Research Update Research Articles

MANGROVE ECOTOURISM RESEARCH PROGRESS, TRENDS, AND UPDATES: A BIBLIOMETRIC ANALYSIS BASED ON THE SCOPUS AND WEB OF SCIENCE DATABASES

Using bibliometric analysis, this study aims to examine the progress, trends, and updates of mangrove ecotourism research within tourism studies. The primary data for this study were collected from the Scopus database with 306 publications and the Web of Science (WoS) database with 585 publications of mangrove ecotourism scientific documents published until the end of 2022. The results show that the first publication on mangrove ecotourism in the Scopus database was identified in 1992, while the first documents on the topic were included in the WoS database six years earlier, in 1986. The prominent keywords of mangrove ecotourism topics shared by publications in the Scopus and WoS databases were predominantly related to environmental and sustainability issues, such as conservation, biodiversity, and sustainable development. Based on geographical distribution, Asian countries and institutions have dominated recent publications on mangrove ecotourism. This means that the geographical distribution of publications on mangrove ecotourism is strongly influenced by the geographical distribution of mangrove ecosystems, which are mostly found in Asia.

Research Updates from Around the World

EDITORIAL

Altruistic Bequests: Giving Motive and Receipt Expectation Using the 2019 Survey of Consumer Finances

This study uses Altruistic Bequest Theory to update research by Kao et al. (1997) exploring the factors driving the giving and receiving of bequests using data collected from the 2019 Survey of Consumer Finances (SCF). Altruistic variables demonstrated significant, although at times weak, relationships across the three categories of the analysis (bequest versus no bequest, bequest versus maybe bequest, maybe bequest versus no bequest). Alternatively, results show economic, attitudinal, and sociodemographic variables as the main drivers for the giving and receiving of bequests.

Nimbolide: promising agent for prevention and treatment of chronic diseases (recent update).

Nimbolide, a bioactive compound derived from the neem tree, has garnered attention as a potential breakthrough in the prevention and treatment of chronic diseases. Recent updates in research highlight its multifaceted pharmacological properties, demonstrating anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anticancer effects. With a rich history in traditional medicine, nimbolide efficacy in addressing the molecular complexities of conditions such as cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, and cancer positions it as a promising candidate for further exploration. As studies progress, the recent update underscores the growing optimism surrounding nimbolide as a valuable tool in the ongoing pursuit of innovative therapeutic strategies for chronic diseases. The comprehensive search of the literature was done until September 2020 on the MEDLINE, Embase, Scopus and Web of Knowledge databases. Most studies have shown the Nimbolide is one of the most potent limonoids derived from the flowers and leaves of neem (Azadirachta indica), which is widely used to treat a variety of human diseases. In chronic diseases, nimbolide reported to modulate the key signaling pathways, such as Mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs), Wingless-related integration site-β (Wnt-β)/catenin, NF-κB, PI3K/AKT, and signaling molecules, such as transforming growth factor (TGF-β), Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF), inflammatory cytokines, and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) proteins. Nimbolide has anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial, and anti-cancer properties, which make it an intriguing compound for research. Nimbolide demonstrated therapeutic potential for osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, cardiovascular, inflammation and cancer. The current review mainly focused on understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying the therapecutic effects of nimbolide in chronic diseases.

A CRITICAL REVIEW OF KARAVELLAKA (MOMORDICA CHARANTIA LINN.) AS A VISHAGNA DRAVYA (ANTI POISONOUS DRUG)

BACKGROUND: Our ancestors know the day-to-day common and medicinal uses of Karavellaka (Momordica charantia Linn.). It is also known to be utilised by folklore practitioners for medicinal purposes. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Here is an attempt made to gather information about Karavellaka as Vishagna through the literary resources from various classical and contemporary texts and other publications like Kriyakaumudi, Indian Medicinal Plants, Rasatarangini and research updates. OBSERVATION AND RE-SULT: The reference to Vishagna property is available in the classics and is supported by research articles. CONCLUSION: Studies prove the (Vishagna) anti-poisonous activity of Karavellaka utilised either Ekamoolika Dravya or another form of Aushadhi Yoga and expanded the scope of exploration of its medicinal benefits.

