Technological Interventions Research Articles

A Review of the Effects of Integrated Language, Science and Technology Interventions in Elementary Education on Student Achievement

This systematic literature review presents a review of the effects of integrated language arts, science and technology (ILS&T) instruction, with an inquiry- or design-based pedagogy, in elementary schools on student achievement. To this end, an overview of the characteristics of the 19 included studies and their interventions is first presented. Second, the effects of interventions in relation to the study characteristics and outcome variables were examined, by comparing the mean effect sizes. The findings demonstrate positive effects of ILS&T instruction for all reported student learning outcome variables. Third, the relation between characteristics of the intervention and effect sizes was analysed. Interventions with higher levels of integration, a short duration, and teacher professional development activities produce higher effect sizes. These findings are relevant for the design of ILS&T interventions. The analysis was challenged by a lack of detailed information in study and intervention descriptions, which prompts a call for scholars to provide more comprehensive information in their intervention studies.

38 Pig survival: Current state of the US swine industry

Abstract Pig survivability stands as a formidable challenge for the United States Swine Industry, constituting both the foremost economic hurdle and a prominent sustainability concern. The economic dimension of this challenge has been accentuated by escalating production costs driven by the surge in feed inputs, labor expenses, and other variable cost increments. Current estimations of birth-to-market survivability, ranging from 60% to 85%, underscore the urgency of addressing this multifaceted issue, with sow livability varying from 70% to 90%, contingent upon the data source and housing system (e.g., Prop-12, Open Pen Gestation; Ross et al., 2019). This presentation delves into the intricate web of factors contributing to the decline in survivability, encompassing genetic influences, heightened disease pressures, biosecurity concerns linked to pig density, evolving management practices, and the aging infrastructure of facilities. While extensive research has been dedicated to each of these facets, advancements in swine survivability remain constrained, with some indicators suggesting a troubling increase in challenges. The presentation seeks to offer a comprehensive review of the current state of swine industry survivability, elucidating the persistent challenges and, crucially, identifying untapped areas of opportunity. By navigating through the complex landscape of economic constraints, environmental considerations, and technological interventions, the symposium aims to provide insights that can guide the industry towards innovative solutions, fostering a more resilient and sustainable future for the United States Swine Industry.

Exploring farmer choices in Southern Togo: Utilizing a strategy game to understand decision-making in agricultural practices

CONTEXTAgriculture plays a vital role in African countries, driving economic growth, employment, and non-agricultural sector improvements. However, persistent food insecurity and poverty among smallholder families raise concerns. Land fragmentation compounds these issues, limiting agricultural productivity and pushing farmers towards off-farm activities, despite Africa's potential agricultural markets. OBJECTIVEThe study's focus is Donomadé, a remote village in southern Togo. This study pursues a dual objective. Firstly, it investigates how household characteristics, including family size and resource availability, influence farmers' resource management decisions. Secondly, the research employs serious games to comprehend farmers' livelihood strategy choices within constrained real-world-like conditions. METHODSThe iterative and participatory Companion Modelling (ComMod) approach was utilized for the co-design and co-development of a serious game. This involved close collaboration with a local research team from the University of Lomé, a local NGO, and Donomadé village farmers. Various farming systems were characterized, and collective insights into Donomadé's agricultural dynamics were gathered through surveys, interviews, and workshops. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONSRegardless of their in-game roles, farmers prioritize fulfilling basic family needs, such as food security and education instead of investing in agriculture. The study underscores the significance of household composition and resource availability when designing technology interventions or support mechanisms for farmers. Aligning interventions with farmers' overarching goals and challenges can enhance technology adoption. Furthermore, addressing food security remains crucial for sustainable development, as it not only improves human welfare and alleviates hunger but also forms the foundation for comprehensive solutions in the face of climate change, resource constraints, and population growth. SIGNIFICANCEThis research highlights that heavy investment in agriculture is not the priority for many farmers in southern Togo, despite it being their main source of sustenance and income. Addressing immediate family needs, especially food security, education, and housing, takes precedence over long-term agricultural investments. Given the persistent challenge of food security amidst global uncertainties, addressing these priorities is paramount to stimulate more significant interest in agricultural investment.

