Open Access Journals Research Articles

Editorial

The third and last issue of the year offers a diversity of communication topics. The General Section includes a study of parasocial relations with media characters and an analysis of COVID-19 rhetoric in Iran. The Thematic Section presents a rich discussion of issues and processes involved in the persistence of “old media.” Diverse topics are also presented in the Community Section including a summary of the SACM award winning dissertation and an introduction to DOCA. Finally, the contributions to the Book Review Section discuss books on Internet memes and the influencer industry. Before our more detailed overview, we are pleased to present an important next step for SComS.SComS is evolving toward Open Data and Open Research. Since 2017, SComS has been published as a platinum open access journal. One notable feature is the journals’ multilingual nature. For authors, the online first publication of articles is particularly advantageous, enabling the timely publication of accepted contributions. With these features, SComS has positioned itself as a dynamic and innovative journal in the European journal landscape. However, the step toward Open Data and Open Research has not been fully embraced yet.

Prevention of emotional burnout syndrome in various occupational groups (analytical review)

Introduction. Timely detection and prevention of burnout syndrome in various occupational groups is an urgent task of occupational health, since this condition directly affects the health, working capacity, and quality of life in workers.
 The purpose of the study. an analytical review of Russian literature on the prevalence, risk factors, and prevention of burnout syndrome in various occupational groups and the definition of criteria for the formation of risk groups.
 The search for articles was carried out using information portals including eLibrary.ru, CyberLeninka, PubMed, Medscape, Google Scholar, Scopus, Web of Science. Inclusion criteria: search depth of eleven years (2012–2022), Russian original full-text articles in open access. Initially, one thousand eight hundred sixty five publications were identified, of which 38 cohort selected that met the inclusion criteria. 
 A high prevalence of burnout was revealed among health workers, educators, IT-specialists and law enforcement officials, slightly less among aviation service specialists, employees of the Ministry of Emergency Situations, media workers, bank employees, and miners. There are discussed leading risk factors for the development of burnout among employees in various fields of activity. A number of studies have studied the neurophysiological characteristics of patients with burnout syndrome, showing the relationship between burnout and affective disorders. Many studies discuss various approaches to the prevention and treatment of burnout syndrome, but the effectiveness of the proposed methods is evaluated only in a few studies. In modern conditions, there is a need for further research, conceptualization and systematization in managing job burnout.

Effects of bioavailability of macronutrients on overall control of plasma glucose: a review

Macronutrients play a crucial role in management of type 2 diabetes. This is seen in their ability to modulate plasma glucose concentrations. However, the ideal proportions of macronutrients to be consumed in order to maintain ideal plasma glucose concentrations remains elusive. Therefore, this paper set out to conduct a review to investigate the relationship between macronutrients and plasma glucose concentrations from a physiological perspective. The review was conducted using papers obtained from various databases such as MEDLINE (Pubmed), Open Access Journals Elsevier, Free Medical Journals and Google Scholar. The research papers included general reviews, systemic reviews, meta-analyses, and randomized control trials that examined the effect of macronutrients on plasma glucose concentration as well as papers on mathematical models describing the relationship between macronutrient bioavailability and plasma glucose concentration. The review assessed the effect of various macronutrients on post-prandial plasma glucose concentration, post-prandial plasma insulin, post-prandial glucose-dependent insulinotropic peptide plasma concentration, and post-prandial glucose-like peptide-1 plasma concentration. The results of the review showed that carbohydrates influence plasma glucose concentration in a dose dependant manner but this is dependent on their bioavailability. This bioavailability was shown to be subject to fluctuations determined by food processing techniques, food structure, and food matrix. The results also showed that some specific types of fats and proteins indirectly influence plasma glucose concentration through their effect on incretin hormones. The effect of fats and proteins on incretin hormones was through different mechanisms and pathways. In-lieu of the findings, the review concludes that the macronutrient composition of diets designed for type 2 diabetic patients should take into consideration the physiological relationship between the macronutrients and plasma glucose concentrations. In this way, diet proportions can be made in such a manner as to determine the exact amounts that will realize near normal plasma glucose concentrations for a type 2 diabetic patient. Key words: bioavailability, glucose-insulin system, macronutrients, incretin hormones, type 2 diabetes, glucose absorption models

Age and Parity as Risk Factors for Childbirth Complications: A Systematic Review

Maternal deaths result from complications during, after pregnancy and childbirth. Factors affecting maternal mortality in Indonesia are 4 too and 3 too late. The main causes that account for nearly 75% of all maternal deaths are postpartum hemorrhage, infection, high blood pressure during pregnancy, complications from childbirth and unsafe abortion. This study aimed to analyze, synthesize, summarize and compare the results of one study with another on "The Relationship of Age and Parity to the Incidence of Complications of Childbirth. The method used in this study was to search various online data centers namely PubMed, Science Direct, Directory of Open Access Journals, Wiley, Cochrane Library, Google Scholar, Scopus. It was found that advanced maternal age and parity status was associated with an increased risk of delivery or obstetrics complication.

