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Balancing public health needs and economic sustainability : a dual-matrix model for community pharmacy inventory management
No full textBackground: Community pharmacies must balance public health obligations witheconomic sustainability. However, integrated methods that jointly managemedical and non-medical inventory in community pharmacies in LMICs are limited. Objective : Todevelop and apply a dual-matrix model separating medical from non-medicalproducts into operational control categories and introducing a High–Medium–Lowprofitability (HML-P) classification. Methods : Weconducted a retrospective, descriptive analysis of all items handled in six communitypharmacies in the Republic of Srpska, Bosnia and Herzegovina, during the analyzed2022 year (12-month period) (n=10,541). Medical products were classified byAlways Better Control (ABC) by purchase value and Fast-/Slow-/Non-moving (FSN)by dispensing frequency (predefined thresholds: >4/day=F, 1–4=S, <1=N) toform an ABC–FSN matrix. Non-medical products were classified by ABC and a newHML-P scheme (expert-defined Pareto cut-offs: 70%/20%/10% of cumulative grossprofit) to form an ABC–HML-P matrix. Each matrix was consolidated into threecontrol categories: I (strict), II (moderate) and III (minimal). Results : Non-medicalproducts constituted 76.4% of all items. The ABC–FSN matrix identified Im=149 medical products forstrict control, while the non-medical ABC–HML-P matrix identified Inm=580 items for strictcontrol and a large segment for minimal oversight ( IIInm=6,218 ). A pronounced Pareto pattern was observed (≈10% of items accountedfor 70% of spend and 70% of gross profit), alongside low daily movement (only3.2% dispensed ≥1/day). Conclusions : Theproposed dual-matrix model provides a practical decision-support tool for communitypharmacies. It helps prioritize availability of patient-critical medicalproducts while supporting economic sustainability
Nature-based learning in Malaysian early childhood education : a systematic literature review
Full text linkNature-based learning (NBL) has gained global recognition as a pedagogical approach that supports children’s holistic development and fosters environmental stewardship. However, contributions from the Global South remain underrepresented, underscoring the need for a Malaysian-focused synthesis. This systematic literature review (SLR) examines fifteen empirical studies published between 2018 and 2025 on the integration of NBL in Malaysian early childhood education. A structured search across Scopus, ScienceDirect, ERIC, and Google Scholar guided the identification, screening, and eligibility assessment of studies. Findings reveal strong enthusiasm among teachers and parents, with reported benefits spanning cognitive, physical, social, and ecological domains. However, affective outcomes such as nature connection and sustainability values remain underexplored. NBL is often treated as an add-on rather than embedded within the national preschool curriculum, with implementation constrained by limited teacher training, insufficient resources, restricted access to natural spaces, and inadequate policy support. These findings reflect broader international debates on the marginalisation of outdoor learning and the challenges of integrating experiential pedagogies into standardised curricular systems. The review underscores the need for a structured, yet flexible NBL framework that aligns with curriculum objectives, evaluates both affective and cognitive outcomes, and is adaptable to diverse learning environments, including urban and indoor settings. Beyond Malaysia, this synthesis contributes to global early years environmental education scholarship by illustrating how NBL can be universal in principle yet context-specific in practice, with implications for theory, pedagogy, and policy reform
Exploring the use of Ketso workshops and mobile methods in tourism research : advancing qualitative approaches
Full text linkThis study explores the application of Ketso workshops and mobile methods to capture diverse perspectives in tourism research and stakeholder collaboration. Ketso, a participatory tool, allows participants to express ideas visually and collaboratively, promoting inclusivity. Mobile methods, including walking interviews and informal interactions, offer real-time insights in situ, emphasising the influence of physical and environmental contexts on behaviour. The empirical focus is the Fife Coastal Path in Scotland, a long-distance trail traversing industrial towns, rural communities, and fishing villages, managed by a mix of private landowners, local authorities, and charities. Through this complex setting, the research approach surfaced diverse stakeholder interests and exposed tensions around branding, visitor management, and sustainability. The research demonstrates that Ketso and mobile methods are valuable independently but especially effective when combined, providing part of a comprehensive toolkit for researchers seeking to understand complex consumer and stakeholder experiences across various settings
Generative justice : the cooperative way
