Present Research Articles

Current status of pistachio diseases in countries of the Mediterranean Basin

AbstractIn the Mediterranean Basin, the pistachio crop is considered an emerging nut crop due to the dependence of the European nut markets on international imports. Consequently, the extension and intensification of pistachio production to nontraditional growing areas has promoted both classic and emerging diseases of this nut tree, which are limiting factors in crop production. Due to the limited interest in pistachio crops, the aetiology and epidemiology of the main pistachio diseases are poorly studied. Thus, this review summarizes the state of pistachio disease research, with particular attention given to the Mediterranean area. The information reported here is based not only on the literature, but also the advancement of our research on pistachio diseases conducted in both Italy and Spain. We describe the main fungal diseases of the tree canopy in Mediterranean countries, such as Botryosphaeria panicle and shoot blight, Septoria leaf spot, and stem, branch and trunk canker diseases, followed by the main soilborne diseases. In addition, we review minor and/or sporadic fungal diseases originating in not only the Mediterranean, but also other pistachio‐producing countries. Another section is dedicated to other diseases caused by bacteria, phytoplasmas, viruses and nematodes. Finally, we summarize the main control strategies adopted in Mediterranean Basin countries against pistachio diseases.

Textile Sustainable Development Related to Culture: A Scientometric Approach

The sustainable development of textiles has been a notable concern for the textile industry and society in recent years. From green textiles and circular textiles to cultural textiles, academia has conducted many explorations. The problem of the connection between the cultural needs of increasingly educated consumers and the development of textiles has become increasingly prominent, which has also triggered many new social problems. This study aims to explore how culture promotes sustainability in textiles and can meet consumer demands. This study uses scientometric methods to conduct a thematic analysis of cultural factors in the development of textiles. From 2013 to 2023, the Web of Science and Scopus databases included a total of 306 articles related to the cultural factors in textiles. The results of this study are as follows: 40 main research keyword clusters appeared in the knowledge base, 6 research themes were identified, and a conceptual framework of culture in the development of textiles was constructed. At the same time, this study provides suggestions on how to better establish communication between textiles and culture. The results of this study will help textile practitioners better understand the current status, hot spots, and research trends of cultural sustainability in the textile industry while establishing closer connections with consumers.

Impact Analysis of COVID-19 Pandemic on Hospital Reviews on Dianping Website in Shanghai, China: Empirical Study.

In the era of the internet, individuals have increasingly accustomed themselves to gathering necessary information and expressing their opinions on public web-based platforms. The health care sector is no exception, as these comments, to a certain extent, influence people's health care decisions. During the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, how the medical experience of Chinese patients and their evaluations of hospitals have changed remains to be studied. Therefore, we plan to collect patient medical visit data from the internet to reflect the current status of medical relationships under specific circumstances. This study aims to explore the differences in patient comments across various stages (during, before, and after) of the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as among different types of hospitals (children's hospitals, maternity hospitals, and tumor hospitals). Additionally, by leveraging ChatGPT (OpenAI), the study categorizes the elements of negative hospital evaluations. An analysis is conducted on the acquired data, and potential solutions that could improve patient satisfaction are proposed. This study is intended to assist hospital managers in providing a better experience for patients who are seeking care amid an emergent public health crisis. Selecting the top 50 comprehensive hospitals nationwide and the top specialized hospitals (children's hospitals, tumor hospitals, and maternity hospitals), we collected patient reviews from these hospitals on the Dianping website. Using ChatGPT, we classified the content of negative reviews. Additionally, we conducted statistical analysis using SPSS (IBM Corp) to examine the scoring and composition of negative evaluations. A total of 30,317 pieces of effective comment information were collected from January 1, 2018, to August 15, 2023, including 7696 pieces of negative comment information. Manual inspection results indicated that ChatGPT had an accuracy rate of 92.05%. The F1-score was 0.914. The analysis of this data revealed a significant correlation between the comments and ratings received by hospitals during the pandemic. Overall, there was a significant increase in average comment scores during the outbreak (P<.001). Furthermore, there were notable differences in the composition of negative comments among different types of hospitals (P<.001). Children's hospitals received sensitive feedback regarding waiting times and treatment effectiveness, while patients at maternity hospitals showed a greater concern for the attitude of health care providers. Patients at tumor hospitals expressed a desire for timely examinations and treatments, especially during the pandemic period. The COVID-19 pandemic had some association with patient comment scores. There were variations in the scores and content of comments among different types of specialized hospitals. Using ChatGPT to analyze patient comment content represents an innovative approach for statistically assessing factors contributing to patient dissatisfaction. The findings of this study could provide valuable insights for hospital administrators to foster more harmonious physician-patient relationships and enhance hospital performance during public health emergencies.