Transcatheter aortic valve implantation in patients with significant septal hypertrophy.

Previous reports suggest septal hypertrophy with an interventricular septum depth (IVSD) ≥ 14mm may adversely affect outcomes after transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) due to suboptimal valve placement, valve migration, or residual increasedLVOTpressure gradients. This analysis investigates the impact of interventricular septal hypertrophy on acute outcomes after TAVI. Between 2009 and 2021, 1033 consecutive patients (55.8% male, 80.5 ± 6.7years, EuroSCORE II 6.3 ± 6.5%) with documented IVSD underwent TAVI at our center and were included for analysis. Baseline, periprocedural, and 30-day outcome parameters of patients with normal IVSD (< 14mm; group 1) and increased IVSD (≥ 14mm; group 2) were compared. Data were retrospectively analyzed according to updated Valve Academic Research Consortium-3 (VARC-3) definitions. Comparison of outcome parameters was adjusted for baseline differences between groups using logistic and linear regression analyses. Of 1033 patients, 585 and 448 patients were allocated to groups 1 and 2, respectively. There was no significant difference between groups regarding transfemoral access rate (82.6% (n = 478) vs. 86.0% (n = 381), p = 0.157). Postprocedural mean transvalvular pressure gradient was significantly increased in group 2 (group 1, 7.8 ± 4.1mmHg, vs. group 2, 8.9 ± 4.9mmHg, p = 0.046). Despite this finding, there was no significant difference between groups regarding the rates of VARC-3 adjudicated composite endpoint device success (90.0% (n = 522) vs. 87.6% (n = 388), p = 0.538) or technical success (92.6% (n = 542) vs. 92.6% (n = 415), p = 0.639). Moreover, the groups showed no significant differences regarding the rates of paravalvular leakage ≥ moderate (3.1% (n = 14) vs. 2.6% (n = 9), p = 0.993), postprocedural permanent pacemaker implantation (13.4% (n = 77) vs. 13.8% (n = 61), p = 0.778), or 30-day mortality (5.1% (n = 30) vs. 4.5% (n = 20), p = 0.758). Although transvalvular mean pressure gradients were significantly higher in patients with increased IVSD after TAVI, acute outcomes were comparable between groups suggesting no early impact of adverse hemodynamics due to elevated IVSD. However, how these differences in hemodynamic findings may affect mid- and long-term outcomes, especially in terms of valve durability, needs to be evaluated in further investigations.

Coverage of child maltreatment in undergraduate psychopathology textbooks.

Past research found that undergraduate psychopathology textbooks present child maltreatment (CM) and its consequences inadequately or inaccurately. Given the prevalence and psychological impact of CM, it is essential that mental health professionals receive adequate training in CM, including trauma-related dissociation. Updated research is needed to determine whether current psychopathology textbooks adequately present information about CM and its consequences. Ten undergraduate psychopathology textbooks were analyzed for the number of times CM was mentioned, number of Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (5th ed., Text Revision; DSM-5-TR) diagnostic categories CM was associated with, number of citations used to support claims about CM and related psychopathology, and coverage of trauma-related dissociation. Textbooks varied in their coverage of CM and dissociation. The average number of times CM-related keywords mentioned per book was 259.00 (SD = 110.42; range: 113-508). Childhood sexual abuse and sex trafficking received the most attention, followed by general references of child abuse or childhood trauma. The average number of citations provided with mentions of CM or related psychopathology for each textbook was 123.2 (SD = 77.44; range: 44-316). CM was stated to be associated with many DSM-5-TR diagnostic categories, including but not limited to trauma, dissociative, anxiety, mood, somatic, and personality disorders. The textbooks' coverage of dissociation was found to be largely inadequate, with most textbooks emphasizing popular media, the fantasy model of dissociation, and myths about dissociation. Undergraduate psychopathology textbooks need to improve their scholarly coverage of CM and its mental health consequences. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

