Future Research Directions Research Articles

It's time to shed some light on the importance of fungi in neonatal intensive care units: what do we know about the neonatal mycobiome?

The 21st century, thanks to the development of molecular methods, including DNA barcoding, using Sanger sequencing, and DNA metabarcoding, based on next-generation sequencing (NGS), is characterized by flourishing research on the human microbiome. Microbial dysbiosis is perceived as a new pathogenetic factor for neonatal diseases. Fungi are crucial, but neglected, components of the neonatal microbiome, which, despite their low abundance, significantly impact morbidity and mortality rates of premature infants hospitalized in Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICUs). The neonatal mycobiome's composition and effect on health remain poorly studied research areas. Our knowledge about neonatal mycobiome, composed of limited genera, is mainly based on research on the bacterial microbiome. We presume it is influenced by clinical factors, including prematurity, antibiotic therapy, and type of delivery. Understanding these risk factors may be useful in prevention strategies against dysbiosis and invasive fungal infections. Despite the methodological challenges resulting from the biology of the fungal cell, this topic is an attractive area of research that may contribute to more effective treatment, especially of newborns from risk groups. In this mini review, we discuss the current state of knowledge, research gaps, study difficulties, and future research directions on the neonatal mycobiome, concerning potential future clinical applications.

Role of methylglyoxal and glyoxalase in the regulation of plant response to heavy metal stress.

Methylglyoxal and glyoxalase function a significant role in plant response to heavy metal stress. We update and discuss the most recent developments of methylglyoxal and glyoxalase in regulating plant response to heavy metal stress. Methylglyoxal (MG), a by-product of several metabolic processes, is created by both enzymatic and non-enzymatic mechanisms. It plays an important role in plant growth and development, signal transduction, and response to heavy metal stress (HMS). Changes in MG content and glyoxalase (GLY) activity under HMS imply that they may be potential biomarkers of plant stress resistance. In this review, we summarize recent advances in research on the mechanisms of MG and GLY in the regulation of plant responses to HMS. It has been discovered that appropriate concentrations of MG assist plants in maintaining a balance between growth and development and survival defense, therefore shielding them from heavy metal harm. MG and GLY regulate plant physiological processes by remodeling cellular redox homeostasis, regulating stomatal movement, and crosstalking with other signaling molecules (including abscisic acid, gibberellic acid, jasmonic acid, cytokinin, salicylic acid, melatonin, ethylene, hydrogen sulfide, and nitric oxide). We also discuss the involvement of MG and GLY in the regulation of plant responses to HMS at the transcriptional, translational, and metabolic levels. Lastly, considering the current state of research, we present a perspective on the future direction of MG research to elucidate the MG anti-stress mechanism and offer a theoretical foundation and useful advice for the remediation of heavy metal-contaminated environments in the future.

The Kresling origami spring: a review and assessment

Abstract Structures inspired by the Kresling origami pattern have recently emerged as a foundation for building functional engineering systems with versatile characteristics that target niche applications spanning different technological fields. Their light weight, deployability, modularity, and customizability are a few of the key characteristics that continue to drive their implementation in robotics, aerospace structures, metamaterial and sensor design, switching, actuation, energy harvesting and absorption, and wireless communications, among many other examples. This work aims to perform a systematic review of the literature to assess the potential of the Kresling origami springs as a structural component for engineering design keeping three objectives in mind: (i) facilitating future research by summarizing and categorizing the current literature, (ii) identifying the current shortcomings and voids, and (iii) proposing directions for future research to fill those voids.

A Review of Research on Recycled Aggregate Concrete Filled Steel Tube

Recycled aggregate concrete filled steel tube as a new combined structural form, can effectively improve the inherent defects of recycled aggregate concrete. Existing studies are mainly theoretical analysis, experimental research and numerical simulation to investigate the mechanical properties and deformation capacity of recycled aggregate concrete filled steel tube columns. Based on the review of the current research status of recycled aggregate concrete filled steel tube columns in recent years, the basic mechanical properties, durability, seismic performance, fire and high temperature resistance of recycled aggregate concrete filled steel tube are described, and suggestions are made for future research directions.

