Government Research Research Articles

An evaluation of sexual function and health-related quality of life following laparoscopic surgery in individuals living with endometriosis.

What is the relationship between sexual function, health-related quality of life (HRQoL), and laparoscopic surgery in individuals living with endometriosis? A higher number of laparoscopic surgeries is significantly associated with poorer HRQoL and greater levels of sexual dysfunction in individuals with endometriosis. Prior research indicates that endometriosis is associated with lowered HRQoL and sexual function and that these outcomes are influenced by endometriosis-related symptom profiles, medical, and surgical management. A limited number of studies have examined changes in sexual function in individuals with endometriosis following laparoscopic surgery or following repeated surgeries. A cross-sectional community-based online survey was used to examine the relationships between sexual function, HRQoL, and laparoscopic surgery (n = 210). Individuals with a self-reported diagnosis of endometriosis were recruited via online advertising through social media and gynaecology clinics. Endometriosis-specific data (e.g. diagnostic delay, symptom experience) was collected in addition to engagement with laparoscopic surgery, level of HRQoL (EuroQol-5 Dimension: EQ-5D-5L), and sexual function (Female Sexual Function Index: FSFI). Bivariate correlational analyses and hierarchical multiple regression were used to determine the associations between the variables of interest. Individuals with endometriosis have substantially poorer HRQoL in comparison to Australian normative samples, with greater levels of endometriosis-related symptom burden, distress, and pain significantly associated with lower levels of HRQoL. The mean FSFI score was suggestive of clinically significant female sexual dysfunction, with the lowest level of function noted in the domain of sexual pain and the highest level of function noted in the sexual satisfaction domain. A greater number of laparoscopic surgeries was significantly associated with poorer overall HRQoL and greater levels of sexual dysfunction. The cross-sectional nature of the data precludes direct findings of causality and further longitudinal research is recommended. The information pertaining to engagement in laparoscopic surgery was self-report in nature and was not medically verified. The study's findings highlight the pervasive impact of endometriosis on all domains of living, emphasizing the need to extend treatment planning beyond that of physical pain management alone. Early referral for assessment and management of sexual wellbeing is recommended prior to, and post-surgical intervention, with a focus on maintaining post-surgical changes, potentially reducing the need for multiple surgeries. The study was not associated with research funding. Author CN reports grant funding from the Australian Government and Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF) and was a previous employee of CSL Vifor (formerly Vifor Pharma Pty Ltd). N/A.

Artificial Intelligence (AI)-driven Transformation: Sustainable Development of Agro-based Industries in Bihar

Digital technologies particularly Artificial Intelligence (AI), are needed to transform agricultural sector in Bihar. There is a vast opportunity in adopting AI-driven solutions to enhance productivity and sustainability as well as increase the profitability of agriculture in Bihar. The current status and potential applications of AI in agriculture will be reviewed, challenges and opportunities specific to regions identified, together with development of strategies for maximum gain from AI technologies. We used the bibliographic methods and SWOT analysis. The growth of Bihar’s GDP as the adoption of Internet of Thing (IoT), precision farming and AI is projected at 5-6% per year that may create up to 30% more job opportunities in agricultural sector by 2024.Precision agriculture combined with crop yield forecasting is among key applications of AI in agro industries, labor optimization and efficiency; soil monitoring and management; disease detection and pest management; weather forecasting for climate risk management purposes among others include weed identification herbicide optimization supply chain optimization. SWOT analysis reveals strength such as enhanced productivity, cost reduction, improved decision-making ability on farm operations and climate resilience improvement strategy while helps farmers accessing information at their fingertips. However, weaknesses include infrastructure limitations, skill gaps and data accessibility issues. Opportunities arise from government support, research and development initiatives and market expansion. Threats encompass the digital divide, privacy and data security concerns, and dependence on external factors. The integration of AI holds substantial relevance for Bihar offering a pathway to overcome existing agricultural challenges and unlock new growth opportunities.

