Research Opportunities Research Articles

Virtual reality tools for training in gastrointestinal endoscopy: A systematic review

BACKGROUND Virtual reality (VR) has emerged as an innovative technology in endoscopy training, providing a simulated environment that closely resembles real-life scenarios and offering trainees a valuable platform to acquire and enhance their endoscopic skills. This systematic review will critically evaluate the effectiveness and feasibility of VR-based training compared to traditional methods. AIM To evaluate the effectiveness and feasibility of VR-based training compared to traditional methods. By examining the current state of the field, this review seeks to identify gaps, challenges, and opportunities for further research and implementation of VR in endoscopic training. METHODS The study is a systematic review, following the guidelines for reporting systematic reviews set out by the PRISMA statement. A comprehensive search command was designed and implemented and run in September 2023 to identify relevant studies available, from electronic databases such as PubMed, Scopus, Cochrane, and Google Scholar. The results were systematically reviewed. RESULTS Sixteen articles were included in the final analysis. The total number of participants was 523. Five studies focused on both upper endoscopy and colonoscopy training, two on upper endoscopy training only, eight on colonoscopy training only, and one on sigmoidoscopy training only. Gastrointestinal Mentor virtual endoscopy simulator was commonly used. Fifteen reported positive results, indicating that VR-based training was feasible and acceptable for endoscopy learners. VR technology helped the trainees enhance their skills in manipulating the endoscope, reducing the procedure time or increasing the technical accuracy, in VR scenarios and real patients. Some studies show that the patient discomfort level decreased significantly. However, some studies show there were no significant differences in patient discomfort and pain scores between VR group and other groups. CONCLUSION VR training is effective for endoscopy training. There are several well-designed randomized controlled trials with large sample sizes, proving the potential of this innovative tool. Thus, VR should be more widely adopted in endoscopy training. Furthermore, combining VR training with conventional methods could be a promising approach that should be implemented in training.

Bibliometric study of association rule-market basket analysis

Association rule-market basket analysis (AR-MBA) is a data mining technique for finding distinguished relationship patterns from a collection of items. The application of AR-MBA is also increasingly widespread, starting from retail and hotels to hospitals. So, bibliometrics related to AR-MBA needs to be done to reveal what research opportunities can be later carried out by reviewing and analyzing publications about AR-MBA. 91 bibliographies in 1 decade from 2012-2022 were collected using Harzing's Publish or Perish (PoP). VOSviewer is also employed to map authorship and publication topic trends. This paper is innovative because it identifies trends and future research directions in data mining, specifically in association with AR-MBA. The findings show publication productivity, top authors, types of publications, annual topic trends within a decade, term distribution, most cited and most influential articles, and research gaps that can be opportunities for further research.

Transformative Peer Connections: Early Experiences From the ASCO Palliative Care Community of Practice.

The integration of palliative care into routine oncology practice is the standard of care by most leading cancer organizations. Palliative medicine helps to deliver higher quality of care at a lower cost. However, there are barriers to implementing palliative oncology at many institutions for myriad reasons. In this article, we discuss an innovative strategy that ASCO implemented called the Communities of Practice (CoP). We share our experiences as the Palliative Care CoP and how our group seeks to develop processes and structures to collectively promote systemic change and enhance palliative care delivery for people with cancer. Our Palliative Care CoP engages with senior leaders, administrators, and those in power to achieve a shared vision of delivering holistic health care for people with serious illness. We continue to evolve to meet our members' growing needs by addressing eight main domains: (1) increasing palliative care education and resources; (2) creating opportunities for global palliative care research; (3) providing peer mentorship and community building; (4) engaging with patient advocates; (5) supporting and developing interdisciplinary teams; (6) assisting with professional development and identity formation, especially for trainees and early career faculty; (7) extending our outreach through social media; and (8) enhancing the clinical practice of palliative oncology. The ASCO CoP has been a vital forum to realize ASCO's mission of conquering cancer and advancing the Art and Science of Cancer Care: From Comfort to Cure.

Targeting Histone 3 Variants Epigenetic Landscape and Inhibitory Immune Checkpoints: An Option for Paediatric Brain Tumours Therapy.

