Current Trends Research Articles

Prevalence of Self-Reported Hypertension and Antihypertensive Medication Use Among Adults - United States, 2017-2021.

Hypertension, or high blood pressure, is a major risk factor for heart disease and stroke. It increases with age and is highest among non-Hispanic Black or African American persons, men, persons aged ≥65 years, those of lower socioeconomic status, and those who live in the southern United States. Hypertension affects approximately one half of U.S. adults, and approximately one quarter of those persons have their blood pressure under control. Reducing population-level hypertension prevalence and improving control is a national priority. In 2017, updated guidelines for high blood pressure in adults recommended lowering the blood pressure threshold for diagnosis of hypertension. Analysis of data from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System found that age-standardized, self-reported diagnosed hypertension was approximately 30% during 2017-2021, with persistent differences by age, sex, race and ethnicity, level of education, and state of residence. During this period, the age-standardized prevalence of antihypertensive medication use among persons with hypertension increased by 3.1 percentage points, from 59.8% to 62.9% (p<0.001). Increases in antihypertensive medication use were observed in most sociodemographic groups and in many states. Assessing current trends in hypertension diagnosis and treatment can help guide the development of policies and implementation of interventions to reduce this important risk factor for cardiovascular disease and can aid in addressing health disparities.

A Review and Comparative Study of Works that Care is Monitoring Detection and Therapy of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder

Recognizing human activity from video sequences and sensor data is one of the major challenges in human-computer interaction and computer vision. Health care is a rapidly developing field of technology and services. The latest development in this field is remote patient monitoring, which has many advantages in a rapidly evolving world. With relatively simple applications for monitoring patients within hospital rooms, technology has advanced to the point where a patient can be allowed to carry out normal daily activities at home while still being monitored using modern communication technologies and sensors. These new technologies can monitor patients based on their disease or condition. The technology varies from sensors attached to the body to peripheral sensors connected to the environment, and innovations show contactless monitoring that only requires the patient to be within a few meters of the sensor. Nowadays, the Internet of Things, wearable devices, mobile technologies, and improved communication and computing capabilities have given rise to innovative mobile health solutions, and several research efforts have recently been made in the field of autism spectrum disorders (ASD). This technology may be particularly useful for some rapidly changing emotional states, especially people with ASD. Children with ASD have some disturbing activities, and usually cannot speak fluently. Instead, they use signs and words to establish rapport, so understanding their needs is one of the most challenging tasks for healthcare providers, but monitoring the disease can make it much easier. We study in this work more than 50 collected articles that have made a significant contribution to the field were selected. Indeed, the current paper reviews the literature to identify current trends, expectations, and potential gaps related to the latest portable, smart, and wearable technologies in the field of ASD. This study also provides a review of recent developments in health care and monitoring of people with autism.

Reimagining the Anthropocene in the Search for Human Security: Humans as Creating Creatures

Abstract The Anthropocene poses daunting challenges to humanity in the form of a polycrisis with diverse manifestations. Both the definition of the epoch and its challenges stem from our ecological overload and the domination over the biosphere by human endeavors. An organized transition to a sustainable future, as well as educational efforts to expedite it, will depend on the extent of human agency at the individual and collective levels. An analysis of precedents and current trends suggests poor chances for a successful transition out of the initial causation phase of the Anthropocene, despite our collective culpability. More likely are multiple transitions that take diverse regional approaches, with varying success rates. As human agency becomes increasingly constrained, hopes for creative solutions focus on local communities, positive deviants, and counterhegemonic education.

Current trends in the development of digital financial and payment market in Azerbaijan

