International Scenario Research Articles

The global research landscape and future trends in healthcare Total Quality Management

Total Quality Management (TQM) is instrumental in augmenting the quality and efficacy of healthcare service delivery, but a comprehensive evaluation of present and evolving TQM research trends within healthcare research articles is notably absent. This study provides an insightful view into the prevailing international scenarios and upcoming research frontiers in healthcare TQM research field, utilizing bibliometric mapping through VOSviewer. Drawing data from 360 publications in the Web of Science core citation database, it delineates a steady growth in the field over the last 30 years. Research outputs span 51 countries and regions, with notable contributions from the United States, United Kingdom, Netherlands, and Italy. The top five research institutions and numerous authors predominantly hail from the United States. Key keywords in near years encompass healthcare safety, healthcare quality assurance, quality indicators, and the application of Six Sigma management principles. This exploration serves as a pivotal reference for understanding the global research landscape and future trends in healthcare TQM, particularly in guaranteeing quality and safety. Future scientific endeavors will build upon these focus areas, exploring and connecting research gaps in more specialized fields.

Assessment of changes in antibiotic use in grow-finish pigs after the introduction of PRRSV in a naïve farrow-to-finish system

Responsible antibiotic usage (ABU) is crucial for both animal and human health and requires constant improvement of antimicrobial stewardship (AMS). The presence of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV), a viral pathogen with immunosuppressive effects on swine, can intensify bacterial co-infections, alter antibiotic pharmacokinetics, and potentially lead to increased ABU. This study aimed to measure ABU changes in the grow-finish population associated with PRRSV infection and describe the antibiotic classes employed to manage clinical signs from a farrow-to-finish genetic multiplier system. Three PRRSV statuses (naïve, positive epidemic, and positive endemic) were established to classify the lots based on PRRSV circulation, with a total of 135,063 animals evaluated. The number of pig treatments per animal days at risk (PTDR) was calculated by administration route to quantify ABU across PRRSV status using negative binomial regression and non-parametric tests (P-value < 0.05). Moreover, to improve ABU comparability in the international scenario, the milligrams per population correction unit (mg/PCU) was calculated according to the European Medicines Agency guidelines. In the nursery phase, there was a statistically significant difference between PRRSV statuses for the overall PTDR (injectable and water routes of administration), with an ABU increase of 3.79 and 2.51 times the naïve PTDR for positive epidemic and endemic status, respectively. For the finishing phase, there was a statistically significant difference between PRRSV statuses in the injectable PTDR, with an ABU increase of 2.74 and 2.28 times the naïve PTDR level for positive epidemic and endemic statuses, respectively. In the nursery phase, the mean mg/PCU was 22.27 mg/PCU for naïve, 86.71 for positive epidemic, and 33.37 for positive endemic statuses; in the finishing phase, 81.31, 76.55, and 67.09 mg/PCU, respectively. The most frequently injected antibiotic in the nursery phase was ampicillin, with 49 % of total injections, followed by lincomycin (31 %) and enrofloxacin (20 %), and in the finishing phase, 72 % of injections were lincomycin, followed by enrofloxacin (28 %). The results highlight that the PRRSV outbreak in the source was associated with a grow-finish ABU increase, revealing the importance of preventing PRRSV infection to potentially decrease ABU and improve AMS within swine production systems.

POLÍTICAS PÚBLICAS HUMANITÁRIAS PORTUGUESAS: DA VISÃO DAS CONDICIONANTES À BREVE VISÃO DA PRÁTICA ASSOCIADA AOS COSTUMES

This article aims to an integrative literature review of humanitarian public policies in Portugal to understand how these policies are developed and implemented in the country. To this end, we will analyze the European Union and Portugal regulatory legislation, which encompasses the topic from different perspectives, to provide a sufficiently comprehensive view of the subject. Humanitarian public policies have been gaining prominence in the international scenario, especially given the frequency and intensity of natural disasters and humanitarian crises. In Portugal, these policies are influenced by such regulatory documents, from EU legislation to the Portuguese Constitution, encompassing relevant laws and culminating in the implementation of strategies, plans, and government programs with their humanitarian characteristics and approaches to resilience and humanitarian action determinants, permeating the practice of action related to the country's customs. The literature review conducted in this article seeks to contribute to the understanding of humanitarian public policies in Portugal and provide a general overview and support for academic debate on the subject.