Clinical Service Incorporating Mobile Technology on Weight Loss in Patients With Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease: A Translation From Research Trial.

The prevalence and healthcare cost of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) has increased alongside the epidemic surge in obesity and Type 2 diabetes. Weight loss through lifestyle modification remains the primary effective therapy for MASLD. Incorporation of mobile technology in lifestyle interventions has been previously found to be efficacious and cost-effective in facilitating weight loss. However, there is a paucity of studies that have successfully translated lifestyle research into clinical service for weight loss to alleviate disease burden. Our study aimed to describe the process of translating a mobile technology-enabled trial into a tertiary hospital outpatient dietetics service for patients with MASLD. The Iowa Model of Evidence-Based Practice to Improve Quality Care was used as a framework for this paper to guide implementation at the organizational level. Regular engagement of key operational staff and the hospital management team facilitated open discussions of the challenges faced and enabled rapid implementation of strategies that contributed to the smooth piloting of the service. A service adoption rate of 81% was achieved. Preliminary outcome evaluation found that the percentage of patients achieving ≥ 5% weight loss from baseline at 6 months was comparable at 54% and 52% for the service and trial groups, respectively. Evaluation of the implementation process found that a hybrid model of care (in-person consultation supplemented with app coaching) preserved interpersonal connections while maximizing the convenience and scalability of mobile app-enabled service. Although high digital acceptance and adoption rates propelled by COVID-19-supported telehealth, it is prudent to assess patient's access to technology and digital literacy and offer resources to help them benefit from telehealth services.

M&As and the value chain of host countries in the “belt and road” — Based on path test of technological innovation

Mergers and acquisitions (M&As) are crucial for capital concentration and rapid enterprise expansion. Most countries along the “Belt and Road” are developing economies, facing the dilemma of “low-end locking” of the global value chain. Utilizing data on global value chain participation of countries along the “Belt and Road” from 2003 to 2018, obtained from the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, this study examines the impact and mechanisms of M&As on the global value chain participation of host countries along the “Belt and Road.” Our findings are as follows: (1) M&As, primarily foreign, exert a significant inhibitory effect on the improvement of value chain participation in host countries along the “Belt and Road.” This conclusion holds even after excluding abnormal data and considering endogeneity issues; (2) the inhibitory effect of M&As on enterprises has cyclical differences in the economy and heterogeneity among countries, particularly evident after the 2007 global subprime crisis. This effect is less pronounced in developed countries along the “Belt and Road” than on developing countries; and (3) M&As hinder the rise of the host country's global value chain by restraining the host country's government intervention and advancements in basic science and technology.

Mitigating the Impact of Harmful Algal Blooms on Aquaculture Using Technological Interventions: Case Study on a South African Farm

Seafood, especially from the ocean, is now seen as a greener and more sustainable source of protein, causing an increase in its demand. This has also led to people making choices towards seafood as a replacement for carbon-intensive protein sources. As a result, the demand for seafood is growing, and as the aquaculture industry looks to increase production, keeping products safe and sustainable is imperative. There are many challenges faced by the aquaculture industry in meeting these increased demands. One such challenge is the presence of harmful algal blooms (HABs) in the ocean, which can have a major impact on aquatic life. In this paper, we look at the impact of this challenge on aquaculture and monitoring strategies whilst illustrating the potential for technological interventions to help mitigate the impact of an HAB. We will focus on Abagold Limited, a land-based marine aquaculture business that specialises in the large-scale production of abalone (Haliotis midae) based in Hermanus, South Africa. HABs are considered a threat to commercial-scale abalone farming along the South African coastline and require continuous monitoring. The most recent HAB was in February–April 2019, when the area experienced a severe red-tide event with blooms of predominantly Lingulodinium polyedrum. We present some of the monitoring strategies employing digital technologies to future-proof the industry. This article presents the development of a novel hybrid water quality forecasting model based on a TriLux multi-parameter sensor to monitor key water quality parameters. The actual experimental real water quality data from Abagold Limited show a good correlation as a basis for a forecasting model which would be a useful tool for the management of HABs in the aquaculture industry.

