Open Access Research Articles

DNA-Barcoding for Cultivar Identification and Intraspecific Diversity Analysis of Agricultural Crops

DNA barcoding of intraspecific diversity of agricultural crops is important to develop the genetic passports of valuable genotypes and cultivars. The advantage of DNA-barcoding as compared to traditional genotyping of cultivars is that the procedure can be unified and applied for the broad range of accessions. This not only makes it cost efficient, but also allows to develop open access genetic databases to accumulate information of the world’s germplasm collections of different crops. In this regard, the aim of the review was to analyze the latest research in this field, including the selection of loci, universal primers, strategies of amplicons analysis, bioinformatic tools, and the development of databases. We reviewed the advantages and disadvantages of each strategy with the focus of cultivars identification. The data indicates that following chloroplast loci are the most prominent for the intraspecific diversity analysis: (trnE-UUC/trnT-GUU, rpl23/rpl2.l, psbA-trnH, trnL-trnF, trnK, rpoC1, ycf1-a, rpl32-trnL, trnH-psbA and matK). We suggest that the combination of three or four of these loci can be a sufficient DNA barcode for cultivar-level identification. This combination has to be selected for each crop. Advantages and disadvantages of different approaches of amplicons analysis are discussed. The bioinformatic tools and databases for the plant barcoding are reviewed. This review will be useful for selecting appropriate strategies for barcoding of intraspecific diversity of agricultural crops to develop genetic passports of valuable cultivars in germplasm collections worldwide.

John Matthew McDowell: A Visionary Leader in Molecular Oomycete-Plant Interactions and a Wonderful Mentor and Friend to Many.

John M. McDowell, a leader in the field of molecular plant-microbe interactions, friend and colleague of many scientists in the molecular plant-microbe community, and a dedicated member of the International Society of Molecular Plant-Microbe Interactions, passed away in December 2024. John was known to many, not just because of his own seminal scientific discoveries, but because of his ability to synthesize the progress made in the field of molecular plant-microbe interactions, and in particular, the interplay between oomycete pathogens and the plant immune system, which led to many outstanding reviews. His ability to zoom out from minute details to the big picture also made him an effective mentor, teacher, editor in chief of the MPMI journal, NSF program director, and a great colleague, who would always be ready to ask the illuminating questions that helped you in deciding where to direct future efforts or provide sensitive hypotheses to test next. And in whatever he did, in whatever situation he was, he was always supportive, encouraging, lifting people up, and making them feel good about themselves and getting everybody even more excited about the research they were doing. He was the most even-keeled, kind-hearted person, an example to all of how to be better - not just as a scientist but as a human. [Formula: see text] Copyright © 2025 The Author(s). This is an open access article distributed under the CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 International license.

For Fairer Open Access Deals, Base Article Eligibility on Submission Date

For Fairer Open Access Deals, Base Article Eligibility on Submission Date

Laser for treating burns: A protocol for systematic review and meta-analysis

Burns are injuries caused by various agents and represent a significant global health issue, especially in low- and middle-income countries. Proper treatment of burns, including laser therapy, can improve healing, reduce complications, and positively impact on patients’ emotional recovery and reintegration into society. Laser therapy has proven effective in improving the appearance of scars, reducing pain, and accelerating tissue regeneration, although standardized protocols for its application are still lacking. Despite the existence of some randomized clinical trials, there is still no systematic review focused exclusively on evaluating the safety and effectiveness of laser therapy for burns. Therefore, the aim of this protocol is to assess the efficacy and safety of laser therapy in the treatment of acute and chronic burns. To this end, the systematic review will include only randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that compare laser therapy with placebo, no intervention, or other burn treatments. Studies that use laser therapy alone or in combination to enhance drug delivery will be considered. The search will be conducted across various databases and clinical trial registries, including CENTRAL, PubMed, EMBASE, LILACS, and PEDro. The risk of bias of the studies included will be assessed using Cochrane Collaboration’s RoB 2 tool. This review is expected to provide evidence for clinical practice regarding the effectiveness of laser therapy in the treatment of burns. We will publish the findings in high-impact open access journals. PROSPERO registration number: CRD42024569553.

Impact of proactively inviting people with advanced cancer to talk about the end of life: a randomised clinical trial protocol.