Aim. To consider the key aspects of digital transformation of the financial sector in the context of large-scale changes taking place in the digital financial sphere.Objectives. To determine the sequence of actions of the Central Bank of Azerbaijan in the direction of cashless economy; to study the change in the architecture of the financial sector in connection with advanced financial technologies; to study the problems of FinTech providers of new financial technologies as a result of the introduction of the concept of open banking.Methods. The dialectical approach to analyzing the key phenomena and regularities contributing to the development of economic relations, as well as a systematic approach to revealing the main factors of development of digital transformation of the financial and payment sector served as the methodological basis of the research. Along with this, such methods of scientific analysis of socio-economic phenomena and processes as statistical, comparative, fundamental and functional analysis, expert assessments and modeling were used. The theoretical basis was formed by the final results of fundamental and applied research, reflected in periodicals, a number of monographs, materials of scientific conferences.Results. The Central Bank of the Republic of Azerbaijan with the purpose of expanding the process of application of innovative financial technologies on the basis of advanced technological solutions and thus supporting FinTech activities has started to implement measures on formation of appropriate legislative bases for introduction of open banking and technological infrastructure. The main reason for people’s decreasing attachment to traditional banking is the availability of digital banking services in a convenient and easy way, without wasting time and waiting in long queues.Conclusions. Azerbaijan has formed a positive trend in the development of digital banking, which can be considered one of the main challenges of modernity. Today, digital banking in Azerbaijan is replacing traditional banking services. The emergence of prominent FinTech providers of new financial technologies as a result of the introduction of the concept of open banking, which allows individual banks and customers to share financial information with third parties, is changing the status quo of the financial ecosystem. This new paradigm has the potential to transform the traditional financial services ecosystem into a dynamic and competitive environment where startups and small innovative companies, competing with larger providers, offer new products and services. A positive trend in the development of digital banking as one of the main challenges of modernity has emerged in Azerbaijan. Today digital banking in Azerbaijan displaces traditional banking services.

Current Trends in Sirtuin Activator and Inhibitor Development.

Sirtuins are NAD+-dependent protein deacylases and key metabolic regulators, coupling the cellular energy state with selective lysine deacylation to regulate many downstream cellular processes. Humans encode seven sirtuin isoforms (Sirt1-7) with diverse subcellular localization and deacylase targets. Sirtuins are considered protective anti-aging proteins since increased sirtuin activity is canonically associated with lifespan extension and decreased activity with developing aging-related diseases. However, sirtuins can also assume detrimental cellular roles where increased activity contributes to pathophysiology. Modulation of sirtuin activity by activators and inhibitors thus holds substantial potential for defining the cellular roles of sirtuins in health and disease and developing therapeutics. Instead of being comprehensive, this review discusses the well-characterized sirtuin activators and inhibitors available to date, particularly those with demonstrated selectivity, potency, and cellular activity. This review also provides recommendations regarding the best-in-class sirtuin activators and inhibitors for practical research as sirtuin modulator discovery and refinement evolve.

Can Your Smartphone Save A Life? A Systematic Review of Mobile-Based Interventions For Suicide Prevention

Mobile health (mHealth) apps are handy tools for tackling stigmatized mental health issues, including suicide. Mobile-based interventions for suicide prevention are easily accessible, increase the likelihood of honest reporting on sensitive topics and reduce stigma as compared to face-to-face or traditional interventions. Many mHealth apps for suicide prevention exist. However, the persuasive strategies employed in these apps and their efficacy remains unknown. To address this gap, we reviewed 80 suicide prevention apps available on app stores and in academic journals. We identified different persuasive strategies implemented in these apps using the Persuasive System Design (PSD) model. We also identified current trends within these apps, most and least-dominant implementations of persuasive strategies, effectiveness of apps, evaluation methods, and app content. We found that Personalization (n = 32) and Self-monitoring (n = 29) were the most-dominant strategies and Social Comparison, Social Role were the least-dominant strategies in suicide prevention apps. Based on our findings we discuss three major concerns in developing suicide prevention apps and offer recommendations for mitigating them. Our results show that persuasive strategies are a promising tool that can be used for designing suicide prevention apps. Our conclusions and recommendations will guide future work in suicide prevention app development and enhance the usability, effectiveness, and user-experience of such apps.

Post-Mastectomy Breast Reconstruction – a review on current trends

Post-Mastectomy Breast Reconstruction – a review on current trends

Label‐free surface‐enhanced Raman spectroscopy coupled with machine learning algorithms in pathogenic microbial identification: Current trends, challenges, and perspectives

AbstractInfectious diseases caused by microbial pathogens remain a primary contributor to global health burdens. Prompt control and effective prevention of these pathogens are critical for public health and medical diagnostics. Conventional microbial detection methods suffer from high complexity, low sensitivity, and poor selectivity. Therefore, developing rapid and reliable methods for microbial pathogen detection has become imperative. Surface‐enhanced Raman Spectroscopy (SERS), as an innovative non‐invasive diagnostic technique, holds significant promise in pathogenic microorganism detection due to its rapid, reliable, and cost‐effective advantages. This review comprehensively outlines the fundamental theories of Raman Spectroscopy (RS) with a focus on label‐free SERS strategy, reporting on the latest advancements of SERS technique in detecting bacteria, viruses, and fungi in clinical settings. Furthermore, we emphasize the application of machine learning algorithms in SERS spectral analysis. Finally, challenges faced by SERS application are probed, and the prospective development is discussed.