A Review of Behavioral Interventions for Autism Spectrum Disorder

In recent years, the number of children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) has increased. This not only affects the level and quality of life of children and families, but also brings trouble to the whole society. Therefore, it is necessary to review history of the research of autism, sort out the literature on rehabilitation interventions for autistic children in China and abroad in the past decade, put forward the problems existing in current autism research, and summarize representative intervention methods. The results show that: there are three major problems in the current research on autistic children with autism spectrum disorders: the research methods need to be further enriched, the number of research objects needs to be increased, and the practice and application of research technology need to be strengthened. The construction of family needs and support system, the use of music therapy, and the intervention of virtual reality technology can effectively help autistic children with autism. Finally, by carefully reflecting on the existing intervention methods and effects of autistic children with autism spectrum disorders, the present study provides feasible suggestions to promote the rehabilitation of autistic children in China to a new level.

Agro-Investments among Small Farm Business Entrepreneurs in the Era of the Fourth Industrial Revolution: A Case in the Mpumalanga Province, South Africa

Agro-investment in the fourth industrial revolution will be an imperative driving factor and a sacrosanct enabler for small farm business entrepreneurs to participate holistically in the agricultural economic value chain. Investing in advanced technology and entrepreneurship has the potential to promote business modernization and improve the productivity and profitability of farm businesses. This study assessed agro-investments in small farm business entrepreneurs in the era of the fourth industrial revolution in Mpumalanga province, South Africa. The study objectives were precisely to determine the perception of small farm business entrepreneurs on agro-investment and examine the impact of agro-investment for small farm business entrepreneurs in the fourth industrial revolution. The questionnaire used in this study employed structured and semi-structured questions for data collection, and an aggregate of 235 participants were randomly selected. The results on perception indicate that small farm business entrepreneurs mostly perceive agro-investment in the fourth industrial revolution as not suitable for small farm business conditions; this may be attributed to modern agricultural implements being predominantly manufactured in accordance with commercial sector specifications. The results from the binary logistic regression analysis on the perception of small farm business entrepreneurs in the fourth industrial revolution revealed that gender (P-value = 0.031), level of education (P-value = 0.04), farm size (P-value = 0.048), farming skills and knowledge (P-value = 0.027), farm productivity (P-value = 0.059) and investment opportunities (P-value = 0.057) were significant and influence the perception of small farm business entrepreneurs. The mean and standard deviation were used to assess the degree of severity of impact. From the results, sources of investment, technology, market participation, economic benefits, and government interventions were discovered to be impactful on agro-investment for small farm business entrepreneurs. The key contributions of agro-investments among small farm business entrepreneurs in the technological era embody catalyzed rural development, a diversified inclusive rural economy, and competitive participation in the agricultural food value chain. Another crucial contribution of the study is unlocking and accentuating the potential and opportunities that investors, technology designers, and manufacturers can exploit in small farm business agro-investments. This paper identifies and recommends that the South African government ought to create enabling environments for agricultural investment activities to thrive, especially among small farm business entrepreneurs, thereby providing grant funding and training, and enabling public-private stakeholder linkages.

