Scientific Community Research Articles

Ecosystem service assessment of coyote stories reveals tradeoffs from human–coyote interactions in rural Vermont, United States

AbstractThe ecosystem system services framework has potential to help clarify wildlife management challenges at the single species scale, but existing methods struggle to capture the complex values and tradeoffs at play in human–wildlife interactions. We worked with community scientists to gather and use stories (n = 150) as a source of ecosystem services data about living alongside eastern coyotes (Canis latrans var) in rural Vermont, United States. Our a priori ecosystem service assessment showed that human–coyote interactions can have simultaneous positive and negative human well‐being impacts at both the sample scale and for individual interviewees. Our research identified emergent themes that lent insight into how interviewees justified different kinds of relationships with coyotes. We applied a tradeoffs lens to evaluate three policy options based on their potential to mitigate ecosystem disservices and maximize ecosystem services from human–coyote interactions. We found that ecosystem services assessment rooted in a dataset of stories revealed policy‐relevant understanding of value conflicts and alignments at the sample scale without overshadowing the nuances of individual interviewees' experiences.

Toward Upconversion (Yb-Er) and near-Infrared (Yb-Ho-Er, Nd-Yb) Thermometry with Sea Urchin Type GdPO4 Nanoarchitectures.

In recent years, optical temperature probes operating in the second near-infrared (BW-II) and third near-infrared (BW-III) biological windows have garnered significant attention in the scientific community. For biological applications these probes offer distinct advantages, including enhanced tissue penetration depth, minimal autofluorescence, and a remarkable improvement in imaging sensitivity and spatial resolution. Moving toward theranostic applications, there is a growing demand for the development of materials that integrate both BW-II and BW-III thermometry systems with drug delivery functionalities. In this study, we concentrate on the development of GdPO4 materials, utilizing both hard and sacrificial template routes to synthesize (hollow) GdPO4 porous sea urchin-like particles. We first investigated the development of a Boltzmann-type thermometer utilizing an Yb-Er upconversion system, designed to operate within the physiological temperature range. Our exploration extends to the potential of GdPO4 particles in near-infrared (NIR) thermometry, spanning the first, second, and third biological windows with systems like Yb-Ho-Er, Nd-Yb, and Ho-Yb, respectively. We further examined the temperature impact of the Yb-Ho-Er system on the NIR emission within a biologically relevant setting, using a phantom that replicates biological tissue. Furthermore, we illustrate the successful loading of these materials with doxorubicin (DOX·HCl), a model anticancer drug, showing these particles exhibit pH-dependent DOX release. This demonstrates the versatility of these materials as upconversion and NIR thermometers while simultaneously serving as an on-demand drug carrier. The investigation involves assessing their cytotoxicity on specific human cells (Normal Human Dermal Fibroblasts (NHDFs)), to determine their viability for potential use in biological applications. The study also investigates how effectively loading the particles with DOX enables targeted delivery to a cellular model of lymphoma (Jurkat E6-1), resulting in cell death. This comprehensive analysis highlights the promising potential of GdPO4 particles for medical applications.

Assessing Carbon Dioxide Emissions in Manufacturing Industries: A Systematic Review

Emissions of pollutants and their consequences for the atmosphere have received special attention from international organizations in recent years due to the climate crisis predicted in the next decades. In this regard, the Carbon Dioxide (CO2) produced in industrial sectors is one of the most concerning compounds because of its impact on global warming and climate change. This study developed a systematic review of Carbon Dioxide Emissions from manufacturing industries considering one decade of research documents focused on addressing this problem. For this, different assessments such as the trend of published articles, top-cited studies, the network evaluation of journals, and keywords network evaluation were conducted. After a careful data-driven analysis, research trends were identified. Findings revealed the increased urgency of finding and assessing information regarding the climate crisis due to CO2 emissions as well as revealing which main sectors and research areas have been involved in its investigation. Furthermore, the most influential contributions and clusters of words obtained demonstrate interrelationships among research trends that are focused on finding new paths to generate more sustainable processes in every manufacturing industry. This study aims to generate valuable insights into the role played by manufacturing industries in the context of the environmental situation, revealing trends and key points among the scientific community.

