Online Access Research Articles

Kahoot Utilization! To Support Game-Based Learning

The use of Kahoot in today's digital era is increasingly important in supporting an interactive and fun learning process. As a gamification-based learning platform, Kahoot allows educators to create quizzes and challenges that are accessible online, increasing student engagement and facilitating active learning. So this research aims to explain the use of Kahoot! to support Game-Based Learning. The method used in this study uses the SLR (Systematic Literature Review) method using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses method commonly called PRISMA. The results of the 11 articles used in this review literature show that activeness in the learning process makes learning interactive and interesting and becomes one of the learning media options for teachers. Conclusion After studying the use of Kahoot in ICE, interest arose in the potential of this platform in supporting learning through gamification. Kahoot creates interactive learning experiences with real-time quizzes and challenges, which increases student engagement. Research shows that the platform makes the learning atmosphere competitive and fun, and provides live evaluation for teacher feedback. Thus, Kahoot can motivate students and improve academic outcomes.

Are prison settings included in national preparedness plans?

Abstract With the aim to explore the extent to which places of detention are considered in national preparedness planning in the WHO European Region, a desktop review was conducted and combined with responses to the Health in Prisons European Database (HIPED) survey from Member States referring to 2020. In both searches, the aim was to identify the existence of: 1) national pandemic preparedness plans written prior to the COVID-19 pandemic; and 2) national pandemic preparedness and response plans specific to the COVID-19 pandemic. Where prisons were included, all aspects of pandemic preparedness relating to prisons were extracted and collated as per the main domains of the WHO checklist for influenza pandemic preparedness plans. The desktop review found that 30 Member States had pandemic plans accessible online, but only seven included any mention of prisons. Responses to the HIPED survey suggested wide dissemination of a COVID-19 preparedness and/or response plan, but only six out of 36 Member States referred to prisons or the vulnerabilities of people living in places of detention. The combined findings suggest that prisons are rarely considered in national planning and that lessons from previous pandemics have not led to a change in recognizing that prisons are high-risk environments for pathogen transmission and that failing to consider them in national planning may lead to impacts that affect the wider community.

Frailty and quality of life in italian older adults: implications for public health interventions

Abstract Background The increasing focus on frailty in older adults underscores the significance of a timely multidimensional assessments and early detection to avert adverse outcomes. The primary aim is to integrate digital technologies, specifically online assessment tools, for the identification of frailty and the assessment of Quality of Life (QoL) in elderly individuals. Methods A nationwide multicentric study was conducted. Seven Italian centers and regions evaluated frailty in older adults residing in the community, through a prospective observational cohort study. The chosen questionnaires, Sunfrail+ and SF-12, were implemented through an easily accessible online tool, swiftly generating final scores for each test. The cross-sectional analysis included 503 older adults. The cut off to define a person “frail” is 3 positive alerts in Sunfrail baseline items, according to the literature. Results In this sample an average of 2.31 positive alerts were generated. Significant associations were established between the number of positive warnings and SF-12 physical and mental indexes, indicated by X2=53.1 (p < 0.001) and X2=25.1 (p < 0.001), respectively. The difference between two groups (frail and not frail) in relation to QoL is statistical significantly (U di Mann Whithney p < 0.001). Mean QoL mental and physical indexes are 46.3 and 39.3 in frailty group, versus 51.7 and 46.5 in non frailty group, respectively. The correlation is conceptually consistent: as frailty increases, QoL decreases. Conclusions The frailty assessment associated with the QoL assessment provides relevant information to monitor the impact of prevention interventions at community level. The assessment of frailty leads the prevention intervention whose impact could be assessed also through QoL tools. This study underlines a meaningful association between assessment tools, substantiated by conceptual correlations. Key messages • Sunfrail and SF-12 are easily accessible online tool useful for identification of frailty and the assessment of Quality of Life (QoL) in elderly individuals. • The older population in Europe is increasing a timely assessment of frailty must be a public health priority.