Despite little progress in survival rates with regular therapies, which do not provide complete care for curing pediatric brain tumors (PBTs), there is an urgent need for novel strategies to overcome the toxic effects of conventional therapies to treat PBTs. The co-inhibitory immune checkpoint molecules, e.g., CTLA-4, PD-1/PD-L1, etc., and epigenetic alterations in histone variants, e.g., H3K27me3 that help in immune evasion at tumor microenvironment have not gained much attention in PBTs treatment. However, key epigenetic mechanistic alterations, such as acetylation, methylation, phosphorylation, sumoylation, poly (ADP)-ribosylation, and ubiquitination in histone protein, are greatly acknowledged. The crucial checkpoints in pediatric brain tumors are cytotoxic T lymphocyte antigen-4 (CTLA-4), programmed cell death protein-1 (PD-1) and programmed death-ligand 1 (PDL1), OX-2 membrane glycoprotein (CD200), and indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO). This review covers the state of knowledge on the role of multiple co-inhibitory immunological checkpoint proteins and histone epigenetic alterations in different cancers. We further discuss the processes behind these checkpoints, cell signalling, the current scenario of clinical and preclinical research and potential futuristic opportunities for immunotherapies in the treatment of pediatric brain tumors. Conclusively, this article further discusses the possibilities of these interventions to be used for better therapy options.

Interaction Between Automation and Humans in Supply Chain Planning

Automation is transforming supply chain planning (SCP) processes, replacing human tasks with technological solutions. While automation offers efficiency gains, the interaction between humans and automated systems presents behavioral challenges. This study investigates how decision-makers in SCP processes learn to correct errors when interacting with automated demand forecasting systems versus human planners. Drawing from psychology and behavioral theories, we examine the effects of interaction type (automated system vs. human) on learning, operationalized as performance improvement over time. Further, we analyze whether this relationship is moderated by cognitive psychological traits (positive attitude towards technology, technology anxiety/dependence) and socio-psychological traits (social influence based on subjective norms, social influence based on image) of the human decision-maker. Our article contributes to supply chain management research by introducing automation-human interaction, providing a temporal learning perspective on performance, and integrating cognitive and socio-psychological moderators. Insights are offered on how to facilitate effective human-automation collaboration by managing socio-psychological influences. Limitations and future research opportunities, including cultural contexts and artificial intelligence, are discussed.

Ongoing Study Reveals High Aquatic Fungal Diversity; An Untouched Component in Sri Lankan Biodiversity

Sri Lanka is an island nation with diverse ecosystems, including forests, wetlands, grasslands, and vast coasts. The country showcases a rich aquatic ecosystem that includes both coastal and inland waters. Freshwater habitats such as rivers, streams, marshes, and man-made reservoirs are the host for diverse fungal communities. However, documentation and identification of freshwater fungi in Sri Lanka have not yet been done as they face significant challenges, including unexplored taxa, misidentification, and hitherto reliance on morphological data, as well as limited funding, awareness, and expertise. This study aims to assess the limitations, potentials, and conservation efforts related to the identification of fungi in freshwater habitats in Sri Lanka. The assessment has revealed several potential opportunities for future research, including the exploration of novel fungal strains that are found in freshwater habitats, identification and classification of existing fungi, setting up and utilization of the freshwater fungal repository, access to reference databases, and identification of industrial applications.

Advanced Helmet and License Plate Recognition: A Breakthrough in Safety and Surveillance Systems

Abstract: Helmet detection and license plate recognition have emerged as crucial components in ensuring safety and security in various domains, particularly in transportation and law enforcement. This review paper presents a comprehensive survey and analysis of methodologies, techniques, and advancements in the field of helmet detection and license plate recognition using computer vision and deep learning approaches. The paper investigates diverse datasets, algorithms, and architectures utilized for accurate detection and recognition of helmets worn by individuals in critical settings and the identification of license plates on vehicles. Furthermore, it explores the challenges, limitations, and future directions within these domains. The paper also evaluates the performance metrics, technological advancements, and potential applications in real-world scenarios, emphasizing the importance of these technologies in enhancing safety measures, traffic regulation, and security enforcement systems. Through this review, we aim to provide a consolidated overview and critical analysis of existing methodologies while identifying opportunities for future research and development in helmet detection and license plate recognition.

