Search Results (105)

Procedural physician-scientists have made significant contributions to medicine and science, with twelve proceduralists receiving a Nobel Prize. Unfortunately, several systemic challenges have jeopardized the existence, let alone the flourishing, of procedural physician-scientists: the widening gap in the National Institutes of Health salary cap, decreasing funding from nonfederal public and private agencies, and shifting priorities among U.S. hospitals, payers, and policymakers toward relative value unit productivity-based compensation and fee-for-service models. Additional pressures include prolonged training pathways and the need to maintain clinical continuity. Adopting a team science approach may offer a powerful strategy to mitigate these competing demands, support rigorous scientific inquiry, and address the growing complexity of biomedical research. Concerted efforts by the federal government, policymakers, corporations, institutions, and procedural departments will also be crucial to restoring the vitality of this diminishing workforce. Full article

The integration of lithium-ion (Li-ion) battery energy storage systems (LiBESSs) with photovoltaic (PV) generation offers a promising solution for powering auxiliary services (ASs) in high-voltage power stations. This study conducts a systematic literature review (SLR) to evaluate the feasibility, benefits, and challenges of this integration. The proposed SLR complies with the PRISMA 2020 statement, and it is also registered on the international PROSPERO platform (ID 1073599). The selected methodology includes the following key steps: definition of the research questions; search strategy development; selection criteria of the studies; quality assessment; data extraction and synthesis; and discussion of the results. Through a comprehensive analysis of scientific publications from 2013 to 2024, trends, advancements, and research gaps are identified. The methodology follows a structured review framework, including data collection, selection criteria, and evaluation of technical feasibility. From 803 identified studies, 107 were eligible in accordance with the assessed inclusion criteria. Then, a custom study impact factor (SIF) framework selected 5 out of 107 studies as the most representative and assertive ones on the topics of this SLR. The findings indicate that Li-ion BESSs combined with PV systems enhance reliability, reduce reliance on conventional sources, and improve grid resilience, particularly in remote or constrained environments. The group of reviewed studies discuss optimization models and multi-objective strategies for system sizing and operation, along with practical case studies validating their effectiveness. Despite these advantages, challenges related to cost, regulatory frameworks, and performance variability remain. The study concludes that further experimental validations, pilot-scale implementations, and assessment of long-term economic impacts are necessary to accelerate the adoption of BESS-PV systems in high-voltage power substations. This study was funded by the R&D program of the Brazilian National Electric Energy Agency (ANEEL) via project number PD-07351-0001/2022. Full article

The agro-tourism integration model combines agricultural production, rural life, and tourism experiences, bringing new opportunities for the sustainable development of counties. The objective of this study is to explore the impact of the agro-tourism integration on the sustainable development of counties, reveal the underlying mechanisms and regional heterogeneity effects, and provide a scientific basis for the formulation of rural revitalization policies. Based on panel data from 1749 counties in China from 2008 to 2021, an empirical test using a propensity score matching-difference-in-differences (PSM-DID) model found that the National Policy on Leisure Agriculture and Rural Tourism Demonstration Counties significantly enhances the level of sustainable development in counties through three mechanisms: stimulating consumer demand, attracting capital inflows, and optimizing industrial structure. Moreover, the effect is more pronounced in the western regions of China. In terms of theory, this study shifts the focus to the county level, constructing a comprehensive measurement index system for county-level sustainable development. It analyzes the mechanisms through which the integration of agriculture and tourism operates and verifies the policy effects. In terms of practice, policy implementations are proposed to adopt a multi-pronged approach to increase agricultural-tourism consumption; to promote government-enterprise cooperation and introduce long-term funding; and to develop the service industry in a location-specific manner to continuously optimize the industrial structure. This study indicates that agro-tourism integration is an effective path for the sustainable development of counties. The policy design needs to take into account the differences in regional resource endowments. This has important implications for promoting county-level development in a location-specific manner under the rural revitalization strategy. Full article