Diversity of fish otoliths from the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea: Report on the first digital collection of fish otoliths (Actinopterygii) from the Atlantic region of Mexico

The Otolith Collection of Fishes from the Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean Sea was created with the objective to conserve and illustrate the diversity of these structures from species living in the Gulf of Mexico, the Caribbean Sea, and the freshwater and brackish systems of the Yucatan Peninsula, incorporating morphological descriptions and morphometric data. Otoliths, non-skeletal calcareous structures that develop in the inner ear of fish, are essential for balance and hearing. They have become pivotal tools for age and growth determination, population analysis, and ecological, trophic, and archaeological studies due to their resistance to degradation and the extensive information they provide about the environment and physiology of fish. The collection now includes otoliths from 214 species, representing 67 families, obtained through sampling campaigns and collaborations with local fishermen. The otoliths are extracted using techniques that ensure the integrity of the structures for later preservation. High-resolution images were obtained using optical and scanning electron microscopy, and these images are stored in an online database. This database facilitates research and teaching by providing public access to digital specimens and associated data. In addition to fostering academic development, this collection represents a significant step towards the creation of a national platform for otolith data analysis, aligned with international efforts to digitize biological collections. Despite the financial and logistical challenges involved in building and maintaining biological collections, this collection demonstrates its value as an essential resource for taxonomic, systematic, and ecological studies, as well as for biodiversity education and awareness. The online availability of the collection not only facilitates access to data but also promotes innovation and international collaboration in the study of fishes and their habitats.

The Role of Nursing Guidelines on Successful License Renewal for Nurses and Midwives in Ubungo District Public Hospitals in Tanzania

In the recent years, nurses and mid wives are struggling to keep their knowledge current knowledge and skills current and relevant through to changing requirements and situations. Through engaging in continuing professional development (CPD), care givers become updated knowledge and practice to provide quality care to patients. This study sought to unveil the role of CPD on license renewal of midwives and nurses with a special focus on Ubungo district as Ubungo has more health Centres as compared to other districts in Dar es Salaam. Specifically, the study sought to determine the role of nursing guidelines on successful license renewal for Nurses and Midwives in Ubungo District Public Hospitals, The study was guided by the Kirkpatrick Model as the theoretical framework. The study used descriptive research design while simple random and purposive sampling techniques were used to select members of sample size who were 99 respondents. The target population of the study included all public hospitals, dispensaries and health centres located in the Ubungo district. The data was collected using documents review, in-depth interview, and structured interviews, and then analyzed using content analysis, narrative analysis, and descriptive analysis. Findings revealed that the CPD acquisition and license renewal guidelines are available at the Tanzania nursing and midwifery council(TNMC) website, however, they require registration and login to access them. The license acquisition process was through paper document submission at the TNMC office and later on changed to online in 2022. Apart from insufficient computers and limited internet access, some challenges result from nurses and midwives negative attitude towards license renewal as they tend to not renew them until there is a tactical advantage such as a promotion. Management staff at the hospitals also does not focus on license renewal as they focus more on accomplishment of daily tasks, and only care when a malpractice occurs. CPD points determine the eligibility of the license renewal applicant. The study concludes that the online availability of CPD guidelines is a good way of reaching all stakeholders. The study recommends awareness raising activities regarding access to the guidelines, raise more awareness regarding the online license renewal system, and design more effective and efficient means of stakeholder outreach.