Macrophages-Mediated Liver Fibrosis: A Bibliometric Analysis

Background: Macrophages play a significant role in both the development and regression of liver fibrosis, engaging in related pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory processes. In recent years, an increasing number of studies have elucidated the mechanisms by which macrophages influence liver fibrosis. Objectives: This bibliometric analysis aims to investigate the research trends in liver fibrosis regulation by macrophages through a systematic literature review. Methods: We conducted a search for literature, including research articles and reviews, using the keywords 'liver fibrosis and macrophages' and 'liver cirrhosis and macrophages' in the Web of Science database, covering the period from 2007 to 2023. We retrieved and analyzed publications on liver fibrosis mediated by macrophages from the Web of Science Core Collection database on October 8, 2023. Visualization analysis was performed using CreateSpace (version 6.1.R6), VOSviewer (version 1.6.19), and Scimago Graphica (version 1.0.34.0). Results: We identified a total of 1732 records in the WoSCC, of which 1664 papers were ultimately included in our analysis. China emerged as the country with the most significant number of publications, while Germany and the University of California San Diego stood out for their influence, with centralities of 0.41 and 0.14, respectively. Frank Tacke was identified as the most prolific author, contributing 49 papers. Hepatology was the journal with the highest number of publications and citations. The most frequently mentioned keywords in this field were liver fibrosis, expression, hepatic stellate cells, activation, inflammation, and macrophages. Conclusions: The study of macrophage-mediated liver fibrosis, particularly the mechanisms regulating the heterogeneity of hepatic macrophages, is a mature and promising research area. Macrophage-based therapies for liver fibrosis are anticipated to be crucial topics in the future. Bibliometric analysis offers valuable insights for future basic research directions and clinical practice.

Kano Model Categorization Methods: Typology and Systematic Critical Overview for Hospitality and Tourism Academics and Practitioners

The Kano model has been widely applied in multiple disciplines, particularly in product or service development and optimization. Although the original categorization framework remains the most applied, modifications and new approaches have recently been developed. Yet, most of the hospitality and tourism studies continue to use the original Kano method when newer and superior methods are available. The new categorization methods also have flaws, which academics and practitioners should be aware of. The present study uses a systematic literature review approach to provide a comprehensive synthesis and critical analysis of the existing Kano model categorization methods structuring them in groups based on categorization procedures and pointing to the strengths, weaknesses, and fit of each method. The manuscript aims to provide the most current systematic roadmap and “how-to” of the existing methods. It also points to the existing knowledge gaps and directions for future research.

Safety of Perception Systems for Automated Driving: A Case Study on Apollo

The automotive industry is now known for its software-intensive and safety-critical nature. The industry is on a path to the holy grail of completely automating driving, starting from relatively simple operational areas like highways. One of the most challenging, evolving, and essential parts of automated driving is the software that enables understanding of surroundings and the vehicle’s own as well as surrounding objects’ relative position, otherwise known as the perception system. Current generation perception systems are formed by a combination of traditional software and machine learning-related software. With automated driving systems transitioning from research to production, it is imperative to assess their safety. We assess the safety of Apollo, the most popular open-source automotive software, at the design level for its use on a Dutch highway. We identified 58 safety requirements, 38 of which are found to be fulfilled at the design level. We observe that all requirements relating to traditional software are fulfilled, while most requirements specific to machine learning systems are not. This study unveils issues that need immediate attention; and directions for future research to make automated driving safe.

Heritable thoracic aortic disease: a literature review on genetic aortopathies and current surgical management.

Heritable thoracic aortic disease puts patients at risk for aortic aneurysms, rupture, and dissections. The diagnosis and management of this heterogenous patient population continues to evolve. Last year, the American Heart Association/American College of Cardiology Joint Committee published diagnosis and management guidelines for aortic disease, which included those with genetic aortopathies. Additionally, evolving research studying the implications of underlying genetic aberrations with new genetic testing continues to become available. In this review, we evaluate the current literature surrounding the diagnosis and management of heritable thoracic aortic disease, as well as novel therapeutic approaches and future directions of research.

Perceived Stress as a Stimulant of Social Undermining in the Virtual Workplace: A Serial Mediation Model

Interpersonal disagreement among employees at the workplace is an important predictor of perceived stress in general and for virtual and digitally connected workplace in particular. Such perceived stress may potentially lead the employees towards social undermining. This study was a quantitative study and data was collected from different organizations which were primarily based on information and communication technology (ICT) based systems for testing a serial mediation model containing task conflict and relationship conflict as serial mediators. Statistical analysis had shown a significant indirect effect on outcome variable of social undermining by the serial mediators. Discussion has been made with reference to contextual factors such as those in the context of mindfulness theory and other factors that might have impacted this relationship of variables. Such a relationship of variables has not been tested on employees working in virtual and digital setup where psychological contract also plays a part towards conflict generation and its handling leading associated with job stress. Finally, this paper recommends useful future research direction for the contemporary researchers.