A Survey on the MT Methods for Indian Languages: MT Challenges, Availability, and Production of Parallel Corpora, Government Policies and Research Directions

A Survey on the MT Methods for Indian Languages: MT Challenges, Availability, and Production of Parallel Corpora, Government Policies and Research Directions

How much is invested in obesity prevention in Australia? An analysis of major research and Federal Government funding, 2013–2022

How much is invested in obesity prevention in Australia? An analysis of major research and Federal Government funding, 2013–2022

英国科学数据发展政策与规划

The United Kingdom (UK) stands as a pioneer in offering a clear definition of scientific data/research data, setting a global standard with its policies on scientific data. The UK’s data development strategy, planning, and action plans have effectively positioned it as a global leader in the realm of scientific data management, sharing, and reuse. This paper conducts a systematic review of the UK's scientific data policies, supporting institutions, and development plans through a comprehensive analysis of literature, websites, and other information resources. The results illustrate that the UK has established a comprehensive policy framework for scientific data management across various levels, encompassing government departments, supporting institutions, and research organizations. This framework revolves around the development, management, sharing, and application of scientific data, and incorporates strategic planning and action plans at both the national and regulatory levels. These initiatives have laid a solid foundation for the UK’s international leadership in the open sharing and utilization of scientific data. Notably, the UK’s practice of incorporating scientific data centers into national infrastructure construction ensures the continuous accumulation, management, sharing, and efficient utilization of scientific data assets within the country. The UK’s policy system for scientific data development and its planning practices in fostering such progress can serve as a valuable reference for the establishment of scientific data centers in China.

오가노이드를 이용한 동물대체시험법 표준동향과 전망

Animal testing for toxicity assessments has long been a point of contention due to concerns over animal welfare and ethics. As an integral component of product development and consumer safety, the evaluation of chemical toxicity is vital. Yet, the 21st century has witnessed a growing demand for alternative testing methods that can offer sustainable solutions without relying on animal experiments. This need has spurred major developed countries and international standardization organizations to pursue the development and standardization of novel testing approaches. Among these, organoid-based methods have emerged as a promising avenue for innovation.
 This study examines the concept of organoids, defining and categorizing alternative testing methods. It explores a broad spectrum of topics, including the standardization trends of alternative testing method regulations, organoid-based method standardization, and trends led by government entities, research institutions, academia, and corporations. It also examines the development of organ-specific manufacturing protocols for organoids. The research finds that international efforts to standardize alternative testing methods are in progress, with a particular focus on organoid-based strategies.
 The anticipated growth and evolution of such alternatives could revolutionize standard practices in safety assessments and drug efficacy evaluations. The standardization of organoid-based testing methods is poised to become a crucial milestone in advancing human health and environmental protection, driving the sector's growth and innovation. Moreover, advancements in organoid technology and the creation of models for various organs are likely to further refine alternative testing methods and introduce new evaluation techniques for drugs and chemicals. This study highlights to the biomedical community that standardizing new testing methods can address the ethical dilemmas of animal testing, underscoring a significant contribution towards ethical scientific practices.

Abnormal cleavage up to Day 3 does not compromise live birth and neonatal outcomes of embryos that have achieved full blastulation: a retrospective cohort study.

