Area Of Study Research Articles

A Preliminary Study on Factors That Drive Patient Variability in Human Subcutaneous Adipose Tissues.

Adipose tissue is a dynamic regulatory organ that has profound effects on the overall health of patients. Unfortunately, inconsistencies in human adipose tissues are extensive and multifactorial, including large variability in cellular sizes, lipid content, inflammation, extracellular matrix components, mechanics, and cytokines secreted. Given the high human variability, and since much of what is known about adipose tissue is from animal models, we sought to establish correlations and patterns between biological, mechanical, and epidemiological properties of human adipose tissues. To do this, twenty-six independent variables were cataloged for twenty patients, which included patient demographics and factors that drive health, obesity, and fibrosis. A factorial analysis for mixed data (FAMD) was used to analyze patterns in the dataset (with BMI > 25), and a correlation matrix was used to identify interactions between quantitative variables. Vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGFA) and actin alpha 2, smooth muscle (ACTA2) gene expression were the highest loadings in the first two dimensions of the FAMD. The number of adipocytes was also a key driver of patient-related differences, where a decrease in the density of adipocytes was associated with aging. Aging was also correlated with a decrease in overall lipid percentage of subcutaneous tissue, with lipid deposition being favored extracellularly, an increase in transforming growth factor-β1 (TGFβ1), and an increase in M1 macrophage polarization. An important finding was that self-identified race contributed to variance between patients in this study, where Black patients had significantly lower gene expression levels of TGFβ1 and ACTA2. This finding supports the urgent need to account for patient ancestry in biomedical research to develop better therapeutic strategies for all patients. Another important finding was that TGFβ induced factor homeobox 1 (TGIF1), an understudied signaling molecule, which is highly correlated with leptin signaling, was correlated with metabolic inflammation. Furthermore, this study draws attention to what we define as "extracellular lipid droplets", which were consistently found in collagen-rich regions of the obese adipose tissues evaluated here. Reduced levels of TGIF1 were correlated with higher numbers of extracellular lipid droplets and an inability to suppress fibrotic changes in adipose tissue. Finally, this study indicated that M1 and M2 macrophage markers were correlated with each other and leptin in patients with a BMI > 25. This finding supports growing evidence that macrophage polarization in obesity involves a complex, interconnecting network system rather than a full switch in activation patterns from M2 to M1 with increasing body mass. Overall, this study reinforces key findings in animal studies and identifies important areas for future research, where human and animal studies are divergent. Understanding key drivers of human patient variability is required to unravel the complex metabolic health of unique patients.

A Bibliometric Review of the Relationship between Sustainability Accounting and Financial Risk

This study conducts a comprehensive bibliometric analysis of the field of sustainability accounting and financial risk management, examining thematic clusters, research trends, research opportunities, and author collaborations from 1990 to 2024. Through an extensive review of literature and citation data, key thematic areas such as integrated reporting, environmental risk, and the financial impact of ESG factors were identified. Temporal trend analysis revealed an increasing focus on transparency in sustainability disclosures and the integration of corporate social responsibility into corporate risk management. Opportunities for further research were highlighted in underexplored areas including green accounting and the incorporation of non-financial risks into financial sustainability frameworks. Additionally, an examination of author networks provided insight into the collaborative dynamics among leading scholars, identifying core research groups and potential areas for new interdisciplinary studies. This study provides a structured overview of the scholarly landscape, identifying pivotal trends and gaps, thereby setting a foundation for future academic inquiries and practical applications in sustainability and financial risk management.