WTO Reform to Address the Exhaustion of Member States' Benefits

This article explores the need for World Trade Organization (WTO) reform and the direction it should take to adapt to and promote global trade developments. It begins with a discussion of the impact and current status of WTO membership on member countries, including the WTO's role and influence in global trade and the benefits it brings to member countries. The paper then outlines the reasons for the current depletion of benefits, new challenges and opportunities for global trade development, and the importance of reform for member countries and the global economy. In addition, it explores the principles and directions of reform, such as respect for the multilateral trading system, enhanced oversight and transparency, and improved dispute settlement mechanisms. The document also proposes specific reform measures and implementation paths, including increasing the participation and agenda-setting capacity of member countries, strengthening cooperation and coordination mechanisms among member countries, promoting trade facilitation and reducing trade barriers. Finally, this paper summarizes and looks forward to the future of WTO reform.

Jelly Seed Disorder in Mango: A Comprehensive Review of Current Status and Future Directions

Jelly Seed Disorder in Mango: A Comprehensive Review of Current Status and Future Directions

Forkhead box O1 in metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease: molecular mechanisms and drug research.

Metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) is a chronic liver disease that progresses from hepatic steatosis to non-alcoholic steatohepatitis, cirrhosis, and liver cancer, posing a huge burden on human health. Existing research has confirmed that forkhead box O1 (FOXO1), as a member of the FOXO transcription factor family, is upregulated in MAFLD. Its activity is closely related to nuclear-cytoplasmic shuttling and various post-translational modifications including phosphorylation, acetylation, and methylation. FOXO1 mediates the progression of MAFLD by regulating glucose metabolism, lipid metabolism, insulin resistance, oxidative stress, hepatic fibrosis, hepatocyte autophagy, apoptosis, and immune inflammation. This article elaborates on the regulatory role of FOXO1 in MAFLD, providing a summary and new insights for the current status of drug research and targeted therapies for MAFLD.

Smoking Is Markedly Associated With 30-Day Readmission and Revision Surgery After Surgical Treatment of Clavicle Fracture.

A recent database study found that 15.2% of clavicle fractures underwent surgical treatment. Recent evidence accentuates the role of smoking in predicting nonunion. The purpose of this study was to further elucidate the effect of smoking on the 30-day postoperative outcomes after surgical treatment of clavicle fractures. The authors queried the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database for all patients who underwent open reduction and internal fixation of clavicle fracture between 2015 and 2020. Multivariate logistic regression, adjusted for notable patient demographics and comorbidities, was used to identify associations between current smoking status and postoperative complications. In total, 6,132 patients were included in this study of whom 1,510 (24.6%) were current smokers and 4,622 (75.4%) were nonsmokers. Multivariate analysis found current smoking status to be significantly associated with higher rates of deep incisional surgical-site infection (OR, 7.87; 95% CI, 1.51 to 41.09; P = 0.014), revision surgery (OR, 2.74; 95% CI, 1.67 to 4.49; P < 0.001), and readmission (OR, 3.29; 95% CI, 1.84 to 5.89; P < 0.001). Current smoking status is markedly associated with higher rates of deep incisional surgical-site infection, revision surgery, and readmission within 30 days after open reduction and internal fixation of clavicle fracture.

The Current Status and Prospects of Poly(Lactic Acid) Applications in Clinical Treatment

Poly(lactic acid) (PLA) is a biodegradable and bio-based polymer that has gained significant attention as an environmentally friendly alternative to traditional petroleum-based plastics. PLA is derived from renewable resources like corn starch or sugarcane through a fermentation process that converts sugars into lactic acid, which is then synthesized into lactic acid. As a bioabsorbable synthetic polyester, PLA has the following benefits, biodegradability, biodegradability, renewable source, non-toxic, reduced greenhouse gas emissions, energy savings. With the emergence of new manufacturing technologies, especially nanomaterial technology, PLA can be endowed with more structural and biological properties. This review discusses the current application of the PLA-based biomaterials in drug delivery systems, medical fixation devices, tissue regenerative engineering scaffolds and Provides viewpoints regarding their prospective utilization.