The early educational environment at five years of age in a European cohort of children born very preterm: challenges and opportunities for research

BackgroundEarly childhood education offers opportunities for stimulation in multiple developmental domains and its positive impact on long-term outcomes and wellbeing for children is well documented. Few studies have explored early education in children born very preterm (VPT; <32 weeks of gestation) who are at higher risk of neurodevelopmental disorders and poor educational outcomes than their term-born peers. The purpose of the study is to describe and compare the educational environment of children born VPT in European countries at 5 years of age according to the degree of perinatal risk.MethodsData originated from the population-based Screening to Improve Health In very Preterm infants (SHIPS) cohort of children born VPT in 2011/2012 in 19 regions from 11 European countries. Perinatal data were collected from medical records and the 5-year follow-up was conducted using parental questionnaires. Outcomes at 5 years were participation in early education (any, type, intensity of participation) and receipt of special educational support, which were harmonized across countries.ResultsOut of 6,759 eligible children, 3,687 (54.6%) were followed up at 5 years (mean gestational age 29.3 weeks). At 5 years, almost all children (98.6%) were in an educational program, but type (preschool/primary), attendance (full-time/part-time) and use and type of school support/services differed by country. In some countries, children with high perinatal risk were more likely to be in full-time education than those with low risk (e.g. Estonia: 97.9% vs. 87.1%), while the inverse pattern was observed elsewhere (e.g. Poland: 78.5% vs. 92.8%). Overall, 22.8% of children received special educational support (country range: 12.4–34.4%) with more support received by children with higher perinatal risk. Large variations between countries remained after adjustment for socio-demographic characteristics.ConclusionsThere are marked variations in approaches to early education for children born VPT in Europe, raising opportunities to explore its impact on their neurodevelopment and well-being.

Healthy Mouth, Healthy Lungs: Novel Solutions for Preventing and Diagnosing Periodontal Disease in the Context of Chronic Respiratory Illness

ABSTRACT Chronic respiratory illnesses, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and asthma, pose significant challenges to public health worldwide. Mounting evidence suggests a bidirectional relationship between respiratory health and oral health, with periodontal disease emerging as a potential risk factor for the development and exacerbation of respiratory conditions. This review paper explores the complex interplay between periodontal disease and chronic respiratory illness, highlighting the importance of oral health maintenance in promoting respiratory well-being. By examining recent advancements in the prevention and diagnosis of periodontal disease, particularly in the context of chronic respiratory conditions, this paper aims to elucidate novel solutions and strategies for improving oral health outcomes and respiratory outcomes simultaneously. Through a comprehensive analysis of the literature and emerging research trends, this review sheds light on the potential benefits and challenges of integrating oral health into the management of chronic respiratory illnesses and identifies opportunities for future research and clinical practice.