Do embryos displaying abnormal cleavage (ABNCL) up to Day 3 have compromised live birth rates and neonatal outcomes if full blastulation has been achieved prior to transfer? ABNCL is associated with reduced full blastulation rates but does not impact live birth rates and neonatal outcomes once full blastulation has been achieved. It is widely accepted that ABNCL is associated with reduced implantation rates of embryos when transferred at the cleavage stage. However, evidence is scarce in the literature reporting birth outcomes from blastocysts arising from ABNCL embryos, likely because they are ranked low priority for transfer. This retrospective cohort study included 1562 consecutive autologous in vitro fertilization cycles (maternal age 35.1 ± 4.7 years) performed at Fertility North, Australia between January 2017 and June 2022. Fresh transfers were performed on Day 3 or 5, with remaining embryos cultured up to Day 6 before vitrification. A total of 6019 embryos were subject to blastocyst culture, and a subset of 664 resulting frozen blastocysts was included for live birth and neonatal outcome analyses following single transfers. ABNCL events were annotated from the first mitotic division up to Day 3, including direct cleavage (DC), reverse cleavage (RC) and <6 intercellular contact points at the 4-cell stage (<6ICCP). For DC and RC in combination, the ratios of affected blastomeres over the total number of all blastomeres up to Day 3 were also recorded. All pregnancies were followed up until birth with gestational age, birthweight, and sex of the baby being recorded. Full blastulation rates for embryos showing DC (19.5%), RC (41.7%), <6ICCP (58.8%), and mixed (≥2) ABNCL types (26.4%) were lower than the rates for those without ABNCL (67.2%, P < 0.01 respectively). Subgroup analysis showed declining full blastulation rates with increasing ratios of combined DC/RC affected blastomeres over all blastomeres up to the 8-cell stage (66.2% when 0 affected, 47.0% when 0.25 affected, 27.4% when 0.5 affected, 14.5% when 0.75 affected, and 7.7% when all affected, P < 0.01). However, once full blastulation had been achieved, no difference was detected between DC, RC, <6ICCP, and no ABNCL blastocysts following single frozen transfers in subsequent live birth rates (25.9%, 33.0%, 36.0% versus 30.8%, P > 0.05, respectively), gestational age (38.7 ± 1.6, 38.5 ± 1.2, 38.3 ± 3.5 versus 38.5 ± 1.8 weeks, P > 0.05, respectively) and birthweight (3343.0 ± 649.1, 3378.2 ± 538.4, 3352.6 ± 841.3 versus 3313.9 ± 509.6 g, P > 0.05, respectively). Multiple regression (logistic or linear as appropriate) confirmed no differences in all of the above measures after accounting for potential confounders. Our study is limited by its retrospective nature, making it impossible to control every known or unknown confounder. Embryos in our dataset, being surplus after selection for fresh transfer, may not represent the general embryo population. Our findings highlight the incremental impact of ABNCL, depending on the ratio of affected blastomeres up to Day 3, on subsequent full blastulation. The reassuring live birth and neonatal outcomes of ABNCL blastocysts imply a potential self-correction mechanism among those embryos reaching the blastocyst stage, which provides valuable guidance for clinical practice and patient counseling. This research is supported by an Australian Government Research Training Program (RTP) Scholarship. All authors report no conflict of interest. N/A.

Role of blockchain technology in changing the structure of a country's monetary base and GDP

This article explores the role of blockchain technology in changing the structure of a country's monetary base. Specifically, it examines the potential benefits and risks of using blockchain in monetary policy, such as efficiency, transparency, and new opportunities for managing the financial system. The article highlights changes in approaches to monetary policy through the use of blockchain-based digital currencies, as well as discusses challenges that may arise in implementing this technology. The conclusions of this article may be valuable for government agencies, central banks, and researchers interested in the impact of blockchain technology on the financial sector. In recent years, the adoption of blockchain technology as an alternative to fiat currencies in various countries around the world has significantly expanded globally, as a significant number of business organizations have recognized the importance of all the advantages that blockchain technology provides. Previously, the focus was on cost control to remain competitive, but lately blockchain technologies have somewhat shifted the significance and monetary mass, influencing the structure of a certain country's monetary base. Based on recent research and publications, the article emphasizes the importance of understanding economic principles that govern the determination of the impacts of various economic and financial indicators on components of economic growth and predicting the consequences of such decisions. It references the seminal work of economists P. Romer, R. Lucas, R. Barro, I. Salla y Martin, and R. Levine, who laid the foundation for studying endogenous economic development. The purpose of this article is to investigate the practice of implementing blockchain technology in the financial support of various economic processes of economic entities and their impact on the structure of a country's monetary base. Thus, it has been identified that the influence of blockchain on the structure of the monetary base itself has received little attention. Despite blockchain being used as an alternative to components of the monetary base, thereby changing its structure within a certain country, most studies focus on literature reviews and provide information for practitioners and academic communities. Therefore, this article aims to bridge the gap by developing a model to identify distortions in the structure of the monetary base under the influence of blockchain. The effective use of blockchain is still being explored. As a result, the operations of many companies using blockchain technologies for payments are vulnerable to technical issues. Blockchain technology is utilized to address this problem and facilitate data exchange among relevant stakeholders. This document presents a benchmark for the impact of blockchain technology on the structure and mass of the monetary base for a specific country, integrating blockchain for sustainable money functioning with the integration of the Internet of Things and big data. Finally, potential benefits and limitations are analyzed during the implementation of this framework. Methods. Macroeconomic analysis, econometric analysis, trend analysis. Results. Determination of the level of influence of blockchain technologies on the change in the structure and volume of the monetary base of a certain country. The study casts doubt on classical economic doctrines by establishing a strong correlation between the distribution of components of the monetary base in its structure and the use of blockchain technology for payments for goods, labor, and services. It emphasizes that the economic growth of a country and the structure of its monetary base depend on the proportion of blockchain technology usage in that country. This research opens up possibilities for further studies in this interdisciplinary field.&#x0D;