An industry perspective on current QSP trends in drug development.

2023 marks the 10th anniversary of Natpara's submission to the US FDA, which led to the first recorded regulatory interaction where a decision was supported by Quantitative and Systems Pharmacology (QSP) simulations. It had taken about 5 years for the timid QSP discipline to emerge as an effective Model-Informed Drug Development (MIDD) tool with visible impact in the pharmaceutical industry. Since then, the presence of QSP in the regulatory environment has continued to increase, to the point that the Agency reported 60 QSP submissions in 2020 alone, representing ~ 4% of their annual IND submissions [1]. What sort of industry mindset has enabled QSP to reach this level of success? How does QSP fit within the MIDD paradigm? Does QSP mean the same to Discovery and to Clinical Development projects? How do 'platforms' compare to 'fit-for-purpose' QSP models in an industrial setting? Can QSP and empirical Pharmacokinetic-Pharmacodynamic (PKPD) modelling be complementary? What level of validation is required to inform drug development decisions? This article reflects on all these questions, in particular addressing those audiences with limited line-of-sight into the drug industry decision-making machinery.

A Study on the Selection and Development of English Education A Case Study of China and Belgium

A Study on the Selection and Development of English Education A Case Study of China and Belgium

Antibiotic resistance pattern of &lt;em&gt;Salmonella enterica typh&lt;/em&gt;i infection in paediatric population at a iertiary level hospital

Background: Enteric fever is an important public health condition in developing countries. Antibiotic resistance patterns in Salmonella enterica typhi (S. typhi) infections are constantly changing. Continual surveillance of resistance levels of S. typhi is critical for clinicians to update antibiotic options.Objectives: To evaluate the current trends in antibiotic sensitivity and resistance to S. typhi in children in developing countries.Method: A cross sectional observational study was carried out on 102 children aged 6 months to 5 years with culture positive S. typhi infection in a tertiary care hospital in North India. Antibiotic susceptibility information of S. typhi was collected and the pattern of antibiotic resistance was analysed.Results: S. typhi showed a sensitivity of 78.4% to ampicillin and 99% to trimethoprim+ sulfamethoxazole which were the previously used antibiotics. However, it showed 100% resistance to ciprofloxacin and nalidixic acid. Of the currently used first line IV antibiotics, there was a 88.4% sensitivity to ceftriaxone and a 98% sensitivity to meropenem.Conclusions: The study concluded that there is reemergence of antibiotic sensitivity of S. typhi to earlier first line drugs like ampicillin and trimethoprim– sulfamethoxazole.

Results of an exploratory survey within ESTS membership in 2022 on current trend of robotic-assisted thoracic surgery and its training perspectives.

Robotic-assisted thoracic surgery is increasingly used in our specialty. We surveyed European Society of Thoracic Surgeons membership with the objective to determine current status of robotic thoracic surgery practice including training perspectives. A survey of 17 questions was rolled out with 1 surgeon per unit responses considered as acceptable. 174 responses were obtained; 56% (97) were board certified thoracic surgeons; 28% (49) were unit heads. Most responses came from Italy (20). 22% (38) had no robot in their institutions, 31% (54) had limited access and only 17% (30) had full access including proctoring. Da Vinci Xi was the commonest system in 56% (96) centres, 25% (41) of them had dual console in all systems whereas robotic thoracic surgery (RATS) simulator was available only in half (51.18% or 87). Video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) was most commonly adopted surgical approach in 81% of centers (139), followed by thoracotomy in 67% (115) and RATS in 36% (62). 39% spent their training time on robotic simulator for training, 51% on robotic wet/dry lab which being no significantly different to 46-59% who had training on VATS platform. There was indeed huge overlap between simulator models or varieties usage. 52% (90) reported of robotic surgery not a part of training curriculum with no plans to introduce it in future. Overall, 51.5% (89) responded of VATS experience being helpful in robotic training in view of familiarity with minimally invasive surgery anatomical views and dissection. 71% (124) reported that future thoracic surgeons should be proficient in both VATS and RATS. Half of the respondents found no difference in earlier chest drain removal with either approach (90), 35% (60) reported no difference in postoperative pain and 49% (84) found no difference in hospital stay. 52% (90) observed better lymph node harvest by RATS. Survey concluded on a positive response with at least 71% (123) surgeons recommending to adopt robotics in future.