Unveiling the molecular epidemiology of canine distemper virus in Namibia: An expected pathogen showing an unexpected origin

ObjectiveCanine distemper virus (CDV) is a highly infectious virus that represents a threat for domestic dogs and several wild species. Despite recognized in several African countries, current knowledge of its molecular epidemiology is scarce and poorly updated. DesignTwenty-two hemagglutinin sequences, obtained from symptomatic Namibian dogs from 2020 to 2023, were analysed through phylogenetic and phylodynamic analysis to characterize the local CDV epidemiology and contextualize it in the international scenario. ResultsTwo unrelated clades were identified, including strains sampled in different Namibian towns, in the absence of a strong geographical clustering. The ancestors of the two clades were estimated to have originated from South America, likely Brazil, and South Africa, approximately in 2000 and 2006, respectively. While the introduction from South Africa was predictable, the introduction from Brazil was unexpected. The mediation of other African countries, particularly Angola, appears to be the most likely importation pathway. ConclusionsThe occurrence of multiple introduction events, likely originating from cross-border illegal animal trade between African countries, and the absence of any geographical clustering within Namibian regions, suggest a need for further investigation into its spreading pattern, as well as improved biosecurity measures to limit foreign viral introduction into the country.

Smart Sensing of Nerve Agents.

The recent international scenario highlights the importance to protect human health and environmental quality from toxic compounds. In this context, organophosphorous (OP) Nerve Agents (NAs) have received particular attention, due to their use in terrorist attacks. Classical instrumental detection techniques are sensitive and selective, but they cannot be used in real field due to the high cost, specialized personnel requested and huge size. For these reasons, the development of practical, easy and fast detection methods (smart methods) is the future of this field. Indeed, starting from initial sensing research, based on optical and/or electrical sensors, today the development and use of smart strategies to detect NAs is the current state of the art. This review summarizes the smart strategies to detect NAs, highlighting some important parameters, such as linearity, limit of detection and selectivity. Furthermore, some critical comments of the future on this field, and in particular, the problems to be solved before a real application of these methods, are provided.

Taliban insurgency in Afghanistan: a comparative analysis between 1996 and 2021

The Taliban's return to power in Afghanistan in 2021 has significant implications for the country, the region, and the international community. The group's past government was marked by human rights abuses and support for terrorism, which raises concerns about their ability to govern effectively and address the country's challenges. Comparing the different approaches taken by the Taliban in 1996 and 2021 to achieve power, as well as the group's behavioral differences in both moments, through their speeches and concern for the image caused abroad, it is possible to notice that the new established government breaks, at least in public image, with the group's stereotype, trying to adapt to the new international scenario, which is very different from the late 1990s. The veracity of the statements made by Taliban representatives in Afghanistan regarding the measures that would be taken and the caution for the maintenance of human rights is not the subject of study in this work. It only seeks to demonstrate the government's intention to establish connections with the international community and the unprecedented concern for the repercussion of their actions abroad. The Taliban's relationship with neighboring countries such as Pakistan, Iran, and China will also shape Afghanistan's future, as well as commercial agreements with countries such as Russia, which can be decisive for managing the Afghan economy (BHATIA, 2021).

Date palm-A gift for health and nutrition: national and international scenario

Date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.), family Arecaceae or Palmae, is cultivated mostly in the arid regions of the world. The crop has played a significant role in the economy of these countries, provides nutritional security, besides helping to mitigate the adverse effects of desertification and climate change over centuries. Date palm personifies human civilization in the arid countries. It is estimated that there are 150 million date palms worldwide, and 75% of these in the Near East and North Africa region. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations, the global production of dates has increased from just 1.8 million tons in 1962 to nearly 9.75 million tons in 2022. In India, commercial dates are cultivated mainly in the states of Gujarat and Rajasthan which are emerging as major producers of fresh dates. Besides, local and wild dates are abound across the country. Dates are consumed fresh or in dry form and considered a complete food, providing food and nutrition security through a wide range of essential nutrients that have beneficial effects on human health. This article presents an overview of dates on nutrition and human health besides giving an insight on propagation, production, protection, processing, marketing, and associated challenges plaguing the sector.

Overcoming Emotional and Communication Barriers With Performing Arts Strategies: The Case of Puerto Rican Business Students

This article discusses interdisciplinary approaches to help students overcome communication barriers by integrating performing arts in Business Communication courses. Companies emphasize a workforce with solid soft skills to succeed. International Business employs English; thus, practical communication skills in English provide access to jobs in international scenarios. However, in Puerto Rico, second-language speakers of English feel intimidated when speaking it. The emotional barriers students endure while developing intercultural and communication skills in English is a topic worth researching. Performing arts provide strategies to raise body awareness and increase self-confidence. These elements will lead to a confident and effective communicator.

