Information Science Research Articles

The combined effects of physical and virtual models in learning cellular biology

Physical models have long been used in science education for visualization of complex cellular structure and dynamics during face-to-face lecture (F2F). Recent advancement of technology has enabled us to create virtual models and to share knowledge remotely. This study aims to find out whether physical and virtual models work synergistically to enhance student engagement in learning an undergraduate Life Sciences module. Three independent experiments were conducted to assess learning effectiveness on three biology concepts through four learning approaches: video with virtual model only, video with integration of virtual and physical model demonstration, F2F lecture using virtual model only, F2F lecture using virtual and physical models. Participants were randomly assigned to different groups each with one learning approach. Data collected through pre- and post-tests revealed that significant improvement in learning scientific concepts occurred in one of three controlled experiments when the video contains both virtual and physical models, while no obvious difference found in the other two experiments. This data suggests that well-prepared digital media alone may convey scientific information well and additional physical models do not aid in information acquisition. However, feedback survey on student learning experience showed that all participants preferred to learn from physical models. In all three experiments, students consistently voted that the physical models attracted their attention and enhanced their interests. They made better mind maps and raised more questions. These hint that a combination of digital media with physical models might improve engagement and promote higher order thinking.

Preface: ISPRS Technical Commission I Midterm Symposium on “Intelligent Sensing and Remote Sensing Application”

Abstract. The ISPRS Technical Commission I Midterm Symposium on "Intelligent Sensing and Remote Sensing Application" was held in Changsha, China, during May 13–17, 2024, aiming to provide a platform to share the latest researches, advanced technologies and application experience, to discuss the future development and to seek international cooperation in various forms. The Symposium has received 229 full paper and abstract s, among them 45 double-blind peer-reviewed full papers were published in ISPRS Annals of the Photogrammetry, Remote Sensing and Spatial Information, and 165 papers accepted through abstract review were published in the International Archives of the Photogrammetry, Remote Sensing and Spatial Information Sciences. These papers are mostly dedicated to topics of the 8 TC I Working Groups, 3 Inter-commission Working Groups, including Satellite Missions and Constellations for Remote Sensing, Mobile Mapping Technology, Multispectral, Hyperspectral and Thermal Sensors, LiDAR, Laser Altimetry and Sensor Integration, Microwave and InSAR Technology for Earth Observation, Orientation, Calibration and Validation of Sensors, Data Quality and Benchmark of Sensors, Multi-sensor Modelling and Cross-modality Fusion, Robotics for Mapping and Machine Intelligence, Autonomous Sensing Systems and their Applications, Digital Construction: Reality Capture, Automated Inspection and Integration to BIM, Point Cloud Generation and Processing, Artificial Intelligence Technology Related to Sensor Systems, Multi-sensor Remote Sensing Applications.. These papers presented the latest trends of sensor systems. The full papers and abstracts were reviewed by the members of the Symposium Scientific Committee comprised of Working Group officers and invited experts. We would like to take this opportunity to express our great gratitude to the Scientific Committee, Local Organizing Committee, Sponsors, Exhibitors and all those who have contributed to this successful Symposium. We also want to express our thanks to the authors for their excellent papers and presentations. Tang Xinming, Antonio Maria Garcia Tommaselli, Zhang Tao, Xie JunfengISPRS Technical Commission I on Sensor SystemsMay 2024, Changsha, China

Quantitative monitoring of pollution in Mitrovica Lake using empirical model and geographic information science & systems

ABSTRACT Continuous monitoring of water is crucial for assessing its quality. This paper aims to evaluate water quality in the Artificial Lake of Mitrovica, an area known for heavy metal pollution due to nearby industrial activities. To achieve this, we conducted a comprehensive year-long investigation of the lake, involving the assessment of water quality, spatial analysis, and pollutant evaluation at six different sampling locations, collected in April, June, and September to ensure consistent monitoring. We utilised atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS) to measure concentrations of arsenic, chromium, copper, nickel, lead, zinc, and cadmium. Indices such as the Heavy Metal Pollution Index (HPI) and Metal Index (MI) were used to assess water quality. Additionally, spatial analysis was conducted using QGIS and Ordinary Kriging to visualise contamination levels across the study area. While many water parameters met international standards, certain sites, particularly those with lead concentrations (Pb2+), exceeded permissible limits, indicating areas of potential concern. This study offers valuable insights for policymaking at both local levels in Mitrovica as well as nationally in Kosova. The study overall emphasises the importance of addressing heavy metal pollution in the region.