Agroforestry: An Effective Potential Tool for Ensuring Quality Life for the Indian Farmers: A Review

Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and the succeeding Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) have been at the heart of the global development agenda. Where half of the population is being employed in the agriculture sector in a rapidly growing demographics like India, the pressure is very tense on the natural resources in order to make harmony between economy and environment. Uplifting the majority of farming families from the poverty line (doubling farmer’s income by 2022 is a time frame set up by NITI Aayog) and ensuring a quality of life in the line of globally standardised development goals has been reflected in governments’ policies. The potential of tangible and intangible benefits referred to as an ecosystem service, delivered by agroforestry systems have been widely accepted all over the world. The need for a climate-resilient and sustainable system of land use for food security is the aim of the new world. The present review discusses the scope of agroforestry for food, environment and economic security that will be helpful for an all-round development of farmer’s life in a rapidly developing country like India, which has a diversified agricultural scenario throughout the length and breadth of the country. We referred peer-reviewed research papers and government publications to come into a conclusion regarding the status of agroforestry as a potential tool in Indian agricultural scenario to ensure a quality of life to the farmers and further suggestions. The potentiality of taking traditional agroforestry practices to a new level through contract tree farming, financing through banking institutions, integrating agroforestry farmers with industries and a tree insurance approach may be a way forward in the country to augment’s farm income and adaption of suitable agroforestry practices as compatible to agro-climatic zones.

Unsaid known in the boardroom: theorizing unspoken assessments of behavioral board dynamics

Effective board performance relies heavily on the smooth exchange of information and knowledge among members. However, the sociocognitive processes surrounding these information exchanges within boards, known as board dynamics, are often treated as a black box in corporate governance research. With the goal of advancing the understanding of communication-centered board dynamics, this paper develops a theoretical model of unsaid known in the boardroom. Drawing on the communication, psycho-dynamics, and governance literature, we theorize how board members jointly make sense through what they think and say and not say and offer propositions. We discern between the implicit theories of senders and listeners, shaping decision-making. Our conceptual model suggests that heightened collective awareness among board members regarding communication incongruences can improve decision-making. Addressing these discrepancies can enhance boards’ capacity for informed decision-making and optimize outcomes.

Developing a Framework for Self-regulatory Governance in Healthcare AI Research: Insights from South Korea

This paper elucidates and rationalizes the ethical governance system for healthcare AI research, as outlined in the ‘Research Ethics Guidelines for AI Researchers in Healthcare’ published by the South Korean government in August 2023. In developing the guidelines, a four-phase clinical trial process was expanded to six stages for healthcare AI research: preliminary ethics review (stage 1); creating datasets (stage 2); model development (stage 3); training, validation, and evaluation (stage 4); application (stage 5); and post-deployment monitoring (stage 6). Researchers identified similarities between clinical trials and healthcare AI research, particularly in research subjects, management and regulations, and application of research results. In the step-by-step articulation of ethical requirements, this similarity benefits from a reliable and flexible use of existing research ethics governance resources, research management, and regulatory functions. In contrast to clinical trials, this procedural approach to healthcare AI research governance effectively highlights the distinct characteristics of healthcare AI research in research and development process, evaluation of results, and modifiability of findings. The model exhibits limitations, primarily in its reliance on self-regulation and lack of clear delineation of responsibilities. While formulated through multidisciplinary deliberations, its application in the research field remains untested. To overcome the limitations, the researchers’ ongoing efforts for educating AI researchers and public and the revision of the guidelines are expected to contribute to establish an ethical research governance framework for healthcare AI research in the South Korean context in the future.