There is evidence that talking about the end of life with patients facing a life-threatening disease is not upsetting, and in fact, it may even be beneficial. However, both patients and health professionals can find it difficult to engage in these conversations. The aim of this clinical trial is to explore whether proactively inviting people with advanced cancer to share their thoughts about death and dying is distressing for them, comparing the impact with usual clinical practice (ie, a reactive approach to these issues). A stepped-wedge cluster randomised controlled trial involving six palliative care units in Spain will be conducted. Each unit will recruit participants for both the experimental and control groups. Units will be randomised to determine the order in which they will begin implementing the intervention: GO-TaD (Give the Opportunity to Talk about Death thoughts). The trial will involve six sequences and seven periods (steps), with four patients per period (patients in each period will be different). The primary outcome will be emotional distress, assessed with the Detecting Emotional Distress scale. The following secondary variables will also be analysed: hopelessness, using the Beck Hopelessness Scale; quality of the patient-professional relationship, with the Patient-Doctor Relationship Questionnaire (PDRQ-9); and quality of life, with the Palliative Outcome Scale . The trial will follow the CONSORT extension for stepped-wedge cluster randomised designs. The primary analysis will include all eligible patients, applying mixed-effects regression models for binary results and mixed linear models for continuous data. Results will be reported as risk differences and ORs, with 95% confidence intervals. Analyses by sub-groups of interest (eg, age, gender, type of palliative care unit) will also be conducted. All analyses will be performed using R. Ethical approval has been obtained from the researchers' university and all participating centres. Results will be disseminated through peer-reviewed open access publications, academic conferences and presentations to clinical audiences. NCT06420609.

Cesarean scar ectopic pregnancy: Reports of two cases

Cesarean scar ectopic pregnancy (CSEP) is a rare but increasingly recognized form of ectopic pregnancy, in which the blastocyst implants within the myometrial tissue at the site of a previous cesarean section scar. The global rise in cesarean delivery rates has led to a corresponding increase in the prevalence of CSEP, currently estimated at approximately 1 in 1,800 to 1 in 2,226 pregnancies. This condition poses a significant risk of life-threatening complications, including uterine rupture, massive hemorrhage, and potential loss of fertility if not diagnosed and managed promptly. We present two clinically distinct cases of CSEP managed at a tertiary care hospital in Dhaka. Both patients had a history of prior cesarean delivery and presented with different gestational ages and clinical manifestations. The first case involved a viable 8-week pregnancy implanted in the cesarean scar, diagnosed via transvaginal ultrasonography and managed surgically with hysterotomy. The second case presented as a missed abortion at 22 weeks and was later identified as an advanced cesarean scar ectopic pregnancy, requiring emergency laparotomy due to uterine wall protrusion and fetal demise. These cases underscore the importance of early diagnosis through imaging and individualized treatment planning based on the gestational age, viability, patient stability, and fertility desires. Prompt recognition and appropriate management are critical in minimizing maternal morbidity and optimizing outcomes. July 2025; Vol. 19(2):004. DOI: https://doi.org/10.55010/imcjms.19.013 *Correspondence: Nurun Naher, Obstetrics & Gynaecology Department, BIRDEM General Hospital, Dhaka, Bangladesh. E-mail: nayanbirdem@gmail.com. © 2025 The Author(s). This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License(CC BY 4.0).

Financial open-source intelligence (FININT OSINT)

ABSTRACT This article explores the often-overlooked domain of financial intelligence (FININT) and its growing significance within the intelligence landscape, particularly through open-source financial intelligence (OSINT FININT). The paper begins by defining FININT and distinguishing it from other intelligence disciplines, with a specific focus on how financial data, traditionally confined to governmental use, is increasingly available through open sources. Key sources of open-source financial intelligence, including blockchain data and leaked financial records, are examined, demonstrating how these sources empower OSINT researchers to uncover corruption, terrorism financing, and illicit financial activity. The article also discusses the practical applications of OSINT FININT, as well as its limitations – such as issues of privacy, accuracy, and ethical concerns. Finally, the article sets forth a research agenda to address the growing complexities and ethical challenges posed by the open accessibility of financial intelligence. By mapping out the emerging landscape of FININT, this paper aims to provide a foundation for future academic inquiry into the evolving role of financial intelligence in global security and governance.