The Chilean COVID-19 Genomics Network Biorepository: A Resource for Multi-Omics Studies of COVID-19 and Long COVID in a Latin American Population

Although a lack of diversity in genetic studies is an acknowledged obstacle for personalized medicine and precision public health, Latin American populations remain particularly understudied despite their heterogeneity and mixed ancestry. This gap extends to COVID-19 despite its variability in susceptibility and clinical course, where ethnic background appears to influence disease severity, with non-Europeans facing higher hospitalization rates. In addition, access to high-quality samples and data is a critical issue for personalized and precision medicine, and it has become clear that the solution lies in biobanks. The creation of the Chilean COVID-19 Biorepository reported here addresses these gaps, representing the first nationwide multicentric Chilean initiative. It operates under rigorous biobanking standards and serves as one of South America’s largest COVID cohorts. A centralized harmonization strategy was chosen and included unified standard operating procedures, a sampling coding system, and biobanking staff training. Adults with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection provided broad informed consent. Samples were collected to preserve blood, plasma, buffy coat, and DNA. Quality controls included adherence to the standard preanalytical code, incident reporting, and DNA concentration and absorbance ratio 260/280 assessments. Detailed sociodemographic, health, medication, and preexisting condition data were gathered. In five months, 2262 participants were enrolled, pseudonymized, and sorted by disease severity. The average Amerindian ancestry considering all participant was 44.0% [SD 15.5%], and this value increased to 61.2% [SD 19.5%] among those who self-identified as Native South Americans. Notably, 279 participants self-identified with one of 12 ethnic groups. High compliance (>90%) in all assessed quality controls was achieved. Looking ahead, our team founded the COVID-19 Genomics Network (C19-GenoNet) focused on identifying genetic factors influencing SARS-CoV-2 outcomes. In conclusion, this bottom-up collaborative effort aims to promote the integration of Latin American populations into global genetic research and welcomes collaborations supporting this endeavor. Interested parties are invited to explore collaboration opportunities through our catalog, accessible online.

Online availability of antibiotics from within the UK: shifting patterns from 2016 to 2023

Abstract Background We previously reported a cross-sectional analysis of online pharmacy practices and processes. Since then, the demand for and context of online healthcare has changed. However, the current state of access to and usage of antibiotics obtained online remains poorly understood. Objectives This study aimed to: (i) determine the legality of online pharmacies selling antibiotics in the UK; (ii) describe processes for obtaining antibiotics online; (iii) identify antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) and patient safety issues; and (iv) compare data with those obtained in 2016 to understand changes in context, and set priorities for targeted research in antibiotic access and usage. Methods Searches for ‘buy antibiotics online’ were conducted using ‘Google’ and ‘Yahoo’. The first 10 websites with unique URL addresses for each were reviewed. Analyses were conducted on evidence of pharmacy registration, prescription requirement, whether choice was ‘prescriber-driven’ or ‘consumer-driven’, and whether information was required (allergies, comorbidities, pregnancy) or given (adverse effects) prior to purchase. Results Twenty unique URL addresses were analysed. Those evidencing UK location (n = 20; 100%) required a prescription and were appropriately registered. For 11 (55%) online pharmacies, decisions were initially consumer-driven for antibiotic choice, but not for dose or duration; contrasting with 2016 when for most (n = 16; 80%), decisions were consumer-driven for antibiotic choice, dose and quantity. Conclusions Variation continues to exist in relation to antibiotic practices online. We make several key recommendations for lawmakers and stakeholders. Targeted research, improved public engagement, professional education and new best practice guidelines are urgently needed for online UK antibiotic suppliers.

Digital natives, digital activists in non-digital environments: How the youth in Zambia use mundane technology to circumvent government surveillance and censorship

This study investigates the technological strategies the youth in Sub-Saharan Africa employ to circumvent government surveillance and censorship. Centered on the 2020 Zambian youth protests and informed by interviews with 37 participants, we explore the youth's innovative use of mundane skills to build digital communities, evade government surveillance, and leverage algorithms. The findings indicate that despite limited online access and government restrictions, the Zambian youth creatively employed their local skills to build social networks, disseminate information, and mobilize for social change. However, two contrasting narratives emerge: one celebrating the innovation and resilience of these young people, with the other raising concerns about the broader implications of their actions. Notably, some youth transitioned from influential activists to government insiders, a shift that may have diluted their capacity to champion social justice. The study emphasizes the need to scrutinize the balance between technological cooperation and potential discord, urging a more profound exploration of technology's role in shaping the trajectory of democracy, especially in settings akin to sub-Saharan Africa. We argue for further research into the role of digital influencers in electoral processes and democratic systems.