Management of Bemisia tabaci on vegetable crops using entomopathogens

The sweetpotato whitefly, Bemisia tabaci Gennadius, is a devastating insect pest on vegetable crops around the world. This pest causes significant damage by directly feeding on vegetables, excreting honeydew, inducing plant physiological disorders, and transmitting plant viruses. The combined direct and indirect damage to vegetable crops has led to substantial economic losses. The heavy reliance on chemical insecticides for whitefly control has led to considerable resistance to many insecticides in whitefly populations. Therefore, integrated pest management (IPM) that includes entomopathogens is considered as a sustainable and effective approach against B. tabaci. This review focuses on biological control of B. tabaci using entomopathogens, including entomopathogenic fungi (EPF), entomopathogenic nematodes (EPN), and entomopathogenic bacteria (EPB). Among them, EPF is the mostly explored group of entomopathogens for B. tabaci control. In particular, Beauveria bassiana (Balsamo-Crivelli) Vuillemin, Akanthomyces lecanii (Zimm.) Spatafora, Kepler and B. Shrestha, Cordyceps javanica (Frieder. & Bally) Kepler, B. Shrestha & Spatafora, and C. fumosorosea (Wize) Kepler, B. Shrestha & Spatafora are the most commonly used EPF species for whitefly control. The control efficacy of EPN against B. tabaci varies with strains/species and concentrations of the EPN, whitefly nymphal instars, host plants, and environmental conditions. Most research on evaluating the virulence of various EPB isolates against whiteflies has been conducted in the laboratory. Entomopathogens offer a promising strategy for whitefly management in vegetables. This review discusses research updates on the three entomopathogen groups for whitefly control, barriers in broad adoption by vegetable growers, and future directions.

Investigating the Application of Thematic Progression in EFL Writing: A Systematic Review

A systematic literature review was conducted to examine the studies on the application of thematic progression (TP) to EFL writing. Based on three criteria of research relevance, coverage and update frequency(Shaheen,2023), five databases were chosen, covering Web of Science, Scopus, Eric, Google Scholars and ProQuest. A total of 32 research articles published from 2014 to 2023 were categorized and reviewed. The research methodology mainly follows the guidelines of PRISMA to address the three research questions: 1) What are the development trends in TP -based EFL writing studies including research publications, countries and methodologies? 2) How is TP applied to EFL writing? 3)How does TP influence EFL writing performance? It was discovered that in the past decade there was a steady increase and expansion in the number of research articles and the range of research countries and methods. Moreover, different TP patterns were found to have been distributed across six writing types. These TP patterns established stronger relations with and strengthened writing organization, language use, and content. From the above findings, it can be suggested that TP-based EFL writing researches have regained their development momentum. It can also be inferred that the distribution of TP patterns varies from genre to genre and the patterns improve the overall EFL writing performance by enhancing writing organization, content and language use.

Combined islet and kidney xenotransplantation for diabetic nephropathy: an update in ongoing research for a clinically relevant application of porcine islet transplantation.

Combined islet and kidney xenotransplantation for the treatment of diabetic nephropathy represents a compelling and increasingly relevant therapeutic possibility for an ever-growing number of patients who would benefit from both durable renal replacement and cure of the underlying cause of their renal insufficiency: diabetes. Here we briefly review immune barriers to islet transplantation, highlight preclinical progress in the field, and summarize our experience with combined islet and kidney xenotransplantation, including both challenges with islet-kidney composite grafts as well as our recent success with sequential kidney followed by islet xenotransplantation in a pig-to-baboon model.

