Special Insight Research Articles

Decoding Depth of Meditation: EEG Insights from Expert Vipassana Practitioners

BackgroundMeditation practices have demonstrated numerous psychological and physiological benefits, yet capturing the neural correlates of varying meditative depths remains challenging. This study aimed to decode self-reported time-varying meditative depth in expert practitioners using EEG. MethodsExpert Vipassana meditators (n=34) participated in two separate sessions. Participants reported their meditative depth on a personally defined 1-5 scale using both traditional probing and a novel "spontaneous emergence" method. EEG activity and effective connectivity in theta, alpha, and gamma bands was used to predict meditative depth using machine/deep learning, including a novel method that fused source activity and connectivity information. ResultsWe achieved significant accuracy in decoding self-reported meditative depth across unseen sessions. The "spontaneous emergence" method yielded improved decoding performance to traditional probing and correlated more strongly with post-session outcome measures. Best performance was achieved by a novel machine learning method which fused spatial, spectral, and connectivity information. Conventional EEG channel-level methods and pre-selected default mode network regions fell short in capturing the complex neural dynamics associated with varying meditation depths. ConclusionsThis study demonstrates the feasibility of decoding personally defined meditative depth using EEG. The findings highlight the complex, multivariate nature of neural activity during meditation and introduce "spontaneous emergence" as an ecologically valid and less obtrusive experiential sampling method. These results have implications for advancing neurofeedback techniques and enhancing our understanding of meditative practices.

Poetic Performativity

The author examines the performative status of a poetic work. Following T. Różewicz, he points to non-textual and potential forms of poetry’s existence. As a counterbalance to excessive adherence to textocentrism, he proposes functionalizing the tools of the new humanities (R. Nycz) and the theory of affect (B. Massumi) in the analysis of the creative act. The author indicates ways of studying the poetic experience with reference to the performative actor model (W. Baluch). Demonstrated voice recordings of poetic performances in the context of Dramatic Theory of Literature (A. Krajewska) are examples of gaining special insight into experience and dramatic self-discovery.

Anticipating Success or Failure: A Comprehensive Analysis of Entrepreneurship Factors using Machine Learning Predictive Models

The research, a pioneering effort in Morocco, explores the intricate elements driving new startups' viability using AI models. It employs a range of advanced techniques such as decision trees, random forests, logistic regression, support vector machine (SMV), ensemble techniques, and neural networks. The study uncovers unique perspectives on the complex interplay between internal variables like human capital, strategic planning, and internal bureaucracy and external factors like government support, mentorship, and competition that shape entrepreneurship performance. The findings, which reveal a dual and unexpected influence of internal bureaucracy and a multifaceted contribution of human capital, are particularly relevant in the dynamic startup landscape. Mentorship and financial resources emerge as critical contributors to startups’ success. This review, the first of its kind in Morocco, offers special insights into the factors influencing entrepreneurial success. The discoveries have the potential to revolutionize our understanding of how organizations operate in Morocco and their significant implications for enterprising undertakings, providing a practical guide for startups in the region.

Intrinsic neural timescales exhibit different lengths in distinct meditation techniques

Meditation encompasses a range of practices employing diverse induction techniques, each characterized by a distinct attentional focus. In Mantra meditation, for instance, practitioners direct their attention narrowly to a given sentence that is recursively repeated, while other forms of meditation such as Shoonya meditation are induced by a wider attentional focus. Here we aimed to identify the neural underpinnings and correlates associated with this spectrum of distinct attentional foci. To accomplish this, we used EEG data to estimate the brain's intrinsic neural timescales (INTs), that is, its temporal windows of activity, by calculating the Autocorrelation Window (ACW) of the EEG signal. The autocorrelation function measures the similarity of a timeseries with a time-lagged version of itself by correlating the signal with itself on different time lags, consequently providing an estimation of INTs length. Therefore, through using the ACW metric, our objective was to explore whether there is a correspondence between the length of the brain's temporal windows of activity and the width of the attentional scope during various meditation techniques. This was performed on three groups of highly proficient practitioners belonging to different meditation traditions, as well as a meditation-naïve control group. Our results indicated that practices with a wider attentional focus, like Shoonya meditation, exhibit longer ACW durations compared to practices requiring a narrower attentional focus, such as Mantra meditation or body-scanning Vipassana meditation. Together, we demonstrated that distinct meditation techniques with varying widths of attentional foci exhibit unique durations in their brain's INTs. This may suggest that the width of the attentional scope during meditation relates and corresponds to the width of the brain's temporal windows in its neural activity. Significance StatementOur research uncovered the neural mechanisms that underpin the attentional foci in various meditation techniques. We revealed that distinct meditation induction techniques, featured by their range of attentional widths, are characterized by varying lengths of intrinsic neural timescales (INTs) within the brain, as measured by the Autocorrelation Window function. This finding may bridge the gap between the width of attentional windows (subjective) and the width of the temporal windows in the brain's neural activity (objective) during different meditation techniques, offering a new understanding of how cognitive and neural processes are related to each other. This work holds significant implications, especially in the context of the increasing use of meditation in mental health and well-being interventions. By elucidating the distinct neural foundations of different meditation techniques, our research aims to pave the way for developing more tailored and effective meditation-based treatments.