The veterinarian’s role in reducing GHG emissions from beef and dairy production

The beef and dairy industries make significant contributions to sustainability objectives by providing our society with nutri­tious food, supporting farmers’ livelihoods, generating billions of dollars in economic activity, and contributing to healthy ecosystems. However, cattle production also generates negative environmental impacts, including greenhouse gas (GHG) emis­sions. Veterinarians have a unique opportunity to interface with beef and dairy farmers to assist with the implementation of products and practices that reduce GHG emissions, such that their clients can be more profitable and more sustainable. In general, the GHG intensity of beef and dairy production can be reduced by increasing output yields of beef and milk, while re­ducing inputs and maximizing efficiency. Some of the specific interventions include: early entry of feeder cattle to a feedlot, dry manure management, optimized inorganic nitrogen fertil­izer use, increased fat in the ration, use of anti-methane feed additives and ionophores, sourcing low-carbon corn, select­ing genetics for high feed efficiency, raising moderate/small mature beef cows and feed efficient dairy cows, improving pregnancy rate and reducing dystocia, conducting pregnancy checks, implementing artificial insemination, promoting herd health products and practices to reduce death loss, using growth-promoting implants, and utilizing SOP Lagoon®. As a trusted source of scientific information, veterinarians can be a conduit of information for producers and contribute to the ongoing effort to improve the resiliency of the beef and dairy industries.

Smart Multifunctional Nanoparticles in Cancer Theranostics: Progress and Prospect

Background: Worldwide, cancer is the second most common cause of death. Chemotherapy and other traditional cancer treatments have toxicities that affect normal cells in addition to their intended targets, necessitating the development of novel approaches to enhance cell-specific targeting. Methods: The present work summarizes the scientific information on nanoparticles in cancer theranostics to provide a comprehensive insight into the preventive and therapeutic potential of nanoparticles in cancer. Scopus, PubMed, Science Direct, and Google Scholar databases are searched to collect all the recent (2015-2023) scientific information on smart multifunctional nanoparticles using the terms nanotechnology, cancer theranostics, and polymer. Results: The use of nanomaterials as chemical biology tools in cancer theranostics has been thoroughly investigated. They demonstrate expanded uses in terms of stability, biocompatibility, and enhanced cell permeability, enabling precision targeting and ameliorating the drawbacks of conventional cancer treatments. The nano platform presents a fascinating chance to acquire multifunctionality and targeting techniques. The production of smart nanomaterials, specifically with regard to the advent of nanotechnology, has revolutionized the diagnosis and treatment of cancer. The capability of nanoparticles to functionalize with a variety of biosubstrates, including aptamers, antibodies, DNA, and RNA, and their broad surface area allow them to encapsulate a huge number of molecules, contributing to their theranostic effect. Comparatively speaking, economical, easily produced, and less toxic nanomaterials formed from biological sources are thought to have benefits over those made using conventional processes. Conclusion: The present study highlights the uses of several nanoparticles (NPs), and describes numerous cancer theranostics methodologies. The benefits and difficulties preventing their adoption in cancer treatment and diagnostic applications are also critically reviewed. The use of smart nanomaterials, according to this review's findings, can considerably advance cancer theranostics and open up new avenues for tumor detection and treatment.