CORPORATE GOVERNANCE AND FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE: A CASE STUDY IN THE PHARMACEUTICAL SECTOR IN MALAYSIA

The introduction of the Malaysian Code of Corporate Governance has been progressively updated since its inception in the year 2000 and the latest update in the year 2021, proves that the government of Malaysia has been serious in regulating to ensure that the companies in Malaysia have been compliant with good corporate governance practices. Observing that it is an evergreen issue and to have more updated research, this study evaluates factors that could influence the effectiveness of corporate governance of five pharmaceutical companies listed in Malaysia and its relationship with the financial performance for the period of 2017 - 2021. The methodologies that have been employed for this study are descriptive statistics, non-parametric correlations, scatter plots and regression linear. The findings reveal that variables of board size, board independence, and disclosure of sustainability reports have correlations with the financial performance measured by the return on assets. However, the disclosure of sustainability reports is the only variable that has a significant correlation with ROA whereas board size and board independence do not possess similar relationships. For a better representation of the results’ precision and robust findings, it is recommended to have a longer study period than five years and a larger sample size by extending it to other sectors.

Brusatol's anticancer activity and its molecular mechanism: a research update.

Brusatol (BT) is a quassinoid compound extracted from Brucea javanica that is a traditional Chinese herbal medicine. Brusatol possesses biological and medical activity, including antitumor, antileukemia, anti-inflammatory, antitrypanosomal, antimalarial, and antitobacco mosaic virus activity. To summarize and discuss the antitumor effects of BT and its mechanisms of actions, we compiled this review by combining the extensive relevant literature and our previous studies. We searched and retrieved the papers that reported the pharmacological effects of BT and the mechanism of BT antitumor activity from PubMed until July 2023. Numerous studies have shown that BT is a unique nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) inhibitor that acts on various signaling pathways and has good antitumor properties. Brusatol shows great potential in cancer therapy by inhibiting cell proliferation, blocking the cell cycle, promoting tumor cell differentiation, accelerating tumor cell apoptosis, inducing autophagy, suppressing angiogenesis, inhibiting tumor invasion and metastasis, and reversing multidrug resistance. This review summarizes recent updates on the antitumor activity and molecular mechanisms of BT and provides references for future development and clinical translation of BT and its derivatives as antitumor drugs.

Public health genomics research in Italy: an overview of ongoing projects.

Public health genomics (PHG) aims to integrate advances in genomic sciences into healthcare for the benefit of the general population. As in many countries, there are various research initiatives in this field in Italy, but a clear picture of the national research portfolio has never been sketched. Thus, we aimed to provide an overview of current PHG research projects at the national or international level by consultation with Italian institutional and academic experts. We included 68 PHG projects: the majority were international projects in which Italian researchers participated (n = 43), mainly funded by the European Commission, while the remainder were national initiatives (N = 25), mainly funded by central government. Funding varied considerably, from € 50,000 to € 80,803,177. Three main research themes were identified: governance (N = 20); precision medicine (PM; N = 46); and precision public health (N = 2). We found that research activities are preferentially aimed at the clinical application of PM, while other efforts deal with the governance of the complex translation of genomic innovation into clinical and public health practice. To align such activities with national and international priorities, the development of an updated research agenda for PHG is needed.

From mindreading to originality: Exploring the relationship between Theory of Mind and Creativity across the lifespan.

In the previous psychoeducational literature, many theorists have argued that creativity and originality require the ability to make predictions and assumptions regarding other individuals' ideas. Thus, it has been widely hypothesized that social cognition and theory of mind (ToM) might be a fundamental component or even a prerequisite of creativity. Despite their common grounds, the empirical evidence examining the potential link between ToM and creative thinking throughout their development seems to be indirect, limited, and fragmented. In this respect, this scoping review aimed to collect and synthesize the existing knowledge about the relationship between ToM and creativity at different ages to identify significant literature gaps and generate updated research questions that might guide future research. The search process led to the inclusion, analysis, and collation of 6 relevant studies only, indicating that this research topic has been poorly investigated. Results demonstrated that ToM and creativity are strongly correlated even after partialling out significant mediators, such as age and intelligence. Such a strong association should be further investigated and explained.