Profile of Homicidal Death Cases: One-Year Retrospective Study

Background: Homicide is regarded as a notorious crime against the society that causes intentional killing, aggravated assaults resulting in death. Nowadays, the incidence of homicide is increasing worldwide and it is a matter of great concern all over the world and it has significant consequence for both social and economic security of the people as well as national development. Objective: This study was aimed to describe the pattern homicidal behavior and the relationships among socio-demographic characteristics. Materials and Methods: A record-based retrospective cross-sectional study includes 180 cases of homicide out of the total of 1296 medico-legal autopsies conducted at Forensic Medicine Department of Dhaka Medical College during the year from July 2021 to June 2022. Results: A total number of 1296 medico-legal autopsies were conducted, of them 180(13.89%) cases were homicide and others (RTA, suicide, fall from height, poisoning, hanging, burn) were 1116(86.11%). Out of 180 homicidal death, most of them were 30-40 age group 66(36.67%), 144 cases were male (80 %) and 36 were female (20 %) whereas considering religion, the majority were Muslim 156 in number (86.67%) and the rest were of other religion. Among the homicidal death married were 150 (83.33%), in case of occupation most of them were Jobholder 39 (21.67%). According to the method of homicide, stab wound was the favorite homicide method used over victims 60(33.33%), 36(20%) cases were chop, 30(16.67%) cases were gunshot & strangulation and 24(13.33%) cases were others causes. Regarding place of residence of most of them were from Shahbag thana 108(60%). Conclusion: Stab wound was the favorite homicide method in Bangladesh and the most common age of the victims were 30-40 age group. The usefulness of the data in the scientific community is the database of homicide that should be advantageous for pathologists and forensic scientists work and particularly to be a guideline for homicide investigations in Bangladesh. KYAMC Journal Volume: 15, No: 01, April 2024: 25-28.

Jacobian vs. disturbance method for UMATs in ABAQUS: An application to isotropic damage mechanics

This paper compares the computational efficiency of different methodologies to estimate the tangent stiffness applied to ABAQUS standard UMAT user-subroutine, using implicit formulation with predictor corrector methodology. It uses two new methodologies to estimate the stiffness matrix for the predictor-corrector iterative process, named Disturbance Method and Implicit to Explicit Method. With the Disturbance Method, it is enough to build UMATs using only a secant matrix, since an approximate tangential material matrix is automatically computed, promoting a faster implementation of new material constitutive relations in the ABAQUS standard. It is also studied the possibility of the use of a new algorithm that transforms the UMAT implicit formulation to an explicit formulation using a new secant predictor corrector algorithm. In this study, a new concrete damage model that considers fracture energy regularization for both tensile and compressive behaviour with Mode I Fracture is utilized. Classical and known benchmarks to test damage models in the scientific community are used to compare both methods for the calculation of the Jacobian matrix in terms of time and number of iterations.

Moderate Sedation or Deep Sedation for ERCP: What Are the Preferences in the Literature?

One of the most essential procedures for individuals with biliopancreatic disorders is endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP). It is based on the combination of endoscopy and radiology to study the biliopancreatic ducts and apply therapeutic solutions. ERCP is currently used to treat choledocholithiasis with or without cholangitis, as well as pancreatic duct stones, benign bile, and pancreatic leaks. On the other hand, ERCP is an unpleasant procedure that must be conducted under anesthetic (moderate sedation, deep sedation, or general anesthesia). With procedures becoming more challenging, the role of anesthesia in ERCP has become even more relevant, and the use of general anesthesia has become better defined. In the last decades, many drugs have been used and some new drugs, like dexmedetomidine, have been recently introduced for sedation or anesthesia during ERCP. Moreover, the scientific community is still divided on the level of sedation to be applied, as well as on appropriate airway management. We therefore performed a narrative review of the literature to assess currently available anesthetic medications for elective ERCP and evidence supporting their effectiveness.