Analysis of the Relationship Between Tourists Experience, Knowledge, Digital Strategic Decisions of Tourism Site Managers and Tourism Business Sustainability

The aim of this research is to propose a tourism observatory design to support strategic decision-making in tourist destinations. The proposed methodology uses input-output analysis. We propose the destination survey as a model for randomly selecting visitors at tourist attractions. The research results reveal that the observatory concept serves as a viable tool for tourism policy, addressing the information gaps at the destination level, where national statistical operations fall short. Observatories act as management tools that generate and concentrate scientific and statistical information, becoming the main source of official tourist data about a destination. However, in almost provinces, existing information does not fully meet the needs of users. Therefore, this research suggests a tourism observatory model to enhance the availability of systematic and timely information for decision-making at the provincial level. We hope that provinces and territorial units on a sub-national scale, lacking a complete tourism information system, will find the proposed model useful. We expect them to implement tourism observatory projects as a means to address specific needs, resolve local issues by uniting various tourism system participants, and address deficiencies in their current tourism statistics system. In this regard, provincial tourism observatories are expected to play a decisive role in the development of indicators and the calculation of trends, and the results obtained will provide feedback on the actions taken in relation to tourism policy.

Preface: ISPRS Technical Commission I Midterm Symposium on “Intelligent Sensing and Remote Sensing Application”

Abstract. The ISPRS Technical Commission I Midterm Symposium on "Intelligent Sensing and Remote Sensing Application" was held in Changsha, China, during May 13–17, 2024, aiming to provide a platform to share the latest researches, advanced technologies and application experience, to discuss the future development and to seek international cooperation in various forms. The Symposium has received 229 full paper and abstract s, among them 45 double-blind peer-reviewed full papers were published in ISPRS Annals of the Photogrammetry, Remote Sensing and Spatial Information, and 165 papers accepted through abstract review were published in the International Archives of the Photogrammetry, Remote Sensing and Spatial Information Sciences. These papers are mostly dedicated to topics of the 8 TC I Working Groups, 3 Inter-commission Working Groups, including Satellite Missions and Constellations for Remote Sensing, Mobile Mapping Technology, Multispectral, Hyperspectral and Thermal Sensors, LiDAR, Laser Altimetry and Sensor Integration, Microwave and InSAR Technology for Earth Observation, Orientation, Calibration and Validation of Sensors, Data Quality and Benchmark of Sensors, Multi-sensor Modelling and Cross-modality Fusion, Robotics for Mapping and Machine Intelligence, Autonomous Sensing Systems and their Applications, Digital Construction: Reality Capture, Automated Inspection and Integration to BIM, Point Cloud Generation and Processing, Artificial Intelligence Technology Related to Sensor Systems, Multi-sensor Remote Sensing Applications.. These papers presented the latest trends of sensor systems. The full papers and abstracts were reviewed by the members of the Symposium Scientific Committee comprised of Working Group officers and invited experts. We would like to take this opportunity to express our great gratitude to the Scientific Committee, Local Organizing Committee, Sponsors, Exhibitors and all those who have contributed to this successful Symposium. We also want to express our thanks to the authors for their excellent papers and presentations. Tang Xinming, Antonio Maria Garcia Tommaselli, Zhang Tao, Xie JunfengISPRS Technical Commission I on Sensor SystemsMay 2024, Changsha, China

A literature review of user privacy concerns in conversational chatbots: A social informatics approach: An Annual Review of Information Science and Technology (ARIST) paper

AbstractSince the introduction of OpenAI's ChatGPT‐3 in late 2022, conversational chatbots have gained significant popularity. These chatbots are designed to offer a user‐friendly interface for individuals to engage with technology using natural language in their daily interactions. However, these interactions raise user privacy concerns due to the data shared and the potential for misuse in these conversational information exchanges. Furthermore, there are no overarching laws and regulations governing such conversational interfaces in the United States. Thus, there is a need to investigate the user privacy concerns. To understand these concerns in the existing literature, this paper presents a literature review and analysis of 38 papers out of 894 retrieved papers that focus on user privacy concerns arising from interactions with text‐based conversational chatbots through the lens of social informatics. The review indicates that the primary user privacy concern that has consistently been addressed is self‐disclosure. This review contributes to the broader understanding of privacy concerns regarding chatbots the need for further exploration in this domain. As these chatbots continue to evolve, this paper acts as a foundation for future research endeavors and informs potential regulatory frameworks to safeguard user privacy in an increasingly digitized world.