Nutritional Education Needs and Preferences of Sports Volunteers: Access, Expectations, and Forms of Support.

The aim of this study was to analyze the needs and preferences of sports volunteers regarding nutritional education, with particular emphasis on the availability of educational materials and expectations towards event organizers. The methodology was grounded in a qualitative approach, employing detailed individual interviews (IDIs) with seventeen volunteers (n = 17) who were actively involved in various sporting events, including races, triathlons, and athletic competitions at local, national, and international levels. This sample size was justified as it was sufficient to achieve data saturation, meaning no new significant themes emerged after these interviews. The results indicate that most participants feel a lack of access to reliable information about nutrition, with 70% (n = 12) indicating a need for educational materials, which limits their ability to make informed dietary decisions. Volunteers expect event organizers to provide educational materials and prefer a variety of practical forms of education, such as interactive workshops and accessible online resources. While the volunteers expressed a desire for improved nutritional education, further investigation is needed to establish a direct link between this education and potential enhancements in their performance and well-being. For this reason, greater attention should be paid to the nutritional education of volunteers, which is a key element of their preparation to work in high-stress and physically intense conditions.

Learning to rank anomalies: scalar performance criteria and maximization of rank statistics

AbstractThe ability to collect and store ever more massive data, unlabeled in many cases, has been accompanied by the need to process them efficiently in order to extract relevant information and possibly design solutions based on the latter. In various situations, the vast majority of the observations exhibit the same behavior, while a small proportion deviates from it. Detecting these outlier observations (or equivalently defined as anomalies) is now one of the major challenges for machine learning applications (e.g. fraud detection or predictive maintenance). We propose here a novel methodology for outlier/anomaly detection, by learning a scoring function defined on the feature space allowing for ranking the observations by degree of abnormality. The scoring function is built through maximization of an empirical performance criterion taking the form of a (two-sample) linear rank statistic. We show that bipartite ranking algorithms can thus be used to learn nearly optimal scoring function with provable theoretical guarantees. We illustrate our methodology with numerical experiments based on open access online code.

Disclosure of mandatory and voluntary nutrition labelling information across major online food retailers in the USA.

Nutrition labelling is mandatory on food products in retail stores, but compliance in the rapidly expanding online setting remains unclear. We assessed mandatory and voluntary labelling information across major U.S. online retailers. Between January and August 2022, we evaluated a representative basket of sixty food and beverage items across eight product categories of ten major retailers. We evaluated online presence, accessibility and legibility of four mandatory elements - Nutrition Facts, ingredients, allergen statements and percent juice for fruit drinks - and presence of seven voluntary elements - nutrient content claims, health/qualified health claims, ingredient claims, structure-function claims, additive claims, front-of-package nutrient profiling symbols and other marketing claims. Major online food retailers in the USA. N/A. On average, each mandatory element was present, accessible and legible for only 35·1 % of items, varying modestly by element (from 38·3 % for ingredients lists to 31·5 % for Nutrition Facts) but widely by retailer (6·6-86·3 %). Voluntary elements were present for 45·8 % of items, ranging from 83·7 % for marketing claims to 2·0 % for structure-function claims. Findings were generally consistent across the eight product categories. Voluntary elements were more frequently present than accessible and legible mandatory elements for six of ten retailers and seven of eight product categories. Mandatory nutrition label elements are not commonly present, accessible and legible in online retail settings and are less consistently present than marketing elements. Coordinated industry and regulatory actions may be needed to ensure consumers can access mandatory nutrition information to make healthy and safe food choices online.