Tribovoltaic nanogenerators based on n-n and p-p semiconductor homojunctions

Tribovoltaic nanogenerators (TVNGs) usually consist of two heterogeneous materials with disparate Fermi levels. However, TVNGs based on two same semiconductors with uniformed Fermi levels have been rarely reported, as they are believed to lack the sufficient potential difference necessary to drive tribo-induced carriers’ separation and collection, resulting in minimal or negligible electricity production. Here, tribovoltaic nanogenerators based on two homojunction semiconductors (H-TVNGs) with the same doping concentration are proposed and designed. The H-TVNGs were demonstrated to be driven by abundant surface states introduced through laser cutting at the slider boundaries and surfaces, which further lead to the bending of interface energy bands. Upon two sliders of different sizes (with different degrees of band bending) come into contact, the built-in electric field at the interface will be established and drive tribo-induced carriers, leading to the production of a direct-current (DC) electrical signal. The performance of H-TVNGs could be effectively amplified or regulated by many factors, including laser cutting power, semiconductor surface roughness, slider shape, and the interface media, etc. These compelling findings reveal innovative physics in tribovoltaic effect, offer special insights for designing high-performance TVNGs, and provide effective strategies for device output optimization.

Multifaceted Roles of Nerve Growth Factor: A Comprehensive Review with a Special Insight into Pediatric Perspectives.

Nerve growth factor (NGF) is a neurotrophic peptide largely revealed for its ability to regulate the growth and survival of peripheral sensory, sympathetic, and central cholinergic neurons. The pro-survival and regenerative properties of neurotrophic factors propose a therapeutic potential in a wide range of brain diseases, and NGF, in particular, has appeared as an encouraging potential treatment. In this review, a summary of clinical studies regarding NGF and its therapeutic effects published to date, with a specific interest in the pediatric context, will be attempted. NGF has been studied in neurological disorders such as hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy, traumatic brain injury, neurobehavioral and neurodevelopmental diseases, congenital malformations, cerebral infections, and in oncological and ocular diseases. The potential of NGF to support neuronal survival, repair, and plasticity in these contexts is highlighted. Emerging therapeutic strategies for NGF delivery, including intranasal administration as well as advanced nanotechnology-based methods, are discussed. These techniques aim to enhance NGF bioavailability and target specificity, optimizing therapeutic outcomes while minimizing systemic side effects. By synthesizing current research, this review underscores the promise and challenges of NGF-based therapies in pediatric neurology, advocating for continued innovation in delivery methods to fully harness NGF's therapeutic potential.

Renewables in the Energy Mix of Algeria, a pledge for food security

This paper examines the renewables potential in the energy mix of Algeria with a special insight to bioenergy and food security. In recent years, and at global scale, bioenergy was seen as the leading renewable energy source. That contribution was particularly consistent with long term climate targets. The 2015 updated version of the Algeria Renewable Energy Development Program foresees the introduction of biomass sector with a contribution of 1000 MW by 2030. This represents barely 5% of the country’s renewable energy targets which amount to 22 000 MW, 93.5% of which are planned for solar and wind. In 2020, this objective has been reduced to 15,000 MW and the deadline extended to 2035. To date, despite the growing perception of a real desire to encourage clean energy projects, the renewable energy installed capacity is less than 500 MW without any contribution from the biomass sector. However, whatever the goals or the achievements, the need for renewable deployment is crucial for strategic purposes such as energy, water desalination and food security. The relationship between food security, sustainable development, and renewable energy is well demonstrated. Ensuring food security is closely linked with energy, hence with renewable energy sources in the middle and long term, including biomass valorization. This paper presents a comprehensive outlook of the bioenergy sector, highlighting the barriers which stand in the path of biomass recovery and use. Today, it appears clearly that a significant increase in renewable energy can only be achieved by higher solar power production.