Biological Potential and Therapeutic Effectiveness of Phytoproduct 'Fargesin' in Medicine: Focus on the Potential of an Active Phytochemical of Magnolia fargesii.

Flos Magnoliae is one of the important medicinal plants in different traditional medicine, including Chinese herbal medicine. Lignans and neolignans, including tetrahydrofurofuran, tetrahydrofuran, and aryltetralin, are present in the Flos Magnoliae species. A wide range of pharmacological activity of Flos Magnoliae has been reported in medicine. Fargesin has been isolated from Magnolia fargesii and is a lignan-class phytochemical. Fargesin has numerous pharmacological activities in medicine, including its effectiveness on lipid and glucose metabolism, oxidative stress, myocardial apoptosis, etc. In the present work, we have summarized the detailed scientific information of fargesin concerning its medicinal properties and pharmacological activities. Numerous biological and chemical aspects of fargesin are discussed here, including the detailed pharmacological activities and analytical aspects of fargesin. In this review, we have also compiled analytical data on fargesin based on available scientific literature. Ethnopharmacological information on fargesin was gathered by a literature survey on Pubmed, Science Direct, Google, and Scopus using the terms fargesin, Flos Magnoliae, phytochemical, and herbal medicine. The present review paper compiled the scientific data on fargesin in medicine for its pharmacological activities and analytical aspects in a very concise manner with proper citations. The present work signified the biological importance of fargesin in medicine due to its significant impact on bone disorders, lung injury, colon cancer, atherosclerosis, neurological disorders, ischemia, sars-cov-2, allergy, lipid and glucose metabolism, melanin synthesis, and different classes of enzymes. Furthermore, fargesin also has anti-inflammatory, antihypertensive, antiprotozoal, antimycobacterial, and antifeedant activity. However, analytical methods used for the separation, identification and isolation of fargesin in different biological and non-biological samples were also covered in the present review. The present work revealed the pharmacological activities and analytical aspects of fargesin in medicine and other allied health sectors.

Research Trends in Doctoral Dissertation in Library and Information Science Submitted to Universities of Madhya Pradesh

An analysis of the trends of research in library and information science doctoral dissertation awarded in universities of Madhya Pradesh between 1982 and 2022, an analysis of the level of the library and information science in broad and narrow subject areas as well as research, development patterns and productivity of universities. To find out the current trends, the present study helps in acquainting the LIS research community with the current scenario and direction of research in this era of information and communication technology. University data analysis leads to very good results and conclusions for knowing the current trends in research in the subject of library and information science. Index Terms -: Doctoral research in LIS; - LIS research trends; keyword analysis; LIS research in regional language; Universities of Madhya Pradesh

Jogos de linguagem e neodocumentalismo

This article aims to establish relationships between a theory of Neodocumentalism in Information Science and issues exposed in the philosophical systems of Ludwig Wittgenstein's Philosophy, especially in its second phase, as exposed in his work Philosophical Investigations. In this sense, it is intended to establish converging relationships between the concept of language-games and aspects related to the document as an instrument for conveying information, language and social practice. After an introduction to the topic, concepts of Neodocumentalism in the field of Information Science will be presented. Then, a presentation of Wittgenstein's system will be made, especially the system of its second phase and, soon after, aspects and considerations will be approached between Neodocumentalism and language-games.

