Current Opportunities Research Articles

Landscape of cancer biomarker testing in England following genomic services reconfiguration: insights from a nationwide pathologist survey

AimsCancer diagnostics have been evolving rapidly. In England, the new National Health Service Genomic Medicine Service (GMS) provides centralised access to genomic testing via seven regional Genomic Laboratory Hubs. The...

Transcriptomics of intracranial aneurysms: current state and opportunities in flow diversion.

Over the last 2 decades, the field of transcriptomics has emerged as a major subdiscipline in biology. Transcriptomic techniques have been used by many groups over this time to better understand intracranial aneurysm development, rupture, and treatment. However, only a few studies have applied transcriptomics to understand the mechanisms behind flow diversion (FD) specifically, despite its increasing importance in the neurointerventional armamentarium. FD is an increasingly safe and effective treatment option for intracranial aneurysms. However, the clinical understanding and use of FD has far outpaced the understanding of the underlying mechanisms. To make FD more predictable, clinically efficacious, and safe, it is important to understand the biological mechanisms at play that lead to successful and unsuccessful FD. In this review, the authors focus on the current understanding of FD biology, the recent advances in transcriptomics, and what future studies could be performed to deepen the understanding of FD. They propose the new concept of the FD microenvironment to be studied, which may unlock a deeper biological understanding. This review provides the background for prospective studies into the development of targeted aneurysm therapy, whether by modified devices or by medical adjuncts.

V-Mail: 3D-Enabled Correspondence About Spatial Data on (Almost) All Your Devices.

We present V-Mail, a framework of cross-platform applications, interactive techniques, and communication protocols for improved multi-person correspondence about spatial 3D datasets. Inspired by the daily use of e-mail, V-Mail seeks to enable a similar style of rapid, multi-person communication accessible on any device; however, it aims to do this in the new context of spatial 3D communication, where limited access to 3D graphics hardware typically prevents such communication. The approach integrates visual data storytelling with data exploration, spatial annotations, and animated transitions. V-Mail "data stories" are exported in a standard video file format to establish a common baseline level of access on (almost) any device. The V-Mail framework also includes a series of complementary client applications and plugins that enable different degrees of story co-authoring and data exploration, adjusted automatically to match the capabilities of various devices. A lightweight, phone-based V-Mail app makes it possible to annotate data by adding captions to the video. These spatial annotations are then immediately accessible to team members running high-end 3D graphics visualization systems that also include a V-Mail client, implemented as a plugin. Results and evaluation from applying V-Mail to assist communication within an interdisciplinary science team studying Antarctic ice sheets confirm the utility of the asynchronous, cross-platform collaborative framework while also highlighting some current limitations and opportunities for future work.

CARBON CAPTURE AND UTILIZATION (CCU): A REVIEW OF EMERGING APPLICATIONS AND CHALLENGES

As the global community grapples with the urgent need to mitigate the impacts of climate change, Carbon Capture and Utilization (CCU) has emerged as a promising and multifaceted strategy to address carbon emissions. This review paper provides a comprehensive examination of the current state of CCU technologies, focusing on both the emerging applications and the challenges inherent in their implementation. The first section offers an overview of diverse carbon capture methods, ranging from pre-combustion to direct air capture, highlighting key advancements in technologies such as chemical absorption, membrane separation, and adsorption. Subsequently, the paper delves into the various pathways of carbon utilization, exploring applications in the production of fuels, carbon-based materials, and chemical synthesis. Notable breakthroughs in power-to-gas technologies, utilization in construction materials, and industrial applications are discussed in detail. The core of the review is dedicated to unveiling the emerging applications of CCU, with a specific emphasis on its role in agriculture and soil enhancement, integration with renewable energy systems, and collaboration with other industries. The potential economic and environmental benefits of these applications are explored to underscore the transformative impact of CCU on sustainable development. However, the journey towards widespread CCU adoption is not without challenges. This paper identifies and analyzes technical hurdles related to efficiency, scalability, and cost-effectiveness. Additionally, it examines the regulatory, policy, and societal challenges that may hinder the seamless integration of CCU technologies. Case studies of successful CCU projects provide practical insights, emphasizing lessons learned and best practices. The paper concludes by outlining future prospects and opportunities in the field of CCU, emphasizing the need for continued research, development, and international collaboration. It calls for a concerted effort to overcome challenges and harness the full potential of CCU in contributing to global carbon reduction goals. This comprehensive review aims to serve as a valuable resource for researchers, policymakers, and industry professionals involved in climate change mitigation, providing a nuanced understanding of the current landscape, opportunities, and challenges associated with Carbon Capture and Utilization.
 Keywords: Carbon Capture and Utilization (CCU), Applications, Challenges.