Combinatorial Effects of 5-Fluorouracil and Menadione on Wnt/β-Catenin Pathway in Human Colorectal Cancer Cells.

The incidence and mortality rates of colorectal cancer (CRC) are alarmingly high, and the scientific community is consistently engaged in developing newer therapeutic options for cancer cure or prevention. The fluoropyrimidine drug, 5-fluorouracil (5FU), remains the first line of treatment against CRC; nevertheless, relapses frequently occur since the cells gain resistance over time through various mechanisms. Studies have highlighted the significance of combinatorial treatment of a Wnt signaling inhibitor and 5FU as a better treatment strategy to overcome 5FU resistance. Small molecules that specifically target and disrupt β-catenin-TCF interaction, a crucial step of the Wnt signaling, are promising in CRC treatment. In this study, we investigated the synergistic cytotoxic activity of menadione with 5FU as the former has previously been shown to downregulate Wnt signaling in CRC cells. Docking and experimental results suggest that the drug combination interfered with key protein-protein interactions in the β-catenin-TCF complex, exerted synergistic anti-cancerous effects in CRC cells, and downregulated the expression of Wnt signaling proteins. Taken together, our data suggest that the simultaneous binding of 5FU and menadione to β-catenin can block Wnt signaling by disrupting β-catenin-TCF interaction and inhibit the proliferation of CRC cells.

Historical Architecture and BIM Modelling: Between Representation of Reality and Conceptual Abstraction

The essay aims to explore the applications of BIM to design regarding historic buildings, which will become mandatory in Italy from 2025 for public works above €1 million. Despite the advantages in coordinated data management and information sharing among the actors involved in contracts, problems related to the geometric representation and semantic definition of the virtual entities that populate the models have been recognized by the scientific community. Critical issues that have emerged from the study of significant experiences can be traced back to the difficulty of adapting tools designed for the projects of new buildings to the characteristics of the cultural heritage. In particular, the complexity of proposing congruent categorisations and parameterisations seems related to only partial correspondence between historical building components, IFC classes and BIM software categories. These limitations often lead to the identification of contingent solutions and expedients, which solve only the problems of geometric representation. In contrast, the ability to adequately share information stored in databases, interoperable through the IFC format, is conveyed by an appropriate semantic description. Formal representation in the BIM environment effectively refers to standardized industrial production, reproducibility of building elements and, more generally, to the goals of globalisation. Thus, the proposed reflections aim to encourage a conscious use of these tools and to outline implementation perspectives useful to bring the digital environment closer to the concrete reality of historical architecture, unique and irreproducible in origin and transformation, often realized through artisanal processes and anchored to specific contexts in multiple aspects.

Functionally Graded Metamaterials: Fabrication Techniques, Modeling, and Applications—A Review

Functionally Graded Metamaterials (FGMMs) constitute an innovative class of materials within the realm of additive manufacturing (AM), attracting substantial attention from material science and research communities. These materials, characterized by unique designs and gradient properties, are not commonly found in nature but are deliberately engineered through the arrangement of subwavelength structures. The distinct attributes of such materials have propelled them into significant prominence across various industries, including automotive, aerospace, medical, electronics, and agriculture. This review paper aims to present a comprehensive overview of a range of techniques applied in the fabrication, design, theoretical models, and simulation methods related to these materials. It delves into the assessment of such material’s performance, specifically focusing on mechanical, thermal, and electromagnetic properties. Moreover, this review addresses advancements, challenges, and potential solutions in the field. Ultimately, it delivers valuable insights to researchers, practitioners, and stakeholders, enhancing their understanding of FGMMs and their significance in the broader context.