No full textThis chapter uses the emerging concept of generative justice, underpinned in this instance by Donati’s (2011) theory of relational sociology and Nancy Fraser’s (2007) tripartite conception of social justice, as a lens through which to elaborate the distinct contribution that social cooperatives make to desistance and social integration, and their limitations and challenges. It draws on the Swedish Vägen Ut! consortium as a case study based on an analysis of 24 interviews across eight social cooperatives. It outlines their origins as a grassroots movement in 2002, their operation and culture, how they are experienced by those working and participating in them, and to what effect, to elaborate the dynamics and effects of generative justice. 95% of employees have lived experience of imprisonment, mental ill health, and addictions which was considered important for generating a sense of identification, inclusion, interdependence and mutuality, also characteristic of generative justice. The work, the products, and the culture of the various cooperatives, the subsidiary nature of support generated, and the relations therein can be conceptualised as an expression of generative justice. This chapter focuses on what it feels like and means to be part of these cooperatives, their philosophy, purpose, and praxis and their manner of relating – and how that generates a sense of belonging, of mattering, and the development of relationships and networks, both between individuals and cooperatives, characterised by interpersonal and social trust, mutual support, solidarity, interdependence and reciprocity
Impact of peak-time power shortages on thermal comfort in Kuwaiti Homes : Toward a cyber-physical energy testing framework
No full textPower outages during peak hours in Kuwait can seriously impact the comfort of indoor spaces, especially during the intense summer heat. When cooling systems go offline, even for a short time, indoor temperatures can rise quickly, making homes uncomfortable and potentially unsafe. This study looks at how these energy limitations affect thermal comfort inside buildings and proposes a cyber-physical energy assessment framework aimed at improving energy efficiency while reducing discomfort during critical periods. We examine household temperature conditions, adaptive comfort techniques, and real-time power usage data using a mixed-method approach. Results show that outages during peak hours cause extreme heat stress, which causes residents to use ineffective cooling techniques. To help buildings better cope with power outages, the proposed cyber physical framework brings together energy management systems, smart sensors, and predictive modeling. By combining these elements, the study aims to strike a balance between keeping occupants comfortable and using energy more efficiently. It also offers practical insights that can benefit homeowners, energy planners, and policymakers looking to make buildings more resilient and sustainable in challenging climates. This study highlights the urgent need to adopt smart energy solutions that can improve everyday living conditions in Kuwait while also addressing broader challenges related to long-term energy sustainability
Synthetic biology‐based heterologous expression and purification of enterocin A : advancing antimicrobial peptide applications
Full text linkAntibiotic resistance is a global health challenge, requiring the development of alternative antimicrobial strategies where pathogens can be inhibited by safe antimicrobials with different modes of action and less possibilities for developing resistance. Bacteriocins, ribosomally synthesized antimicrobial peptides produced by lactic acid bacteria, have emerged as promising natural agents for food preservation and pathogen control. This study reports the design and synthesis of a complete genetic cassette encoding the mature form of enterocin A, a bacteriocin derived from Enterococcus faecium. The vector (pJ404-pEntApep), containing the synthetic entA gene, was entirely constructed de novo and included as functional regulatory elements along with an N-terminal His6-tag for efficient purification. The genetic construct was validated through PCR and followed a sequencing of the generated amplicon. Expression in Escherichia coli BL21 (DE3) under optimized conditions (28°C, 0.5 mM IPTG) resulted in production of recombinant leaderless enterocin A (EntA), primarily in the form of inclusion bodies. Solubilization using 6 M guanidine-HCl, followed by protein refolding, enabled efficient recovery. The refolded peptide was purified via Ni-NTA affinity chromatography, with recorded elution at 400 mM imidazole. The purified enterocin A demonstrated potent antimicrobial activity against multidrug-resistant pathogens, including Staphylococcus aureus subsp. aureus ATCC 25923, Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 27853, Acinetobacter lwoffii GPE 3002, Micrococcus luteus GPE 3001, and Bacillus cereus GPE 3003, with minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values ranging from 27 to 109 µg/mL. This study establishes a robust and cost-effective method for producing bioactive bacteriocins from inclusion bodies, underscoring their potential as sustainable alternatives to conventional antibiotics and chemical preservatives
Perspectives on group-based physical activity interventions for fibromyalgia : a qualitative study