RESEARCH, A GLOBAL EYE-CARE NEEDS AND SOLUTIONS: AN UNDERUTILIZED AND UNTAPPED OPTOMETRY RESOURCE- INDIAN VERSUS INTERNATIONAL SCENARIO

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to compare and assess the knowledge, attitude, and perceived factors towards research amongst undergraduate (UG) Optometry students in India with an International scenario. Methodology: A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted among Indian and international UG Optometry students. A modified questionnaire was used to collect data from UG optometry students through an online Google form, which was circulated electronically. Results: Out of 154 subjects [(77 Indian &amp; 77 Abroad), Male-60% &amp; 30% while Female-40% &amp; 70% respectively], 36 Indian subjects (46.7%) &amp; 61 Abroad subjects (79.2%) were having an idea to research while (93.5%) &amp; (80.5%) were having interest towards research respectively. The common perceived factors including, Inadequate support by faculty (27%&amp; 27%), Inadequate motivation (28.6% &amp; 32.5%), Inadequate financial support (27.3%&amp; 31.2%), Lack of time (13%&amp; 49.4%), need of adequate training (36.3%&amp; 28.6%), lack of skills and knowledge (35.1%&amp; 37.7%), lack of interest (22.1% &amp; 27.3%) and not have any opportunities to take part in research (24.7%&amp; 13%) were observed in Indian and Abroad subjects respectively. All factors mentioned were found to be statistically significant (p&lt;0.05) with the Chi-square &amp; ANOVA test in SPSS version 21. Conclusion: Most students had a positive attitude or interest in eye health research, but Indian students lacked an ample number of resources in comparison to abroad ones. So, a positive cum supportive environment (including the availability of optimum resources) is needed to improve skills &amp; knowledge about research amongst UG optometry students during their academic life. Keywords: Optometry, Research methodology, Education, Eye-care, Research barriers

Enhancing sustainability in construction: Analysis of high-efficiency solutions for NZEBs in the Marche Region

Renewable energy, green energy, environmental sustainability, and interventions aimed at the construction of low-carbon structures are now major topics of interest for a sustainable, economic and social development of the city. For several years the international scenario has presented guidelines and protocols for the energy-environmental sustainability of buildings, often aimed at awarding a high sustainability label. In Italy one of the most used certification systems is the ITACA Protocol, recently updated by the UNI /PDR 2023, which through a series of criteria identifies global indicators on sustainability, energy efficiency and indoor comfort of the building. In this context, an multi-criteria analysis was developed to identify highly energy-efficient solutions for nearly Zero-Energy Buildings (NZEB) in the Marche region.

Editing the Journal during transition

Both authors express their gratefulness to the whole Tuning Academy and to the many colleagues who cooperated to their editorial experience. Moreover, revisiting that period, they present some new remarks and reflection on that “incredible 5-years journey”. Anna’s contribution focusses on three big added values, that – according to her editorial experience – TJHE offered (and offers) to the higher education community worldwide. Indeed, TJHE offers – in the first place – a platform of individual and collective reflection on the themes emerging in the international scenario; in the second place, it offers an inclusive international approach, the variety of countries represented by authors being very large; finally, it offers a reference database, since it collects a variety of scholarly experience, from more structured projects and reforms to local teaching innovation and scholarship of teaching and learning. In Lupo’s contribution, the focus is “a meditation on competences”, those which are the heart of the Tuning community. The contribution starts from a description of the different competences and roles, which occur in a well-structured editorial process (whose achievement was the aim of those 5 years). Such an example – in its particular context – shows the complementarity and the circularity of competences, qualities which are present even in more general contexts of human life. Moreover, this example leads to a deeper understanding of the splendour and magnificence, that the competences may generate.

Increasing political polarization with disinformation: A comparative analysis of the European quality press

Political polarization and information disorders are not new phenomena on the media agenda, but they have acquired considerable prominence in the wake of international events such as the election of Donald Trump. The present article seeks to help in understanding the interrelation of these concepts –disinformation and polarization– in the European quality press in recent years. Six newspapers (El Mundo, El País, Le Figaro, Le Monde, The Daily Telegraph and The Guardian) from three countries were selected on the basis of their quality, audience and representative character of their editorial lines between 2017 and late 2022, and a qualitative and quantitative frame analysis (n = 286) was carried out. Having observed all the definitions of polarization in the press, it was seen that party political alignment has the greatest presence in the international scenario, coming before the division of public opinion. In the sample, Spain has a prominent position, claiming to be a polarized pluralist country, as opposed to United Kingdom, which closely observes what happens in the United States, or France, where these phenomena have achieved less penetration. The conclusion is that political polarization is presented as a chronic problem caused by political actors who are not going to cease doing so, as opposed to information disorders, which are produced by certain specific international actors, such as Vladimir Putin, Donald Trump, and Jair Bolsonaro, who take advantage of communication flows on social media and the latter’s lack of regulation. This article suggests that the way to resolve or at least alleviate the problem is by defending quality information and public media, emphasizing citizen responsibility in the face of social media.