Investigation of the Neural Basis of Social Interactions Using Hyperscanning Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging

Hyperscanning functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) was developed to gain deeper insight into the neural basis of social cognition. Simultaneous imaging of brain activity in multiple subjects facilitates analysis of the neural basis of real-time interactions and communication. This method reveals the neural basis of social interactions, including inter-individual synchronization as a phenomenon that cannot be reduced to individuals. This modality enables research into the neural mechanisms underlying social interactions that are integral to many aspects of our lives. I will outline the background, current status, and prospects of development of hyperscanning fMRI, which may be an important methodology in the shift from "first-person" neuroscience (which refers to the interaction between individuals and the environment) to "second-person" neuroscience (which refers to the application of neuroscientific methods to investigate inter-individual associations).

Hypertension treatment up-date on World Hypertension Day 2024: current status and future prospects in Asia.

Hypertension treatment up-date on World Hypertension Day 2024: current status and future prospects in Asia.

Paper-based Microfluidic Devices for the Analysis of Various Pathogens from Diverse Samples

Abstract: In today’s era, detection of disease is utmost important for the management of disease. Early detection leads to early management of disease. Paper-based microfluidic devices are promising technologies that are cost-effective, portable and easy to use over conventional methods. In addition, paper-based microfluidics offers low reagent/sample volume, less response time and can be used in resource-limited settings. Researchers are highly fascinated by this technology as it has a lot of potential to convert into commercial monitoring devices. The present article covers the uses of paper-based microfluidic technology for the swift and sensitive detection of pathogens from diverse samples, viz. food, water and blood. In this comprehensive review, paper-based microfluidic devices are introduced, including the basic concepts, current status and applications, along with the discussion of the limitations of microfluidics for the detection of pathogens. Although paper-based microfluidic devices are being developed, their commercialization requires simplification of manufacturing processes, reduction in production costs as well as an increase in production efficiency. Nonetheless, the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) and the Internet of Things (IoT) like smartphones, digital cameras, webcam etc. with paper-associated diagnosis has transformed the point-of-care (POC) diagnostics.

Current practices of cervical epidural block for cervical radicular pain: a multicenter survey conducted by the Korean Pain Society.

Cervical epidural block (CEB) is an effective intervention for managing cervical radicular pain. This study aimed to investigate the current status of performing CEB in South Korea. Pain physicians affiliated with the Korean Pain Society were asked to complete anonymous questionnaires regarding CEB between September and October 2022. The questionnaire consisted of 24 questions assessing the current status and methods of CEB in detail. Of the 198 surveys collected, 171 physicians (86.4%) reported performing CEB. Among those, the majority (94.7%) used fluoroscopy during the procedure. The paramedian interlaminar (IL) approach was the most preferred method (50.3%). Respondents performing fluoroscopic-guided IL CEB were categorized into two groups based on clinical experience: those with ≤10 years of experience (≤10-year group, n = 91) and those with >10 years of experience (>10-year group, n = 71). The proportion of physicians obtaining informed consent in the ≤10-year group and >10-year group was 50.5% and 56.3%, respectively. When entering the epidural space during IL CEB, the contralateral oblique view was the second most frequently used in both groups (≤10-year group, 42.9%; >10-year group, 29.6%). In targeting the upper cervical lesions (C3-4), the proportion of respondents who used an IL space higher than C6-7 was 17.6% in the ≤10-year group and 29.5% in the >10-year experience group. This study demonstrated variability in the CEB technique used by pain physicians in South Korea. The findings highlight the need for education on informed consent and techniques to enhance safety.

Measuring pharmacy clinical workload in the emergency department: Current status and a plan for action

BackgroundInpatient pharmacy productivity workload ratios historically encompass dispensing functions including numbers of medication orders verified, dispensed, and billed for and full-time equivalents (FTEs) but do not include pharmacy clinical activities. Clinical pharmacy activities are difficult to capture because they generally require manual documentation and vary among health systems. The emergency medicine pharmacists’ (EMPs) role adds additional complexity to capturing clinical activities given that bedside response and verbal recommendations are difficult to capture outside of manual documentation. It is unknown how many health systems use EMP-specific workload metrics. ObjectivesThe purpose of our survey was to determine the percentage of hospital pharmacies that use EMP-specific workload metrics, to describe workload metrics used by EMPs and to quantify time spent on clinical activities, and to describe methods for implementing EMP metrics. MethodsA 13-item questionnaire was developed, pretested, and sent to EMPs practicing in hospitals in the United States through 2 EMP national committee e-mail listservs. Survey completion online included questions on hospital characteristics, number of EMP FTEs, clinical services provided and time spent on these tasks, and current workload metrics used. ResultsFull responses to the survey were received from 100 pharmacists, with an overall response rate of 9.8%. Workload metrics specific to EMP activities were used by 15.1% of responders. Workload metrics were used but not tailored to EMP activities for 43% of responders, and 41.9% responded that no metrics were used whatsoever. Ten responders provided commentary on types of EMP activities tracked, which included bedside response for critical patients, culture callback, drug information and dosing, time to antibiotic administration, and medication histories. No universal software for metric tracking was identified. ConclusionA survey of EMP clinical services and workload metrics indicated that although 43% of responders use non-EMP-specific metrics, only 15.1% reported workload metrics that capture EMP clinical activities.