Plant Growth Regulating Phytohormones: The Potent Targets to Alleviate Abiotic Stress in Crop Plants —A Research Update and the Way Forward

The latest modifying models of global climate have changed to be an unadorned threat to the crops production. An extensive scale of biotic and abiotic stresses frequently impacts crop plants because of their stalkless characteristics. Crop plants failures are principally triggered by abiotic factors such as salt, heat, cold, floods, ultraviolet radiation and drought. For dealing with these harsh conditions, well-established mechanisms have been developed in plants, which perform a pivotal role in comprehending stress signals and assisting ideal development responses. Remarkably, the exploitation of plant growth regulating phytohormones for decreasing the adverse effect of abiotic stress has acquired much attention in current decades. For evasion of stress at various levels, including physiological, molecular, and biochemical, an erudite method is informed to be presented by phytohormones. Thus, labeling these phytohormones plays an important function in plant growth and overall development. Phytohormones can progresses tolerance against abiotic stresses by raising seed germination, seedling growth, root growth, leaf photosynthesis and antioxidant enzymes by dropping the accretion of reactive oxygen species, malonaldehyde, and electrolyte outflow. Current findings focus on the important function of a diversity of phytohormones counting, Abscisic acid (ABA), Salicylic acid (SA), Jasmonates (JA) and Ethylene (ET) in the abiotic stress tolerance improvement of crop plants. The contribution of Cytokinins (CKs), and some other novel phytohormones such as Brassinosteroids and Strigolactones in plant development has been acknowledged under normal and stress conditions. Therefore, this review is desired to recap the new progresses in the knowledge associated to phytohormones and their association in abiotic stresses of expectation, signaling, crosstalk, and the response processes. Therefore, such a review will be helpful in improving the pathway for sustainable agriculture development via involvement of phytohormones in improvement of abiotic stress tolerance of the crop plants.

Research and clinical updates on IRAK4 and its roles in inflammation and malignancy: themes and highlights from the 1st symposium on IRAK4 in cancer

The intracellular serine/threonine interleukin 1 receptor-associated kinase 4 (IRAK4) is necessary for most signaling by activated Toll-like receptors (TLRs). Activation of IRAK4 drives activation of nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) and so promotes cell survival, inflammation, and other aspects of the adaptive immune response. However, the IRAK4 pathway can be coopted by cancers and lead to the survival and proliferation of malignant cells. Inappropriate IRAK4 activity has been linked with the progression of myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS), other hematologic malignancies, and some solid tumors, and preclinical cancer models indicate that IRAK4 inhibition has anti-tumor effects. As such, inhibition of IRAK4 is an emerging and attractive target for tumor suppression. The growing interest in IRAK4 motivated the 1st Symposium on IRAK4 in Cancer held in October 2022 to bring together IRAK4 researchers and clinicians to discuss new insights into the biology of IRAK4 and development of IRAK4 inhibitors. Presentations and discussions at the meeting provided updates on the biology of IRAK4 and its links with mutations in the spliceosome, new outcomes from preclinical models that indicate synergy between inhibitors of IRAK4 and FLT3 and BTK inhibitors, and an update on the clinical development of the investigational IRAK4 inhibitor emavusertib, currently being assessed in ongoing phase 1/2 clinical studies in hematologic cancers and several solid tumors.

Exploration of complex nanostructures in block copolymers

The exploration of nanoscale morphologies with three-dimensional spatial arrangements in block copolymers involves the manipulation of compositional fluctuations at interfaces, induction of conformational asymmetry, and design of complex architectures. Despite the abundance of triply periodic minimal surfaces identified to date, the experimental demonstration of thermodynamically stable complex nanostructures with high-packing frustration remains limited. This research update focuses on the importance of molecular interactions for stabilizing complex nanostructures and proposes the use of end-group chemistry as a versatile method for realizing thermodynamically stable network structures with high-packing frustration in simple linear diblock copolymers. The proposed approach substantially alters phase diagrams and reveals unprecedented network structures in block copolymers. Ongoing research has the potential to generate even more diverse and stable nanostructures, thereby advancing nanotechnology and expanding our understanding of polymers and materials science. Published by the American Physical Society 2024