Navigating Ball Mill Specifications for Theory-to-Practice Reproducibility in Mechanochemistry.

The rising prospects of mechanochemically assisted syntheses hold promise for both academia and industry, yet they face challenges in understanding and, therefore, anticipating respective reaction kinetics. Particularly, dependencies based on variations in milling equipment remain little understood and globally overlooked. This study aims to address this issue by identifying critical parameters through kinematic models, facilitating the reproducibility of mechanochemical reactions across the most prominent mills in laboratory settings, namely planetary and mixer mills. Through a series of selected experiments replicating major classes of organic, organometallic, transition metal-catalyzed, and inorganic reactions from literature, we rationalize the independence of kinematic parameters on reaction kinetics when the accumulated energy criterion is met. As a step forward and to facilitate the practicability of our findings, we provide a freely accessible online tool[†] that allows the calculation of respective energy parameters for different planetary and mixer mills. Our work advances the current understanding of mechanochemistry and lays the foundation for future rational exploration in this rapidly evolving field.

Navigating Ball Mill Specifications for Theory‐to‐Practice Reproducibility in Mechanochemistry

AbstractThe rising prospects of mechanochemically assisted syntheses hold promise for both academia and industry, yet they face challenges in understanding and, therefore, anticipating respective reaction kinetics. Particularly, dependencies based on variations in milling equipment remain little understood and globally overlooked. This study aims to address this issue by identifying critical parameters through kinematic models, facilitating the reproducibility of mechanochemical reactions across the most prominent mills in laboratory settings, namely planetary and mixer mills. Through a series of selected experiments replicating major classes of organic, organometallic, transition metal‐catalyzed, and inorganic reactions from literature, we rationalize the independence of kinematic parameters on reaction kinetics when the accumulated energy criterion is met. As a step forward and to facilitate the practicability of our findings, we provide a freely accessible online tool[†] that allows the calculation of respective energy parameters for different planetary and mixer mills. Our work advances the current understanding of mechanochemistry and lays the foundation for future rational exploration in this rapidly evolving field.

Ostrich eggshell bead-making in East Africa: a study of crafting in the El Molo community, Kenya

ABSTRACT Ostrich eggshell beads have been produced by African societies for over 50,000 years and are still used in East Africa and elsewhere, yet the only well-documented ethnographic record of their manufacture comes from San and Bakgalagadi communities in the Kalahari region of southern Africa. Even so, some aspects of their social significance have not been extensively explored. In particular, research on ostrich eggshell beads in southern Africa has historically focused largely on the use of beads in exchange contexts with less emphasis on their use in bodily adornment or the social contexts of manufacture and consumption. This paper reports on the production process and cultural significance of ostrich eggshell beads among the El Molo community of Marsabit County, Kenya. Undertaken as part of the British Museum’s Endangered Materials Knowledge Program (EMKP), this project used unstructured interviews, participatory videos, photography and note-taking to document the entire process of ostrich eggshell bead manufacture, including the collection of hammer stones (soit), the making of strings (arkat) for stringing the beads, the breaking of shells, shaping and rounding, stringing and the making of diverse beadwork items, including rumirumi, kukuti, karkato, lilim and rarak. The social significance of these various items is also reported. This study helps to preserve this knowledge and the continuation of the craft in the community, while also providing data for the enrichment of interpretations of ostrich eggshell beads from archaeological collections in the region, which have received inadequate research attention. The project represents the first detailed ethnographic work ever undertaken on ostrich eggshell beads in East Africa. The materials produced will be available on the EMKP open access online repository.