Advancing Nuclear Research and Education in Slovenia and EU: From Operating the TRIGA Reactor to Building a New Generation Facility

AbstractThe TRIGA Mark II research reactor at the Jožef Stefan Institute in Slovenia achieved first criticality in 1966. Since then, the reactor has been playing an important role in developing nuclear technology. The reactor has been mainly used for research, education of university students, training of operators of the Krško nuclear power plant (start of operation in 1983) and other nuclear specialists, isotope production and beam applications. The reactor is experiencing a high level of activity today, engaging in a diverse range of experiments and studies across reactor physics, environmental research, radiation hardness testing as well training and education. The future of nuclear technology in Slovenia is focused on new NPPs, while the research community is looking forward to a possible new nuclear reactor. The basic initiatives are at a very preliminary stage: the primary choice is dual-core pool-type reactor, with a zero-power core and a separate MW-size core, cooled and moderated with light water. Such a dual-core configuration is designed to meet the varied requirements of the European Union member states. Another option would be hosting one or more micro-reactors with electrical and/or heating power producing capability that could offer stronger support toward demonstration of prototype small modular reactors in prototype future electrical grids.

Artificial intelligence and adolescents’ socialization: risks of influence

Importance. To date, there is an active introduction of artificial intelligence into all spheres of human activity, leading to significant changes in the factors that influence the socialization of the younger generation. Along with this, smart devices have also begun to act as agents of socialization for modern teenagers, with whom they interact both in educational and extracurricular settings. In this regard, the scientific and pedagogical community is interested in identifying both the positive and negative aspects of AI’s influence on the formation of the social experience of minors. The aim of the study is to examine the features and analyse the risks associated with the artificial intelligence impact on the adolescents’ socialisation.Research Methods. The work is based on a comprehensive review of psychological, pedagogical, legal, sociological, scientific, and technical literature on artificial intelligence the introduction in various fields of human activity, particularly in the education sector. The study is grounded in personal-activity, multi-subject, and environmental perspectives, which allowed for the synthesis and analysis of relevant information, as well as an assessment of the potential risks associated with the artificial intelligence influence on the positive socialization process of school students. Within these frameworks, several research methodologies are employed, including analysis, comparison, generalization, systematization, and structured information organization.Results and Discussion. The main areas of artificial intelligence application in education are: adaptive learning, automated assessment, examination management, personalized learning, customized educational materials creation, consultation and recommendation systems, gaming and virtual reality, extending the range of opportunities for students with special needs, and monitoring student engagement in learning. However, along with the potential benefits of introducing AI technologies into the adolescents’ cognitive development, there are several risks associated with the intelligent devices’ use: a potential decrease in the education quality, challenges with social skills and self-regulation development, value orientation, adaptation, and self-regulatory resources. Additionally, there is a risk of subjectivity loss, the formation of an unrealistic self-image, aggressive behavior, and the development of digital autism and information pseudoliteracy.Conclusion. Based on the analysis, it is revealed that the artificial intelligence influence on modern adolescents can be traced not only in changing the educational process of the school, which is a factor and institution of socialization, but also in the direct interaction between a minor and a smart device. At the same time, this process has both positive and negative aspects, the consideration and correction of which is necessary when introducing artificial intelligence into education and other spheres of human activity and society.

Some Comments on the Nature of Glasses Or a brief history of time and temperature in glass-forming liquids*