Hydroxyapatite synthesis and characterization from waste animal bones and natural sources for biomedical applications

AbstractHydroxyapatites (HAps) synthesized from waste animal bones have recently gained attention due to their outstanding properties. This is because there is a need to fabricate scaffolds with desirable mechanical strength, ability to withstand high temperatures, and insoluble in solvents such as water, acetone, ethanol, and isopropyl alcohol. This study is an extensive summary of many articles on the routes of synthesis/preparation of HAp, and the optimum processing parameter, and the biomedical application areas, such as: drug administration, dental implants, bone tissue engineering, orthopedic implant coatings, and tissue regeneration/wound healing. A broad catalog of the synthesis methods (and combination methods), temperature/time, shape/size, and the calcium‐to‐phosphorous (Ca/P) value of diverse waste animal bone sources were reported. The alkaline hydrolysis method is proposed to be suitable for synthesizing HAp from natural sources due to the technique's ability to produce intrinsic HAp. The method is also preferred to the calcination method owing to the phase transformation that takes place at high temperatures during calcinations. However, calcinations aid in removing impurities and germs during heating at high temperatures. When compared to calcination technique, alkaline hydrolysis method results in crystalline HAp; the higher degree of crystallinity is disadvantageous to HAp bioactivity. In addition, the standardization and removal of impurities and contaminants, thorough biocompatibility to ensure clinical safety of the HAp to the human body, and improvement of the mechanical strength and toughness to match specific requirements for the various biomedical applications are the important areas for future studies.

Exploring Trends and Future Paths in Tourism Villages Research: An Intellectual Mapping

Sustainable tourism development in rural villages requires in-depth literature exploration. Bibliometric analysis reveals new themes and trends in village tourism research. The use of strategic diagrams enhances understanding of sustainable tourism research, particularly in rural villages. This approach uncovers new research opportunities and areas for future studies. Researchers searched the WOS database for rural tourism and tourist villages, focusing on scholarly journal publications from 2014 to 2023 in English. They employed advanced bibliometric techniques to examine the changing landscape of village and rural tourism research. Key identified themes include place attachment, traditional villages, and destination image. The analysis shows the importance of interdisciplinary approaches in creating sustainable tourism strategies, with a focus on understanding emotional ties to destinations and enhancing the significance of traditional villages. Future research should integrate cultural, social, and environmental dimensions into village tourism development, involving tourists in creating memorable experiences. The research underscores the significance of holistic and interdisciplinary approaches in promoting sustainable development. Nevertheless, constraints encompass scant bibliographic information, regional partiality, and inadequate examination of stakeholders' viewpoints regarding sustainable tourism growth.

First findings of Sarcocystis species in game deer and feral pigs in Australia

Several wild game meat species, including deer and feral pigs are hunted and consumed in Australia. Feral pigs and deer are not indigenous to Australia, but they have proliferated extensively and established their presence in every state and territory. Following the report of a sambar deer displaying Sarcocystis like white cysts in its rump muscles, the present study was conducted to explore the prevalence of Sarcocystis infections in wild deer and feral pigs in the southeastern regions of Australia. Oesophagus, diaphragm, and heart tissue from 90 deer and eight feral pigs were examined visually for sarcocysts. All results were negative. PCR testing of randomly selected deer and feral pigs yielded positive results, which were subsequently supported by histopathology. This is the first study to report the presence of Sarcocystis spp. in deer and feral pigs in Australia. As no visual cysts were found on the heart or oesophagus that came back positive with PCR, infected animals, particularly those reared free-range, could be passing through meat quality checks unidentified. If people consume this meat without cooking it properly, it may lead to a human infection of Sarcocystis. However, a more targeted study focused on determining the parasite's prevalence and assessing its risks is necessary to determine if it constitutes a food safety issue. As this species has been found not only in feral pigs but also in domestic pigs, the potential for infection spreading between feral pigs and pigs in free-range livestock systems is high, potentially posing a large problem for the Australian pork industry, particularly with the increased emphasis on free-range pig husbandry. Future studies should concentrate on determining the species of Sarcocystis in feral animals commonly consumed as game meat to determine potential zoonotic risks. This could also include a more in-depth look at the prevalence of Sarcocystis infections in other game animals. Identifying where these parasites are present and to what extent, are important areas for future studies.