FEATURES AND POTENTIALS OF NON-FORMAL ADULT EDUCATION IN UKRAINIAN EDUCATIONAL ENVIRONMENT

The aim of the article ii to define features and potentials of non-formal adult education in Ukrainian educational environment that is focused on adult learners` development and motivation; effective change management; the challenge of real life adult learners can face; ability to prove adult learners can use knowledge to introduce themselves professionally and communicate effectively in everyday situations and work. General scientific methods such as analysis, synthesis and generalization of the scientific information on different theoretical approaches to the problem of non-formal adult education have been used. One of the most important tasks at the present stage of modernizing non-formal adult education in national teaching and learning process is to ensure teaching quality according to both national and international requirements as well as support adult learners in delivering successful learning preparing them for future challenges. This issue is partly a reaction to the rapid changes in technologies adult learners can see around and experience on a daily basis. Information technologies, effective tools and timely forehanded receiving of information are becoming essential and crucial factors in the teaching lifelong education process. There is a need to bring into focus the non-formal adult education process to improve the design and structure of adult learning opportunities. In this article, we address concepts and approaches, which are equipped with appropriate innovative-based effective tools in accordance with the latest requirements identifying key issues that emerge in non-formal adult education, introducing them as substantial elements of teachers’ professional competence and their effective use in lifelong education process. Particular attention is paid to the teacher`s role and significance in nonformal adult education making such a process more meaningful for adult learners.

NEW SPHERE OF INTERDISCIPLINARY KNOWLEDGE "ONE HEALTH": SCIENTIFIC ORIENTATION AND EDUCATIONAL CONTENT

The aim of the study. Based on the analysis of the sources of scientific information, scientific and methodical approaches of the "One Health" concept, justify and develop the "One Health" certificate program for training and continuous professional development of specialists in the field of public health in order to solve complex interdisciplinary problems in the health care field. Materials and methods. The methods of system approach and system analysis, bibliosemantic, historical method, comparative analysis and conceptual modelling were used. Research results and discussion. Taking into account world experience, the joint efforts of the leading scientific and pedagogical staff of the departments of the Bogomolets National Medical University, certificate program "One Health" was created for the training and re-training of public health specialists, which consists of 5 interrelated content modules: Zooanthroponous and transmissible infectious diseases: new, traditional, imported; Food safety and one health in the "human-animal-plant-environment" system; Contribution to changes in the one health by industrial activity and environmental pollution; Climate changes on planet Earth in the context of impact on one health; The problem of resistance to antimicrobial drugs in the treatment of humans and animals and its consequences. The new educational program is aimed at preserving and strengthening the health of the population (with the joint efforts of health care systems, veterinary medicine, the State Service of Ukraine On Food Safety And Consumer Protection (SSUFSCP), the phytosanitary service and the State Environmental inspectorate of Ukraine). Conclusions. Training under the certificate program will allow students to learn the concept of "One Health", to form an understanding of the cooperation of WHO, FAO, UNEP and WOAH in the context of "human-animal-plant-environment", aimed at the integration and practical implementation of "One Health" concept on a global, regional and national levels.

Exploring Gender Differences in Scientific Aptitude among Secondary School Students: A Comparative Analysis Between Boys and Girls

Present study explores the Numerical ability and Science information (Scientific aptitude) among boys’ and girls’ students. It is aimed to find out the difference between boys’ and girls’ students in terms of Numerical ability and Science information. A sample of 100 (50 each from boys and girls) students has been taken from government secondary schools of Goalpara district, Assam. For the selection of sample schools, Researcher used random sampling technique. The data were collected with the help of standardized tool. For the research work, researcher used Scientific Aptitude Test Battery (SATB) developed by Agarwal, K.K and Aurora, S. In this study descriptive research design is used. The study employed quantitative method and include standardized tests. The major findings of the study revealed that the Boys possess more Numerical ability than Girls. Again, there is no informational difference between boys and girls in the field of science.