Art education as a means of forming cultural identity and civic consciousness

The purpose of the article is to study art education as a means of forming cultural identity and civic consciousness. To achieve this goal, theoretical methods of cognition were used, in particular, the most important methods of analysis, synthesis, and content analysis. The results show that modern technologies are widely used in the field of higher art education. This includes not only technical aspects, but also theoretical and pedagogical approaches to teaching. In modern methods of higher education, the emphasis is on the development of students' personalities, broadening their outlook, skills and abilities. Traditional models of learning that existed before the introduction of distance learning are undergoing significant changes, leading to experimental approaches to teaching in art universities. Particular emphasis is placed on the democratisation of educational processes, digitalisation of art education and the use of computer technology. The desire to ensure unity in diversity, which is a necessary component of modern European integration aimed at overcoming the negative effects of globalisation, is also important. One of the key components of the development of modern higher art education is the use of digital technologies. This allows students to create a significant amount of creative work while studying and include it in their professional portfolio. This approach is particularly relevant in the European labour market. Ukraine's experience in applying modern teaching methods in the field of music is in line with European development trends. At the same time, due to Russian military aggression and obsessive propaganda, there is a need to update research on Ukraine-centric music topics. It is important to emphasise the development of Ukrainian art, the study of the life and legacy of prominent teachers, performers and artists, and the integration of the acquired knowledge into the educational process. The conclusions emphasise that the combination of Ukrainian specificity and modern digitalisation trends creates objective conditions for the development of musicology in Ukraine and its presentation at the international level.

An Updated Comprehensive Overview of Different Food Applications of W1/O/W2 and O1/W/O2 Double Emulsions

Double emulsions (DEs) present promising applications as alternatives to conventional emulsions in the pharmaceutical, cosmetic, and food industries. However, most review articles have focused on the formulation, preparation approaches, physical stability, and release profile of encapsulants based on DEs, particularly water-in-oil-in-water (W1/O/W2), with less attention paid to specific food applications. Therefore, this review offers updated detailed research advances in potential food applications of both W1/O/W2 and oil-in-water-in-oil (O1/W/O2) DEs over the past decade. To this end, various food-relevant applications of DEs in the fortification; preservation (antioxidant and antimicrobial targets); encapsulation of enzymes; delivery and protection of probiotics; color stability; the masking of unpleasant tastes and odors; the development of healthy foods with low levels of fat, sugar, and salt; and design of novel edible packaging are discussed and their functional properties and release characteristics during storage and digestion are highlighted.

Enhancing Science Process Skills and Academic Performance in Biology: The Impact of Practical Work

Purpose of the study: This study aims to determine whether the use of practical work can enhance General Science students’ science process skills acquisition and academic performance students in biology at Juaben Senior High School in Ghana. The study sought to answer two research questions and test one hypothesis at a 0.05 significance level. &#x0D; Methodology: The study used action research, and the sample consisted of 45 students, selected through convenience sampling. The study used various instruments, including pre- and post-tests, weekly intervention exercises, and scoring rubrics, to collect data. The analysis of the gathered data employed descriptive statistics and a paired sample t-test to reveal and solidify the findings of the study.&#x0D; Main Findings: According to the study’s results, the use of practical work resulted in a steady increase in students’ acquisition of science process skills in each cycle, and all students were able to demonstrate some degree of required science process skills at the post-test level in contrast to the pre-test level. Furthermore, the pre- and post-test outcomes of a paired sample t-test analysis with a 95% confidence level showed a significant improvement in the academic performance of the students, attributed to practical work.&#x0D; Novelty/Originality of this study: This research update confirms the need for practical work in biology education and shows that incorporating it into biology lessons enhances students’ acquisition and development of science process skills, which in turn enhances their academic performance.