Comparative bibliometric analysis of leading Open Access journals: a focus on Chinese and non-Chinese journals in science, technology, and medicine

The objective of this study was to examine the scientific performance and internationalization of leading Chinese Open Access (OA) journals in the fields of science, technology, and medicine, specifically those published in English (referred to Chinese journals hereafter). Based on data taken from the Clarivate Analytics and Directory of Open Access Journals (DOAJ), a comparative bibliometric analysis was carried out. Fourteen Chinese journals were sampled, and a total of 22 non-Chinese OA journals were chosen for comparison. The analysis revealed that the majority of the journals were collaboratively published with large international publishers. While Chinese journals demonstrated a steady increase in publication productivity from 2018 to 2020, it remained noticeably lower than that of international journals. Additionally, Chinese journals received fewer citations from highly ranked journals, as evidenced by the three-fold higher Eigenfactor score observed in international journals compared to Chinese journals. Chinese journals exhibited a higher percentage of domestic manuscripts than international journals, as reflected in their elevated Index of National Orientation (INO) values. This study contributes to a better understanding of the scientific performance and internationalization of Chinese journals in the global publishing landscape, while also identifying potential areas for improvement.

Randomised, placebo-controlled, double-blinded trial of fecal microbiota transplantation in severe obesity: a study protocol

IntroductionObesity is one of the main threats to public health in western countries and increases the risk of several diseases, overall morbidity and mortality. Sustained weight loss will reduce risk...

A reflection on Springer Nature’s current editorial policies related to “predatory” journals and references

Despite its prominent position as one of the leading for-profit scholarly publishers of subscription and open access (OA) journals, and its membership of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE), Directory of Open Access Journals (DOAJ), and Open Access Scholarly Publishers Association (OASPA), Springer Nature can be criticized for taking a vague approach in its editorial policies pertaining to “predatory” publishing. While cautioning authors and/or editors about the citation of papers that are published in “predatory” journals, the advice presented in the policies itself is flawed due its limitation to OA journals – thus apparently excluding the possibility that subscription journals might also be “predatory” and failing to specify precisely which journals authors and editors should be careful of, i.e., no source for the “predatory” definition of OA journals is indicated. Moreover, this vague set of policies does not have a publication date, nor is any authorship specified. The opacity of these aspects of these editorial policies limits their usefulness and weakens their objectives, namely in ostensibly offering scholarly advice to protect editors and authors. I argue that the Springer Nature policies pertaining to “predatory” publishing as they currently stand are not useful, and if left unchanged, can be a source of confusion or error for authors and editors of Springer Nature journals. In this connection, the identified risk is that if the poor advice indicated in those policies is heeded, it may encourage abuse, insults and/or indiscriminate profiling of academics, including those associated with Springer Nature journals. While assuming Springer Nature’s genuine intention to alert editors and authors against citing papers published in suspect scholarly venues, I argue that this editorial set of policies should either be rewritten to rely on clearer parameters, including a definitive list of journals for which “predatory” criteria have been defined, or abandoned as they are overly broad. The criticism is aimed at stimulating a discussion among other editors and publishers, especially COPE members.

Haematological dynamics following treatment of visceral leishmaniasis: a protocol for systematic review and individual participant data (IPD) meta-analysis

IntroductionVisceral leishmaniasis (VL) is a parasitic disease with an estimated 30 000 new cases occurring annually. Despite anaemia being a common haematological manifestation of VL, the evolution of different haematological...

Cultivating Open Science: a quantitative exploration of leadership practices in Malaysian academic libraries