Buttery Smooth: Privacy’s Bundling with Attention in Web Browser Performance

Long considered an object of the law, Americans increasingly encounter privacy via the operations and settings of networked technologies. Based on ethnographic fieldwork with privacy engineers and their corporate colleagues, this paper examines how privacy’s manifestation in web technologies opens it to pragmatic linkages with new sensuous qualities and interpretive possibilities. The paper’s primary object is Project Quantum, a company-wide effort initiated by the Mozilla Corporation in 2016 to build a new engine for its Firefox web browser, thus radically improving Firefox’s “performance.” I show that animating Project Quantum was an ideal of smooth, snappy performance that Firefox engineers understood to be keyed to the demands of user attention and attempted to establish for users as meaningful signs of Mozilla’s engineering prowess and paternalistic care. Drawing on the study of “qualia”—phenomenal experiences of abstract qualities—I identify performance engineering as a key site of privacy’s semiotic bundling with attention, through which privacy’s practically available forms are taking on idealized qualities of speed and smoothness. Attending to privacy’s qualia, I propose, provides methodological access to the institutional and global value systems reconfiguring privacy’s political capacities as it becomes an object of technological stewardship and intervention.

Governing Smart City IoT Interventions: A Complex Adaptive Systems Perspective

Urban infrastructure systems (UIS) encompass physical infrastructure and human stakeholders, delivering essential services through distributed flow networks. These systems exhibit properties of Complex Adaptive Systems (CAS), such as self-organization and adaptivity, which makes them resilient to perturbations from the outside. Smart city strategies advocate for external technology interventions to improve the efficiency and sustainability of UIS. Internet of Things (IoT) is a key enabler for such strategies which helps to gather data from various infrastructure components and optimize flow networks in UIS. Although beneficial, such interventions often give rise to ethical concerns, underscoring the need for appropriate governance measures. In this study, we adopt a CAS perspective to analyse the ethical concerns of a proposed smart city IoT platform in the cities of Karnataka, India. Based on our analysis, we present a framework to aid city authorities in formulating appropriate strategies to govern Smart City IoT interventions in general.

A critical review of the feasibility of emerging technologies for improving safety behavior on construction sites

Introduction: Advancements in the modern construction industry have contributed to the development of a range of technology-based interventions to improve the safety behavior of front-line construction workers. Notwithstanding the extensive research on safety behavior, there is still a paucity of research on assessing technology interventions of safety behavior to provide an overview of their strengths and limitations. The present study aims to bridge this gap in the literature and identify the main trends of research. Method: A systematic review and critical content analysis are adopted to capture an overview of the state of knowledge on safety behavior technologies. As a result of searching Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar databases in the period from Jan 2010 to Feb 2023, a total of 359 potential studies went through the systematic screening process and finally, 48 representative studies were selected followed by an assessment of the feasibility and applicability of the safety behavior technologies. Results: It was found that safety behavior technology is characterized by seven technologies including virtual-reality simulation (T1), eye-tracking technology (T2), prediction modeling of safety behavior (T3), computer-based training (T4), drone/sensor-based hazard monitoring (T5), vision-based behavior monitoring (T6), and real-time positioning (T7). Conclusions: This research improves understanding of the status of safety behavior technologies and provides a critical review of their feasibility from the perspective of four assessment criteria including application, limitation, benefit, and feasibility. Practical applications: The categorizations of technologies add value to the body of knowledge in terms of generic requirements for their implementation and adaptation on construction sites.

Identification of the Biomechanical Response of the Muscles That Contract the Most during Disfluencies in Stuttered Speech.

Stuttering, affecting approximately 1% of the global population, is a complex speech disorder significantly impacting individuals' quality of life. Prior studies using electromyography (EMG) to examine orofacial muscle activity in stuttering have presented mixed results, highlighting the variability in neuromuscular responses during stuttering episodes. Fifty-five participants with stuttering and 30 individuals without stuttering, aged between 18 and 40, participated in the study. EMG signals from five facial and cervical muscles were recorded during speech tasks and analyzed for mean amplitude and frequency activity in the 5-15 Hz range to identify significant differences. Upon analysis of the 5-15 Hz frequency range, a higher average amplitude was observed in the zygomaticus major muscle for participants while stuttering (p < 0.05). Additionally, when assessing the overall EMG signal amplitude, a higher average amplitude was observed in samples obtained from disfluencies in participants who did not stutter, particularly in the depressor anguli oris muscle (p < 0.05). Significant differences in muscle activity were observed between the two groups, particularly in the depressor anguli oris and zygomaticus major muscles. These results suggest that the underlying neuromuscular mechanisms of stuttering might involve subtle aspects of timing and coordination in muscle activation. Therefore, these findings may contribute to the field of biosensors by providing valuable perspectives on neuromuscular mechanisms and the relevance of electromyography in stuttering research. Further research in this area has the potential to advance the development of biosensor technology for language-related applications and therapeutic interventions in stuttering.