Genetic variants used as predictors of response in the pharmacological treatment of depression in the brazilian population

Depression is one of the most frequent mental illnesses in the world and the lack of response to antidepressants are linked to genetic variants. The genetic diversity of Brazilian population may contribute to a variability in the response to these drugs, and this study aimed to assess how genetic variants are clinically and scientifically in the context of therapeutic response to depression in the Brazilian population. This work was carried out through a survey in literature and information obtained from genetic laboratories about the variants used in Brazil as biomarkers of response to antidepressants. Data from scientific studies published since 2000 that evaluated genetic variants that are related to the response to antidepressants in Brazilian populations, in the PubMed, Scielo, Scopus and Web of Science databases were also collected and compared with the international scenario. All laboratories evaluated included variants of CYP2D6 and CYP2C19 genes approved by Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as biomarkers. However, the Brazilian genetic panels include variants that lack proven efficacy in PharmGKB and are not FDA-approved, highlighting the need for more regulation of commercialized tests and further studies on genetic variant analysis for depression treatment in our population. A limited number of Brazilian studies in this field were verified, highlighting the need for more regulation of commercialized tests and further studies on genetic variant for depression treatment in our population.

BRIDGING THE GAP: THE UNTAPPED POTENTIAL OF LITERATURE IN SCIENCE EDUCATION

Despite their apparent divergence, science, rooted in cold, hard facts, and literature, soaring its wings of imagination, their paths converge in the insatiable need to explore, understand, and ignite curiosity. Recognizing this potential, educators are embracing literature as a transformative tool in science education. This abstract explores the untapped potential of literature in science education, highlighting its ability to not only equip students with critical cognizance but also to cultivate a deeper appreciation for scientific inquiry and discovery. By integrating literature into scientific education, educators create a dynamic and engaging learning environment that empowers students to become active learners, critical thinkers, informed citizens and passionate explorers in this technology dependent, scientifically advanced world. Keywords: Science education, Literature integration, Student engagement, Technology integration, Health humanities

Technology to the rescue? Techno-scientific practices in the United Kingdom Net Zero Strategy and their role in locking in high energy decarbonisation pathways

The development of country specific decarbonisation pathways is becoming increasingly common as more governments commit to achieving Net Zero. These pathways are critical for setting the direction and pace of decarbonisation.This article reviews the characteristics of fifteen different UK Net Zero pathways (three government pathways and 12 additional pathways) and shows how the expectation of technology innovation and low-carbon energy abundance closes down the space potential pathways can occupy. In particular, we find that while conceptually different, the three government pathways display a high degree of similarity and that the majority of pathways rely on significant amounts of new clean energy and retain large residual emissions in 2050 which requires the deployment of significant new carbon dioxide removal technologies.The dominance of high energy and high residual emission pathways is also observed in international scenarios including IPCC's Shared Socioeconomic Baseline Pathways and the IEA's Net Zero Energy Scenario. By situating these domestic plans within an international context, the paper explores how the reliance on new technology in developed countries perpetuates an unjust model of fossil-fuelled development and blocks the development of alternative, transformative decarbonisation pathways from being considered.

The meta-projects of the new community health centers, community hospitals and local operative centers for the Italian country.

COVID-19 highlighted significant criticalities of the Italian National Healthcare System (NHS) and recently the Italian Government approved the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP) to relaunch its economy and at the same time to promote health, sustainability and digital innovation. Specifically, M6C1 (Mission 6 Component 1) wants to introduce Community Health Centers (CHCs), Community Hospitals (CHs) and Local Operative Centers (LOCs)to strength territorial healthcare services. Starting from the Italian Ministerial Decree n. 77 (2022), AGENAS (National Agency for Regional Healthcare System) and POLIMI (Politecnico di Milano) working group developed the meta-design guidelines for CHCs, CHs and LOCs facilitieswith the aim of supporting decision-makers to define spatial features and building performances in order to be responsive to functional issues. The spatial strategies of these facilities have been elicited through three different steps: a) a survey about the current national and international scenario regarding the territorial healthcare; b) a review of all national and regional regulations; c) the development of the meta-design guidelines have been elaborated from the analysis of the a) and b) steps. The regulatory instructions and scientific indications collected through the literature have been translated into spatial and functional layouts. The services have been organized by homogeneous macro-areas and defined in a synoptic framework which shows the performance approach and their features. Each macro-area, sorted by type of functions, has been subdivided into a list of all its specific spatial units. The study conducted aims at supporting the planning of these facilities in relation to the catchment area and their sizing. It will be necessary to define the location by evaluating the possibility of setting them up within existing hospitals, as well as to guarantee a sustainable approach in the realization of these infrastructures.