This paper presents a network-based bibliometric analysis of digital transformation in the shipping industry, a sector undergoing rapid change due to advancements in automation, artificial intelligence, blockchain, and Internet of Things. The study synthesizes existing knowledge to identify trends, challenges, and opportunities for industry stakeholders and researchers. Unlike previous literature reviews, this work adopts a graph theory approach applied to a large dataset of scientific publications, without predefined technological or industrial sub-domains. Data were collected from EBSCO, ProQuest, and IEEE eXplore, then refined using OpenAlex to comprise 2293 scientific publications. The analysis includes descriptive statistics, co-authorship network analysis, co-citation network analysis, and thematic analysis. The findings reveal a significant increase in publications since 2005, with exponential growth after 2015. They also suggest a potential inflection point after 2024. A small percentage of authors and institutions account for a disproportionate share of publications, suggesting a skewed distribution of research efforts and encouraging funding agencies to broaden maritime research worldwide. The co-authorship network exhibits a heavy-tail distribution and interconnected communities, indicating extensive national and international collaborations. The co-citation analysis identifies key research areas such as fuel consumption optimization, safety and risk management, and smart port development. Thematic analysis highlights the growing importance of artificial intelligence and cybersecurity. Full article

Brazil is among the four largest global food producers and is a significant consumer of pesticides. However, the current management of pesticide residues in Brazil faces substantial challenges, including fragmented data, limited access to reliable information, and weak inter-institutional coordination. These shortcomings hinder effective monitoring and enforcement. This study evaluates the existing framework for managing pesticide residues in food, water, and soil in Brazil, identifying gaps and proposing strategies for improvement. Key recommendations include the establishment of an inter-institutional steering committee, the development of a unified digital platform for data sharing, and the implementation of a National Pesticide Residue Management Programme (NPRMP). The NPRMP would define measurable targets to reduce contamination in food and the environment, promote sustainable agricultural practices, and enhance the monitoring of pesticide residues. Capacity-building through continuous professional training and public education campaigns is essential to ensure the programme’s successful implementation. Financial resources may be drawn from various sources, including budgetary allocations by the federal government; donations from individuals or legal entities, whether public or private, domestic or international; funds from the National Fund for Scientific and Technological Development (FNDCT); and contributions from the National Environmental Fund. This integrated approach aims to reinforce regulatory mechanisms, safeguard public health, and ensure environmental conservation within the context of Brazil’s expanding agricultural sector. Full article

Background/Objectives: Acute upper respiratory tract infections (URIs) are defined as inflammatory diseases of the nose, sinuses, pharynx, larynx, or trachea. They are common in children. The prescription of antibiotics for the treatment of URIs became a relevant theme in the scientific literature in recent decades. One of the most important ways to deal with increasing antimicrobial resistance is rational antibiotic therapy. This study aimed to evaluate the tendencies of antibiotic prescribing practices for Lithuanian children with URIs from 2018 to 2022. We describe how many children with URIs were prescribed antibiotics, which antibiotics were used, and whether prescribing practices meet national guidelines. Methods: Secondary data, which were used in this observational study, were collected from the Lithuanian Compulsory Health Insurance Fund (CHIF) electronic records. The study population consisted of children aged between 0 and 18 years who visited their primary care doctors (pediatricians or family doctors) between January 2018 and December 2022 and were prescribed antibiotics for the treatment of URIs. Results: Between 2018 and 2022, there were 445,328 visits reported when antibiotics, which belong to the J01 group according to the Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical Classification (ATC), were prescribed to children aged 0–18. In more than half of the visits (51.70%), children aged 0–5 were consulted. Penicillins were mostly prescribed for the treatment of acute nasopharyngitis. Macrolides were mostly used to treat acute laryngitis and tracheitis. Of all penicillin-class antibiotics, the most popular choice was amoxycillin. The primary choice of cephalosporin was cefadroxil, and the primary choice of macrolide was clarithromycin. Conclusions: During the period of 2018–2022, the number of prescriptions for antibiotics for URTIs decreased, but prescriptions for penicillin-class antibiotics increased in a relative manner. The most common diagnoses during these visits were acute tonsillitis and acute pharyngitis, and most antibiotic prescriptions were for children in the 0–5 age group. If Lithuania’s National Recommendations on the Rational Use of Antibiotics were implemented during the analyzed period, the prescribing tendencies would not meet them. Full article