Abstract Here we undertake a brief presentation of the early history of the development of our modern understanding of glass-forming liquids that provides a look at how the scientific and technological communities were viewing the state of the art and how the knowledge in the field developed. We discuss aspects of our understanding from how the VFT equation became known to questions about the development of the concept of the “ideal” glass transition. The framework for this history leads us to ask the question whether some of the cautions that the pioneering researchers provided should have been taken more seriously by the community. We discuss in particular: The view presented by Tammann and Hesse (G. Tammann and W. Hesse, “Die Abhängigkeit der Viscosität von der Temperatur bie unterkühlten Flüssigkeiten,” Z. Anorg. Allg. Chem., 156, 245–257 (1926)) cautioning that the apparent singularity of the viscosity at a finite temperature was not physical and the, now famous, VFT equation is accurate for interpolation rather than for extrapolation. The other point is the strong sense by much of the glass community that the so-called Kauzmann (W. Kauzmann, "The nature of the glassy state and the behavior of liquids at low temperatures," Chem. Rev., 43, 219-256 (1948)) paradox is fundamental to glass-formation despite the comment by Kauzmann, himself, that the extrapolation of the entropy to negative values is “operationally meaningless”. We build on these ideas through a presentation of our own data and that of others that addresses the Tammann and Hesse comment through experiments that show there is not a viscosity (or relaxation time) divergence near to the Kauzmann or VFT temperatures and we show that the equilibrium entropy of a polymer that cannot crystallize shows no evidence of an “ideal” glass transition that is often invoked as a means of avoiding the Kauzmann paradox. In addition to providing some sense of the history of time and viscosity we think that the data we present leads to the conclusion that much of our understanding of the problem of glass-formation is based on misleading interpretations of the original works as well as being inconsistent with the newer data that has been published over that past 25 years or so. On an optimistic note, there are newer models that do not rely on the VFT divergence or the Kauzmann paradox to account for glass-formation in supercooled or equilibrium liquids. In addition, the experimental situation clearly leads to the possibility of deeper investigations into the “deep glassy state” through “finessing” the geological time-scale issue of creating equilibrium glasses. Such investigations are ultimately important to understanding behavior of glassy materials, especially polymers, that are used deep in the glassy state, but still close enough to the glass temperature that models able to reliably predict their behavior require better representations of glass-formation to engineer their performance.

Quest for Orthologs in the Era of Biodiversity Genomics.

The era of biodiversity genomics is characterised by large-scale genome sequencing efforts that aim to represent each living taxon with an assembled genome. Generating knowledge from this wealth of data has not kept up with this pace. We here discuss major challenges to integrating these novel genomes into a comprehensive functional and evolutionary network spanning the tree of life. In summary, the expanding datasets create a need for scalable gene annotation methods. To trace gene function across species, new methods must seek to increase the resolution of ortholog analyses, e.g., by extending analyses to the protein domain level and by accounting for alternative splicing. Additionally, the scope of orthology prediction should be pushed beyond well-investigated proteomes. This demands the development of specialised methods for the identification of orthologs to short proteins and non-coding RNAs, and for the functional characterization of novel gene families. Furthermore, protein structures predicted by machine learning are now readily available, but this new information is yet to be integrated with orthology-based analyses. Finally, an increasing focus should be placed on making orthology assignments adhere to the FAIR principles. This fosters green bioinformatics by avoiding redundant computations and helps integrating diverse scientific communities sharing the need for comparative genetics and genomics information. It should also help with communicating orthology-related concepts in a format that is accessible to the public, to counteract existing misinformation about evolution.

A (sub)field guide to quality control in hippocampal subfield segmentation on high-resolution T2-weighted MRI.

Inquiries into properties of brain structure and function have progressed due to developments in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). To sustain progress in investigating and quantifying neuroanatomical details in vivo, the reliability and validity of brain measurements are paramount. Quality control (QC) is a set of procedures for mitigating errors and ensuring the validity and reliability of brain measurements. Despite its importance, there is little guidance on best QC practices and reporting procedures. The study of hippocampal subfields in vivo is a critical case for QC because of their small size, inter-dependent boundary definitions, and common artifacts in the MRI data used for subfield measurements. We addressed this gap by surveying the broader scientific community studying hippocampal subfields on their views and approaches to QC. We received responses from 37 investigators spanning 10 countries, covering different career stages, and studying both healthy and pathological development and aging. In this sample, 81% of researchers considered QC to be very important or important, and 19% viewed it as fairly important. Despite this, only 46% of researchers reported on their QC processes in prior publications. In many instances, lack of reporting appeared due to ambiguous guidance on relevant details and guidance for reporting, rather than absence of QC. Here, we provide recommendations for correcting errors to maximize reliability and minimize bias. We also summarize threats to segmentation accuracy, review common QC methods, and make recommendations for best practices and reporting in publications. Implementing the recommended QC practices will collectively improve inferences to the larger population, as well as have implications for clinical practice and public health.