The Future of Environmental Engineering Technology: A Disruptive Innovation Perspective

Scientific and technological revolutions and industrial transformations have accelerated the rate of innovation in environmental engineering technologies. However, few researchers have evaluated the current status and future trends of technologies. This paper summarizes the current research status in eight major subfields of environmental engineering—water treatment, air pollution control, soil/solid waste management, environmental biotechnology, environmental engineering equipment, emerging contaminants, synergistic reduction in pollution and carbon emissions, environmental risk, and intelligent management—based on bibliometric analysis and future trends in greenization, low carbonization, and intelligentization. Disruptive technologies are further identified based on discontinuous transformation, and ten such technologies are proposed, covering general and specific fields, technical links, and value sources. Additionally, the background and key innovations in disruptive technologies are elucidated in detail. This study not only provides a scientific basis for strategic decision-making, planning, and implementation in the environmental engineering field but also offers methodological guidance for the research and determination of breakthrough technologies in other areas.

Current status and risk assessment of perfluoroalkyl acids in surface water and sediments of the Yellow River in Shandong, China

The Yellow River is the main source of water for urban and rural area and agricultural irrigation in northern China. Herein, the distribution and risk assessment of perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs) were investigated from the Yellow River in Shandong Province, China. The total concentration of PFAAs (∑PFAAs) in surface water and sediments were 37.5−2128 ng/L (mean: 167 ng/L) and not detected−6.95 ng/g dry weight (dw) (mean: 1.02 ng/g dw), respectively. Short-chain PFAAs-perfluorobutanoic acid (PFBA), perfluorohexanoic acid (PFHxA), and perfluorobutane sulfonic acid (PFBS) were the most prevalent PFAAs in surface water. Source analysis showed that firefighting foam (proportion: 31.3%) and textile treatments and food packaging (proportion: 30.3%) were the main sources of PFAAs in water. Based on the concentration of PFAAs in water, ecological and potential human health risks were assessed. Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), perfluorononanoate (PFNA), perfluorodecanoate (PFDA) and perfluoroundecanoic acid (PFUnDA) posed nonnegligible ecological risk for some aquatic organisms. Levels of PFAAs (e.g., PFOA, PFNA, and PFDA etc.) in some water samples were higher than the advisory guidelines of PFAAs concentrations in water worldwide, indicating a potential human health risk. Therefore, PFOA, PFNA, PFDA, and PFUnDA are the key focus of pollutants in the water of the Yellow River in Shandong Province, and the standards and limits of these PFAAs in environments including surface water and sediment should be promoted.

Zebrafish as a model organism for virus disease research: Current status and future directions

Zebrafish (Danio rerio) have emerged as valuable models for investigating viral infections, providing insights into viral pathogenesis, host responses, and potential therapeutic interventions. This review offers a comprehensive synthesis of research on viral infections using zebrafish models, focusing on the molecular mechanisms of viral action and host-virus interactions. Zebrafish models have been instrumental in elucidating the replication dynamics, tissue tropism, and immune evasion strategies of various viruses, including Chikungunya virus, Dengue virus, Herpes Simplex Virus type 1, and Influenza A virus. Additionally, studies utilizing zebrafish have evaluated the efficacy of antiviral compounds and natural agents against emerging viruses such as SARS-CoV-2, Zika virus, and Dengue virus. The optical transparency and genetic tractability of zebrafish embryos enable real-time visualization of viral infections, facilitating the study of viral spread and immune responses. Despite challenges such as temperature compatibility and differences in host receptors, zebrafish models offer unique advantages, including cost-effectiveness, high-throughput screening capabilities, and conservation of key immune pathways. Importantly, zebrafish models complement existing animal models, providing a platform for rapid evaluation of potential therapeutics and a deeper understanding of viral pathogenesis. This review underscores the significance of zebrafish research in advancing our understanding of viral diseases and highlights future research directions to combat infectious diseases effectively.

