intermediary test during digital interaction, and a post-test to evaluate knowledge retention. Results indicate that Roblox effectively engages students with financial content in a fun and interactive way. The Metaverse represents a new frontier for educational technology, prompting the development of innovative assessment and learning management strategies. Despite observing impulsive decision-making in the virtual setting, students adopted a cooperative approach to improving outcomes through the reset function of the game, highlighting a collective learning experience. Our research concludes that financial literacy is essential for young individuals to manage real-life finances and that collaborative learning significantly boosts skill acquisition. It is, therefore, crucial to universally adopt playful and cooperative financial education in schools to prepare students for financial success in their personal lives and future society

Nutritional and consumer sensory reactions of catfish-fortified puffed corn snacks

The development of nutritionally enhanced snacks is a strategy to address protein-energy malnutrition, particularly in developing regions. This study investigated proximate and sensory characteristics of extruded puffed corn snacks fortified with varying levels (0%, 5%, 10%, 15%, and 20%) of catfish (Clarias gariepinus) paste. Proximate analysis was performed based on the methods of the Association of Official Analytical Chemistry (AOAC). 30 untrained panelists assessed appearance, aroma, taste, texture, and overall acceptability using a nine-point hedonic scale. Incorporation of catfish significantly enhanced the snacks’ nutritional profile. Moisture and protein content increased from 6.04% (control) to 8.62% at 15% inclusion and from 11.43% (control) to 17.19% at 20%, respectively. Ash rose from 1.90% (control) to 2.47% at 20%, while crude fiber decreased from 5.33% (control) to 3.01%–3.36% at all inclusion levels. While carbohydrates declined from 73.73% to 66.41% at 20%, fat content increased from 1.57% (control) to 2.58% at 10%, before slightly decreasing at 20% to 2.27%. There was a progressive increase in acceptability, with the highest mean score of 5.77 at 15% catfish inclusion, followed by a slight decline at 20% (5.63). The standard deviation decreased as catfish inclusion increased, indicating more consistent consumer preferences. The skewness and kurtosis values of the 15% showed strong consumer preference. Sensory evaluation showing a 9-point hedonic scale showed an increase in acceptability with the highest mean score of 5.77 at 15% catfish inclusion. Sensory score declined at 20% inclusion, likely due to an intensified fishy aroma. The extrusion process preserved desirable textural properties and contributed to enhanced flavor, supporting the potential of catfish as a valuable ingredient in nutritionally enriched puffed corn snacks. The study demonstrates the potential of African catfish as a fortifying ingredient in snacks with a balance between nutritional enhancement and sensory appeal. Due to under-exploration of the fish species in corn snack production, this study offers a promising approach to improving the nutritional quality of snacks without compromising consumer acceptability

Local environmental policies, health and climate risks: Citizens’ perceptions in a Portuguese municipality

Climate change is a major public health hazard and a critical component of sustainable development. Understanding public perceptions of these risks is crucial for developing effective local environmental policies that contribute to health and sustainability goals. This research aimed to characterize the perceptions of an adult Portuguese population regarding climate change and its health impact and to examine their awareness of and compliance with municipal policies. The choice of Cascais as a case study reflects its urban character, exposure to climate risks, and its proactive stance in local environmental policy. We conducted research on the environmental programs/guidelines implemented in the urban municipality of Cascais. Subsequently, we employed an online survey to gather data on the perceptions of 200 adults residing/working in Cascais. People with higher awareness are more likely to engage in environmentally conscious behaviors, essential for sustainable development. However, many respondents were unaware of municipal programs and did not participate. Perceptions of climate risk and action priorities varied by sex, age, and education. Improved communication and awareness-raising are needed. This study contributes to the broader understanding of environmental perception by highlighting the influence of demographic factors on climate-related knowledge and behavior. It also demonstrates the value of integrating public perception data into municipal policy planning and sets a replicable framework for comparative research across urban contexts. Incorporating citizens’ perceptions can help municipalities develop effective, community-adapted policies, fostering inclusive and resilient local climate actions to protect public health

Supporting public and technological innovations through entrepreneurship in Nigeria

This study examines how technological and public innovations cross in Nigeria’s entrepreneurial environment, highlighting the vital role that entrepreneurship plays in fostering innovation. The goal of the study is to have a thorough grasp of how new businesses might improve technology developments and public services in the face of Nigeria’s particular socioeconomic difficulties. A comprehensive search of academic databases, such as Google Scholar, Scopus, Web Science, and JSTOR, was carried out using a systematic literature review process, with an emphasis on peer-reviewed publications, reports, and respectable conference papers published between 2018 and January 2025. Non-peer-reviewed sources and those that did not address the interaction between these domains were excluded, whereas papers that were deemed relevant to entrepreneurship and innovation in Nigeria were included. In order to find trends, obstacles, and success factors related to entrepreneurship and innovation, data extraction entailed identifying important findings, methodology, and case studies. Then, thematic analysis was conducted. According to research, a strong entrepreneurial environment can spur technological and societal improvements, which will ultimately promote sustainable development. In order to foster a climate that encourages innovation-driven entrepreneurship in Nigeria, the paper ends with practical suggestions for stakeholders, entrepreneurs, and legislators