An Intelligence-Based Cybersecurity Approach: A Review

Nowadays, cybersecurity stands out as a prominent topic frequently discussed by companies aiming to safeguard their data from hacking attempts. The rise of cyberspace has fuelled the expansion of electronic systems, creating a virtual digital realm that links computers and smartphones within the Internet of Things framework. Thus, the purpose of this study is to present the progress made thus far in applying AI-based intrusion detection systems (IDSs) to address cybercrimes, demonstrating their efficacy in detecting and preventing cyberattacks. The review utilized 4 scholarly databases; ScienceDirect, IEEE-Explore, Web of science, and Springer. 437 studies were extracted from the 4 chosen databases out of which only 54 studies were found to be relevant, thus included. The review found AI-based intrusion detection systems (IDSs) to be more robust and flexible compared to other conventional IDSs. Interestingly, the study results highlight how AI-based intrusion detection systems such as; ANN-based intrusion detection systems, agent-based intrusion detection systems, and Genetic-fuzzy intrusion detection systems, and other machine learning detection systems can be used to assist security experts in analyzing, designing, and developing security frameworks for combating cybercrimes. Lastly, the study proposed some areas for future studies.

Research on Impression Management: Current Progress and Future Possibilities

In recent years, impression management (IM) has garnered substantial scholarly attention, significantly enhancing our comprehension of various factors within organisational contexts. This is a systematic literature review (SLR) research on IM from 2016 to 2024, building on both foundational and recent research. IM involves intentionally influencing how others see us, which significantly affects both individual behaviour and the way organisations function. This review highlights the widespread role and implications of IM in workplaces. It looks at how IM techniques, organisational rules and gender stereotypes interact. Our review presents two major findings. First, we found a strong positive link between successful IM strategies and better organisational performance, showing the real benefits of skilled IM. Second, we noticed a complex connection between IM methods and employee satisfaction, pointing out the need to align IM practices with employee happiness. This SLR not only deepens our theoretical knowledge but also has practical applications for managers. It emphasises the importance of ethically managing IM to ensure authenticity and openness. Also, by pointing out missing pieces in the existing research, this review suggests new areas for future studies to investigate the changing trends and finer details of IM in modern organisational settings.

From Scraps to Solutions: Harnessing the Potential of Vegetable and Fruit Waste in Pharmaceutical Formulations

Background:: Food waste is a major worldwide problem due to the increasing population and imbalances in supply chains. Waste from fruits and vegetables are a substantial proportion of the overall food waste generated, accounting for approximately 42% of the waste produced. Methane, a strong greenhouse gas with a significant potential for global warming, is produced when these waste products are typically dumped in landfills. Objectives:: The study's goal is to present a thorough overview of the most recent findings and developments in the use of vegetable and fruit waste for creating therapeutic formulations. Recognizing the opportunities and challenges in this developing area of study, as well as the promise that vegetable and fruit waste contains for the creation of environmentally friendly and economically advantageous pharmaceutical formulations. Methods:: A comprehensive review of existing literature on the utilization of vegetable and fruit waste in pharmaceutical formulations was conducted. The review included studies on the chemical composition and bioactive compounds present in various types of vegetable and fruit waste, their extraction methods, and their potential applications in pharmaceutical formulations. Additionally, current waste management practices and challenges associated with waste disposal were also analyzed. Conclusion:: The review highlights the significant potential of vegetable and fruit waste in the development of pharmaceutical formulations. Fruit and vegetable waste offer a wide range of bioactive compounds, such as antioxidants, antimicrobials, and antiinflammatory agents, which could be utilized in drug formulation. Moreover, this approach can promote environmental sustainability by reducing waste generation and enhancing waste utilization. Further research and development efforts should focus on optimizing extraction methods, evaluating the efficacy and safety of wastederived compounds, and addressing regulatory requirements for integrating vegetable and fruit waste into pharmaceutical products. Harnessing the potential of vegetable and fruit waste in pharmaceutical formulations can lead to sustainable advancements in the pharmaceutical industry while addressing environmental concerns.