HARMONY OF LIGHT AND SHADOW: KEY ASPECTS OF LIGHTING IN PORTRAIT PHOTOGRAPHY

The article analyzes the role of lighting in portrait photography, emphasizing how the harmony between light and shadow can affect the emotional depth and visual appeal of an image. Photography, presented as an art and science of light, requires not only professional skills, but also the talent and skill of the photographer. The skill of a photographer lies not only in technical execution, but also in the ability to convey life and emotions through the image, revealing the true character of a person. Thus, a portrait photographer should be able to capture the soul and inner world of the model, which is a sign of his or her true skill. The article pays special attention to lighting under artificial lighting. It further discusses such aspects as distance between the subject and the light source, directionality of light, the size of light source and the distance to the subject, as well as the importance of shape of reflector. The different types of lighting in portrait photography are also discussed: back, side, front, diffused, and hard light, each of which affects the final image. The study includes analysis of current trends and innovative lighting techniques in portrait photography. It emphasizes the importance of the photographer’s ability to use different light sources to create images that reflect uniqueness and personality of the model. This study aims to expand the theoretical knowledge and practical skills of photographers, striving to improve the quality and expressiveness of portrait images.

Navigating Digital Transformation: Current Trends in Digital Competencies for Open Innovation in Organizations

This study explored both the evolution and the integration of digital competencies within the context of open innovation, emphasizing the impact of technological advances across various sectors. The goal was to analyze documents indexed in Scopus from 2017 to 2023 using a quantitative and bibliometric approach. The methodology employed RStudio version 4.3.2 and Microsoft Excel 365 for data analysis, focusing on variables such as documents per year, h-index, total citations, and academic sources. The findings indicated a significant increase in research, highlighting a diversity of approaches, a trend towards international collaboration, and an evolution from basic concepts to complex applications, particularly the integration of digitization with sustainability and innovation. This research underscores the transformation of the business sector through digital competencies in open innovation and suggests further exploration into the effects of the pandemic on digital competencies, the role of artificial intelligence, the digital competencies–sustainable development relationship, and their application across different sectors.

Smart Strategies and Technologies for Sustainability and Biodiversity in Herbaceous and Horticultural Crops

Current trends in modern farming systems are moving in the direction of technical solutions for improving the sustainability and biodiversity of agroecosystems [...]

Bibliometric Review of Prefabricated and Modular Timber Construction from 1990 to 2023: Evolution, Trends, and Current Challenges

Due to its inherent characteristics, such as a light weight and ease of workability, timber is ideal for prefabricated and modular construction. However, since the research in this field covers a wide range of niches such as structural engineering, building physics, design for assembly and disassembly, and life cycle analysis, among others, and since there has been considerable development of the field in past years—boosted by new mass timber products and tall timber construction—it is difficult to critically analyze the current state of the art, current trends, and research challenges. Therefore, this research aimed to cover a systematic review of 409 articles to assess the field of prefabricated and modular timber construction critically. The methodology comprised a co-word network approach using the Science Mapping Analysis Software Tool (SciMAT, Version 3) to illustrate their evolution from 1990 to 2023. The findings show that the circular economy and digital technologies significantly impact the development of these technologies, which can potentially provide practical solutions for designing buildings with a circular approach and improving productivity and efficiency in the construction process. However, it is essential to acknowledge a notable deficiency in the research and understanding of these subjects. Therefore, various sectors must take the lead in conducting a thorough reassessment to enhance research and development in the field. Finally, the findings from this research can significantly contribute to existing knowledge and serve as a comprehensive platform for the further exploration of prefabricated and modular timber construction.

Current trends in the management of out of hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA).