Background: Scientific collaboration has become a cornerstone of sustainable development, particularly in regions where research capacity and funding face significant challenges. The Andean region, Panama, and Spain offer a unique perspective due to their cultural and linguistic ties, alongside varying levels of scientific production and innovation. These disparities present opportunities for collaboration and targeted interventions to foster regional growth and contribute to global priorities. According to UNESCO, Latin America invests merely 0.56% of its GDP in research and development, underscoring the pressing need for innovative strategies to enhance scientific capacity and align efforts with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Methods: This study employed HJ-Biplot and MANOVA-Biplot methodologies to analyze bibliometric data across various thematic areas. These multivariate techniques offer a comprehensive exploration of the interrelationships between scientific production, research talent, and international collaboration, revealing significant patterns and associations. The data were sourced from the Scimago Iberoamerican platform, which aggregates information from Elsevier’s Scopus database on scientific journals and countries. The platform provides data in five-year increments, capturing trends in scientific output, international collaboration, and thematic focus across the Andean region, Panama, and Spain, spanning the period from 2012 to 2022. Results: The analysis identified significant correlations between scientific productivity, research talent, and international partnerships. Clustering disciplines such as engineering, computer science, and energy highlights the strong intersections between technology and economic development. The proximity of psychology and environmental sciences emphasizes the importance of social and environmental factors in scientific research. Conclusion: This study provides a comprehensive bibliometric analysis of the Andean region, Panama, and Spain, identifying critical drivers of scientific productivity and collaboration. The integration of advanced statistical methodologies reveals key associations between research talent, international partnerships, and thematic focus areas. While areas such as environmental sciences and biochemistry demonstrate alignment with innovation and sustainability goals, disciplines like engineering and mathematics require targeted investment to enhance their contributions. These findings underscore the importance of a balanced approach to research funding and policymaking to ensure equitable and impactful scientific development across regions. The results serve as a roadmap for fostering collaboration, strengthening leadership, and aligning research efforts with sustainable development objectives globally. Full article

Polar research was especially affected by the COVID-19 pandemic because of its reliance on travel for remote fieldwork, large-scale scientific infrastructure, ecologically stressed environments, and elevated health risks to remote communities. In this study, we seek to understand how the polar science community responded to these challenges. Our data employ formal documentary evidence from the U.S. National Science Foundation Office of Polar Programs (OPP) and semi-structured interviews with 21 academic polar scientists based in the United States. Combining on-the-ground experiences with real-time responses from a leading federal funding agency reveals impacts and highlights opportunities to support polar research and researchers in the coming years. Polar researchers and OPP were often able to respond to challenges plastically: increasing support for community engagement and onsite staffing, switching methods, pivoting to archival work, or building new theoretical or experimental capacity. That said, pandemic disruptions brought known problems in the field to the fore, such as the investments in time and other resources needed for knowledge co-production and fieldwork. Individual and policy-level strategies to address those problems point the way toward sustainable polar science, including recognition of the multiple methodologies and people needed for successful work; incorporation of technologies that enhance scientific capacity while expanding access and inclusion; and attention to career development, especially for early-career and community collaborators. Full article

The Hungarian Pancreatic Study Group (HPSG) was established with the aim of advancing pancreatology. Our summary outlines the methodologies, key results, and future directions of the HPSG. Methodological elements included, the formation of strategic national and international collaborations, the establishment of patient registries and biobanks, and a strong focus on education and guideline development. Key results encompassed, pioneering research on pancreatic ductal function and the role of cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) in inflammation, significant advancements in understanding acute and chronic pancreatitis, and the execution of numerous clinical trials to explore new therapeutic approaches. Despite challenges, such as securing funding and translating research into clinical practice, the HPSG’s commitment to patient care and scientific innovation has been unwavering. The group aims to deepen research into pancreatic cancer and chronic pancreatitis, conduct more randomized controlled trials (RCTs), and expand its efforts internationally by involving global staff and patients. The authors hope that this summary inspires others to undertake similar initiatives and contribute to the global advancement of medical research and patient care in pancreatology. Full article