Impact of Cyber-Attacks on Banking Institutions in India: A Study of Safety Mechanisms and Preventive Measures

This study intends to investigate the disastrous effects of cybercrime on financial institutions, as well as the creation of a strong cybersecurity mechanism and attempts to mitigate its effects. Banks are its direct target as of late. Many banks in India are frequently the target of widespread malware attacks, which not only expose private and sensitive data but also result in significant financial losses. This study’s goals are to determine which company sectors are more vulnerable to cyberattacks and to guarantee that cyber security protocols are developed and customized. The report includes case study examination of numerous cyberthreats and crimes that have previously resulted in significant financial loss, as well as secondary data analysis from a variety of online resources, including government websites, journals, and research papers. This essay will offer cyber regime insights that will be advantageous to financial institutions, banks, and society at general.

Institutional Information Communication Technology Capacity influence on E-Learning Utilization for Instruction in Kenyan Universities

E-Learning is globally recognized as a significant strategy in improving relevancy, efficiency, costeffectiveness, and quality of higher education. The paper presents a discussion of Information Communication Technology (ICT) infrastructure capacity influences on e-Learning utilization in instruction in Kenyan universities, with a view to determining strategies that universities employ to enhance e-Learning utilization. It opines that e-Learning has not been very popular as a method for instruction in universities, due to limited institutional ICT infrastructure capacities to fully implement e-Learning. The study used the mixed methods research design methodology to debate, reflect, critique, and discuss institutional capacities by universities in utilizing e-Learning in instruction. The reviewed different data sources, borrowed and immensely used government publications, e-Learning books, journals and research articles were used in document analysis. The researchers also used own intuitive experience and knowledge in e-Learning utilization in instruction. E-Learning utilization demands for collaborative effort between government, universities, faculty and students, as well us bodies like the Commission for University Education (CUE). It was found that there are several major barriers to institutional capacities of universities in utilizing e-Learning in instruction. First, was the procurement of technology and sourcing of funds. It was seen that the total capitation for funding the programs was as low as 3%. Secondly, internal barriers arising from within individual institutions and faculty. Majority of the universities for a long time have relied on face to face interaction between students and faculty. However, in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic, all learning institutions including universities, colleges and schools were forced to close down and seek alternative methods of instruction. It was found that most universities have moderate capacities to utilize e-Learning, but are yet to exploit its full potential. The study also established that nearly all the faculty were aware and used e-Learning for instruction but to a limited extent. Findings revealed that faculty prefer blended mode of instruction, but complained of limited bandwidths and poor connectivity for faculty and students far off from the university campuses. To mitigate the challenge, universities must strive to train and retrain the faculty on how to use technology and not about technology. Based on the review carried out in six universities; all the universities have some technologies in place including Computer Based Learning, Virtual Learning, video conferencing, content delivery via networks, use of memory sticks and emails. All have an e-Learning portal, module and platforms used for e-Learning. Majority of the university dons consider bandwidth, networking and a reliable Learning management system (LMS) as critical infrastructure for e-Learning utilization. Development and improved utilization of e-Learning is practically possible with enhanced institutional capacities. Enhanced use implies enhanced information transfer, reduced movement of faculty and students allow adequate time for faculty to invest in innovative teaching; enable faster transfer of information while students actively learn on their own. This would help bridge the gap and reduce pressure on existing resources. E-Learning could be the solution to the problem of increased student enrolment and reduced quality of university education. However, to ease the burden of financing university programs, public- private sector partnerships need to be encouraged. The study established that universities must provide students with affordable internet. To a large extent it delves into possible benefits and opportunities that would arise if universities realize and utilize fully the available institutional infrastructure and e-Learning resources. Demand is made upon the universities to develop and operationalize e-Learning policy and invest more in capacity building, set up infrastructure to deliver instruction online.

Developing outdoor spaces for work and study—an explorative place-making process

IntroductionThe development of outdoor spaces for work and study is part of a larger transition toward sustainable communities, which can take advantage of more flexible ways of organizing everyday life. Governance processes supported by physical spatial changes have the potential to bring together various actors and experts for local development. The aim of this study was to explore the possibilities of developing outdoor spaces for work and study in a collaborative process.MethodsThe study involved an upper secondary school, a local government administration, local businesses and research. The process took place in a South-Swedish small town and included developing outdoor areas for tasks traditionally carried out indoors, participatory workshops and meetings followed up through questionnaires and interviews.ResultsOverall, the introduction of outdoor places was positively evaluated, but engagement varied across actors and over time, and a number of obstacles and challenges in the process were identified.DiscussionThe study showed how vital it is to anchor ideas for place-making locally and having key persons in leading positions with allocated time to support the process. It also indicates how decisive spatial changes can be and how important it is that any physical intervention becomes an integrated part of a wider local process in order to make an imprint on local life and pedagogical practice.