Interventions to Counter Health Misinformation Among Older People: Protocol for a Scoping Review.

In contemporary society, misinformation and disinformation have emerged as significant challenges, impacting various aspects of public health and societal cohesion. Some authors argue that older adults are particularly vulnerable to the effects of misinformation due to potential digital health literacy challenges. A previous review identified pedagogical approaches most commonly adopted in interventions aiming to improve the digital literacy of older adults but did not specifically address digital health literacy. This scoping review protocol aims to explore digital health literacy interventions targeting health misinformation and designed specifically for older adults. Following the methodology outlined by Arksey and O'Malley and the PRISMA-ScR (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews) checklist, this protocol delineates a systematic approach encompassing 5 stages: identification of research questions, identification of relevant studies, selection of studies, data charting, and collation of findings. Our scoping review will include peer-reviewed literature on interventions targeting misinformation for older adults. Research will be conducted on the MEDLINE (Ovid), Embase (Elsevier), PsycINFO (Ovid), CINAHL, and Web of Science databases. Gray literature will also be surveyed by performing a Google search to identify interventions and tools employed by public or private organizations, institutes, groups, or agencies. The databases and gray literature will be searched to identify relevant publications. Two members of our team will independently select publications to include in the review by using the Covidence review software (Veritas Health Innovation). The publications included will specifically address our research questions, be peer-reviewed, evidence-based, and published from January 1, 2005, in full-text English or French version. Data will be extracted from the included publications to mainly chart the intervention's objectives, types, target age groups, effectiveness, and risks reported. A thematic analysis will be conducted to categorize the study findings. The funding for this project was provided in March 2024. The research questions were identified in January 2024. The databases and gray literature search strategies were developed in February 2024. The final selection of the publications; the charting, collating, and summarizing of data; along with the reporting of findings are planned for August to September 2025. The findings of this scoping review will be shared through publication in an open access journal and presentations scheduled between September and December 2025. This protocol will enable us to contribute to the advancement of knowledge in combating health misinformation among older adults. The results will also be utilized for the development of interventions targeting misinformation among older adults. PRR1-10.2196/74138.

Using Open Access Research Solutions to Improve the Academic Lifecycle for the Academic Community

Using Open Access Research Solutions to Improve the Academic Lifecycle for the Academic Community

The contribution of medically assisted reproduction to total, age-, and parity-specific fertility in Italy.

What is the contribution of medically assisted reproduction (MAR) to total, age-, and parity-specific fertility in Italy? MAR contributed 3.7% to Italy's total fertility rate in 2022 and 5.9% to fertility of first order; MAR's contribution to fertility reached 16% among women aged 40 + and 31% among women aged 40 + at first birth. Demography, particularly via postponement of the age at childbearing for both women and men, plays a role in the diffusion of MAR techniques, and the diffusion of MAR techniques may contribute to postpone the age at childbearing. Recent studies found that the contribution of MAR to fertility rates is remarkable and increases over time in countries such as Czech Republic, Denmark, Australia, and the USA. Italy is a country distinguished by one of the lowest average number of children per woman globally, as well as the highest maternal age at first birth and among the highest shares of births to mothers aged 40years and over in Europe. No prior study has focused on Italy. This study relies on a unique combination of administrative data sources: the Certificate of Delivery Care Registry dataset based on the entire population of live birth deliveries in Italy in 2022 (N = 393997), administered by the Ministry of Health; the Register of Live Births to the Resident Population in 2022 (N = 393333), administered by the Italian National Institute of Statistics; and the resident population by age and sex to identify the female population at risk of having a(n additional) child by age (N = 17006665) provided by the Italian National Institute of Statistics. Comparisons are made with the year 2013. We calculate the age-specific fertility rates (total and by parity) for births conceived via MAR and those conceived naturally. These rates are then utilized to assess the contribution of MAR to total and parity-specific fertility, as well as to the mean maternal age at childbearing. This study is the first estimation of its kind for Italy. The contribution of MAR to the total fertility rate (for women aged 15-59years) in Italy increased from 2.1% in 2013 to 3.7% in 2022. Among women aged 40 + , the contribution of MAR to the total fertility rate increases to 16.2% in 2022, up from 8.6% in 2013. The contribution of MAR to first-order fertility rate increases to 5.9% and it reaches 30.9% among women aged 40-59years in 2022. The mean age at first childbirth among women who conceived via MAR equals to 37.8, up from 36.0 in 2013, compared to those who conceived naturally at a mean age at first birth of 30.4 in 2013 and of 31.3 in 2022. Our approach may underestimate MAR's contribution to the total fertility rate in Italy: mothers in Italy may be more likely to under-report of MAR-births than in other countries, due to social norms that are more resistant to non-conventional paths to parenthood. Our estimates use unconstrained denominators based on the entire population of women in reproductive age, irrespective of parity, to compute fertility rates because the population of women by age and parity is not available from official statistics. In addition, our estimates are somewhat affected by the possibility that couples who underwent MAR treatment would have eventually conceived spontaneously. Countries characterized by low and late fertility offer a unique test ground for studying the contribution of MAR to fertility rates. In Italy, a late transition to parenthood among the general population aligns with the late transition to parenthood among mothers who conceived via MAR, mirroring that they seek infertility treatments at a relatively late age. For Italy, it will be important to monitor MAR's contribution to fertility as a new law came into effect in January 2025, that, by recognizing infertility as a pathology, considerably reduces treatment costs hence likely increases demand for MAR. The extent to which a potentially increased demand will translate into access to treatment is uncertain if additional resources are not made available to expand the health system to meet the expected increased demand. We acknowledge funding from Next Generation EU, in the context of the National Recovery and Resilience Plan, Investment PE8-Project Age-It: 'Ageing Well in an Ageing Society' (DM 1557 11.10.2022) and the project 'ALFA-Aligning Law with Family Arrangements' funded by Fondazione Cariplo 2021-1321. Open access funding provided by University of Trento within the CRUI-CARE agreement. The views and opinions expressed are only those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Commission. Neither the European Union nor the European Commission can be held responsible for them. No conflict of interest exists. N/A.