The Updated SERC AI and Autonomy Roadmap 2023

AbstractThe first Systems Engineering Research Center (SERC) Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Autonomy Research Roadmap was developed in 2020 and published in the first quarter 2021 special INSIGHT issue on Systems Engineering and AI. This roadmap development was heavily informed by the INCOSE Future of Systems Engineering (FuSE) initiatives. Following on in 2020, INCOSE and the SERC collaborated with the Association for Advancement of AI (AAAI) to execute two workshops entitled “AI meets Systems Engineering.” These resulted in version two of the roadmap which was published as an introductory chapter to the book “Systems Engineering and Artificial Intelligence.” In 2020 through 2023 the SERC hosted four SE4AI/AI4SE workshops with the U.S. Army that have further informed research and application at the intersection of AI and SE. This paper presents the updated version of the roadmap resulting from engagement across those four workshops. It is provided as a means to inform the SE community of the critical research needs and related applications emerging at the intersection of AI and SE.

Point of care magnetic resonance neonatal neuroimaging applications and early imaging in infants under active therapeutic hypothermia: a perspective.

As care of the most vulnerable infants in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) evolves, improved and real-time understanding of brain health becomes key. The availability of an in-NICU magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanner provides unique options to bedside care providers and researchers. We present our perspective on the 1-Tesla MRI unit in our NICU and its utilities and applications both in the clinical and research fields. We also discuss our experience with early and serial MRI in a cohort of infants with hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy while undergoing therapeutic hypothermia, using a compatible cooling blanket and monitoring apparatus with special insight into the planning and organization between providers, and parental perspectives around early, detailed imaging.

Wood cellulose films with different foldabilities triggered by dissolution and regeneration from concentrated H2SO4 and NaOH/urea aqueous solutions

Forests are a major source of wealth for Canadians, and cellulose makes up the “skeleton” of wood fibers. Concentrated H2SO4 and NaOH/urea aqueous solutions are two efficient solvents that can rapidly dissolve cellulose. Our preliminary experiment obtained regenerated wood cellulose films with different mechanical properties from these two solvents. Therefore, herein, we aim to investigate the effects of aqueous solvents on the structure and properties of wood cellulose films. Regenerated cellulose (RC) films were produced by dissolving wood cellulose in either 64 wt% H2SO4 solution (RC-H4) or NaOH/urea aqueous solution (RC-N4). RC-H4 showed the higher tensile strength (109.78 ± 2.14 MPa), better folding endurance (20–28 times), and higher torsion angle (42°) than RC-N4 (62.90 ± 2.27 MPa, un-foldable, and 12°). The increased cellulose contents in the H2SO4 solutions from 3 to 5 wt% resulted in an improved tensile strength from 102.61 ± 1.99 to 132.93 ± 5.64 MPa and did not affect the foldability. RC-H4 also exhibited better water vapor barrier property (1.52 ± 0.04 × 10−7 g m−1 h−1 Pa−1), superior transparency (~90 % transmittance at 800 nm), but lower thermal stability compared to RC-N4. This work provides special insights into the regenerated wood cellulose from two aqueous solvents and is expected to facilitate the development of high-performance RC films from abundant forestry resources.

ORIGIN AND CONTINUITY OF THE SYMBOLIC FORM BY THE EXAMPLE OF MEMORIAL ARCHITECTURE IN THE CONTEXT OF THE YUGOSLAV IDEOLOGY

<p>The work represents a theoretical contribution to the study of the complex semiotics of the forms of the memorial architecture of Yugoslavia, with special insight into the usage and possible continuity of prominent symbolic forms by the example of three notable Yugoslav authors: Ivan Meštrović, Bogdan Bogdanović, Dušan Džamonja. Pointing out the connections of archaic symbols with the memorial architecture of Yugoslavia, the purpose of the work is to identify the potential continuity of the semiotics of the form, but also to indicate the turn of the artistic expression that appears under the influence of the new political context in need of dominant multiculturalism and the aspiration to preserve the multicultural state model.</p>

Changes in peripheral oxytocin and vasopressin during a silent month-long Insight meditation retreat.