Wider institutional research cultures and their influence on patient and public involvement and engagement in health research – An institutional ethnography

Focus on patient and public involvement and engagement (PPIE) is increasing in health policy and research governance. PPIE is considered by some to be a democratic right, and by others to be a way to improve health care and research outcomes and implementation. Most recently, policy makers, funders and (clinical) research institutions are making PPIE a strategic requirement for health research urging researchers to invite patients and relatives into their research activities.Our study is based in a Danish university hospital where PPIE has been introduced as one of five strategic research goals. We investigated how researchers experienced this new practice and how their research practices connect to the wider context of the Danish health care system. Ten cases were studied during a year using observations, interviews, and document analysis. As our method of inquiry, we used institutional ethnography to look at researchers’ work from their perspective and to understand how PPIE practices are part of a larger institutional research culture reaching far beyond the individual. We found that current research culture has implications for the selection of patients and relatives and for what they are asked to do. Researchers who experienced that PPIE outcomes aided their existing research practices felt motivated. Researchers who engaged patients and relatives before it was a strategy, were ideologically driven and their approaches resulted in an increased diversity of inclusion and researcher assimilation.These findings add to the current knowledge on PPIE practices and help us understand that further development towards collaborative research practices require a change in key performance indicators and training and perhaps call for attention to our shared acceptance of knowledge generation in research.

Establishing research impact assessment in Iran: The first report from a non-high-income country.

This study presents the first report on research impact assessment (RIA) in non-high-income countries, undertaken as a pilot initiative in 2021. Within it, we aimed to explore the feasibility of employing the 'payback' model for evaluating the impact of health research and enhancing the accountability of universities. We focussed on three key impact domains: 'production of decision support documents and knowledge-based products,' 'implementation of research results,' and 'health and economic impact.' We adopted a case study approach to assess the impact of 5334 health research projects conducted by researchers from 18 universities from 2018 to 2020. Researchers were required to submit evidence related to at least one of the specified impact domains; six scientific committees verified and scored claimed impacts at the national level. Only 25% of the assessed projects achieved impact in at least one domain, with the production of decision support documents and knowledge products being the most reported impact. Notably, economic impact was verified in only three projects, indicating room for improvement in this area. Technology research exhibited the highest acceptance rate of claimed impact, suggesting a positive correlation between technology-focused projects and impactful outcomes. This study demonstrates the feasibility of employing a case study approach and the 'payback' model to evaluate the impact of health research, even within the constraints of a moderately equipped research infrastructure. These findings underscore the potential of integrating RIA into the governance of health research in Iran and other non-high-income countries, as well as the importance of using RIA to assess the accountability of health research systems, guide the allocation of research funding, and advocate for the advancement of health research. The study sets a precedent for future assessments in similar contexts and contributes to the ongoing global dialogue on the societal impact of health research.

Contributions of the IUCN Red List of Ecosystems to risk-based design and management of protected and conserved areas in Africa.

Protected and conserved areas (PCAs) are key ecosystem management tools for conserving biodiversity and sustaining ecosystem services and social cobenefits. As countries adopt a 30% target for protection of land and sea under the Global Biodiversity Framework of the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity, a critical question emerging is, which 30%? A risk-based answer to this question is that the 30% that returns the greatest reductions in risks of species extinction and ecosystem collapse should be protected. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List protocols provide practical methods for assessing these risks. All species, including humans, depend on the integrity of ecosystems for their well-being and survival. Africa is strategically important for ecosystem management due to convergence of high ecosystem diversity, intense pressures, and high levels of human dependency on nature. We reviewed the outcomes (e.g., applications of ecosystem red-list assessments to protected-area design, conservation planning, and management) of a symposium at the inaugural African Protected Areas Congress convened to discuss roles of the IUCN Red List of Ecosystems in the design and management of PCAs. Recent progress was made in ecosystem assessment, with 920 ecosystem types assessed against the IUCN Red List criteria across 21 countries. Although these ecosystems spanned a diversity of environments across the continent, the greatest thematic gaps were for freshwater, marine, and subterranean realms, and large geographic gaps existed in North Africa and parts of West and East Africa. Assessment projects were implemented by a diverse community of government agencies, nongovernmental organizations, and researchers. The assessments have influenced policy and management by informing extensions to and management of formal protected area networks supporting decision-making for sustainable development, and informing ecosystem conservation and threat abatement within boundaries of PCAs and in surrounding landscapes and seascapes. We recommend further integration of risk assessments in environmental policy and enhanced investment in ecosystem red-list assessment to fill current gaps.