Aqua-MC as a simple open access code for uncountable runs of AquaCrop

Understanding uncertainty in crop modeling is essential for improving prediction accuracy and decision-making in agricultural management. Monte Carlo simulations are widely used for uncertainty and sensitivity analysis, but their application to closed-source models like AquaCrop presents significant challenges due to the lack of direct access to source code. This study introduces Aqua-MC, an automated framework designed to facilitate Monte Carlo simulations in AquaCrop by integrating probabilistic parameter selection, iterative execution, and uncertainty quantification within a structured workflow. To demonstrate its effectiveness, Aqua-MC was applied to wheat yield modeling in Qazvin, Iran, where parameter uncertainty was assessed using 3000 Monte Carlo simulations. The DYNIA (Dynamic Identifiability Analysis) method was employed to evaluate the time-dependent sensitivity of 47 model parameters, providing insights into the temporal evolution of parameter influence. The results revealed that soil evaporation and yield predictions exhibited the highest uncertainty, while transpiration and biomass outputs were more stable. The study also highlighted that many parameters had low impact, suggesting that reducing the number of free parameters could enhance model efficiency. Despite its advantages, Aqua-MC has some limitations, including its computational intensity and reliance on the GLUE method, which may overestimate uncertainty bounds. To improve applicability, future research should focus on parallel computing, cloud-based execution, integration with machine learning techniques, and expanding Aqua-MC to multi-crop studies. By overcoming the limitations of closed-source models, Aqua-MC provides a scalable and efficient solution for performing large-scale uncertainty analysis in crop modeling.

Direct Carotid Puncture Mechanical Thrombectomy in Medium Vessel Occlusion (MEVO) Stroke Using Obtura Closure Device for Hemostasis.

BackgroundMechanical thrombectomy (MT) is the gold standard treatment for acute ischemic stroke (AIS) patients with large vessel occlusion. Direct cervical carotid puncture is a recognized approach in unfavorable aortic arch anatomy. However, manual compression/ surgical closure of the access site can be challenging if the International Normalized Ratio (INR) is high and the patient is taking anticoagulation.Case SummaryWe present a case of Stanford type A (STA) aortic dissection (status post Bentall procedure) presenting with acute ischemic stroke (AIS) with left M2-MCA thrombotic occlusion. Conventional transfemoral or transradial approach for MT was deferred due to replaced ascending aorta & arch debranching and a residual thoraco-abdominal aortic dissection flap. Risk of soft tissue blood loss was high with open neck access (surgical cut down) due to high INR of 2.9. So, MT was performed through direct left common carotid artery (CCA) puncture achieving mTICI 3 flow. Due to high INR, manual compression was deferred, puncture site haemostasis was achieved with use of collagen based Obtura vascular closure device (VCD). Patient made substantial neurological recovery with no puncture site complications and MRS-0 at discharge.ConclusionObtura femoral VCD can be an alternative haemostatic device for direct carotid puncture mechanical thrombectomy for AIS.