Given its putative roles in mediating prosocial behavior, attachment bonds, and stress physiology, oxytocin modulation has been hypothesized to be a biological correlate of the salubrious effects of meditation practice. Here we investigated the effects of a month-long silent meditation retreat on changes in oxytocin, and the related hormone and vasopressin, in relation to psychosocial changes in attachment style, anxiety, personality measures, and feelings of social connectedness with fellow meditators. Plasma oxytocin and vasopressin and self-report questionnaires were measured in retreat participants (n = 28) at the beginning of, and 3 weeks into, a residential meditation retreat. Control participants (n = 34), who were similar in age, gender, and meditation experience, were also assessed across a 3-week interval. Linear mixed effects models were used to assess outcomes. The retreat group showed a small but significant decrease in oxytocin compared to controls who showed no change. In the retreat group, higher openness to experience at Time 1 predicted greater reductions in oxytocin during the retreat, and lower oxytocin at Time 2 was related to stronger feelings of personal connection with fellow meditators. The changes in oxytocin were not related to attachment style or anxiety. Vasopressin decreased over time across both groups, suggesting no specific effect of retreat. These preliminary findings suggest that meditation training in the context of a silent residential retreat may reduce circulating levels of oxytocin. We interpret this finding from multiple theoretical perspectives, discussing key measurement limitations and proposing future study designs that may help to differentiate the effects of different meditation practices and contexts on oxytocin signaling.

Pseudo-Spin Symmetry and the Hints for Unstable and Superheavy Nuclei

The pseudo-spin symmetry (PSS) provides an important angle to understand nuclear microscopic structure and the novel phenomena found in unstable nuclei. The relativistic Hartree–Fock (RHF) theory, that takes the important degrees of freedom associated with the π-meson and ρ-tensor (ρ-T) couplings into account, provides an appropriate description of the PSS restoration in realistic nuclei, particularly for the pseudo-spin (PS) doublets with high angular momenta (l˜). The investigations of the PSS within the RHF theory are recalled in this paper by focusing on the effects of the Fock terms. Aiming at common artificial shell closures appearing in previous relativistic mean-field calculations, the mechanism responsible for the PSS restoration of high-l˜ orbits is stressed, revealing the manifestation of nuclear in-medium effects on the PSS, and thus, providing qualitative guidance on modeling the in-medium balance between nuclear attractions and repulsions. Moreover, the essential role played by the ρ-T coupling, that contributes mainly via the Fock terms, is introduced as combined with the relations between the PSS and various nuclear phenomena, including the shell structure and the evolution, novel halo and bubble-like phenomena, and the superheavy magicity. As the consequences of the nuclear force in complicated nuclear many-body systems, the PSS itself and the mechanism therein can not only deepen our understanding of nuclear microscopic structure and relevant phenomena, but also provide special insight into the nature of the nuclear force, which can further enrich our knowledge of nuclear physics.

The Insight Meditation Enhanced Stress, Depression, and Anxiety Reduction in Working Professionals Like Medical Representatives Determined by Using Serum Cortisol Level and Electroencephalogram: A Qualitative Study