Current Challenges and Opportunities for Advanced Nursing Education in The United Arab Emirates

Abstract: The impact of the pandemic has shed light on the roles of nursing worldwide, as nurses who served in the frontline were affected severely and significantly at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. Most nurses bravely and courageously faced dangers, even death, to help patients confined in various healthcare facilities. Eventually, the nursing profession emerged victorious after the healthcare system worldwide was brought to its knees, almost collapsing the entire healthcare system in some countries, especially in Europe. As a part of countermeasures, all schools were forced to close and reinvent themselves in educating students using the available technologies, internet, occasional volunteer exposure, and work in government hospitals. The RAK College of Nursing (RAKCON) followed its actual schedule using all the university's resources, including online examinations, Zoom, and Google Meet. At first, it looked like the quality of education, especially at the graduate level, was compromised. Still, the students eventually became creative as they would do online research, meetings, and advising. The thesis defense was conducted online for at least two consecutive years, i.e., 2020 and 2021. Yet, it does not show that the quality of the thesis output by the students is inferior. They improved as students were obliged to keep track of the subject matter they chose to work on. As technology advances, the college is adjusting and looking for opportunities everywhere, like expanding markets outside the UAE, improving alumni involvement and support, and its plan to initiate and open doctoral nursing programs. RAKCON continuously believes that it can help develop innovation in the nursing and midwifery practice in the country as it hopes to produce one nurse in every Emirati family.

Poly(hydroxyalkanoates): Emerging Biopolymers in Biomedical Fields and Packaging Industries for a Circular Economy

AbstractPoly(hydroxyalkanoates) (PHAs) are a class of sustainable, bio-based thermoplastic polymers with attractive physiochemical properties, including non-toxicity, biocompatibility, elastomeric behavior by design, and piezoelectric characteristics. In the ongoing effort to reduce plastics waste, PHAs can play a substantial role due to their inherent biodegradability free of microplastics, customizable properties, and versatile applications. This includes their tremendous potential in a broad range of biomedical applications. Biomass-based materials have recently gained great interest in the health sector, given the vast amount of interdisciplinary research in bioengineering and medicine. Implantable biomaterials should not elicit any negative response at the implantation site, which differentiates them from general-purpose polymers. PHAs do not induce any thrombosis or antigenic response even after being in contact with blood in the human body during long-term use. The biocompatibility of PHAs is also a key factor in the rapid growth and proliferation of tissues onto and within these materials when served as tissue engineering scaffolds. By application, the biomedical field was estimated to be the second-largest market share for PHAs, in terms of volume, in 2022. While PHA-based materials bring forth a broad range of opportunities, they also present challenges that have limited their widespread use and a greater market share. A better understanding of their physiochemical properties and biodegradation rates, production challenges, and the need for cost-effective strategies are some of the hurdles that need to be addressed. This review paper provides an overview of the commonly used PHA homopolymers and copolymers in biomedical fields and packaging industries. The introduction of the manuscript presents the concept of bioplastics and their environmental significance, highlighting the urgent need for alternatives to conventional fossil-based plastics. The next sections briefly cover the synthesis, properties, as well as homopolymer and copolymer formulations, followed by the application of PHA-based materials in the biomedical field. Current opportunities and challenges, together with some insight into the future gathered from the published studies, have been brought in the concluding section of this paper.