How Should Diamond Open Access Work for Books?

How Should Diamond Open Access Work for Books?

Application of a locally developed open-access digital monitoring system for the human milk bank network in Vietnam

BackgroundEstablishing the first Human Milk Bank (HMB) in Vietnam at the Da Nang Hospital for Women and Children marks a significant advancement in neonatal care. This specialized service addresses the critical need for donor human milk (DHM) when a mother's own milk is unavailable, providing essential nutrition to small vulnerable newborns. Introducing the new specialized service required developing a digital monitoring system to ensure the quality and safety of DHM.Development of the toolThis digital and open access system was designed using an approach called DMADV (Define, Measure, Analyze, Design, and Verify), and includes features for human milk donor management, DHM processing, recipient management, and real-time data access. It has streamlined operations, enhanced efficiency, and ensured adherence to safety and quality standards.The use of the toolThe application of the monitoring system has facilitated the tracking of DHM from collection to use, ensuring transparency and accountability. Data collected through this system has been instrumental in improving program performance, informing decisions, and supporting research. The successful scaling up of HMB services and the monitoring system to other regions in Vietnam demonstrates the project's effectiveness and potential for broader impact. The system's adaptability has allowed continuous improvements and integration of new functions, such as financial reporting and consumables tracking.Lessons learnedLessons learned from the Da Nang HMB have been shared to guide the development of HMB monitoring systems in other regions and countries. The digital monitoring system has proven to be a critical tool in maintaining the quality and safety of DHM, ultimately contributing to better health outcomes for children. The successful implementation of HMB services underscores the importance of robust monitoring systems in its operations and highlights the potential for digital solutions to enhance healthcare services.

Cutaneous non-volar melanoma dermoscopy and histopathology correlation: a systematic review protocol

IntroductionDermoscopy has a proved validity in the diagnosis of cutaneous melanoma, which is one of the most aggressive forms of skin cancer. Although some studies have demonstrated a relationship between specific dermoscopic and pathologic melanoma features, there is no solid evidence allowing reliable conclusions. This study will evaluate the evidence regarding this association.Methods and analysisObservational studies eligible for our systematic review will enrol adults with histological cutaneous non-volar melanoma diagnosis and with dermoscopy image analysis. We will search the following databases: PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, MEDLINE and Cochrane Library. We will not impose any language or date restrictions. Outcomes of interest include the association of at least one of the melanoma dermoscopy features (irregular pigmentation, blue-white veil, atypical network, multicomponent pattern, atypical dots and/or globules, regression, peripheral tan structureless area, negative network, shiny white structures, atypical vessels and streaks/pseudopods), with melanoma Breslow index or other histopathology characteristics (melanoma subtype, mitotic index and presence of ulceration). Two reviewers will independently screen and search results, extract data from eligible studies and assess risk of bias. The evidence derived by this study will elucidate the possible link between melanoma dermoscopy and histopathology. If we could predict melanoma thickness based on dermoscopy, we would be able to anticipate melanoma treatment with impact on survival.Ethics and disseminationEthical approval is not required because this is a literature-based study. It will be published in scientific Pubmed indexed open access journals to ensure its accessibility.PROSPERO registration numberCRD42024564919.

PREDICT-ITB: Predicting response in children with dystonic CP to ITB - study protocol.