Advanced and AI Embedded Technologies in Education: Effectiveness, Recent Developments, and Opening Issues

This paper offers a brief analysis highlighting the effectiveness of several well-known Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies applied in education, particularly in teaching and learning. It provides an overview of how modern classrooms can benefit from more effective teaching strategies that encourage students to engage in hands-on learning. Advanced technologies are changing how knowledge is found and shared, as well as how teaching is delivered. Memorization has been emphasized in educational models as a crucial learning skill until relatively recently. The technologies alter how knowledge is accessed and taught in schools today. Based on that, most knowledge is readily available, quickly accessible, and available online. The skills of reading, sharing, listening, and acting are now prerequisites for schooling. Most recent developments in advanced technologies in education are provided. Some analyses related to opening issues and challenges are shown for future work.

Serious Game Development for Public Health: Participatory Design Approach to COVID-19 Quarantine Policy Education.

Public health education plays a crucial role in effectively addressing infectious diseases such as COVID-19. However, existing educational materials often provide only foundational information, and traditional group education faces challenges due to social distancing policies. Addressing these gaps, our study introduces a serious game called "Flattening the Curve." This interactive experience immerses learners in the role of quarantine policy managers, offering unique insights into the effects and challenges of social distancing policies. The development of the game adhered to the SERES framework, ensuring a scientifically designed foundation. To achieve its learning objectives, the game incorporated learning and game mechanics including an agent-based infection model, a social distancing policy model, and an economic model, which were developed based on previous literature. After defining a broad concept of scientific and design foundations, we used a participatory design process. This study included 16 undergraduates and took place over one semester. Participants played the game, gave feedback, and answered surveys. The game was improved based on participants' feedback throughout the process. Participants' feedback was analyzed based on the Design, Play, and Experience framework. Surveys were conducted before and after the activity and analyzed to assess participants' evaluation of and satisfaction with the game. The game successfully achieved its learning objectives, encompassing a comprehensive understanding of infectious disease characteristics; the disease transmission process; the necessity and efficacy of quarantine policies and their delicate balance with economic factors; and the concept of flattening the curve. To achieve this, the game includes the following: (1) an agent-based infection model based on the modified Susceptible-Exposed-Infectious-Hospitalized-Recovered (SEIHR) model with five infectious disease scenarios; (2) a quarantine policy model with social distancing, travel control, and intensive care unit management; and (3) an economic model that allows users to consider the impact of quarantine policies on a community's economy. In response to participatory design feedback, the game underwent meticulous modifications, including refining game systems, parameters, design elements, the user interface, and interactions. Key feedback included requests for more scenarios and engaging yet simple game elements, as well as suggestions for improving the scoring system and design features. Notably, concerns about the fairness of the outcome evaluation system (star rating system), which could incentivize prioritizing economic activity over minimizing casualties, were raised and addressed by replacing the star rating system with a progress-based vaccine development system. Quantitative evaluation results reflect participants' positive assessments of the game through the learner-centric approach. The serious game "Flattening the Curve," developed through a participatory design approach, emerges as a valuable tool for public health education, particularly concerning social distancing policies. The game and its source code are openly accessible online, enabling widespread use for research and educational purposes.

Sentiment Analysis of Google Maps User Reviews on the Play Store Using Support Vector Machine and Latent Dirichlet Allocation Topic Modeling

These days, traveling is made easier by utilizing easily accessible online directions such as Google Maps. Google Maps provides real-time routes by displaying and presenting the closest routes that users can take. However, lately, the routes provided by Google Maps services often get users lost by presenting routes such as forests, narrow roads, and even dead ends. Therefore, this study aims to determine the level of user satisfaction and sentiment into two categories, namely positive and negative, based on reviews on the Google Play Store platform using the Support Vector Machine (SVM) algorithm and topic modeling using Latent Dirichlet Allocation (LDA) to find out the collection of topics that are the main topics of conversation by users regarding Google Maps services. The results of this study show that the SVM algorithm is feasible to use in sentiment analysis classification with an accuracy value of 86%, precision of 93%, recall of 53%, and f1-score of 52%. In addition, topic modeling is applied to generate coherence values for each topic, which shows that the higher the coherence value, the more specific the topic is. The highest coherence value generated in this study was two topic models with a coherence value of 35.15%, but this study took five with a coherence value of 33.39%. The five topic models to be applied in this study are selected because they have a good enough coherence value to identify the main topics and hidden topics in Google Maps user reviews with the Latent Dirichlet Allocation model. The topic model shows five aspects users often discuss: Google Maps route accuracy, system and service errors, navigation application directions, lost time history, and convoluted route provision.