Geographic information system-based determination of priority monitoring areas for hazardous air pollutants in an industrial city.

Industrial cities are hotspots for many hazardous air pollutants (HAPs), which are detrimental to human health. We devised an identification method to determine priority HAP monitoring areas using a comprehensive approach involving monitoring, modeling, and demographics. The methodology to identify the priority HAP monitoring area consists of two parts: (1) mapping the spatial distribution of selected categories relevant to the target pollutant and (2) integrating the distribution maps of various categories and subsequent scoring. The identification method was applied in Ulsan, the largest industrial city in South Korea, to identify priority HAP monitoring areas. Four categories related to HAPs were used in the method: (1) concentrations of HAPs, (2) amount of HAP emissions, (3) the contribution of industrial activities, and (4) population density in the city. This method can be used to select priority HAP monitoring areas for intensive monitoring campaigns, cohort studies, and epidemiological studies.

Nitrogen-fused Heterocycles: Empowering Anticancer Drug Discovery.

The worldwide impact of cancer is further compounded by the constraints of current anticancer medications, which frequently exhibit a lack of selectivity, raise safety apprehensions, result in significant adverse reactions, and encounter resistance mechanisms. The current situation highlights the pressing need to develop novel and more precise anticancer agents that prioritize safety and target specificity. Remarkably, more than 85% of drugs with physiological activity contain heterocyclic structures or at least one heteroatom. Nitrogen-containing heterocycles hold a significant position among these compounds, emerging as the most prevalent framework within the realm of heterocyclic chemistry. This article explores the medicinal chemistry behind these molecules, highlighting their potential as game-changing possibilities for anticancer medication development. The analysis highlights the inherent structural variety in nitrogen-containing heterocycles, revealing their potential to be customized for creating personalized anticancer medications. It also emphasizes the importance of computational techniques and studies on the relationships between structure and activity, providing a road map for rational medication design and optimization. Nitrogen- containing heterocycles are a promising new area of study in the fight against cancer, and this review summarises the state of the field so far. By utilizing their inherent characteristics and exploiting cooperative scientific investigations, these heterocyclic substances exhibit potential at the forefront of pioneering therapeutic approaches in combating the multifaceted obstacles posed by cancer.

Effect of product design on repurchase intention, electronic word‐of‐mouth, and museum visit intention: Museum random boxes in China

AbstractThis study examines how product design affects museum visits and museum product loyalty. Based on the gaps in previous research, the study posits interrelationships among product design (esthetics and symbolism), emotional states (pleasure and arousal), attitude toward the product, loyalty repurchase intention and electronic word‐of‐mouth (eWOM), and museum visit intention. This research applied partial least squares‐structural equation modeling to analyze data from 316 customers who purchased the museum's random boxes. The empirical results suggest that (1) esthetics and symbolism are antecedents of attitude, pleasure, and arousal; (2) attitude toward the product mediates the effect of product design on product loyalty and museum visit intention; (3) arousal helps mediate the relationship between symbolism and repurchase intention; and (4) pleasure is an antecedent of attitude toward the product. This study provides valuable practical simplications and offers new areas for future studies.