This paper explores the characteristics of open leadership to support academic library leaders in promoting open science. It also aims to identify the existing leadership practices related to the implementation of open science from the viewpoint of Malaysian academic library leaders. The research employs a quantitative approach, utilizing online surveys distributed among 50 leaders from Malaysian public and private academic libraries. The study is anchored in the Open Leadership Framework, encompassing three key practices: design (contextualization), build (structure and system creation), and empower (personal leadership skills). Open leadership, viewed as a response to technological advancements and the use of multimedia communication tools, is framed within the principles, practices, and skills that communities can leverage to achieve shared goals. The findings from the design principle indicate unanimous agreement among respondents on the importance of collaboration, both internally and externally, for the success of the open science agenda, aligning with the principles of community interactions. In the build principle, all respondents share the belief that libraries should implement training and competence development programs, aligning with mentoring principles. This adherence corresponds to the principles of commons-based production, emphasizing the encouragement of publication in open-access journals, and project management, highlighting the pivotal role of libraries in determining the university's open data repository. In the empowerment principle, a total response of 61.5 percent under the "makes connection" principle, emphasizes the need for collaboration between the library, the university's Information Technology Center, and the Research Management Center to provide researcher profiles. This study not only provides insights into the current landscape of open leadership practices among Malaysian academic library leaders but also offers valuable implications for fostering collaboration, training initiatives, and empowerment strategies in the realm of open science. By understanding and embracing these principles, academic institutions and libraries can navigate the evolving scholarly environment, effectively contributing to the advancement of open science practices.

Growth and dimensions of monkeypox research: a scientometrics study

Purpose This study aims to analyse the trend of Mpox research in the pre and post-outbreak period. The study compared the growth pattern, major research areas, sources of publications, funding agencies, countries and institutions invested in Mpox research, and institutional and countrywide collaboration patterns in Mpox research in both periods. Design/methodology/approach This study is based on the data retrieved from the Web of Science database for two time frames: the pre-outbreak period (January 1989–April 2022) and the post-outbreak period (May 2022–December 2022). The study is limited to research articles and reviews articles from Web Science. The study used Microsoft Excel and VOSviewer visualization software to derive results. Findings The study found few publications on Mpox before the epidemic outbreak, and a steep increase is visible after it. Before and after the Mpox pandemic, the USA ranked first in the production of literature. The focus of research before the outbreak of the epidemic was on virology, which was replaced by infectious diseases during the post-epidemic period. More publications were found available in open-access journals during the post-outbreak time. Author collaboration with US authors from other countries is higher in the post-outbreak period. During the pre-outbreak time, the principal supporters of Mpox research were American funding agencies and institutes. The study reveals that the research in post-outbreak is more concentrated on diagnosis, prevention and treatment of Mpox. Practical implications This study offers a systematic literature review on Mpox’s overall research productivity. It contrasted the patterns of this field’s pre- and post-epidemic research. The conclusions of this study will act as a guide for scientists operating all across the world. Originality/value A thorough scientometric analysis of the trend of Mpox research in the pre- and post-outbreak period has not been attempted. It will help identify the nature of research on Mpox over the years, which will support future research on Mpox attempted across the globe.

Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells - A New Perspective toward Regenerative Dentistry and Prosthodontics: A Narrative Review Article

Aim: This study aims to review the unexplored area in regenerative prosthodontics using induced pluripotent stem (IPS) cells. Materials and Methods: A computer-based search was done from the year 1981 to 2020, but more specifically for IPS cells from 2006 and, the data were collected from various sources such as the National Center for Biotechnology Information (via PubMed), Medline semantic scholar, BioMed Central, Directory of Open Access Journals, Science Open, and Bielefeld Academic Search Engine using the keywords stem cells in dentistry, IPS cells, embryonic stem cells (ESCs), prosthodontic regeneration using induced pluripotent cells, stem cells from the periodontal ligament, dental pulp, deciduous tooth, and dental follicle. We have also systematically reviewed the method to generate IPS cells and their research in obtaining various organs that is of concern in dentistry and especially prosthodontics. Results: Based on the keywords and cross-referencing, 69 articles were valid and selected for review. The chosen articles are organized according to the subheadings in the order of their publication date. This literature is based on studies conducted on animals, and it does not include the transplantation of IPS cells in humans. In 2006, when Yamanaka and Takahashi discovered IPS cells, there was a spike rise in the study of these cells. The number of clinical trials for IPS cells was around 75%, whereas for ESCs was just 25%. Most of the clinical trials for IPS cells have been done in the USA (37%) whereas India accounts for only 1% of the study. Conclusion: This review article suggests the future of IPS cells in regenerative dentistry and prosthodontics. It gives information on the types of stem cells, why IPS cells have been chosen for the review, the source of IPS cells, the method of induction of IPS cells, and their use in prosthodontics and implantology.

Breast Cancer Awareness Among Women in Saudi Arabia: A Systematic Review.