The Western European Union and the Yugoslav conflict

1992 was a crucial year for European defence and security policies due to changes in the international scenario. One of such developments was the Yugoslav crisis, that in 1992 turned into a violent and genocidal conflict shocking Europe and the world. Despite having the required capacity, the Western European Union (WEU) did not manage to end the conflict with its military and diplomatic efforts. By drawing on the archival documents of the Historical Archives of the European Union, this article explores the Proceedings of WEU Assembly to provide new evidence of the divisions existing among WEU members precluding an agreement.

Opening ceremonies and national identity: Beijing 2008 and Tokyo 2020

ABSTRACT The opening ceremonies of sports mega-events are privileged for transmitting discourse about the past and constructing a national identity. Although it is difficult to determine how vital opening ceremonies are in the long term or how much they are ever remembered beyond the media coverage, these ceremonies project national images of the countries that organize them by reinforcing identities. Based on the theoretical assumptions of constructivism, this article contrasts the Beijing 2008 and Tokyo 2020 opening ceremonies, discussing how the creation of these narratives reflects the aspirations to build national identities linked with an idealized past. Also, this article analyses how these events illustrate how China and Japan present their identity in an international scenario. Finally, the conclusions emphasize the importance of opening ceremonies beyond the limited sports context and their profound political implications.

Python scripts for web scraping metadata from descriptions of the international scenario of research data repositories

Objective: Research data repositories are an evolution of document repositories that aim to access and preserve all materials used before, during, and after scientific research. In this context, this study aims to conduct an exploratory and descriptive investigation of the international scenario of data repositories by monitoring the descriptive metadata of the international register of this type of repositories in the Registry of Research Data Repositories (re3data.org). Methods: The process requires applying knowledge inherent to the techniques and technologies used for descriptive data analysis, information retrieval, manipulation, analysis, and data visualization. Consequently, three scripts in Python 3.11 are provided for collecting metadata from re3data and scripts and converting the metadata to enable visualization in software such as VOSviewer, a dataset with metadata descriptions of repositories and conversions for visualization of networks. The datasets produced in this study can be found in the ZENODO Data Repository (https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.7903109). In a collection on (05/05/2023), 3108 links to the repository descriptions were retrieved. Data and scripts were created for this methodological experiment and shared at (DOI: doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.7903109). The dataset contains a root directory with three subdirectories: (scripts) with (.py) Python codes, another directory called (data) with textual files containing tab-separated values (.TSV), and the file (Information Systems Research, RIS). The third directory (env) contains the Python libraries required to run the scripts. Potential for reuse: The research method applied to manipulate this dataset is based on automated re3data metadata extraction and network visualization; after the data collection and analysis process, it is possible to trigger a study based on the descriptions extracted from the Registry of Research Data Repositories (re3data), researchers can visualize the international scenario of research data repositories, verified by re3data, which allows ethical monitoring of the number of research data repositories that are registered in re3data, what are their areas, institutions, countries, the language of research data, the typology of repositories and deposited data, their themes, areas of knowledge, types of access, licenses and software used. In addition, other issues can be raised while interpreting the data. The community of Librarianship and Information Science professionals need to share data and the extraction technique these research data. Finally, it can be concluded whether information about research data repositories allows us to state that they are heterogeneous data sources that enable access and preservation of a wide range of research data types

Troglodyte settlements on the Loess Plateau of China: Challenges to sustainable tourism-oriented development

Troglodytism is one of the most representative cultural expressions of geo-architecture. On the Loess Plateau of China, several significant examples of this approach to urban development can be found. Sometimes abandoned, sometimes still inhabited, cave settlements are precious examples of living heritage in rural and internal areas, which are at the risk of disappearance. Tourism is one of the strategies to revitalize these settlements, but it might be both an opportunity and a risk. A balance between conservation and development must be found, and a paradigm change is needed. Chinese cases can serve as a reference for solutions for this type of cave heritage, on which a debate has only recently begun at a global scale. This study introduces the classification of cave settlements based on the Underground Built Heritage theoretical approach. Chinese cases in Shanxi and Shaanxi provinces are illustrated on a comparative level. Tourism-oriented reuse and enhancement practices are analyzed and discussed in the context of national and international scenarios. In addition, criticalities and opportunities for the future are illustrated.