Effect of Leadership Styles on Gen-Z Work Performance: An Empirical Analysis

The main purpose of this paper is to examine the relationship between leadership styles and Gen-Z workforce performance. A disproportionate stratified random sampling technique was used to select respondents from private secondary schools in Ogun State, Nigeria. Given a sampling frame of 1300 Gen-Z employees, this study adopted Cochran (1977) sample size method to analyse 279 usable questionnaires. The proposed structural model was assessed through established GOF indices. While specified hypotheses were tested using SEM. Findings show that confirmatory factor analysis reduced the measurement model to 20 items. In addition, the structural model showed GOF indices of χ² / df ratio (438.572 / 166) = 2.642, RMSEA (0.053), TLI (0.901), and CFI (0.907). SEM hypotheses testing revealed that transformational leadership styles do not only have positive path estimates, but also established practical and statistically significant relationship with Gen-Z workforce performance. Contrary to previous research, laissez-faire leadership style was found to be positive and significant with Gen-Z performance. Perhaps, due to the autonomy it accorded Gen-Z cohort to handle tasks without interference. This style makes Gen-Z feel respected and empowered. However, transactional leadership style reported a different outcome. Transactional leadership style was found to be positive, but its path estimate was not practical and statistically significant (β = 0.07, p = 0.120) with Gen-Z work performance. Hence two out of three specified hypotheses were accepted. This paper has it contributions. By implication, its outcome addressed some equivocal issues in leadership literature. Theoretically, it extends body of knowledge on empirical linkage between leadership styles and the digital natives (Gen-Z). Also, the paper impliedly suggests to CEOs / HR / management experts on formulating and implementing policies that will motivate, inspire, and retain Gen-Z in their organisations. Practically, the established relationship between laissez-faire leadership style and Gen-Z cohort suggests that Gen-Z can practically come on board with their ideas and work as ally with their leaders towards achieving the overall organizational goals. There are limitations which may have biased the outcome of this study. Hence, potential areas for further studies have been highlighted.

Conceptualizing museum translation

Abstract The scholarly debate in translation studies and related fields has extensively addressed the definition, scope, and limitations of translation. We contend that museum translation, which encompasses both the traditional “translation proper” as well as the non-verbal and multimodal aspects of translation, is central to this debate. Museum translation covers an extensive spectrum of perspectives, which contribute to the expansion of the concept of translation and the field of translation studies. It capitalizes on the intrinsic interdisciplinarity of museum studies and translation studies, fostering a profound exchange of disciplines and serving as an ideal foundation for discussing the boundaries of translation. It has a dynamic nature that can contract or expand to suit the researcher’s perspective and disciplinary concentration. A comprehensive examination of the intricate procedures encompassed by museum translation is, therefore, timely. In this article, we examine and compare different applications of this concept and provide an overview of how various disciplines and research foci have approached this area of study. We aim to contribute to the ongoing development of the concept of museum translation and its position in translation studies, a call further addressed by each author in this special issue titled “Museums as Spaces of Cultural Translation and Transfer.”

Building Capacity for Sustainability Education: An Analysis of Vocational Teachers’ Knowledge, Readiness, and Self-Efficacy

In contributing towards the discourse on developing teachers’ capabilities for Education for Sustainable Development (ESD), this study examines the relationships between sustainability knowledge, readiness, and self-efficacy for teaching sustainability concepts among vocational teachers in Malaysian colleges. Grounded in Bandura’s self-efficacy theory, the research assesses the combined effect of teachers’ sustainability knowledge and readiness on their ability to teach sustainability effectively. Using a cross-sectional survey design, a sample of three hundred and seventy-five (375) vocational college teachers and structural equation modeling (SEM), the results indicate no significant link between teachers’ sustainability knowledge and their readiness for ESD. However, a positive relationship between teachers’ readiness and their self-efficacy was found. The study shows that while sustainability knowledge does not directly enhance readiness for ESD, it is a strong predictor of self-efficacy in teaching sustainability. Moreover, readiness has a greater effect on self-efficacy than sustainability knowledge alone, highlighting the importance of conceptual understanding in building teachers’ confidence and competence in sustainability education. Despite focusing specifically on Malaysia and using self-reported data, which to some extent limits the study’s findings, the outcomes offer practical insights for educational policymakers, vocational institutions, and educators. They underscore the need for a comprehensive educational approach beyond just knowledge transfer. This research contributes to the sustainability education discourse and suggests areas for future studies, including exploring contextual differences and adopting longitudinal study designs to better understand the dynamics between sustainability knowledge, readiness, and teaching self-efficacy in vocational education.