Integrated decisions for global supply chain network configuration: a dynamic multi-modal perspective

ABSTRACT This paper proposes a mathematical model to optimally design a multi-modal global production and logistics network consisting of multiple plants, warehouses, and marketplaces. The proposed model is a mixed integer linear program (MILP), which optimally selects different facilities and warehouses required to be active in each time period to fulfil the demand of various marketplaces. The objective function is cost minimization pertaining to setup, production, inventory holding, and transportation. Along with this, the model also decides the optimal quantities to be transported among the plants, warehouses, and marketplaces. The model also optimally selects the transportation mode to be deployed. The paper then expands the proposed model to include a time-cost trade off by imposing a penalty cost for delays and compares and critiques the results of the two scenarios. The proposed MILP has been validated on a randomly generated data set consisting of 4 plants, 6 warehouses, 4 marketplaces, and 3 time periods (4P-6W-4 M-3T) using LINGO 10 optimization package. The illustration considers three modes of transportation namely, road, rail, and air. Last, the paper concludes with discussing managerial implications of the work along with suggesting some research directions for future.

Psychopathology as long-term sequelae of maltreatment and socioeconomic disadvantage: Neurocognitive development perspectives.

Neuroscience research underscores the critical impact of adverse experiences on brain development. Yet, there is limited understanding of the specific pathways linking adverse experiences to accelerated or delayed brain development and their ultimate contributions to psychopathology. Here, we present new longitudinal data demonstrating that neurocognitive functioning during adolescence, as affected by adverse experiences, predicts psychopathology during young adulthood. The sample included 167 participants (52% male) assessed in adolescence and young adulthood. Adverse experiences were measured by early maltreatment experiences and low family socioeconomic status. Cognitive control was assessed by neural activation and behavioral performance during the Multi-Source Interference Task. Psychopathology was measured by self-reported internalizing and externalizing symptomatology. Results indicated that higher maltreatment predicted heightened frontoparietal activation during cognitive control, indicating delayed neurodevelopment, which, in turn predicted higher internalizing and externalizing symptomatology. Furthermore, higher maltreatment predicted a steeper decline in frontoparietal activation across adolescence, indicating neural plasticity in cognitive control-related brain development, which was associated with lower internalizing symptomatology. Our results elucidate the crucial role of neurocognitive development in the processes linking adverse experiences and psychopathology. Implications of the findings and directions for future research on the effects of adverse experiences on brain development are discussed.

Perspectives: Light Control of Magnetism and Device Development.

Accurately controlling magnetic and spin states presents a significant challenge in spintronics, especially as demands for higher data storage density and increased processing speeds grow. Approaches such as light control are gradually supplanting traditional magnetic field methods. Traditionally, the modulation of magnetism was predominantly achieved through polarized light with the help of ultrafast light technologies. With the growing demand for energy efficiency and multifunctionality in spintronic devices, integrating photovoltaic materials into magnetoelectric systems has introduced more physical effects. This development suggests that sunlight will play an increasingly pivotal role in manipulating spin orientation in the future. This review introduces and concludes the influence of various light types on magnetism, exploring mechanisms such as magneto-optical (MO) effects, light-induced magnetic phase transitions, and spin photovoltaic effects. This review briefly summarizes recent advancements in the light control of magnetism, especially sunlight, and their potential applications, providing an optimistic perspective on future research directions in this area.

Chronic Pain-Related Cognitive Deficits: Preclinical Insights into Molecular, Cellular, and Circuit Mechanisms.

Cognitive impairment is a common comorbidity of chronic pain, significantly disrupting patients' quality of life. Despite this comorbidity being clinically recognized, the underlying neuropathological mechanisms remain unclear. Recent preclinical studies have focused on the fundamental mechanisms underlying the coexistence of chronic pain and cognitive decline. Pain chronification is accompanied by structural and functional changes in the neural substrate of cognition. Based on the developments in electrophysiology and optogenetics/chemogenetics, we summarized the relevant neural circuits involved in pain-induced cognitive impairment, as well as changes in connectivity and function in brain regions. We then present the cellular and molecular alternations related to pain-induced cognitive impairment in preclinical studies, mainly including modifications in neuronal excitability and structure, synaptic plasticity, glial cells and cytokines, neurotransmitters and other neurochemicals, and the gut-brain axis. Finally, we also discussed the potential treatment strategies and future research directions.