Ten simple rules to bridge ecology and palaeoecology by publishing outside palaeoecological journals.

Owing to its specialised methodology, palaeoecology is often regarded as a separate field from ecology, even though it is essential for understanding long-term ecological processes that have shaped the ecosystems that ecologists study and manage. Despite advances in ecological modelling, sample dating, and proxy-based reconstructions facilitating direct comparison of palaeoecological data with neo-ecological data, most of the scientific knowledge derived from palaeoecological studies remains siloed. We surveyed a group of palaeo-researchers with experience in crossing the divide between palaeoecology and neo-ecology, to develop Ten Simple Rules for publishing your palaeoecological research in non-palaeo journals. Our 10 rules are divided into the preparation phase, writing phase, and finalising phase when the article is submitted to the target journal. These rules provide a suite of strategies, including improved networking early in the process, building effective collaborations, transmitting results more efficiently and cross-disciplinary, and integrating concepts and methodologies that appeal to ecologists and a wider readership. Adhering to these Ten Simple Rules can ensure palaeoecologists' findings are more accessible and impactful among ecologists and the wider scientific community. Although this article primarily shows examples of how palaeoecological studies were published in journals for a broader audience, the rules apply to anyone who aims to publish outside specialised journals.

Fruit Wastes and Crop Residues as Nutrient Sources for Bacterial Nanocellulose Production: A Review

Nanocellulose has been developed and used as a bio-based advanced material in modern biotechnology. Lately, bacterial nanocellulose (BNC) emerged as a prominent biopolymer because of its multi-functional application in various industries, such as food, biomedical, cosmetics, and environmental. The emerging concern for large-scale BNC production is the high fermentation costs, low productivity, and expensive culture medium. To minimise this issue, agro-industrial wastes can be used as feedstock. Recently, many studies have investigated the utilization of agro-industrial wastes as potential nutrient sources for BNC production. However, a comprehensive review of BNC production from fruit wastes and crop residues is lacking. To address this gap, the current review focuses on the utilization of fruit wastes and crop residues for BNC production, including its advantages and disadvantages. This study contributes to the scientific community by (a) providing an insight into fruit waste and crop residue utilization for BNC synthesis (b) an overview on its advantages and disadvantages (c) providing recommendations and future perspectives on BNC production from agro-industrial waste utilization. The sustainable concept of BNC production utilizing agro-industrial wastes opens a way for industries to produce BNC on a larger scale.

The Different Concentrations of Applied Exogenous Sugars Widely Influence the Specificity, Significance and Physiological Relevance of Study Outcomings.

Plant growth and development are governed via signal networks that connect inputs from nutrient status, hormone signals, and environmental cues. Substantial researches have indicated a pivotal role of sugars as signalling molecules in plants that integrate external environmental cues and other nutrients with intrinsic developmental programmes regulated via multiple plant hormones. Therefore, plant growth and development are controlled through complication signalling networks. However, in many studies, to obtain more obviously experimental findings, excess concentrations of applied exogenous sugars have aggravated the complexity of this signalling networks. Once researchers underestimate this complexity, a series of contradictory or contrasting findings will be generated. More importantly, in terms of these contradictory findings, more contradictory study outcomings are derived. In this review, we carefully analyze some reports, and find that these reports have confused or neglected that the sugar-antagonism of ethylene signalling is specific or conditional. As a result, many contradictory conclusions are generated, which will in turn misdirect the scientific community.

AVR/I/SSAPDB: a comprehensive & specialised knowledgebase of antimicrobial peptides to combat VRSA, VISA, and VSSA.