Healthcare entrepreneurship: An integrative framework for future research

Healthcare entrepreneurship is of growing interest, but the area of research is not well defined and is disparate across disciplines. We take an integrative approach to examine the similarities and differences between the literature for the two parent domains (healthcare management and entrepreneurship). We present findings from an interdisciplinary four-phase Delphi study and propose a new framework to guide future research. Our proposed healthcare entrepreneurship framework not only reflects variations in key factors, such as actors, activities, processes and outcomes within the parent disciplines, but also suggests gaps, connections and future opportunities for research. Actionable summary and highlightsSince COVID-19, there has been an influx of healthcare entrepreneurial ventures, but, within a volatile market, mixed success. We find that healthcare entrepreneurship is different from work in healthcare or entrepreneurship alone. For healthcare entrepreneurs to achieve their targeted health outcomes as well as their operational and profitability outcomes, all stakeholders need to work together. For the clinician-turned-entrepreneur and the serial entrepreneur now in healthcare, we provide three actionable insights to address some of the practical challenges in healthcare entrepreneurship.1.We advise that venture teams include individuals from both entrepreneurship and healthcare backgrounds to shorten the learning curve, particularly as they develop the evidence base for the offering. Contacting entrepreneurship accelerators or university tech transfer and commercialization offices for which one may have had previous affiliations can be one approach to securing such team members.2.Healthcare entrepreneurs should consider how to include end-user or patient participation to create new healthcare solutions. Working with relevant patient advocacy groups can be one approach and may help to increase the relevance and patient-centeredness of the solution.3.Healthcare entrepreneurs may need to develop new business models and revenue streams. While healthcare is a human right, it requires financing to sustain offerings. One may strengthen one's “business and calling” mindset via joining healthcare entrepreneurship organizations for medical professionals, accelerators, and other local programs that support such entrepreneurial engagement in healthcare.In addition to these insights for healthcare entrepreneurs, we include practical insights for other key actors. Corporations may incentivize partnerships that normalize co-produced innovations. Venture capitalists might develop novel funding mechanisms linked to non-traditional outcomes. Non-profit organizations can serve as interdisciplinary conveners to raise awareness of healthcare entrepreneurship needs. Policy makers might consider ways to create business environments with competitive, yet reasonable, cost and pricing structures.

Sharenting: A systematic review of the empirical literature

AbstractSharenting, the practice of parents publicly sharing information about their children on social media, has become increasingly prevalent in recent years. The purpose of this study was to conduct a systematic literature review in order to evaluate existing publications that have empirically investigated the sharenting phenomenon and conceptualized its characteristics and possible consequences. Following Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta‐Analysis guidelines, 61 studies were reviewed. Based on the point of view and focus of the studies, six themes emerged: characteristics of sharenting, children's privacy, professional sharenting, children's perspectives, factors affecting sharenting, and social media dilemmas. The review highlights the growing prevalence of sharenting and provides a comprehensive overview of the empirical investigations and conceptualizations of the phenomenon. The findings have implications for parents, professionals, and policymakers, and opportunities for future research to further understand the complex and multifaceted nature of sharenting.

Unraveling Workplace Bliss: The Mediating Influence of Flow Experience in the Relationship between Psychological Needs Satisfaction and Happiness at Work

The purpose of this paper is to report on the results of a study that sought to establish the mediating role of flow experience in the relationship between psychological needs satisfaction and happiness at the workplace, specifically within the context of public hospitals in Uganda. A cross-sectional study was conducted, involving a sample of 800 professional nurses. Findings reveal that flow experience partially mediates in the connection between psychological needs satisfaction and workplace happiness. Limitations include; the use of a mono-research methodological approach, suggesting opportunities for future research through interviews to triangulate findings. By way of practical implications, the study explicates the psychological needs of the healthcare professionals examined and contributes to a more positive work environment and consequently, higher levels of workplace happiness. Keywords: psychological needs satisfaction, happiness at work, professional nurses, health services, flow experience, and positive emotions

Implementation of Village Fund Allocation Policy to Realize Village Self-Reliance

Introduction: The welfare of rural communities in developing countries such as Indonesia is a significant concern for the government. Therefore, the government's implementation of policies related to village fund allocation is expected to enhance the welfare of village communities. However, in practice, this policy has not yet brought about significant changes in the local communities, particularly in achieving village self-reliance. Literature review: Policy implementation from the Triangle Model perspective is an approach developed by Walt &amp; Gilson, (1994) which emphasizes four main stages in the policy process, namely agenda setting, formulation, implementation and evaluation. The agenda setting stage involves the selection of various problems faced by society to become the focus of decision makers. Next, in the formulation stage, legislative and decision-making bodies design and ratify policies. The implementation process is carried out by the government, followed by an evaluation stage that assesses the impact of the policy. Method: This article aims to examine the process of implementing village fund allocation policies using the triangle analysis model (Buse et al., 2005) .The research informants comprised 23 individuals. Result and Discussion: The results of this study indicate that the objectives of implementing village fund allocation in the Semangga district are known to the implementers/actors, as well as the benefits of village fund allocation being perceived by the village communities. However, the policy implementers lack effective communication to convince and educate the village communities. Additionally, there is a need to enhance human resource commitment and allocate additional funds to advance the villages towards self-reliance. Conclusion: The findings of this study specifically demonstrate the real conditions in the research location regarding village fund allocation. This article presents opportunities for further research using the triangle analysis model in the implementation of village fund allocation policies.