Geochemistry of Terrestrial Plants in the Central African Copperbelt: Implications for Sediment Hosted Copper-Cobalt Exploration

Mineral exploration has increasingly targeted areas covered by in situ or transported overburden for shallow to deep-seated orebodies. It remains critical to develop better means to detect the surficial chemical footprint of mineralized areas covered by thick regolith. In such settings, plant geochemistry could potentially be a useful exploration tool, as different plant species have varying degrees of tolerance to metal enrichment in the soil. This review provides insights into the geological and geochemical controls on metal accumulation patterns in soil–plant systems of the Central African Copperbelt. In addition, it highlights the opportunities for integrating the geochemistry of terrestrial plants in emerging exploration technologies, identifies research gaps, and suggests future directions for developing phytogeochemical sampling techniques. This review was conducted using reputable online scholarly databases targeting original research articles published between January 2005 and March 2023, from which selected articles were identified, screened, and used to explore current advances, opportunities, and future directions for the use of plant geochemistry in sediment hosted Cu–Co exploration in the Central African Copperbelt. Various plant species are recognized as ore deposit indicators through either independent phytogeochemistry or complementary approaches. In the Central African Copperbelt, the successful application of hyperaccumulator species for phytoremediation provides the basis for adopting phytogeochemistry in mineral exploration. Furthermore, current advances in remote sensing, machine learning, and deep learning techniques could enable multi-source data integration and allow for the integration of phytogeochemistry.

Blood Management: A Current Opportunity in Perioperative Medicine.

The purpose of this viewpoint is to provide awareness of the current opportunities to enhance a high-value care approach to blood product transfusion. It provides a historical context to the evolution of blood management, as well as of the patient safety and high-value care movement. Leveraging current technology for enhanced education, as well as clinical decision support, is also discussed.

Astrocytes in Spinal Cord Injury: Current Opportunities and Prospects for Directional Polarization.

Activation of astrocytes during spinal cord injury (SCI) is accompanied by changes in their morphology and functional activity, possibly having severity-, localization-, and time-dependent features. The understanding of the role of reactive astrocytes has undergone significant changes over the last decades, and new data are still emerging to assess the diversity of functional manifestations of reactive cells. This review discusses the current understanding of astrocyte behavior, possible manifestations of their negative and positive roles in SCI, and the prospects for using various methods of directed polarization of astrocytes to improve post-traumatic outcomes. Despite the existing difficulties regarding the disclosure of the complex cascade of molecular changes of reactive astrocytes in different posttraumatic periods, researchers do not give up hope for the development of astrocyte-targeted methods that could reduce the severity of secondary injury by regulating the negative effects of these cells.

Current Challenges and Opportunities in Digital Libraries

Since now a days online information sources like e-books, e-journal, e-database have increased considerably. The term “Digital Library” corresponds to a very complex notion with several diverse aspects and cannot be captured by a simple definition. The introduction of digital information sources on internet has revolution the academic world. This paper depicts that some of the issues and current challenges and opportunities relating to digital libraries

Seagrasses produce most of the soil blue carbon in three Maldivian islands

Blue carbon is fast garnering international interest for its disproportionate contribution to global carbon stocks. However, our understanding of the size of these blue carbon stocks, as well as the provenance of carbon that is stored within them, is still poor. This is especially pertinent for many small-island nations that may have substantial blue carbon ecosystems that are poorly studied. Here, we present a preliminary assessment of blue carbon from three islands in the Maldives. The higher purpose of this research was to assess the feasibility of using blue carbon to help offset carbon emissions associated with Maldivian tourism, the largest Maldivian industry with one of the highest destination-based carbon footprints, globally. We used stable isotope mixing models to identify how habitats contributed to carbon found in sediments, and Loss on Ignition (LoI) to determine carbon content. We found that for the three surveyed islands, seagrasses (Thalassia hemprichii, Thalassodendron ciliatum, Halodule pinofilia, Syringodium isoetifolium, and Cymodocea rotundata) were the main contributors to sediment blue carbon (55 – 72%) while mangroves had the lowest contribution (9 – 44%). Surprisingly, screw pine (Pandanus spp.), a relative of palm trees found across many of these islands, contributed over a quarter of the carbon found in sediments. Organic carbon content (‘blue carbon’) was 6.8 ± 0.3 SE % and 393 ± 29 tonnes ha-1 for mangrove soils, and 2.5 ± 0.2% and 167 ± 20 tonnes ha-1 for seagrasses, which is slightly higher than global averages. While preliminary, our results highlight the importance of seagrasses as carbon sources in Maldivian blue carbon ecosystems, and the possible role that palms such as screw pines may have in supplementing this. Further research on Maldivian blue carbon ecosystems is needed to: 1) map current ecosystem extent and opportunities for additionality through conservation and restoration; 2) determine carbon sequestration rates; and 3) investigate options and feasibility for tourism-related blue carbon crediting. Overall, the opportunity for blue carbon in the Maldives is promising, but the state of knowledge is very limited.