Is DBS in the treatment of Parkinson’s surgery able to improve all symptoms: a bibliographic review

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a neurological, chronic and progressive disease that affects the patient's central nervous system, thus compromising their movements and routine activities. There are several surgical interventions to minimize the symptoms of the disease, however, deep brain stimulation (DBS) can be used, as it is effective in reducing motor and non-motor symptoms, however, research shows that the technique can also cause side effects. Objective: to report through a literature review, the positive and negative effects of the use of deep brain stimulation in the treatment of Parkinson's disease on motor and non-motor symptoms. Methodology: Theoretical foundation was carried out from online access to the National Library of Medicine database - PubMed MEDLINE, covering the keywords "brain stimulation", "Parkinson's disease", "treatment", "neurosurgery", "motor and non-motor symptoms”, the period of publication between 2018 to 2022 and journal impact factor above 3. Results: The articles demonstrated that patients' quality of life, motor complications and activities of daily living improved significantly in different age groups after bilateral STN-DBS. For non-motor factors such as sleep, mood, cardiovascular disease and depression, the use of DBS showed little significant improvement in quality of life. Final considerations: Treatment with deep brain stimulation is effective in reducing the progression of Parkinson's disease, however, factors such as age, place where the electrical current is applied (lateral, bilateral), use of levodopa are decisive factors for efficiency in the improvement of motor and non-motor symptoms.

Information technology and its role in the activities of judicial institutions

The article is devoted to the definition of the month and the role of information technology in the activities of judicial authorities. It is established that information technology is a set of methods and tools designed for effective work with information. Regardless of how technologies change or how they are used in various spheres of public life, their main purpose remains unchanged - to ensure the collection, processing, accumulation and use of information. It is substantiated that the integrated use of information technologies in the administration of justice is considered to be one of the key elements of a significant improvement of the functioning of the judicial system of Ukraine. The possibility of online access to court registers, information on the stages of court proceedings, and electronic exchange of legal documents are just a few examples which have become possible due to the introduction of information technology into the work of domestic courts. This type of technology can be used to increase the transparency and accountability of the judiciary, thereby helping it to perform its functions and duties in a more efficient manner. Modern technologies allow judges and court staff to access large electronic databases, including case law and regulations, which greatly simplifies and speeds up the decision-making process. The ability to use e-mail and other digital communication tools has ensured efficiency and convenience in the exchange of information between all participants in the judicial process. Another important achievement is that citizens can now apply to the court electronically, making justice more accessible and convenient. This innovation reduces barriers to going to court, speeds up the process of submitting documents and allows participants in the proceedings to track their progress in real time. Thus, information technology not only facilitates the work of courts, but also makes justice more transparent, accessible and efficient, which ultimately increases public confidence in the judicial system as a whole. The use of information technology together with the Internet has opened up the judicial system to the public.

Interpretation of geological heritage on nature trails and geotrails in Geopark Banská Štiavnica and their online information availability

The inherent link between the mining history and culture in the region of Banská Štiavnica (Slovakia) and the unique geological and morphological heritage offers significant potential for the development of geotourism and educational trails, thus presenting the heritage to a wide spectrum of visitors. In recent years, online availability of information about such trails has become very important for the digital society that uses the internet and social networks daily. This article focuses on the development and online information availability of geotrails located in the territory of the first Slovak geopark, Banská Štiavnica Geopark. Results show that there are very few geoscience-based trails with limited online information available. By investing in effective on-site heritage interpretation and proper online promotion, the territory can become a premier geotourism destination.