The Indian pharmaceutical industry is one of the fastest-growing sectors of the Indian economy and ranks among the top 15 drug-manufacturing countries globally. Among the fastest-growing industries in the world, the pharmaceutical industry has increased over the years. A pharmaceutical company appoints a medical representative to make their products easily reach healthcare specialists and then be used by the general public. The medical representatives construct a well- built network with doctors, clinical specialists, medical practitioners, paramedical experts, Dietitians and nutritionists, paediatricians, gynaecologists, psychiatrists, etc. The problem of stress is widespread in every job description, and it may affect directly or indirectly in the form of health issues and low productivity; the demands of achieving targets induced among medical representatives. Much of this credit goes to Medical Sales Representatives or Pharmaceutical Sales Representatives (also known as MR, PSR) who are solely responsible for the promotion of products among Physicians, Hospitals, and pharmacies and are accountable for sales results. They act as the face of the Pharma company contributing to a better quality of life for customers, building goodwill, and increasing the company’s market share. Pharmaceutical sales representatives (PSR) play a large role in helping an industry in a rapidly changing environment to achieve a new corporate vision and normally these medical representatives are in the highest stress position. Most pharmaceutical sales representatives experience significant job stress and unhappiness levels. Stress, depression, and anxiety are the most common psychiatric disorders all over the world. One of India's oldest meditation methods, vipassana also known as Insight meditation, helps a person become aware of things as they are. The goal of the Vipassana method, which aids in self-change via self-observation, is to finally arrive at a condition of inner and exterior peace and mental equilibrium. It is a process of "Self- exploration" to the normal base of the brain and body that removes mental smog and results in a healthier personality filled with love and empathy. Electroencephalography (EEG) is an efficient modality that helps to acquire brain signals corresponding to various states from the scalp surface area. These signals are generally categorized as delta, theta, alpha, beta, and gamma based on signal frequencies ranging from 0.1 Hz to more than 100 Hz. This paper primarily focuses on EEG signals and their characterization for various states of the human body. Beta wave induced the production of cortisol. Also, the beta wave is necessary for our everyday lives, such as thought, communicating, arguing, and problem-solving, during conscious mental work. This Beta wave can also lead to tension, anxiety, and restlessness as they enable us to think properly. Persistently elevated cortisol concentrations are associated with metabolic disorders. Cortisol is a vital hormone sometimes known as the stress hormone in humans, as it is involved in the body's natural response to physical or emotional stress. cortisol has effects on memory, mood, and neurological diseases. Cortisol is best known for mediating the body’s reaction to stress. This study aims to review the existing research and challenges of serum cortisol levels (cortisol is an indicator of stress) and EEG signals with the Insight meditation effect.

Preface

It is our great pleasure to have you at the 2023 9th International Forum on Manufacturing Technology and Engineering Materials (ICMTEM 2023), which took place in Shenyang, China from December 15th to 17th, 2023. ICMTEM 2023 was successfully held and received unanimous praise from various experts and scholars all over the world.ICMTEM 2023 existed as an international forum for academic communications between experts and scholars in the fields of Manufacturing Technology and Engineering Materials. It promoted the research and developmental activities in related fields and scientific information interchange among all the participants, establishing connections for them to find global partners for potential collaboration.After months of well preparation and hard work, the Proceedings of ICMTEM 2023 covering a bunch of papers, having been checked through rigorous review processes to meet the requirements of publication, are smoothly published. These papers feature but are not limited to the following topics: Electronic Materials, Advanced Forming Manufacturing and Equipment, Industrial Robotics and Automation, Dynamic Mechanical Analysis, Optimization and Control, etc.We had about 150 participations both as speakers and participants, including researchers, industrial experts, teachers, students, and other practitioners. During the keynote speech part, each keynote speaker was given 30 – 40 minutes for keynote speech. The keynote speakers include Professor Yunqing Rao (Huazhong University of Science and Technology, China), Professor Jiang Guo (Dalian University of Technology, China), Professor Zidong Wang (University of Science and Technology Beijing, China), and Professor Shahid Hussain (Jiangsu University, China). They shared their own research experience and special insights by presenting their research achievements, triggering heated and interesting discussions and a good number of informal talks among all the participants.We would like to express our gratitude to the conference organizers, keynote speakers, authors, and all the participants of ICMTEM 2023, for their fruitful work and contribution to the success of the Conference. We are thankful to all the reviewers for providing constructive criticisms, stimulating comments and suggestions to the authors. Particularly, our special thanks go to Journal of Physics: Conference Series, for the endeavor of all its colleagues in publishing this paper volume.May this event be a spark that ignites many more new applications and inventions in the fields of and related to manufacturing technology and engineering materials!The Committee of ICMTEM 2023List of Committee Member is available in this pdf.

The Dichotomy of Ekāyana in the Satipaṭṭhānasutta: Inclusive or Exclusive Meaning

This paper presents the ambiguity of the term ekāyana in the Satipaṭṭhānasutta in the light of inclusivism and exclusivism perspectives. Ekāyana is a familiar term in Buddhist Studies and Satipaṭṭhānasutta is a well well-known text in the Theravada insight meditation cycle. Ekāyana can be rendered in various ways according to the subjectivity and interpretation of each translator; thus, the term is ambiguous. This paper highlights the problem of Buddhist translation studies through analytical studies on several translations of the term. According to comparative analytical studies on different translations of ekāyana in the Satipaṭṭhānasutta, the researcher finds that interpretivism in translation is inevitable because finding the real meaning of a Buddhist term is an impossible task. Understandably, a translator of Buddhist texts imposes his interpretations when translating from ancient times until the present.