Optimization of Early Detection of Tuberculosis Through Machine Learning Using Clinical Data: Development and Evaluation of Multilayer Perceptron and Extreme Learning Machine for Tuberculosis Classification

This research takes an innovative step in the fight against Tuberculosis (TB), one of Indonesia's prominent public health challenges, by developing and evaluating Multilayer Perceptron (MLP) and Extreme Learning Machine (ELM) models in machine learning for early detection of TB using clinical data. The main result of this study was the discovery that the MLP model, when applied without the Synthetic Minority Over-sampling Technique (SMOTE), achieved an impressive accuracy of 95.00%, signaling significant progress in TB early detection efforts. This discovery not only highlights the great potential of applying machine learning technology in improving the accuracy of TB diagnosis but also paves the way for the possible application of advanced technology in the health sector to deal with infectious diseases. This research illustrates how machine learning technology can be integrated into clinical practice to effectively detect TB cases at an early stage, thus enabling faster and more precise treatment, which can ultimately reduce the spread of the disease. This is particularly important given TB's significant impact on public health, especially in developing countries. The results also open up opportunities for further research into the application of machine learning techniques to other infectious diseases, promising a paradigm shift in the way we detect and manage various health conditions.

Photonic Devices with Multi-Domain Liquid Crystal Structures

Photoalignment by azo dye nanolayers can provide high alignment quality for large-area liquid crystal devices. Application of this technology to active optical elements for signal processing and communications is a hot topic of photonics research. In this article, we review recent demonstrations and performance of liquid crystal photonic devices, discuss the advantages of the proposed technology, and identify challenges and future prospects in the research field of photoaligned multi-domain liquid crystal structures. We believe that the developments discussed here can provide directions for future research and potential opportunities for applications of liquid crystal devices based on multi-domain photoalignment.

Indicators of banks and economic indicators on non-cash payments in ASEAN-7 countries

This research explores the intricate relationship between digitalization, economic development, and non-cash payments in the ASEAN-7 countries over a ten-year period from 2011 to 2020. Focusing on factors such as commercial bank branches, broad money, and inflation, the study employs panel data regression analysis to investigate their impact on automated teller machine (ATM) usage. The findings reveal that commercial bank branches significantly influence ATM usage, emphasizing the role of accessibility, services, and technological preferences. Broad money also shows a significant impact on ATM transactions, reflecting the interplay between fund availability and non-cash transactions. However, inflation does not exhibit a direct influence on ATM usage. The research underscores the importance of maintaining service quality and security in the banking sector to enhance digital financial inclusion. Future research opportunities include exploring diverse non-cash payment methods and extending studies to countries with significant global economic impacts. This research contributes valuable insights to policymakers aiming to enhance digital financial inclusion policies, ultimately fostering economic growth through the digital economy in the ASEAN-7 region.

Nutrient Removal from Aqueous Solutions Using Biosorbents Derived from Rice and Corn Husk Residues: A Systematic Review from the Environmental Management Perspective

This review critically analyzed the use of biosorbents derived from rice husks and corn residues for nutrient removal from aqueous solutions. Additionally, this review highlighted the use of such biosorbents in wastewater treatment. Furthermore, novel approaches for sustainable nutrient removal from aqueous solutions were identified. A comprehensive understanding of the implementation of biosorption processes using agro-industrial residues based on corn and rice crops is critical for the sustainable management of residues and water bodies in the world to protect and conserve natural resources. Specifically, the review focuses on the exploration, preparation and application of innovative biosorbents to remove various forms of nutrients such as total nitrogen, total phosphorus, nitrates, ammonium and phosphates from aqueous solution, analyzing the sustainability of treatments applied to biomass, such as thermal transformation or chemical modification to reduce environmental impacts. It was found that 95 to 99% of nitrogen and phosphorus can be removed with biosorbents made from rice husks and corn residues, analyzing approximately 50 scientific articles related to these plant materials. Research opportunities were identified, such as the recovery of removed nutrients for soil improvement, life cycle analysis to assess the concept of zero waste, among other aspects. Finally, a scheme is proposed for the selection and application of sustainable biosorbents for the removal of nutrients from aqueous solutions.