Genome editing based trait improvement in crops: current perspective, challenges and opportunities

Genome editing based trait improvement in crops: current perspective, challenges and opportunities

Advances in Additive Manufacturing of Polymer-Fused Deposition Modeling on Textiles: From 3D Printing to Innovative 4D Printing-A Review.

Technological advances and the development of new and advanced materials allow the transition from three-dimensional (3D) printing to the innovation of four-dimensional (4D) printing. 3D printing is the process of precisely creating objects with complex shapes by depositing superimposed layers of material. Current 3D printing technology allows two or more filaments of different polymeric materials to be placed, which, together with the development of intelligent materials that change shape over time or under the action of an external stimulus, allow us to innovate and move toward an emerging area of research, innovative 4D printing technology. 4D printing makes it possible to manufacture actuators and sensors for various technological applications. Its most significant development is currently in the manufacture of intelligent textiles. The potential of 4D printing lies in modular manufacturing, where fabric-printed material interaction enables the creation of bio-inspired and biomimetic devices. The central part of this review summarizes the effect of the primary external stimuli on 4D textile materials, followed by the leading applications. Shape memory polymers attract current and potential opportunities in the textile industry to develop smart clothing for protection against extreme environments, auxiliary prostheses, smart splints or orthoses to assist the muscles in their medical recovery, and comfort devices. In the future, intelligent textiles will perform much more demanding roles, thus envisioning the application fields of 4D printing in the next decade.

6 Identifying research gaps and opportunities to enhance sustainable beef production

Abstract Sustainability has evolved and extended its influence across diverse sectors of the economy, including those in the beef supply chain. Public-facing companies predominantly emphasize environmental sustainability, especially climate-associated features, while beef producers continue to prioritize economic sustainability, hoping to to ensure their operation thrives into the next generation. Diversifying revenue and improving productivity are pivotal for safeguarding economic sustainability and fostering resilient production systems. Diversification is not new to beef producers; many have integrated ecosystem services into their operations to generate non-production revenue. The most valuable asset of a beef producer is the productivity of the land. Decision support tools need to be enhanced to allow producers to either capitalize on above average forage production to generate additional income, or to plan for alternative strategies when forage supply is forecast to be reduced. Because downstream beef supply chain participants prioritize environmental sustainability or reduction of scope 3 emissions, an emerging diversification opportunity for beef producers is to address this opportunity. While soil carbon initiatives have received attention, companies with substantial scope 3 emissions from beef production may value greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from cattle more highly. Incentives for practices that reduce GHG emission from cattle can simultaneously reduce environmental impact associated with beef production and generate an additional revenue stream adjacent to beef production. Current opportunities to participate in these incentive programs are limited. Research can address the creation of functional protocols, and their intrinsic value. Clear targets, for gross emissions or emissions intensity, must be set but are not equivalent. In particular, research on effective/acceptable monitoring, reporting, and verification of emissions claims is imperative to functional markets. Innovation in emissions management and productivity gains can be integrated, so that goals of economic and environmental sustainability among value chain participants can be achieved. Maintaining a comprehensive perspective on sustainability solutions is essential to meeting the needs of humanity.

Completion of multidose vaccine series in early childhood: current challenges and opportunities.