The rise of multi-drug resistant (MDR) bacteria, especially strains of Staphylococcus aureus like Vancomycin-resistant S. aureus (VRSA), Vancomycin-intermediate S. aureus (VISA), and Vancomycin-susceptible S. aureus (VSSA), poses a severe threat to global health. This situation underscores the urgent need for novel antimicrobial agents to combat these resistant strains effectively. Here, we are introducing the Anti-Vancomycin-Resistant/Intermediate/Susceptible StaphylococcusaureusPeptide Database (AVR/I/SSAPDB), a manually curated comprehensive and specialised knowledgebase dedicated to antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) that target VRSA, VISA, and VSSA with clinical and non-clinical significance. Our database sources data from PubMed, cataloging 491 experimentally validated AMPs with detailed annotations on peptides, activity, and cross-references to external databases like PubMed, UniProt, PDB, and DrugBank. AVR/I/SSAPDB offers a user-friendly interface with simple to advanced and list-based search capabilities, enabling researchers to explore AMPs against VRSA, VISA, and VSSA. We are hoping that this resource will be helpful to the scientific community in developing targeted peptide-based therapeutics, providing a crucial tool for combating VRSA, VISA, and VSSA, and addressing a major public health concern. AVR/I/SSAPDB is freely accessible via any web-browser at URL: https://bblserver.org.in/avrissa/ .

Characterizing coagulation responses in humans and nonhuman primates following kidney xenotransplantation-A narrative review.

The recent report of the first pig kidney transplant in a living human brings hope to thousands of people with end-stage kidney failure. The scientific community views this early success with caution as kidney xenotransplantation exhibits many challenges and barriers. One of these is coagulation dysregulation. This includes (i) pig von Willebrand Factor (vWF) interaction with human platelets, which can induce abnormal clotting responses, heightening the risk of graft failure, (ii) the inefficiency of pig thrombomodulin in activating human protein C, which emphasizes the species-specific variations that aggravate coagulation challenges, and (iii) the development of thrombotic microangiopathy in the pig grafts and the occurrence of systemic consumptive coagulopathy in the recipients. Indeed, coagulation dysregulation largely results from differences in endothelial cell response and incompatibilities between pig and human coagulation-anticoagulation pathways. These barriers can be resolved by modifications to pig vWF and the expression of human thrombomodulin and endothelial protein C receptors in pig cells, serving as strategic interventions to align the coagulation systems of the two species more closely. These coagulation challenges have clinical implications in how they affect graft survival and patient outcome. Genetic engineering of the organ-source pig and the administration of various drugs have assisted in correcting this coagulation dysregulation. Hence, comprehending and controlling coagulation dysregulation is crucial for progress in xenotransplantation as a viable option for treating patients with terminal kidney disease.

Reasons for retraction of clinical research articles in PubMed indexed medical journals from 2012 to 2022

Background: Misconduct in the publication of research articles is a serious concern for the scientific community. This study was conducted with the objective to assess various reasons for retraction of clinical research articles published in PubMed indexed journals from all over the world since 2012 to 2022. Methods: A search was performed on the PubMed database for retracted research articles using filters for “retracted publication”. A total of 314 eligible research articles were assessed for studying basic details. The study outcome measures were to evaluate the reasons for the retraction and authors’ and journal editors’ responses to retractions. Results: Of the original research articles retracted, 150/242 (61.98%) were clinical trial publications. Of the total 314 retracted research articles, the most retractions were in 2014 (47, 14.96%) and 2013 (40, 12.73%) while the fewest retractions were in 2012 (3, 0.95%) and 2022 (9, 2.86%). The most common reasons for retraction were data errors or data analysis errors (120/314, 38.21%) followed by plagiarism (37/314, 11.8%), duplicate publication (35/314, 11.1%), ethical concerns (23/314, 7.3%) and methodological flaws (22/314, 7%). These concerns were raised mainly by the editor or editor-in-chief (228/314, 72.61%), followed by authors (29/314, 9.23%). Out of 228 editorial concerns on publications, authors of only 91/228 (39.91%) agreed and 17/228 (7.45%) completely disagreed with the editorial decision. Conclusion: Authors need to be more careful about data analysis errors, fabricated or falsified data, and plagiarism while submitting their research papers. On the part of editors, detecting misconduct at the submission and peer review stages will help lower the retraction rate and avoid citation of such articles by other authors.