No full textObjectives: Fibromyalgia is a chronic condition characterised by persistent pain, fatigue, and poor sleep, with major impacts on quality of life, psychological wellbeing, and disability. Physical activity is a cornerstone of management, and the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence recommends supervised programmes tailored to individual needs. Yet, people with fibromyalgia frequently face barriers to physical activity, and few studies have explored experiences of group-based interventions. This study examined the perspectives of adults with fibromyalgia on group-based physical activity to identify challenges and inform future practice. Methods: Two focus groups were conducted with participants (n=8) recruited from Musculoskeletal and Pain Management Services in NHS Ayrshire and Arran. Discussions were audio-recorded, transcribed, and thematically analysed by three independent researchers. Results: An overarching theme was a lack of understanding of the impact of fibromyalgia and a desire for validation. This was evident across all discussions. Two further themes were identified: the challenges of engaging in physical activity, and priorities for intervention design and delivery. Participants emphasised the need for practitioners who recognise the fluctuating nature of fibromyalgia and who demonstrate empathy, openness, and collaboration. Conclusions: Findings highlight the importance of practitioner understanding and patient-centred design in developing acceptable group-based physical activity interventions for people with fibromyalgia
Addressing the lack of neuromorphic data in low SNR scenarios
Full text linkNeuromorphic systems have shown promising benefits to edge computing systems. However, the scarcity of event-based data is limiting progress in the development of models optimised for asynchronous event-based inputs. Event-based systems have shown promising solutions for addressing low signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) conditions, particularly in scenarios where traditional frame-based computer vision approaches break down. We present a recording methodology that captures low-SNR motion using two spatially similar species of blowfly as a proxy for small, erratic objects in a high dynamic range environment. Using this dataset, we evaluate a traditional frame-based convolutional neural network, ResNet50, and show that its rich spatial capabilities fails to distinguish between our two classes by achieving a test accuracy of 51\%. These results highlight the need for event data and for event-native models such as Spiking Neural Networks (SNNs) that can utilise spatial-temporal features for classification tasks
Towards new sentencing and penal decision-making research agendas
No full textHow should sentencing and penal decision-making be studied? After explaining why it brackets sentencing and penal decision-making together, the chapter excavates tacit assumptions about how sentencing and penal decision-making does (and should) operate. In particular, a paradigm presuming property-owning autonomous individualism has limited research. The chapter shows how two key taken for granted ideas, (discretion versus official rules; and individual case ‘factors’), are projected with the characteristics of property-owning autonomous individualism. Instead, it is proposed that the study of the empirical reality of sentencing and penal decision-making should be conceived as a social process, including the use of ‘typified whole case stories’. Armed with this understanding, the chapter opens possible future research agendas
Intraperitoneal administration of cationic liposomes containing a TLR3 agonist recruits type I conventional dendritic cells and primes a local CD8+ T cell response
Full text linkBackground: Therapeutic vaccines capable of eliciting CD8 T cell responses are a promising approach in cancer, but the magnitude of immune responses to peptide-based vaccine technologies has so far been modest in humans. The cationic liposome adjuvant CAF®09b has recently shown promising results in clinical trials, where it is administered intraperitoneally (i.p.), as preclinical studies demonstrated superior CD8 T cell responses when using this route compared to subcutaneous delivery. Methods: Exploring the mechanism of CAF09b in mice we investigated biodistribution of the adjuvant and associated antigen in murine studies. We further examined local innate cell recruitment and CD8 T cell responses in the peritoneal cavity. Findings: We observed that i.p. injected CAF09b associated with visceral fatty tissues and created a vaccine depot in the peritoneal cavity. This led to recruitment of BATF3-dependent conventional type I dendritic cells (cDC1) displaying a migratory cDC1 phenotype (CD11c+XCR1+CD103+). Gene ontology analysis further revealed similarities with visceral adipose tissue DCs. CAF09b injection i.p. led to early priming of CD8 T cells localized to the peritoneal cavity and this response was resistant to FTY720 treatment. Interpretation: This study demonstrates that adjuvants can facilitate recruitment of cDC1s to the peritoneal cavity, a feature that may contribute to the effectiveness of i.p. administration on elicitation of CD8 T cell responses. Furthermore, we demonstrate that CAF09b-induced CD8 T cell responses require BATF3-dependent cDC1 cells. Understanding cDC1 and CD8 T cell dynamics via different immunization routes may aid in the design of more effective vaccine strategies. Funding: This work was primarily supported by the Danish Research Council (FTP fund no. 9041-00131b)
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