Structured abstract generator (SAG) model: analysis of IMRAD structure of articles and its effect on extractive summarization

AbstractAn abstract is the most crucial element that may convince readers to read the complete text of a scientific publication. However, studies show that in terms of organization, readability, and style, abstracts are also among the most troublesome parts of the pertinent manuscript. The ultimate goal of this article is to produce better understandable abstracts with automatic methods that will contribute to scientific communication in Turkish. We propose a summarization system based on extractive techniques combining general features that have been shown to be beneficial for Turkish. To construct the data set for this aim, a sample of 421 peer-reviewed Turkish articles in the field of librarianship and information science was developed. First, the structure of the full-texts, and their readability in comparison with author abstracts, were examined for text quality evaluation. A content-based evaluation of the system outputs was then carried out. System outputs, in cases of using and ignoring structural features of full-texts, were compared. Structured outputs outperformed classical outputs in terms of content and text quality. Each output group has better readability levels than their original abstracts. Additionally, it was discovered that higher-quality outputs are correlated with more structured full-texts, highlighting the importance of structural writing. Finally, it was determined that our system can facilitate the scholarly communication process as an auxiliary tool for authors and editors. Findings also indicate the significance of structural writing for better scholarly communication.

Institutional Factors as Precursors of Consortium Building Readiness among University Libraries in Southwestern Nigeria

In many countries, especially developing ones like Nigeria, university libraries face tremendous challenges in meeting the needs of the ever-growing world of knowledge and information, particularly the demands of their users. These challenges result from diminishing budgets and the galloping cost of subscriptions to periodicals, purchasing materials, and Information and Communication Technology (ICT) tools, and they have warranted the need for building consortia among university libraries as an approach to address the foregoing problems. University libraries must, therefore, be ready for consortium building by providing institutional factors within them. The study investigated institutional factors as precursors of consortium building readiness among university libraries in Southwestern Nigeria. It adopted the survey design of the correlational type. Total enumeration was used to sample all 643 library personnel in the 45 university libraries in Southwestern Nigeria. The library staff sampled possess at least a diploma or degree in Library and Information Science, even a PhD. There are 45 universities located in Southwestern Nigeria. 549 copies of the questionnaire were returned and used for the study, giving a response rate of 85.4 per cent. The self-constructed questionnaire and interview schedule validated and tested on 30 library personnel at the University of Ilorin, Kwara State, Nigeria, were used for data collection. The data was analysed qualitatively and quantitatively using descriptive and inferential statistics, correlation, and regression analysis. Findings revealed that organisational culture (=3.20; std dev. =0.66) was the most prevalent institutional factor for consortium building. It was followed by ICT literacy skills (=3.18; std dev. =0.64), electricity (=3.16; std dev. =0.73), automation/digitisation (=3.09; std dev. =3.95), training (=2.91; std dev. =0.83), Internet connection (=2.90; std dev. =0.78), finance (=2.89; std dev. =0.81), and organisational policy (formal written document) (=2.79; std dev. =0.81). The findings also reveal that institutional factors altogether (r = .508; p<0.05) have a significant positive relationship with consortium building readiness among university libraries in Southwestern Nigeria. Institutional factors aid consortium building readiness among university libraries in Southwestern Nigeria. The study recommends that university libraries must provide institutional factors to show their readiness for consortium building.

Assessing publication trends in selected GIScience journals

This study examines recent publishing trends in geographic information science (GIScience) journals. The study considers citable items (research articles, reviews) in 24 selected journals, and assesses them for the period between 2018 and 2023. The study begins by providing an overview of GIScience journal publishing trends, including growth in absolute numbers and the proportion in which they disseminate research as open access (OA). The geographic footprint of GIScience authors and international collaboration are also explored. Journals and their impact, reputation, and perceived quality are assessed using common journal metrics, including impact factor, 5-year impact factor, CiteScore, source normalized impact per paper (SNIP), SCImago Journal Rank (SJR), immediacy index, article influence score and normalized Eigenfactor. A composite index consisting of all these metrics from 2022 is established. The paper finds that GIScience is increasingly disseminated as OA. There is evidence that the Global South is underrepresented in GIScience, which necessitates greater inclusion and support in these regions. Finally, the assessment of journal metrics helps researchers identify prominent GIScience journals for disseminating their work effectively. This paper contributes to the knowledge and understanding of recent publishing trends in GIScience, offering valuable insights to researchers, practitioners and journal editors.