Expanding DNA Origami Design Freedom with De Novo Synthesized Scaffolds.

The construction of DNA origami nanostructures is heavily dependent on the folding of the scaffold strand, which is typically a single-stranded DNA genome extracted from a bacteriophage (M13). Custom scaffolds can be prepared in a number of methods, but they are not widely accessible to a broad user base in the DNA nanotechnology community. Here, we explored new design and construction possibilities with custom scaffolds prepared in our cost- and time-efficient production pipeline. According to the pipeline, we de novo produced a variety of scaffolds of specified local and global sequence characteristics and consequent origami constructs of modular arrangement in morphologies and functionalities. Taking advantage of this strategy of template-free scaffold production, we also designed and produced three-letter-coded scaffolds that can fold into designated morphologies rapidly at room temperature. The expanded design and construction freedom immediately brings in many new research opportunities and invites many more on the horizon.

HIV self-testing adoption and post-test linkage to care among men who have sex with men in China: a nationwide cross-sectional survey.

HIV self-testing (HIVST) was recommended to improve HIV testing services. China initiated some of the first HIVST pilots in the world, providing a unique opportunity for implementation research. We aim to investigate HIVST adoption and its following linkage to care among Chinese men who have sex with men (MSM). Data were collected using an online questionnaire distributed on major social media platforms in 2018, one year after HIVST was officially endorsed and allowed for sale. MSM who were at least 16 years old, assigned as male at birth, and ever tested for HIV were eligible. Primary outcome, adoption was defined as ever use of HIVST. Bivariate and multivariable logistic regressions were performed to explore the association between HIVST adoption and sociodemographic and behavioral factors. Linkage to care was also described via the following sequential events as indicators: (1) receiving result after recent test (2), seeking care from healthcare facility if test result was positive or indeterminate, and (3) delayed time before seeking care. A total of 540 participants were included with an average age of 27.4 ± 6.6. Most were never married (87.4%) and half completed college (52.2%). Overall, 75.2% had adopted HIVST. Self-test kits were commonly obtained from community-based organizations (54.4%) and from online (46.6%). HIVST adoption was positively associated with having college or higher education (OR = 1.66, 95%CI: 1.07-2.57), and negatively associated with age older than 30 (AOR = 0.52, 95%CI: 0.32-0.84). Adoption was not associated with other socio-demographic or behavioral factors. After receiving HIV-positive or indeterminate results, 25/25 of HIVST adopters sought care while 3 out of 7 (42.9%) non-adopters sought care (p < 0.001). Delays before seeking care were not significantly different between HIVST adopters compared to non-adopters (P = 0.366). Many MSM adopted HIVST shortly after its launch. Our findings suggested that HIVST linkage to care is promising among MSM in China. Integration of HIVST with other essential sexual health services is needed.

Application of Additive Manufacturing in the Automobile Industry: A Mini Review

The automobile industry is recognized as one of the most influential sectors shaping global economies, societies, and individual lifestyles. Therefore, fierce competition among different companies is continuously undergoing, and special attention is focused on innovations to improve competitiveness. In the past several years, additive manufacturing (AM) has emerged as an innovative technology in applications in the automobile industry with significant advantages over traditional techniques. As a result, increasing efforts have been paid to combining AM technology with the development of the automobile industry. Currently, many automobile players are optimizing their industrial layout by incorporating innovative AM techniques, and meanwhile, a lot of research progress has been achieved in order to meet the market demand. This article aims at presenting a timely review to conclude the recent advances in the application of AM techniques in the automobile industry, focusing on the available AM techniques, printable materials, and industry applications, based on which the advantages and disadvantages of each technique and material system are discussed in order to reveal the current application situation. The current research gaps and challenges are also outlined to indicate future research opportunities. Hopefully, this work can be useful to related researchers as well as game players in the industry of this field.