Brake-actuated steering control strategy for turning of articulated vehicles

The use of high-capacity vehicles has been shown to significantly reduce carbon dioxide emissions from heavy goods transport and improve the efficiency of the transport sector. Despite their benefits, current legislations regarding the dimensions and weight of the vehicles have limited the widespread use of heavier and longer vehicles. Long vehicles are less manoeuvrable and often necessitate technological interventions to pass manoeuvrability tests. Various rear-steering systems proposed to solve these issues lead to high costs and mass penalties compared to standard fixed axles. This paper presents a new steering concept which utilises the axles’ existing brake actuators to steer, eliminating the need for dedicated actuators on the axle and associated steering hardware. Brakes are individually controlled on each side of a freely steerable axle to generate the necessary torque about the kingpins causing it to steer. A validated vehicle model is used to design a feedback steering strategy based on path-following steering control for low-speed manoeuvring. The proposed system's performance is compared to conventional vehicles and current state-of-the-art active-steering systems through simulations. It demonstrates comparable steering performance to that of electro-hydraulic active-steer systems, with an estimated 50% reduction in both mass and costs.

Exploring behaviour-intention gaps to explain low retention in a community-based video-conferencing intervention for depression: lessons for researchers using technology as interventions

Purpose This paper aims to reflect on the outcomes of a community-based video-conferencing intervention for depression, predating the COVID-19 pandemic. The study investigates the potential implications of its findings for enhancing adherence to digital mental health interventions. The primary objective is to present considerations for researchers aimed at minimising the intention-behaviour gap frequently encountered in digital mental health interventions. Design/methodology/approach A randomised control feasibility trial design was used to implement a telehealth model adapted from an established face-to-face community-based intervention for individuals clinically diagnosed with depression. In total, 60 participants were initially recruited in association with a local mental health charity offering traditional talking-based therapies with only eight opting to continue through all phases of the project. Modifications aligning with technological advancements were introduced. Findings However, the study faced challenges, with low uptake observed after an initial surge in recruitment interest. The behaviour-intention gap highlighted technology as a barrier to service accessibility, exacerbated by participant age. Furthermore, the clinical diagnosis of depression, characterised by low mood and reduced interest in activities, emerged as a potential influencing factor. Research limitations/implications The limitations of the research include its pre-pandemic execution, during a nascent stage of technological mental health interventions when participants were less familiar with online developments. Practical implications Despite these limitations, this study's reflections offer valuable insights for researchers aiming to design and implement telehealth services. Addressing the intention-behaviour gap necessitates a nuanced understanding of participant demographics, diagnosis and technological familiarity. Social implications The study's relevance extends to post-pandemic society, urging researchers to reassess assumptions about technology availability to ensure engagement. This paper contributes to the mental health research landscape by raising awareness of critical considerations in the design and implementation of digital mental health interventions. Originality/value Reflections from a pre-pandemic intervention in line with the developments of a post-pandemic society will allow for research to consider that because the technology is available does not necessarily result in engagement.