Breast cancer (BC) is the most prevalent cancer worldwide, and second most common cause of cancer-related deaths among women worldwide. Early detection of BC significantly improves prognosis; thus, awareness is an important aspect of BC morbidity and survival as well as the economic burden. This systematic review aimed to explore awareness of BC among women in Saudi Arabia. A systematic search was performed using Medline, Scopus, the Directory of Open Access Journals (DOAJ), and Google Scholar for all cross-sectional studies conducted in Saudi Arabia, published after the year 2000 and in English. The quality assessment of the included studies was performed using the AXIS tool. The total number of included articles after full-text assessment was 13 articles that were conducted between 2005 and 2022. The sample size of all the articles was 7,562 women. All the studies categorized BC awareness into low, moderate, and high groups. The level of low awareness among women reached 66.3% (n=2808), 13.5% (n=570) had moderate awareness levels, and 20.2% (n=858) had high awareness levels. Furthermore, 59.4% (n=1446) of the participants did not perform breast self-examination (BSE) regularly. The level of awareness and knowledge regarding BC and BSE was significantly low among women in Saudi Arabia, as all included studies except one have indicated. We highly recommend and urge the implementation of effective special programs and campaigns to raise awareness regarding BC and integrating BSE into school health programs dedicated to women living in Saudi Arabia.

Facility-based approach for the management of acute ST segment elevation myocardial infarction with cardiogenic shock in a rural medical centre: the Durango model

IntroductionCardiogenic shock (CS) complicates 5%–15% of cases of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) with inpatient mortality greater than 40%. The implementation of standardised protocols may improve clinical outcomes in patients with...

Providing free professional services for open access journals

Providing free professional services for open access journals

Knowledge and experience of Zambian teaching faculties with scholarly communication and dissemination practices

Purpose This paper aims to investigate the knowledge and experience of Zambian teaching faculties with scholarly communication and dissemination practices. Design/methodology/approach The researchers used a survey to quickly obtain information about a large sample of individuals of interest. The study population consisted of faculties from two Zambian public universities with research and publication experience. The researchers used random sampling techniques. A total of 125 valid responses were received from the selected population. Findings The findings show that most respondents agreed that publishing in open-access journals increased visibility and readership, had a more significant impact, facilitated collaboration and interdisciplinary research, was cost-effective and provided accessibility. Google Scholar was the most commonly used platform, followed by ResearchGate and ORCID. Research limitations/implications This study’s limitations focus on only two Zambian public universities. This study’s practical implications include improving the universities’ open-access policies and educating faculties on the benefits of open access. Originality/value This study’s originality lies in exploring the Zambian teaching faculties’ perceptions of open access and academic social networking sites. The results of this study can help universities and researchers in Zambia to understand the importance of scholarly communication and dissemination practices and help them implement effective policies for promoting open-access publishing, institutional repositories and academic social networking sites.

The influence of mother's belief on determining dental visit in pandemic covid-19: Literature review

Coronavirus disease or known as COVID-19 hugely impacted individual's psychological health and individual’s well-being worldwide. This phenomenon has an impact on maternal dental anxiety. Mothers tend to feel a higher level risk of COVID-19 transmission due to treatment while at the dentist, which might lead to avoiding dental visits. Through maternal dental anxiety, it may affect children’s oral and dental health. This behavioral phenomenon can be studied using the Health Belief Model (HBM). The aim of this review was to analyze the influence of the mother's beliefs in determining the need to visit the dentist during a pandemic in terms of the Health Belief Model (HBM) aspect. In this review, we used The Health Belief Model because it can be used to show disease prevention programs and health promotion. The method that we used in this review is a narrative review. Search for articles via ResearchGate, PubMed, and Google Scholar with databases published in 2019-2023. The keywords that we used to search the article were "Health Belief Model in Mother Dental Anxiety" AND "Maternal Dental Fear and Anxiety in COVID-19" or “Toddlers Dental Anxiety in COVID-19.” Articles that we use are original research articles including full text, open access articles, and articles that discuss dental anxiety during COVID-19. The results for this review is HBM influenced maternal dental anxiety in perceived susceptibility and severity. In conclusion, The Influential Health Beliefs Model affects maternal dental anxiety through the perceived susceptibility and perceived severity component.

The Beginning of Our Journey: The Launch of the Tunisian Journal of Sports Science and Medicine

The Tun J Sport Sci Med is a peer-reviewed, quarterly, and open-access journal that upholds the highest principles of academic transparency, diversity, equity, and accessibility. The Tun J Sport Sci Med invites submissions of high-quality original articles, review articles (e.g., narrative, scoping, systematic, integrative), editorials, short communications, and letters to the editor. While editorials are typically published through invitations, we are open to considering exceptional editorial pieces. The authors interested in submitting editorials should contact the editors-in-chief to discuss their potential fit and relevance for our journal. We place great value on contributions that not only introduce new findings but also provide a critical analysis of existing research and offer innovative approaches to address the complex challenges within sports science and medicine.