3D numerical simulation on thermal hydraulic characteristics in integrated sodium pool of PHENIX reactor during dissymmetric test

Temperature distribution of internals under different transient events is important for the design and safety analysis of pool-type sodium-cooled fast reactor (SFR). It is influenced by overall flow and thermal stratification phenomena in the multi-scale sodium pool. Due to the difficulty to perform experiment, three-dimensional (3D) numerical method is usually adopted for obtaining the temperature distribution and analyzing complex phenomena in pool-type SFRs. It needs to be further validated using the published benchmark, such as PHENIX Dissymmetric Test. The simplified model in system code and 3D model of local area in current study cannot capture the complex coupling effect of cold and hot pool during dissymmetric test. In this paper, an integrated 3D model of PHENIX reactor primary system both including cold and hot pools is established. The steady and transient simulation with 1800 s of PHENIX Dissymmetric Test process are carried out. The key parameters of simulation are compared with the available experimental and predicted data, which achieves good agreement. Overall flow and asymmetric temperature distribution phenomena in cold pool, hot pool and local area of IHX inlet are simulated. There is a temperature difference between different sides of IHX inlet during a period after scram, with the maximum value of 80 ℃ approximately at 90 s. This validated numerical method can be further used for the analysis of thermal hydraulic characteristics in other pool-type SFR. The obtained temperature distribution of internals can provide the reference for the stress assess of structures in the engineering design.

An analysis of the literature on construction employee turnover: drivers, consequences, and future direction

Employee turnover is a critical factor affecting organizational effectiveness. It is particularly important in the construction sector due to its knowledge and labor-intensive characteristics. Therefore, it is necessary to understand why qualified employees would leave their employers so that effective measures can be taken to retain them. Despite the growing body of knowledge on employee turnover, there is a lack of comprehensive review of this topic in the construction literature. This study adopts a systematic literature review approach to synthesize domain knowledge on employee turnover from two perspectives: its investigated causes, and consequences. In total, 77 relevant papers are extracted. A total of 51 drivers of construction employee turnover are identified and categorized into personal, job-related, organizational, and external influencers. Findings also suggest three major outcomes caused by employee turnover, including individual, project, and organization-related consequences. This review contributes to understanding the turnover phenomenon in construction literature and highlights potential areas for future empirical studies to move forward. By understanding the main factors influencing turnover decisions, construction organizations can develop and implement effective means for managing employee turnover. This study further contributes to construction employee turnover research by emphasizing the importance of studying the consequences of the turnover phenomenon.

Leadership in times of natural crises-a systematic literature review

The topic of leadership comes with many elements of situational scenarios, one particular of interest is during times of natural crisis. Natural crisis affects businesses and people worldwide with varying effects. It is notable that leadership styles and other factors can lead a business either to success or failure based on their proactivity. To explore the area of leadership studies in times of natural crises, a systematic literature review was undertaken. The review of studies from past fifteen years revealed that there were a lot of studies on the topic of leadership. Out of those, only 34 articles published from 2005 to 2020 were found relevant to the topic under study. These were presented in the form of a systematic literature review of “Leadership in Times of Natural Crises”. The systematic literature review was done using PRISMA framework which is the most widely known method of conducting review. The main link between these articles, although each focusing on different areas of research, was the relationship between leadership styles and impact on organizational management during natural crises. The review of the 34 articles from Scopus database explored different leadership styles and theories with their impact on organizations. The resources grew substantially in relation to COVID-19 in 2020, which also highlights the importance of this topic as there were limited resources available in the last twenty years when exploring papers that studied the impact of leadership impact during SARS outbreak in 2003. The finding of this article highlights the gap in research on leadership studies, and particularly in relation to pandemics, or for a broader term, natural crises.