A competência em informação no enfrentamento ao plágio no ambiente acadêmico

This article discusses information literacy in the face of plagiarism in academia. It reflects on the causes of plagiarism, such as the little incentive for students to produce authorial content and the absence of institutional policies that guide such productions. As a response to this context, the article suggests an education for authorship based on information literacy. Information literacy, among others, promotes a healthy relationship between people and the information universe. Thus, the objective is to discuss how promoting information literacy contributes to combating academic plagiarism and establishing authorship. The method involves bibliographical research in databases in the area of Information Science and argumentative construction in which the concepts of plagiarism and information literacy are related. The results include a demonstrative guide on how information literacy can be used in the production of academic work and guidelines for teachers to recognize and avoid plagiarism. The work concludes that the skills generated within the relationship between individuals and information can benefit the construction of authorship and be an effective element in combating plagiarism.

Impact of Heavy Metal Pollution on the Environment

Pollution of the environment by the toxic heavy metals is a global issue of concern and affects the natural quality of the air, water, and soil. Anthropogenic activities are largely responsible for the widespread pollution of heavy metals in the environment, which is having a harmful impact on human health. Rapid urbanization, industrialization, population explosion, and use of advanced technology in developing countries have resulted in huge rise in waste production. Waste generation and disposal along with landfills is a serious global environmental threat resulting in heavy metal contamination of the soils, water, and plants. Heavy metals reaching in the atmosphere result to the deterioration of the quality, and contamination of the soil and groundwater along with damage to the living organisms. The present review describes the analysis of heavy metal pollution of the environment with respect to air, animals, aquatic ecosystem, plants, and soil. Special emphasis is provided on sources of heavy metals in the environment, harmful impacts of heavy metals on the environment and strategies to control heavy metal pollution of the environment. Present study is based on critical review and analysis of scientific information published by academic and professional researchers who studied the impact of heavy metal pollution on the environment. Research articles on impact of heavy metal pollution on the environment published in high impact factor journals were referred for collection of databases. This study notices that there is an urgent need for continuous monitoring of various environmental elements for heavy metals in different open dumpsites. It also recommends that nanomaterials, such as metal oxide nanoparticles, graphene and its derivatives, magnetic nanoparticles, and carbon nanotubes should be used to remove the toxic heavy metals from the air, water and soil.

Electronic medical information systems and timeliness of care in the emergency department: a scoping review

BackgroundAlthough many emergency department (ED) settings have implemented an electronic medical information system (EMIS) and EMIS tools in an effort to improve timeliness of care outcomes, there remains a paucity of scientific information on this topic. We therefore performed a scoping review to describe the range of EMIS interventions and their impacts on time-based outcomes in the ED.MethodsWe searched four bibliographic databases to identify potentially relevant records published after 2014 in English. Two reviewers assessed records for eligibility using a two-step screening process. We then extracted data on the type of EMIS, outcomes assessed, and reported results. Findings were summarized in tabular form and grouped by time-based outcome.ResultsTwenty-five studies met the eligibility criteria, with approximately half being retrospective studies. Interventions varied among studies; they generally included a new or updated EMIS, EMIS tools related to disease diagnosis and/or management, triage tools, or health information exchange platforms. Included studies compared interventions with relevant comparator groups, such as prior versions of an EMIS, absence of an EMIS, pen-and-paper documentation, and/or communication via telephone and fax. The most common outcomes reported were length of stay (n = 17 studies) and time to medication (n = 6 studies), followed by time to order, time to provider, and time from result to disposition. Reported effects of the interventions were generally inconsistent, showing either improvements, delays, or no change in examined outcomes.ConclusionsAdditional research is needed to determine how electronic medical information may be used in the ED to improve timeliness of care. Findings from this review can be used to inform future systematic reviews that evaluate the impact of these systems and tools on specific quality of care measures.