Completion of all doses in multidose vaccine series provides optimal protection against preventable infectious diseases. In this review, we describe clinical and public health implications of multidose vaccine series noncompletion, including current challenges to ensuring children receive all recommended vaccinations. We then highlight actionable steps toward achieving early childhood immunization goals. Although coverage levels are high for most early childhood vaccinations, rates of completion are lower for vaccinations that require multiple doses. Recent research has shown that lower family socioeconomic status, a lack of health insurance coverage, having multiple children in the household, and moving across state lines are associated with children failing to complete multidose vaccine series. These findings provide contextual evidence to support that practical challenges to accessing immunization services are impediments to completion of multidose series. Strategies, including reminder/recall, use of centralized immunization information systems, and clinician prompts, have been shown to increase immunization rates. Re-investing in these effective interventions and modernizing the public health infrastructure can facilitate multidose vaccine series completion. Completion of multidose vaccine series is a challenge for immunization service delivery. Increased efforts are needed to address remaining barriers and improve vaccination coverage in the United States.

JAK/STAT3 signaling in cardiac fibrosis: a promising therapeutic target.

Cardiac fibrosis is a serious health problem because it is a common pathological change in almost all forms of cardiovascular diseases. Cardiac fibrosis is characterized by the transdifferentiation of cardiac fibroblasts (CFs) into cardiac myofibroblasts and the excessive deposition of extracellular matrix (ECM) components produced by activated myofibroblasts, which leads to fibrotic scar formation and subsequent cardiac dysfunction. However, there are currently few effective therapeutic strategies protecting against fibrogenesis. This lack is largely because the molecular mechanisms of cardiac fibrosis remain unclear despite extensive research. The Janus kinase/signal transducer and activator of transcription (JAK/STAT) signaling cascade is an extensively present intracellular signal transduction pathway and can regulate a wide range of biological processes, including cell proliferation, migration, differentiation, apoptosis, and immune response. Various upstream mediators such as cytokines, growth factors and hormones can initiate signal transmission via this pathway and play corresponding regulatory roles. STAT3 is a crucial player of the JAK/STAT pathway and its activation is related to inflammation, malignant tumors and autoimmune illnesses. Recently, the JAK/STAT3 signaling has been in the spotlight for its role in the occurrence and development of cardiac fibrosis and its activation can promote the proliferation and activation of CFs and the production of ECM proteins, thus leading to cardiac fibrosis. In this manuscript, we discuss the structure, transactivation and regulation of the JAK/STAT3 signaling pathway and review recent progress on the role of this pathway in cardiac fibrosis. Moreover, we summarize the current challenges and opportunities of targeting the JAK/STAT3 signaling for the treatment of fibrosis. In summary, the information presented in this article is critical for comprehending the role of the JAK/STAT3 pathway in cardiac fibrosis, and will also contribute to future research aimed at the development of effective anti-fibrotic therapeutic strategies targeting the JAK/STAT3 signaling.

Engineering models of head and neck and oral cancers on-a-chip.

Head and neck cancers (HNCs) rank as the sixth most common cancer globally and result in over 450 000 deaths annually. Despite considerable advancements in diagnostics and treatment, the 5-year survival rate for most types of HNCs remains below 50%. Poor prognoses are often attributed to tumor heterogeneity, drug resistance, and immunosuppression. These characteristics are difficult to replicate using in vitro or in vivo models, culminating in few effective approaches for early detection and therapeutic drug development. Organs-on-a-chip offer a promising avenue for studying HNCs, serving as microphysiological models that closely recapitulate the complexities of biological tissues within highly controllable microfluidic platforms. Such systems have gained interest as advanced experimental tools to investigate human pathophysiology and assess therapeutic efficacy, providing a deeper understanding of cancer pathophysiology. This review outlines current challenges and opportunities in replicating HNCs within microphysiological systems, focusing on mimicking the soft, glandular, and hard tissues of the head and neck. We further delve into the major applications of organ-on-a-chip models for HNCs, including fundamental research, drug discovery, translational approaches, and personalized medicine. This review emphasizes the integration of organs-on-a-chip into the repertoire of biological model systems available to researchers. This integration enables the exploration of unique aspects of HNCs, thereby accelerating discoveries with the potential to improve outcomes for HNC patients.