Biopolymers and their Nanocomposites: Current Status and Future Prospects

Abstract: For many years, petroleum-based polymers have been successfully enhanced by the addition of nanoparticles as additives. Carbon nanotubes, graphene, nanoclays, 2-D layered materials, and cellulose nano whiskers are a few of the several nanoreinforcements that are currently being researched. In comparison to unmodified polymer resin, the use of these nanofillers with bio-based polymers could improve a wide range of physical properties, including barrier, flame resistance, thermal stability, solvent uptake, and rate of biodegradability. This nano-reinforcement is a very appealing method to create new functional biomaterials for a variety of applications because these enhancements are typically achieved at minimal filler content.

"Special Regime - Galapagos islands" analysis of the electricity and public lighting service: Current status

This article presents the impact of applying the electricity sector and public lighting policies in the Galapagos Islands, focused on a framework that addresses six issues: legislation, demand, financial, technologies, environmental, and international commitments. The installed power capacity in 2022 was 31.55 MW, 23.04 % from renewable sources. By 2027, the power generation is expected to be 57.62 MW with 56 % renewable sources, without a short-term plan to comply with the "Zero fossil fuels" policy. The electrical system is isolated from the continent, and some policies analyzed can serve as a reference to implement changes in similar systems.

An Updated Review on the Early Detection and Drug Development Targeting Breast Cancer

Background: Breast cancer is one of the most common types of cancer in women globally, which poses a significant public health threat on a global scale. Continuous updates of the recent development in terms of drug development and diagnosis are the key to decoding the complexity of the location-specific different forms of breast cancer. The aim of this review is to sifter out the current advances and status of drugs, treatments, therapies and technologies related to breast cancer. Methodology: The authors searched for a number of article sources, and all possible data was collected from different databases like MEDLINE, EMBASE, Pub Med, Web of Science and Google Scholar. to identify recent development in drug development and diagnosis. Result: After a detailed literature survey, it was found that in drug discovery, a number of new drug candidates for breast cancer have completed clinical trials; in the diagnosis of breast cancer, a number of new technologies like artificial intelligence (AI), smart bra, smart vest, clinical breast exam have developed. It was found that breast self-awareness has immense importance in the early detection of breast cancer, which is par with the accuracy of modern diagnostic tools. Conclusion: An effort has been made to present all the updated data related to recent drug development, like surveillance status of drugs in clinical trials, diagnosis and social stigma of people with breast cancer recovery. Recent technological advances have led to the development of many devices for the early detection of breast cancer, providing efficacy in line with the diagnostic tools that pave the way for early treatment using effective drug candidates.

Effects of blood metal(loid) concentrations on genomic damages in sharks

The use of effect biomarkers has contributed to the understanding of the sublethal effects of contaminants on different organisms. However, the analysis of genotoxic markers as an indicator of organism and environmental health in sharks is underexplored. Thus, the present study investigated the relationship between the genomic damage frequency in erythrocytes and metal(loid) concentrations in whole blood of three shark species (Galeocerdo cuvier, Negaprion brevirostris and Ginglymostoma cirratum), taking into account climatic seasonality. The results showed that G. cuvier, an apex predator, presented the highest total erythrocyte genomic damage frequencies together with the highest mean whole blood concentrations of Al, Cd, Cr, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb and Zn. The shark N. brevirostris also presented high levels of metal(loid), indicating a greater susceptibility to these contaminants in species that preferentially feed on fish. In contrast, G. cirratum, a mesopredator, presented the lowest erythrocyte damage frequencies and whole blood metal(loid) concentrations. The presence of micronuclei was the most responsive biomarker, and Al, As and Zn had an important effect on the genomic damage frequencies for all species evaluated. Zn concentration influenced the binucleated cells frequencies and Al concentration had an effect on the total damage and micronuclei frequencies in G. cuvier and N. brevirostris. Binucleated cells and blebbed nuclei frequencies were affected by As concentration, especially in G. cirratum, while showing a strong and positive correlation with most of the metals analyzed. Nonetheless, baseline levels of metal(loid) blood concentrations and erythrocyte genomic damage frequencies in sharks have not yet been established. Therefore, minimum risk levels of blood contaminants concentrations on the health of these animals have also not been determined. However, the high genomic instability observed in sharks is of concern considering the current health status of these animals, as well as the quality of the environment studied.