Innovation ecosystem resilience (IER) is the maximum tolerance of an innovation ecosystem to accidents, crises, and other external shocks. Developing such resilience involves stages such as risk diversification, impact mitigation, recovery and reconstruction, and innovative development. This study first constructs an evaluation index system for IER with the dimensions of diversity, evolvability, fluidity, and buffering. Secondly, a coupling coordination degree model is used to evaluate and monitor IER, and the early warning levels are further subdivided with the help of an alertness degree model. Finally, through an obstacle degree model, the main obstacles to IER are determined. The research findings are as follows: First, the development trend of China’s IER is relatively stable. Second, the regional heterogeneity of IER is obvious. Third, the IER in most regions of the country is at the early warning stage. Fourth, the number of enterprises with R&D activities, the number of patents granted, the proportion of foreign funds contributing to internal R&D expenditure, and hydropower generation are the greatest obstacles to diversity, evolvability, fluidity, and buffering, respectively. The main obstacles are slightly different in different regions. This research establishes a monitoring and early warning system for IER, which is conducive to discovering weak links in an innovation ecosystem in time and sounding the alarm. This will help government departments formulate scientific and reasonable graded response plans, reduce the risk of emergencies in society and national security, and ensure the resilience and stability of the innovation ecosystems. Full article

The execution of a construction project faces many potentials challenges, and delays are one of them. Communal construction projects in Burundi (CCP-Burundi projects) were considered as one field that could generate a Burundi government development plan. However, according to the frequency of delays encountered by these projects, at a rate of 70% on average every year, the government’s target seems far from being achieved. As no scientific study exists on how to avoid CCP delays, this paper aims to identify and analyze factors that cause delays in CCP-Burundi and provide related measures to overcome them. Based on a list of fifty delay factors gathered from the National Communal Investment Fund institution FONIC (Fond National d’Investissement Communal), communal annual reports, and the literature, a questionnaire survey was developed and dispersed to CCP stakeholders to collect data about critical factors. The top fifteen factors were identified using a relative importance index and a factor analysis was performed. “Weather conditions” was the top-ranked factor, while “Claims” was the lowest ranked. A structural equation modeling approach was adopted to evaluate influences at the relationship level among delay factor groups. A standardized calculation revealed that Factors During Awarding of Bid (FDABs) positively influence Factors After the Award of Bid (FAABs). The findings were implemented in case studies to assess their efficacy. This paper’s findings could assist upcoming construction practitioners and future researchers aiming to explore construction-related project delays, providing a fundamental understanding of the significant delays encountered in the Burundi construction industry. Full article

This review evaluates the financial burden of current treatments for triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) and projects potential financial scenarios to assess the feasibility of introducing a peptide-based neoantigen cancer vaccine (NCV) targeting the disease, using the UK as a healthcare system model. TNBC, the most aggressive breast cancer subtype, is associated with poor prognosis, worsened by the lack of personalised treatment options. Neoantigen cancer vaccine therapies present a personalised alternative with the potential to enhance T-cell responses independently of genetic factors, unlike approved immunotherapies for TNBC. Through a systematic literature review, the underlying science and manufacturing processes of NCVs are explored, the direct medical costs of existing TNBC treatments are enumerated, and two contrasting pricing scenarios for NCV clinical adoption are evaluated. The findings indicate that limited immunogenicity is the main scientific barrier to NCV clinical advancement, alongside production inefficiencies. Financial analysis shows that the UK spends approximately GBP 230 million annually on TNBC treatments, ranging from GBP 2200 to GBP 54,000 per patient. A best-case pricing model involving government-sponsored NCV therapy appears financially viable, while a worst-case, privately funded model exceeds the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) cost thresholds. This study concludes that while NCVs show potential clinical benefits for TNBC, uncertainties about their standalone efficacy make their widespread adoption in the UK unlikely without further clinical research. Full article