Cyber security Vulnerabilities and Remediation Through Cloud Security Tools

The proliferation of internet usage has surged dramatically, prompting individuals and businesses to conduct myriad transactions online rather than in physical spaces. The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic has further propelled this trend. Consequently, traditional forms of crime have migrated to the digital realm alongside the widespread adoption of digital technologies such as cloud computing, the Internet of Things (IoT), social media, wireless communication, and crypto currencies, amplifying security concerns in cyberspace. Notably, cybercriminals have begun offering cyber attacks as a service, automating attacks to magnify their impact. These attackers exploit vulnerabilities across hardware, software, and communication layers, perpetrating various forms of cyber attacks including distributed denial of service (DDoS), phishing, man-in-the-middle, password, remote, privilege escalation, and malware attacks. The sophistication of these attacks renders conventional protection systems, such as firewalls, intrusion detection systems, antivirus software, and access control lists, ineffective in detection. Consequently, there is an urgent imperative to devise innovative and pragmatic solutions to thwart cyber attacks. This paper elucidates the primary drivers behind cyber attacks, surveys recent attack instances, patterns, and detection methodologies, and explores contemporary technical and non-technical strategies for preemptively identifying and mitigating attacks. Leveraging cutting-edge technologies like machine learning, deep learning, cloud platforms, big data analytics, and blockchain holds promise in combating present and future cyber threats. These technological interventions can aid in malware detection, intrusion detection, spam filtering, DNS attack classification, fraud detection, identification of covert channels, and discernment of advanced persistent threats. Nonetheless, it's crucial to acknowledge that some promising solutions, notably machine learning and deep learning, are susceptible to evasion techniques, necessitating careful consideration when formulating defenses against sophisticated cyber attacks.

Cyber security Vulnerabilities and Remediation Through Cloud Security Tools

The proliferation of internet usage has surged dramatically, prompting individuals and businesses to conduct myriad transactions online rather than in physical spaces. The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic has further propelled this trend. Consequently, traditional forms of crime have migrated to the digital realm alongside the widespread adoption of digital technologies such as cloud computing, the Internet of Things (IoT), social media, wireless communication, and crypto currencies, amplifying security concerns in cyberspace. Notably, cybercriminals have begun offering cyber attacks as a service, automating attacks to magnify their impact. These attackers exploit vulnerabilities across hardware, software, and communication layers, perpetrating various forms of cyber attacks including distributed denial of service (DDoS), phishing, man-in-the-middle, password, remote, privilege escalation, and malware attacks. The sophistication of these attacks renders conventional protection systems, such as firewalls, intrusion detection systems, antivirus software, and access control lists, ineffective in detection. Consequently, there is an urgent imperative to devise innovative and pragmatic solutions to thwart cyber attacks. This paper elucidates the primary drivers behind cyber attacks, surveys recent attack instances, patterns, and detection methodologies, and explores contemporary technical and non-technical strategies for preemptively identifying and mitigating attacks. Leveraging cutting-edge technologies like machine learning, deep learning, cloud platforms, big data analytics, and blockchain holds promise in combating present and future cyber threats. These technological interventions can aid in malware detection, intrusion detection, spam filtering, DNS attack classification, fraud detection, identification of covert channels, and discernment of advanced persistent threats. Nonetheless, it's crucial to acknowledge that some promising solutions, notably machine learning and deep learning, are susceptible to evasion techniques, necessitating careful consideration when formulating defenses against sophisticated cyber attacks.

An online qualitative study exploring wants and needs for a cooking programme during pregnancy in the UK and Ireland.

Optimal maternal nutrition is associated with better pregnancy and infant outcomes. Culinary nutrition programmes have potential to improve diet quality during pregnancy. Therefore, this research aimed to understand the experiences of cooking and the wants and needs of pregnant women regarding a cooking and food skills programme in the United Kingdom (UK) and Republic of Ireland (ROI). Online focus group discussions with pregnant women and those who had experienced a pregnancy in the UK or ROI were conducted between February and April 2022. Two researchers conducted a thematic analysis. Seven focus groups with ROI participants (n = 24) and six with UK participants (n = 28) were completed. Five themes were generated. These were (1) cooking during pregnancy: barriers, motivators and solutions; (2) food safety, stress and guilt; (3) need for cooking and food skills programmes and desired content; (4) programme structure; (5) barriers and facilitators to programme participation. Overall, there was support for a programme focusing on broad food skills, including planning, food storage, using leftovers and to manage pregnancy-specific physiological symptoms such as food aversions. Participants emphasised the importance of inclusivity for a diverse range of people and lifestyles for programme design and content. Current findings support the use of digital technologies for culinary nutrition interventions, potentially combined with in-person sessions using a hybrid structure to enable the development of a support network.