Karakteristik Layanan Bimbingan Penggunaan Sumber Referensi

Services provided by the library need to be evaluated by users to improve their quality. This study aimed to determine the characteristics of users and the use of guidance services using reference sources at the Library of the Faculty of Geography, Gadjah Mada University, in August 2020-December 2022. These characteristics include service users, guidance themes, and reference sources used in guidance services. The quantitative descriptive method is used to answer research questions. The study results show that users of this service are dominated by student users, lecturers and education staff. Students who use this service are predominantly doctoral (S3) students. The most needed guidance themes are indexing databases, e-journals, and e-books. The next theme is using several applications, accessing library websites, using academic profiles, accessing journal websites, how to get ISBNs, identification of journals, and instructions for preparing scientific papers. The most widely used reference sources in guidance services are indexing databases (Scopus, Sinta, Garuda, and Directory Open Access Journal) and e-journal databases. Guidance on the use of applications needed is Mendeley, Turnitin, Grammarly, and VOSviewer applications. Users of guidance services on the use of reference sources need specific and in-depth guidance on reference sources, research support applications, library websites, academic profiles to increase knowledge dissemination, access to journal websites to submit articles, how to get International Standard Book Numbers, identify journals so they do not trap in predatory journals as well as guidance on writing scientific papers.

Efficacy of Nilavembu Kudineer for Dengue Fever Management – An Overview of Clinical and Preclinical Evidences

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Dengue viral disease (DVD) is a tropical arboviral disease that is caused by dengue virus (DENV), which is transmitted mainly by the bite of female Aedes aegypti mosquitoes. No specific antiviral drug is approved yet to manage the patients with DENV infection, who are managed using symptomatic therapy and supportive care. AIM: As a consequence, we intend to review the potential of Nilavembu kudineer in the management of DENV infection. MATERIALS AND METHODS: To find articles pertinent to the clinical, in vitro, and in silico studies evaluating the effectiveness of Nilavembu Kudineer in the management of DENV infection, the literature was searched in databases such as Medline/PubMed Central/PubMed, Google Scholar, Science Direct, EBSCO, Scopus, Web of science, Embase, Directory of open access journals, and reference lists. RESULTS: Nilavembu Kudineer may be able to alleviate signs and symptoms experienced by patients with DENV infection, according to few clinical, in vitro, and in silico studies. CONCLUSION: The effectiveness of Nilavembu Kudineer in patients with DENV infection would further be demonstrated by additional randomized controlled clinical trials.

Global research trends and hot spots on autophagy and kidney diseases: a bibliometric analysis from 2000 to 2022

Background: Autophagy is an essential cellular process involving the self-degradation and recycling of organelles, proteins, and cellular debris. Recent research has shown that autophagy plays a significant role in the occurrence and development of kidney diseases. However, there is a lack of bibliometric analysis regarding the relationship between autophagy and kidney diseases.Methods: A bibliometric analysis was conducted by searching for literature related to autophagy and kidney diseases in the Web of Science Core Collection (WoSCC) database from 2000 to 2022. Data processing was carried out using R package “Bibliometrix”, VOSviewers, and CiteSpace.Results: A total of 4,579 articles related to autophagy and kidney diseases were collected from various countries. China and the United States were the main countries contributing to the publications. The number of publications in this field showed a year-on-year increasing trend, with open-access journals playing a major role in driving the literature output. Nanjing Medical University in China, Osaka University in Japan, and the University of Pittsburgh in the United States were the main research institutions. The journal “International journal of molecular sciences” had the highest number of publications, while “Autophagy” was the most influential journal in the field. These articles were authored by 18,583 individuals, with Dong, Zheng; Koya, Daisuke; and Kume, Shinji being the most prolific authors, and Dong, Zheng being the most frequently co-cited author. Research on autophagy mainly focused on diabetic kidney diseases, acute kidney injury, and chronic kidney disease. “Autophagy”, “apoptosis”, and “oxidative stress” were the primary research hotspots. Topics such as “diabetic kidney diseases”, “sepsis”, “ferroptosis”, “nrf2”, “hypertension” and “pi3k” may represent potential future development trends. Research on autophagy has gradually focused on metabolic-related kidney diseases such as diabetic nephropathy and hypertension. Additionally, PI3K, NRF2, and ferroptosis have been recent research directions in the field of autophagy mechanisms.Conclusion: This is the first comprehensive bibliometric study summarizing the relationship between autophagy and kidney diseases. The findings aid in identifying recent research frontiers and hot topics, providing valuable references for scholars investigating the role of autophagy in kidney diseases.