High-Entropy Photothermal Materials.

High-entropy (HE) materials, celebrated for their extraordinary chemical and physical properties, have garnered increasing attention for their broad applications across diverse disciplines. The expansive compositional range of these materials allows for nuanced tuning of their properties and innovative structural designs. Recent advances have been centered on their versatile photothermal conversion capabilities, effective across the full solar spectrum (300-2500nm). The HE effect, coupled with hysteresis diffusion, imparts these materials with desirable thermal and chemical stability. These attributes position HE materials as a revolutionary alternative to traditional photothermal materials, signifying a transformative shift in photothermal technology. This review delivers a comprehensive summary of the current state of knowledge regarding HE photothermal materials, emphasizing the intricate relationship between their compositions, structures, light-absorbing mechanisms, and optical properties. Furthermore, the review outlines the notable advances in HE photothermal materials, emphasizing their contributions to areas, such as solar water evaporation, personal thermal management, solar thermoelectric generation, catalysis, and biomedical applications. The review culminates in presenting a roadmap that outlines prospective directions for future research in this burgeoning field, and also outlines fruitful ways to develop advanced HE photothermal materials and to expand their promising applications.

From carbon-neutral to climate-neutral supply chains: a multidisciplinary review and research agenda

PurposeWe conduct a multidisciplinary systematic literature review on climate neutrality in the supply chain. While carbon neutrality has gained prominence, our study argues that achieving carbon neutrality alone is not enough to address climate change effectively, as non-CO2 greenhouse gases (GHG) are potent contributors to global warming.Design/methodology/approachWe used multiple databases, including EBSCO, ProQuest, Science Direct, Emerald and Google Scholar, to identify articles related to climate neutrality in the context of non-CO2 gases. A total of 71 articles in environmental science, climate change, energy systems, agriculture and logistics are reviewed to provide insights into the climate neutrality of supply chains.FindingsWe find that, in addition to CO2, other GHG such as methane, nitrous oxide, ozone and fluorinated gases also significantly contribute to climate change. Our literature review identified several key pillars for achieving net-zero GHG emissions, including end-use efficiency and electrification, clean electricity supply, clean fuel supply, “GHG capture, storage and utilization,” enhanced land sinks, reduced non-CO2 emissions and improved feed and manure management.Originality/valueWe contribute to the literature on climate neutrality of supply chains by emphasizing the significance of non-CO2 GHG along with CO2 and highlighting the need for a comprehensive approach to climate neutrality in addressing climate change. This study advances the understanding of climate neutrality of supply chains and contributes to the discourse on effective climate change mitigation strategies. It provides clear future research directions.

Advancing Sustainable Development: Broad Applications of Passive Radiative Cooling

With the increasing demand for energy worldwide, researchers from different fields have been striving to improve the sustainability and proper utilization of energy resources. Passive radiative cooling, as a natural energy transport method, can achieve cooling without additional external energy input. This review provides a comprehensive examination of passive radiative cooling, including its fundamental theories and latest development. A particular emphasis is placed on the diverse range of fields where passive radiative cooling has been applied, notably including but not limited to construction and architecture. The current state of applications, potential challenges that may arise with wider adaption and promising research directions for each field are thoroughly discussed. This review emphasizes the extensive potential and practical viability of passive radiative cooling in diverse applications and identifies pressing challenges and future research directions aimed at scaling up real-world implementation.