Towards just transitions in cities of the Global South: Civil society and street experiments against the Carmageddon in Metro Manila, Philippines

There is no bigger problem in daily urban life other than traffic congestion in Metro Manila, the capital of the Philippines. With a population of around 13.5 million people in 2020, this metropolis is globally notorious for its ‘carmageddon.’ Its streets transform into giant parking lots, which entails the loss of time, productivity, and other vital resources. Car-centrism is at the core of this mobility problem. However, government solutions to the traffic problem are overly focused on infrastructure and technological interventions. In this article, we engage with how civil society plays a fundamental role in initiating and sustaining street experiments in constituent cities of Metro Manila and how they influence change in transport governance through utilising the (1) bibingka or sandwich approach and (2) acting as a ‘critical friend.’ We share an example of the bibingka approach through the Bayanihan sa Daan (Collective Heroism in the Road), a road-sharing initiative in the busy streets of the Ortigas business district in Pasig City, Metro Manila. Meanwhile, we present cases of how civil society organisations acted as a critical friend to initiate street experiments and reforms through organisational partnership or appointment of their members to positions in government transport agencies. Through these approaches, we show that civil society participation in initiating street experiments is critical to ensuring that solutions to the traffic problem contribute to the mobility of people rather than of cars. In this vein, we put forward street experiments as fundamental to ensuring just transitions towards realising mobility justice, especially in cities of the Global South.

Intervention of IT in Rog Nidan Evum Vikriti Vigyan - An Explorative Review

Introduction: Going by the trend, the Indian traditional medicine system Ayurveda is observing a paradigm shift in its growth, and in the era of technology AI (Artificial Intelligence) is one of the main factors behind it. Be it the discovery of new medicines, implementation of a new drug discovery model, getting its global acceptance through patents, or the delivery of the final product through AI equipped supply chain model system, the intervention of technology cannot be ruled out. Methodology: The literature survey was done through Google Scholar database, PubMed, and Web of Science. The dig out information about the use of IT in Medical fields and, use of technology in Ayurveda were screened for relevant studies synthesis. Result: At last, we have sorted out the areas of Rog-Nidan that need to be taken care of from a research point of view with the help of information technology. Discussion:  In this research paper, an effort has been made to review the areas where technology can play its role, especially in Rog-Nidan. Additionally, the approaches that are being used in Ayurveda where it is being presented as wellness therapy and preventive care have been studied along with identifying the gaps that can be addressed with efficient use of IT-based technologies.

White tides: The plastic nurdles problem

The proliferation of plastic pollution, particularly from nurdles (small plastic pellets used in manufacturing), poses significant environmental and ecological risks. Originating with the invention of Bakelite in 1907 and escalating post-World War II with advanced petrochemical technologies, nurdles are the second largest source of primary microplastic pollution globally. Each year an estimated 445,970 tonnes of nurdles enter the environment worldwide. Nurdle spills, such as those along Spain's Galician coast and other global incidents, underline the need for improved spill response, preventive measures, and international regulatory coordination. The environmental impact of nurdles, compared to more visible oil spills, is insidious and long-lasting due to their persistence and widespread dispersion. Current regulations, like the International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) guidelines, reveal gaps in enforcement and fail to fully address the long-term consequences of spills. Recent technological innovations and policy interventions aim to mitigate risks, but there's an urgent need for coordinated global action, stricter controls, and investment in biodegradable alternatives to safeguard marine environments and ensure ecological sustainability.