Assessing the Conservation and Management Status in the Archaeological Site of Pella (Tabaqat Fahl) in Jordan

The archaeological site of Pella (Tabaqat Fahl) in Jordan is a unique heritage site that represents a rich historical chronology and is listed on UNESCO’s Tentative List of World Heritage Sites under criteria (i), (iii), and (iv). Pella is currently under the administration and management of the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities (MOTA) and the Department of Antiquities (DoA) respectively. This paper assesses the site’s status of conservation and management through investigating the current physical conditions, threats, managerial constraints, and opportunities. The paper explores the annual work carried out in the site over the past 15 years, including foreign missions, as well as the new visitor centre that the MOTA has established in the site recently. In addition, all stakeholders that have cross responsibilities in the site are identified. The results of this research highlight strengths, weaknesses, threats, and opportunities that face the site. It is evident that the site requires efficient conservation and management processes, as Pella has slowly deteriorated over the years, which has left it in a vulnerable and neglected state. Overall, the archaeological site of Pella holds immense opportunities for improvement and strengthening its Outstanding Universal Value (OUV) that can aid in inscribing it on the list of World Heritage Sites.

The current perspective and opportunities of small nucleic acid-based therapeutics.

Compared to traditional small molecule and antibody drugs, RNA-based drugs offer a simple design, short research and development cycles, high specificity, broad treatment fields, and long-term efficacy. As a result, RNA-based drugs are extensively used to treat genetic diseases, tumors, viral infections, and other illnesses, suggesting that they have the potential to become the third-largest drug class after small molecule and antibody drugs. Currently, more than 10 small nucleic acid drugs have gained regulatory approval. The commercialization successes of small nucleic acid drugs will stimulate the development of RNA-based drugs. Small nucleic acid drugs primarily target liver diseases, metabolic diseases, genetic diseases, and tumors, and there is also significant potential for expanding indications in the future. This review provides a brief overview of the advantages and development of small nucleic acid-based therapeutics and shows a focus on platform technologies such as chemical modifications and delivery systems that have enabled the clinical translation of small nucleic acid-based therapeutics. Additionally, we summarize the latest clinical progress in small nucleic acid-based therapeutics for the treatment of various diseases, including rare diseases, liver diseases, metabolic diseases, and tumors. Finally, we highlight the future prospects for this promising treatment approach.

Resilience and adolescence-transition in youth with developmental disabilities and their families: a scoping review.

Children with neurodevelopmental disabilities (NDDs, e.g., cerebral palsy) and their caregivers face lifelong and impactful challenges, particularly during life-transition periods such as adolescence. One's resilience emerges as an essential ability to navigate this vulnerable phase. Resilience is a complex concept that embeds multiple factors on various levels. Little is known about what resilience factors are pivotal in youth with NDDs and their families as they transition into adolescence and how these are addressed as part of existing targeted interventions. This review explored the concept of resilience in youth with NDDs and their families. Specific aims included describing salient resilience factors in adolescents with NDDs and their families and to describe how resilience is addressed as part of targeted interventions. Using the Arskey and O'Malley framework, six steps were undertaken, including a comprehensive literature search (n = 5 databases), transparent study selection, detailed data extraction with a coding scheme (n = 46 factors), results' collating with numerical and inductive content analysis, and consultation with three key stakeholders. The study screened 1,191 publications, selecting fifty-eight (n = 58; n = 52 observational and n = 6 intervention) studies. Findings revealed that resilience in this context is closely linked to more than forty factors across four levels (individual; family; school/peers; and community). Pivotal factors include social and emotional competence, optimism, and family/peer relationships. While existing interventions targeting resilience show promising results, few programs are available and generalizable to different NDDs. Stakeholders highlighted the importance of addressing resilience factors that are not targeted in existing interventions: caregivers' self-efficacy and self-esteem, as well as youth's and caregiver's confidence. Preferences for and advantages of online delivery for support programs and individual/group features also emerged. The review emphasizes the need for a holistic approach to support youth with NDDs and their families during adolescence transition. To enhance their resilience, recognizing caregivers' roles, customizing interventions, and exploring new implementation formats are avenues that align with the current evidence and opportunities for practical development in this field.