Where Research Meets Real-World Practice

This study aimed to develop and evaluate the functionality of a smart system-based prototype, “BABAT TB,” a medication box designed to assist tuberculosis (TB) patients in adhering to their treatment schedules.The development of the BABAT TB prototype followed the Design Science Research Methodology framework, encompassing the stages of problem identification and motivation, defining the objectives for a solution, and system design and development. Problem identification and motivation were established through semi-structured interviews with TB program officers and document analysis. The prototype integrates two main functional components: a drug quantity monitoring module and a reminder/alarm system for medication schedules, both monitored in real time. Serial communication through a SIM register is used to transmit real-time drug quantity data to the associated application. The system is powered by two 4,000 mAh lithium batteries, providing up to 2 months of use without recharging. The prototype consists of three core hardware components: the input control circuit, the timer circuit, and the drug amount detection circuit. All modules were successfully assembled and powered. The timer was configured according to medical prescriptions, and the alarm activated at the scheduled times, effectively reminding patients to take their medication. The BABAT TB prototype effectively measures medication quantities and provides timely alerts, thereby supporting adherence to TB treatment. In addition, it can transmit data related to drug quantities, consultation schedules, and prototype identity cards (IDs) to a database.

This review examines agrivoltaics in Japan integrating solar photovoltaic (PV) systems with agricultural production as a dual-use land strategy to address constrained arable land, decarbonization goals, and energy security. Using a thematic synthesis of published studies and documented Japanese cases, the paper maps current deployment practices, reported agronomic and energy outcomes, and the main constraints shaping adoption. The literature indicates that well-designed agrivoltaic configurations can maintain crop production while adding renewable electricity generation, with outcomes strongly influenced by site conditions, crop type, shading design, and farm management. Evidence also points to potential co-benefits such as reduced heat stress and improved microclimate stability, but trade-offs may emerge for light-sensitive crops or under suboptimal PV spacing and height. Key barriers in Japan include high upfront investment, complex permitting and compliance requirements, and concerns over land-use integrity and long-term agricultural continuity. Future research should prioritize longitudinal field data on crop yield and quality, soil and water dynamics, and ecosystem effects, alongside standardized performance metrics and policy/financing mechanisms that align farmer incentives with grid and climate objectives.

Irrigation in agriculture uses around 70% of freshwater resources globally, but traditional systems often result in ineffective utilization through rigid schedules or skewed decision-making. This article proposes an improved fuzzy logic controller developed using a Genetic Algorithm (GA) to optimize soil moisture control. The GA optimizes the fuzzy membership functions within 50 generations to enhance irrigation efficiency. Simulation and experimental results show that the fuzzy-GA controller maintained soil moisture at values close to the desired value of 25.1% with lower error rates, saving 858 mL more water than manual irrigation and 16 mL more than conventional fuzzy control. The results confirm the potential of fuzzy-GA systems in optimizing irrigation efficiency and ensuring sustainable use of water in agriculture. The fuzzy-genetic algorithm (Fuzzy-GA) improves fuzzy logic control by maintaining soil moisture at a target level of 25.1%, with a very low steady-state error of 0.03783%.