With the development of genome sequencing technologies, the amount of data produced has greatly increased in the last two decades. The abundance of digital sequence information (DSI) has provided research opportunities, improved our understanding of the genome, and led to the discovery of new solutions in industry and medicine. It has also posed certain challenges, i.e., how to store and handle such amounts of data. This, coupled with the need for convenience, international cooperation, and the possibility of independent validation, has led to the establishment of numerous databases. Spearheaded with the idea that data obtained with public funds should be available to the public, open access has become the predominant mode of accession. However, the increasing popularity of commercial genetic tests brings back the topic of data misuse, and patient’s privacy. At the previous United Nations Biodiversity Conference (COP15, 2022), an issue of the least-developed countries exploiting their natural resources while providing DSI and the most-developed countries benefitting from this was raised. It has been proposed that financial renumeration for the data could help protect biodiversity. With the goal of introducing the topic to those interested in utilizing biological databases, in this publication, we present the history behind the biological databases, their necessity in today’s scientific world, and the issues that concern them and their content, while providing scientific and policy context in relation to United Nations Biodiversity Conference (COP16, 21.10—1.11.24). Full article

Biodiversity is incredibly important for the myriad ecosystem services it provides, especially for coastal nations such as The Bahamas. However, the newly implemented access and benefit sharing (ABS) regime is undermining scientific research, which is essential to effectively manage and conserve the country’s biodiversity. Key challenges include a poorly drafted legislation with punitive damages (financial and criminal), an overly bureaucratic and dysfunctional permitting process, and cost-prohibitive registration fees that are unsustainable for most researchers and organizations. As a result, the newly implemented ABS regime is driving the demise of academic and conservation research needed to protect the country’s biodiversity, diverting funding away from The Bahamas, jeopardizing relationships with the international scientific community, reducing its capacity to advance science innovation, and impeding much needed experiential learning opportunities for Bahamian students and professionals. A critical solution under the current permitting regime is the need to distinguish between commercial and non-commercial research in the regulatory framework and provide separate accommodations for the same. Furthermore, countries that consider establishing national ABS frameworks are advised to thoroughly engage with all relevant stakeholders through a transparent and consultative process during ABS design and implementation. This will help to ensure that the resulting legislation and policies do not unnecessarily obstruct the research needed for biodiversity conservation and natural resource management. Full article

The industrial application of high hydrostatic pressure (HHP) can be traced back to the late 19th century in the fields of mechanical and chemical engineering. Its growth as a food preservation technique has developed and massified in certain countries in the last 30 years. However, there is no global overview of the research conducted on this topic. The aim of this study was to recognize global trends in the scientific population on the subject of HHP over time at the main levels of analysis: sources, authors, and publications. This article provides a summary of research related to the use of HHP through a bibliometric analysis using information obtained from the Web of Science (WoS) database between the years 1975–2023, using the terms “pascalization”,“high-pressure processing”, and “high hydrostatic pressure” as input keywords. The results are shown in tables, graphs, and relationship diagrams. The countries most influential and productive in high hydrostatic pressure are the People’s R China, the USA, and Spain, with 1578, 1340, and 1003 articles, respectively. Conversely, the authors with the highest metrics are Saraiva, J. (Universidade Aveiro-Portugal), Hendrickx, M. (Katholieke Universiteit Leuven-Belgium), and Wang, T. (China Agricultural University-China). The most productive journals are Innovative Food Science & Emerging Technologies, Food Chemistry, and LWT-Food Science and Technology, all belonging to Elsevier, with 457, 281, and 264 documents, respectively. In relation to the connection between the documents under study and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), most documents in the period 1975–2023 are linked to SDG 03 (good health and well-being), followed by SDG 02 (zero hunger), and SDG 07 (affordable and clean energy). Finally, the information presented in this work may give valuable key insights for those interested in the development of this interesting topic in non-thermal food preservation. Additionally, it serves as a strategic resource for stakeholders, such as food industry leaders, policymakers, and research funding bodies, by providing a clear understanding of the current state of knowledge and innovation trends. This enables informed decision-making regarding research priorities, investment opportunities, and the development of regulatory frameworks to support the adoption and advancement of non-thermal preservation technologies, ultimately contributing to safer and more sustainable food systems. Full article