Over 11,000 infants are diagnosed with cerebral palsy (CP) each year, with lifetime medical costs exceeding $1.4 million per person. Elevated muscle tone in CP, including dystonia and spasticity, significantly impairs function and quality of life. Intrathecal baclofen (ITB) is commonly used to manage dystonic CP, though evidence supporting its effectiveness is weak due to patient variability and study limitations. Spasticity may obscure dystonia symptoms, and factors like brain injury patterns and pain triggers are often overlooked in research. Despite uncertain effects on dystonia, ITB has shown benefits in pain relief, comfort, and caregiving ease. This proposal aims to evaluate ITB's overall impact on children with dystonic CP, identify responders, and develop a comprehensive outcome measure using a prospective cohort study. We will conduct a prospective, observational study of 65 children with dystonia (Barry Albright Dystonia Scale (BADS) greater than 15) and CP who receive ITB. Changes in dystonia, spasticity, gross and fine motor function, and multiple patient-reported outcomes related to quality-of-life, depression, anxiety, pain and more. The primary analysis will use repeated measures models to estimate short and long-term changes from baseline in BADS scores at 3, 6 and 12-months. Secondary analysis will apply the same strategies to the other outcome measures. We will also conduct subgroup analysis and develop a multidimensional or composite measure. Primary ethic approval was provided by the Baylor College of Medicine Institutional Review Board (H-54449). Results of the study will be disseminated via peer-reviewed presentations at scientific conferences and open access publication. NCT06606574 ( clinicaltrials.gov ). Unlike previous studies on ITB in dystonia and CP, a strength of this study is that it will directly measure effects of ITB beyond just dystonia, while also considering the child's co- existing spasticity if present, known triggers of dystonia, including pain, and CNS injury patterns contributing to dystonia.We consider multiple endpoints or the "total child" within the ICF Framework and whether concurrent therapeutic interventions appear to influence outcomes.A limitation of the study is the lack of randomization to placebo or blinding.

Socially Just Research Impact Assessment as a Foundation for the Advancement of Open Access and Open Science: A Case of a Research-Intensive African University

Scholars have argued that open access has neither future nor meaning unless research assessment processes and practices evolve. Moreover, science’s societal impact is the foundation of open access existence, and therefore, research impact assessment needs to embrace openness principles. Scholarly communication, open access, and open science have been significantly transformed over the years by technological developments; however, contrary to these transformations, research impact assessment in Africa has remained largely focused on academic impact and metrics. Although metrics have dominated performance evaluation because of their ease of use, inter alia, they are not without epistemic challenges and biases, notably for African researchers. Hence, the purpose of this study, which draws from a doctoral study on research impact assessment, is to explore how higher education institutions can advance open access and open science through equitable performance evaluation. The paper adopts a largely quantitative approach (questionnaire and document analysis) to ascertain challenges with metrics used for research impact assessment and best practices in research impact assessment to advance open access and open science. Data collection was via an online structured questionnaire with University of Cape Town (South Africa) researchers and academic staff, and document analysis of relevant documents. The study revealed that higher education institutions need to recenter what they value to transform research assessment. Equally, any fundamental change necessitates a shift in policies, processes, structures, norms, and values to allow for the new changes to be adopted and institutionalized. The study provides insight into how higher education institutions can advance open access and open science by extension through aligning values, policy, research assessment processes, and practices as well as changing how researchers are evaluated.

PROTOCOL: Association of Antenatal Cytokine Concentrations With Neurodevelopmental Disorders of the Offspring: A Scoping Review.

The aim of this scoping review is to identify and map the available evidence on the association of antenatal cytokine concentrations with neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs) of the offspring and to inform future research avenues. NDDs are a heterogeneous group of conditions with onset in childhood which affect functioning due to altered brain development. NDDs have a multifactorial aetiology with genetic, epigenetic, and environmental factors, including the foetal intrauterine environment. Maternal immune activation (MIA) alters the intrauterine milieu of the developing foetus, and, in animal studies, has been shown to affect the brain cytoarchitecture, neuronal circuitry and glial function of the offspring. One of the mechanisms of MIA is through cytokines that may play a crucial role in affecting foetal neurodevelopment by crossing the placenta and altering cellular programming. Antenatal cytokine concentrations have the potential to be biomarkers for children at risk of NDDs, and treating a maladaptive cytokine response may reduce the risk of NDDs in these children. Therefore, it is important to understand the scope of evidence available on the association of antenatal cytokine concentration with offspring NDDs and identify the research gaps in this field. The review will consider all primary and grey literature which focuses on the review objective. The review will not be limited by any time period or any language of the sources of evidence. The review will be conducted following the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) methodological framework for scoping reviews. Review questions and inclusion criteria will follow the Population, Concept, Context framework. A comprehensive search will be performed in SCOPUS, MEDLINE (Ovid), PsycINFO (Ovid), Web of Science core collection, Embase (Ovid), CINAHL databases and trial registers. Grey literature will be searched in Google Scholar, ProQuest Dissertations & Theses Global, Open Access Theses and Dissertations and library catalogues with the assistance of the librarian. Two independent reviewers will perform title-abstract screening and full-text screening. Eligible studies will be critically appraised using JBI critical appraisal tools. Data from eligible studies will be extracted by two reviewers using pretested data extraction tools. Findings will be presented in a final scoping review with a narrative summary and diagrammatic forms. The mapped findings and the identified research gaps will guide further research in evaluating antenatal cytokines as an early biomarker of NDDs and the potential for antenatal therapy to reduce the risk of NDDs. The review protocol is registered in the Open Science Framework (Link: https://osf.io/twsuq).