Sudden cardiac arrest remains a relevant problem with a significant number of deaths worldwide. Although survival rates have more than tripled over the last 20 years (4% in 2001 vs. 14% in 2020), survival rates with good neurological outcomes remain persistently low, representing a major socioeconomic problem. Every minute of delay from patient collapse to start cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and early defibrillation reduces the chance of survival by approximately 10-12%. Therefore, the time to treatment is a crucial factor in the prognosis of patients with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA). Research teams working in the pre-hospital setting are therefore looking for ways to improve the transmission of information from the site of an emergency event and to make it easier for emergency medical dispatch centres (EMDC) to recognise life-threatening conditions with minimal deviation. For emergency unit procedures already at the scene of the event, methods are being sought to efficiently and temporarily replace a non-functioning cardiopulmonary system. In the case of traumatic cardiac arrest (TCA), the focus is mainly on effective affecting non-compressible haemorrhage.

Declining magma supply to a poroelastic magma mush explains long-term deformation at Soufrière Hills Volcano

Volcano deformation studies traditionally consider melt-dominated magma reservoirs, often overlooking the significant role of poroelastic mush in modifying surface deformation. Here, we analyze the deformation of Soufrière Hills Volcano (SHV) with a focus on a mush-dominated, poroelastic magma reservoir, drawing on temporal deformation data from 14 continuous GPS stations during the ongoing intra-eruptive unrest period. We implemented a 3D Finite Element model and optimization to simulate the observed deformation. Our results reveal that the deformation is likely driven by ongoing, melt injection (Q = 1.1 m³ sec⁻¹) into a low permeability (k = 4.7 × 10⁻¹⁰ m²) reservoir with the injection to the base of the reservoir at 16.5 km depth below sea level. Our findings highlight temporal variations in the melt injection rate to fit the decreasing GPS-recorded deformation rates. An initial injection rate Qi = 1.9 m³ sec⁻¹ inferred at the start of our study period decreases to Qf = 0.3 m³ sec⁻¹ over a 12-year period (2010–2022). Exploratory forward modeling suggests that if current trends continue, the end of magma supply to our modelled reservoir could occur around June 2024 ± 2 years. However, this does not imply the end of associated volcanic hazards at SHV, as the poroelastic diffusion of melt will continue, causing redistribution of melt, surface deformation, and potentially initiating reservoir rupture. While our models offer new insights, inherent limitations in our simulations include interdependencies among our explored model parameters that would benefit from further refinement. Despite these limitations, the study offers crucial guidance on understanding and forecasting volcano deformation dynamics, particularly for volcanoes like SHV with crystal-rich magma reservoirs.

Transformative organisational learning for sustainability in higher education: A literature review and an international multi-case study

Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) play a critical role in the United Nations (UN) 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development (SD). However, this contribution requires a significant transformation in HEIs, encompassing all their activities. In this regard, the main objective of this study is to understand the learning processes, paths, and practices that can contribute to this transformation, from the transformative and organisational learning perspectives. Specifically, this study seeks to investigate: (1) what the literature states on transformative and organisational learning for sustainability in higher education; (2) how top sustainable HEIs are embedding sustainability into their activities; and (3) the role of transformative and organisational learning for sustainability in higher education. For that, we combined a bibliometric review of relevant literature on the topic with fifteen case studies from thirteen cities of six different countries, conducted through in-loco observation techniques, in-depth interviews, and document analysis. The findings of this study contribute to the literature by mapping current trends on the topic and, from the experience of the most sustainable HEIs, it provides practical insights and frameworks which can inspire and guide other HEIs on their journey towards sustainability.

Visualization Process of International Trade and its impact on GDP through Multi-criteria Decision Model: A Case Study of India’s Merchandise Trade

When it comes to international trade, India is one of the most important nations. This paper intends to analyze the effect of International Trade on a nation’s GDP growth through the process of visualizing the current trends. For this research, some statistical (economical) data is considered and its effect on the GDP is analyzed for the previous accounting years ranging from 2015 to 2021. The data considered for this include – the monetary value of exports from India (in US$ Millions), the monetary value of imports from India (in US$ Millions), India’s share of exports to the nation out of all the nations, India’s share of imports to the nation out of all the nations in, export growth rate, import growth rate, currency exchange rate, Inflation rate. This paper examines and explains how these economic factors influence a country’s (India’s) GDP growth through the process of visualization.