Evolution of Regulatory Governance for Human Research in Costa Rica

Regulatory governance of human research derives from historical abuses of people participating in health related and non-health relates studies. Costa Rica was no exception and nowadays counts with a Regulatory Law of Biomedical Research (Law 9234) that guarantees the protection of research participants’ human rights. The aim of this narrative review is to overview the gradual development and state of the art of protections and oversight of research with humans in Costa Rica. A recapitulation of why regulatory governance for biomedical human research was enacted in 2014 will be discussed. Even so, there is no legal requirement in Costa Rica, as in other developing nations, for non-health related protocols with human participants, to undergo the scrutiny of research boards. Nonetheless, even before Law 9234 was passed, the University of Costa Rica made efforts to compel compliance with research ethics when studying humans. Therefore, another objective is to review the current ethical guidelines dictated by the University of Costa Rica and Scientifical Ethics Committee of the University of Costa Rica to conduct responsible human research. The University of Costa Rica’s institutional regulatory framework on human research, can serve as a model to other national and international institutions from developing nations, where ethical assessment of sociocultural research is relatively neglected, compared to the review of biomedical and clinical studies.

How have measuring, mapping and valuation enhanced governance of ecosystem services?

In 2012 we sought to operationalize ecosystem services for governance, and asked in our Ecosystem Services paper (Primmer and Furman, 2012): “Do measuring, mapping and valuing integrate sector-specific knowledge systems?” Since our paper, much operationalization and innovation work has been done toward integration. In this paper, we analyze articles addressing governance of ecosystem services and measuring, mapping and valuation from 2013 to today. Our review shows that much of the research addressing governance does it in relatively distanced ways, suggesting analytical and operational tools and improvements, rather than analyzing governance in-depth. Yet, it is apparent that over the ten years, inventorying of ecosystem services has given way to meaningfully integrated assessments and trade-off analyses as well as to in-depth analyses of stakeholder perceptions and argumentation. Participatory approaches, stakeholder mapping and actors’ roles have been integrated with more technical mapping, grounding analyses in decision-making. Valuation has become routine, yet also more explorative and in-depth, feeding to specific decision-making situations and general policy discussions. Based on the still existing gaps, we suggest that while measuring, mapping and governance should continue to be integrated into governance processes, also the political and administrative processes driving governance need a strong message from the scientific community analyzing ecosystem services governance; so strong that it is on par with the alarming messages about the state and trends of biodiversity and ecosystem services. Governance research has already produced the core message: Securing sustainability of ecosystem service provision, together with safeguarding ecosystem functions and the biodiversity that those functions rely on, requires knowledge integrating locally adapted tools and engaging transparent policy processes.

Mapping the landscape of environmental, social and governance research: A bibliometric analysis

AbstractEnvironmental, social, and governance (ESG) policies have increased to the forefront of global discourse, appealing to the consideration of international and national institutes alike. To stay ahead of the curve and build long‐term competitive advantage, companies must prioritize proactive ESG research and integrate its findings into their strategies. Additionally, comprehensive ESG research is crucial to inform effective policy interventions that address pressing environmental, social, and governance issues. This article leverages Scopus data to conduct a bibliometric analysis of ESG research from 2007 to 2022, aiming to map the field's intellectual landscape and identify key themes driving its current state. The study highlights the top contributors, institutions, and journals that have focused on ESG issues. Moreover, it examines co‐citation networks, collaboration networks, and keyword co‐occurrences, which provides a comprehensive overview of intellectual structure. This study contributes to the understanding of the ESG research landscape and provides insights for future research directions.