Climate change discourse by the British Ministry of Defence: The framing of the 2024 report

The current political discourse in the UK is characterised by a notable tendency to securitise the issue of climate change. Given that the British Ministry of Defence (further – the MoD) is responsible for the UK’s security, it is pivotal to shed light onto how the MoD frames the issue of climate change in its reports. Against this background, the present article introduces a study, which employs a qualitative framing analysis in order to examine the framing of climate change in the MoD’s report on climate change published in 2024. The aim of the study is to provide answers the following research question (RQ): How is the issue of climate change framed in the MoD’s 2024 report? In terms of the methodology, the study is based upon a qualitative framing approach to discourse (Entman, 1993). The application of the qualitative methodology to the report yielded the following results, which were manifested by eight different types of frames, namely Agility, Challenge, Costs, Future, Green Energy, Mitigation, Risk, and Technology. It was found that all of the aforementioned frames were discursively situated in the nexus between the issues of security and climate change. Judging from the findings, the MoD report framed the issue of climate change via the frames that were interrelated or, at least, were indicative of a clear connection between them, which allowed their classification into the following groups: (i) Challenge and Risk, (ii) Costs, Future, and Mitigation, and (iii) Technology and Green Energy. Concurrently, the frame Agility was found to be a stand-alone type of the framing of climate change. Discussion. The frames Challenge and Risk, (ii) Costs and Mitigation, and (iii) Technology and Green Energy were reflective of the literature, which reported the presence of similar frames in the British discourses on climate change. However, it was established that the frames Agility and Future could not be discussed in terms of their relationship to the literature on the grounds that they, and especially, the frame Agility, seemed to be a novel finding not previously mentioned in the prior studies. It could be concluded that the British MoD communicated the issue of climate change in an open access report that was framed in such a way that it seemed to be aligned with the respective frames by the consecutive British governments, such as the frames Challenge and Risk, Costs and Mitigation, and Technology and Green Energy.

One Nation One Subscription: An Illusion or A Reality?

ABSTRACT The GOI declared a draft of its VI Science, Technology, and Innovation Policy (STIP). Significant points of the policy are “open science” and “one nation and one subscription” (ONOS). The GOI will negotiate with journal publishers to provide access to all citizens of India. The paper discusses India’s contribution also growth in open access under gold, hybrid gold, bronze and green. The study reveals that between 2018 and 2022, the Indian research output has increased by 8.72% per annum. The study further reveals that authors are more inclined to publish either gold OA or hybrid OA than bronze OA or Green OA. Discuss the various needs like Increasing subscription costs, Flat Budgets of Libraries, High Article Processing Charges (APC), etc. The study highlights the advantages of ONOS like Institutionalization, economic, Centralized Monitoring, Negotiation of National Licenses, and Promote Fair Use of Copyrighted Materials; Describes the steps undertaken by the GOI in the first phase to implement the ONOS; Explains that a “Request for Proposal” has been sent to 70 publishers for 13,770 institutes from 2023 to 2026; Discusses the challenges to implementing the ONOS in India, which has 1.4 billion citizens. The challenges include the need for a suitable repository, the lack of a quality review system, etc. The study suggests measures to address these challenges to make the concept of ONOS a reality. The study concludes that the GOI and other players must work together to address these challenges and ensure that the concept of ONOS becomes a reality.