Work integrated learning and trending areas for future studies: a systematic literature review and bibliometric analysis

PurposeThis study intends to conceptually and technically examine the literature on work integrated learning (WIL) through a systematic literature review and bibliometric analysis. The present study addresses eight distinct research questions: (1) descriptive features of the extracted literature on WIL, (2) publications trends and thematic evolution in the field of WIL, (3) the most relevant and high-impact sources on WIL, (4) the most global cited articles on WIL, (5) the most relevant and high-impact authors on WIL, (6) the most relevant countries on WIL, (7) outcomes of Bradford’s Law of Scattering and Lotka’s Law of Scientific Productivity and (8) trending research avenues for future studies in the field of WIL.Design/methodology/approachThe present study employed systematic literature review (SLR) and bibliometric analysis mapping techniques to analyze 1,295 articles extracted from the Scopus database. The analysis utilized Biblioshiny software and VOSviewer software as the primary tools.FindingsThe findings reveal that WIL constitutes a steadily expanding subject discipline, showcasing a notable 23.28% annual growth in scientific production spanning from 2002 to 2023 (July). Australia, South Africa and Canada emerged as the most productive countries within the field of WIL, as evidenced by their cumulative scientific production. The thematic map of keyword analysis suggests several burgeoning avenues for future researchers in the WIL domain, including education, reflective practices, curriculum, employability skills, international students, learning and self-efficacy.Originality/valueThis study contributes to the WIL discourse by providing a comprehensive literature review. The present study’s findings hold significance for graduates, universities, employers, the higher education industry, policymakers, regulators and the broader community.

Morphological distribution and risk assessment of soil heavy metals in the Belly of the Three Gorges Reservoir area in Chongqing-A Case Study of Fengdu

The study of the morphological distribution and pollution risk of heavy metals in the hinterland of the Three Gorges Reservoir area in Chongqing can be used to provide data support for soil pollution prevention and control, ecological environment safety risk control and agricultural healthy development in the region. In this paper, Fengdu County, the hinterland of the Three Gorges Reservoir Area in Chongqing, was taken as the study area. The total amount and morphology of 8 heavy metal elements in the surface soil of agricultural land were analyzed and determined. The geocumulative index method was used to evaluate the pollution degree. The risk assessment coding method is used to evaluate the potential risk level. The results showed that the average contents of heavy metal elements As, Hg, Cu and Cr in the soil in the study area were relatively low. The average contents of Cd, Zn, Pb and Ni were higher than those in the Three Gorges Reservoir area. The mean value of Cd content was 1.71 times that of the background value. Cd in the soil heavy metal form is dominated by ion exchange state. The proportion of carbonate-bound state and iron-manganese bound state is relatively high. The proportion of bioavailable state was 46.36%, and the biological activity was strong. The other elements are mainly in the stable residue state. The results of the geoaccumulation index method showed that Cd was mainly mild pollution level. The other elements are mainly clean and pollution-free levels. The evaluation results of the risk assessment coding method showed that the risk of Cd contamination was the highest, and the risk of contamination of other elements was relatively low. On the whole, there is a certain degree of potential pollution risk in the soil Cd in the study area. Attention needs to be paid to the prevention and control of Cd.

Epistemological beliefs and teaching practice: a systematic literature review 2011 to 2021

<span lang="EN-US">Teachers’ actions are grounded on their theoretical and disciplinary knowledge; however, their belief system, and in particular their epistemological beliefs, may be influencing their teaching practices. This study analyzes the scientific production between 2011 and 2021 regarding teachers’ epistemological beliefs and their relationship with teaching practice. The methodological design consists of a systematic literature review, following the preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses (PRISMA) guidelines in the Web of Science, Scopus, and ERIC databases. The sample considers 18 articles reviewed by thematic content analysis. The results report that this type of belief has a close relationship with teaching approaches, that there are certain inconsistencies with teaching practice, and that links have been established with other areas of study that enrich reflection. It seems prudent and necessary to observe this relationship from a broad, situated, and complex perspective, avoiding generalizing and polarizing the character of these beliefs, by noting that there are various factors involved between what teachers believe about knowledge and what they do in the classroom.</span>