Exploring the nutritional landscape and emerging trends in kidney stone research: visualization and bibliometric analysis

BackgroundKidney stones, or renal nephrolithiasis, are common and dangerous, increasing the risk of chronic kidney disease. Dietary manipulation is essential for the prevention and recurrence of kidney stones. Research into nutrition and kidney stones lacks library analysis, making it difficult to identify new trends. This bibliometric study was conducted to explore the current landscape of research on nutrition and kidney stones worldwide. This paper also emphasizes significant research trends in this area over the past two decades, aiming to assist researchers in understanding the current research status and identifying potential future directions.MethodsThe scholarly literature pertaining to diet and kidney stones was systematically explored utilizing SciVerse Scopus to identify pertinent research articles released from 2003 to 2022. The examination encompassed an assessment of publication patterns, key contributors, focal areas of research, prevalent themes, influential articles, and emerging research avenues. Following data extraction to Excel, analyses, including frequencies, percentages, and linear regression, were conducted. Visual exploration was facilitated through the use of the VOSviewer program version 1.6.19.ResultsBetween 2003 and 2022, 697 publications on nutrition and kidney stones were identified. There were 478 original articles (68.58%), 120 reviews (17.22%) and 99 other types of publications (14.20%). The United States is the most productive country, with significant growth in research in the fields of nutrition and kidney stones. The United States has demonstrated the strongest partnerships between researchers’ networks from various countries. Cluster analysis revealed three major research themes: sex differences in kidney stone disease, the correlation between increased dietary acid consumption and calcium oxide kidney stones, and nephrolithiasis associated with a ketogenic diet.ConclusionsThis study offers a thorough examination of nutrition and kidney stone research, encompassing key research domains, collaborative networks, and emerging patterns. The findings can aid researchers in gaining insight into the present landscape of the discipline and determining future research directions.

Contribution of Wireless Wi-Fi Intraoral Cameras to the Assessment of Swallowing Safety and Efficiency.

Clinical evaluation of swallowing provides important clinical information but is limited in detecting penetration, aspiration, and pharyngeal residue in patients with suspected dysphagia. Although this is an old problem, there remains limited access to low-cost methods to evaluate swallowing safety and efficiency. The purpose of this technical report is to describe the experience of a single center that recently began using a wireless Wi-Fi intraoral camera for transoral endoscopic procedures as an adjunct to clinical swallowing evaluation. We describe the theoretical structure of this new clinical evaluation proposal. We present descriptive findings on its diagnostic performance in relation to videofluoroscopic swallowing study as the gold standard in a cohort of seven patients with dysphagia following head and neck cancer. We provide quantitative data on intra- and interrater reliability. Furthermore, this report discusses how this technology can be applied in the clinical practice of professionals who treat patients with dysphagia and provides directions for future research. This preliminary retrospective study suggests that intraoral cameras can reveal the accumulated oropharyngeal secretions and postswallow pharyngolaryngeal residue in patients with suspected dysphagia. Future large-scale studies focusing on validating and exploring this contemporary low-cost technology as part of a clinical swallowing evaluation are warranted.

Harnessing Nanotechnology for Advancements in Magnetism: Current Trends and Future Prospects

Nanotechnology has revolutionized various fields, including magnetism, by enabling the manipulation of materials at the nanoscale. This paper explores the current trends and future prospects of harnessing nanotechnology for advancements in magnetism. We discuss the fundamental principles of magnetism at the nanoscale and review recent developments in nanomagnetic materials, fabrication techniques, and applications. Additionally, we highlight the potential impact of nanotechnology on diverse areas such as data storage, biomedical devices, magnetic sensors, and spintronics. Furthermore, challenges and opportunities in the field are addressed, offering insights into the direction of future research and technological innovations.

The Mating Psychology of Incels (Involuntary Celibates): Misfortunes, Misperceptions, and Misrepresentations

ABSTRACT Mating represents a suite of fundamental adaptive problems for humans. Yet a community of men, called incels (involuntary celibates), forge their identity around their perceived inability to solve these problems. Many incels engage in misogynistic online hostility, and there are concerns about violence stemming from the community. Despite significant media speculation about the potential mating psychology of incels, this has yet to be formally investigated in the scientific literature. In the first formal investigation of incel mating psychology, we compared a sample (n = 151) of self-identified male incels with non-incel single males (n = 149). Findings revealed that incels have a lower sense of self-perceived mate-value and a greater external locus of control regarding their singlehood. Contrary to mainstream media narratives, incels also reported lower minimum standards for mate preferences than non-incels. Incels (and non-incel single men) significantly overestimated the importance of physical attractiveness and financial prospects to women, and underestimated the importance of intelligence, kindness, and humor. Furthermore, incels underestimated women’s overall minimum mate preference standards. Our findings suggest that incels should be targeted for interventions to challenge cognitive distortions around female mate preferences. Implications for incels’ mental health and misogynistic attitudes are discussed, as well as directions for future research.