Pharmacological Significance of Boraginaceae with Special Insights into Shikonin and Its Potential in the Food Industry.

Shikonin is a naphthoquinone pigment present in the hairy roots of the plant species from the Boraginaceae family. The compound has been well investigated for its highly efficient medicinal, antioxidant, and antimicrobial properties. Various extraction methodologies have been employed to maximise yield while minimising waste production of shikonin and its derivatives. Despite substantial research on shikonin and Boraginaceae plants, a research gap persists in the food industry and extraction technologies. This review addresses crucial aspects of shikonin deserving of further exploration. It begins by elucidating the attributes of the Boraginaceae plants and their medicinal traits in folklore. It proceeds to focus on the roots of the plant and its medicinal properties, followed by extraction procedures explored in the last fifteen years, emphasising the novel technologies that have been chosen to improve the yield extract while minimising extraction times. Furthermore, this review briefly outlines studies employing cell culture techniques to enhance in vitro shikonin production. Lastly, attention is directed towards research in the food industry, particularly on shikonin-loaded biodegradable films and the antioxidant activity of shikonin. This review concludes by summarising the future potential in food science and prominent research gaps in this field.

Meditation-type specific reduction in infra-slow activity of electroencephalogram.

Meditation is renowned for its positive effects on cognitive abilities and stress reduction. It has been reported that the amplitude of electroencephalographic (EEG) infra-slow activity (ISA, < 0.1Hz) is reduced as the stress level decreases. Consequently, we aimed to determine if EEG ISA amplitude decreases as a result of meditation practice across various traditions. To this end, we analyzed an open dataset comprising EEG data acquired during meditation sessions from experienced practitioners in the Vipassana tradition-which integrates elements of focused attention and open monitoring, akin to mindfulness meditation-and in the Himalayan Yoga and Isha Shoonya traditions, which emphasize focused attention and open monitoring, respectively. A general trend was observed where EEG ISA amplitude tended to decrease in experienced meditators from these traditions compared to novices, particularly significant in the 0.03-0.08Hz band for Vipassana meditators. Therefore, our analysis focused on this ISA frequency band. Specifically, a notable decrease in EEG ISA amplitude was observed in Vipassana meditators, predominantly in the left-frontal region. This reduction in EEG ISA amplitude was also accompanied by a decrease in phase-amplitude coupling (PAC) between the ISA phase and alpha band (8-12Hz) amplitude, which implied decreased neural excitability fluctuations. Our findings suggest that not only does EEG ISA amplitude decrease in experienced meditators from traditions that incorporate both focused attention and open monitoring, but this decrease may also signify a diminished influence of neural excitability fluctuations attributed to ISA.

Toward Person-Focused Assessment and Understanding the Human Need to Be Perfect: Commentary and Introduction to the Third Special Issue on Perfectionism

In the current introductory article, we discuss the importance of balancing the variable-centered research in the perfectionism field with a person-focused approach. We examine the utility of a person-centered approach in assessment, research, and theory and the need to revisit overlooked themes central to understanding people who are extreme perfectionists. Our analysis focuses on addressing the core unaddressed issue of why perfectionists as unique individuals absolutely need to be perfect. We describe measures to assess individual differences in this need to be perfect and themes reflecting the need to be perfect that require investigation. The papers in this third special issue on perfectionism are then introduced and considered as examples of the merits of a broad approach that goes beyond trait perfectionism to also include perfectionistic self-presentation and the cognitive experience of perfectionism. We conclude by examining how certain variable-centered studies described in the current special issue yield insights about perfectionists as people when individuals are considered from a person-focused perspective.

MiRNAs Delivery for Cancer-associated Fibroblasts' Activation and Drug Resistance in Cancer Microenvironment.

Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) as a major component of cancer stroma contribute to diverse procedures of most solid tumors and might be a targeted cancer therapy approach. Their specified features, related signaling pathways, distinct biomarkers, and sub-populations need to be deciphered. There is a need for CAF extraction or induction for in vitro investigations. Some miRNAs could activate CAF-like phenotype and they also interfere in CAF-mediated drug resistance, aggressiveness, and metastatic behaviors of several cancer cell types. Due to the complex relevance of miRNA and CAFs, these non-coding oligonucleotides may serve as attractive scope for anti-cancer targeted therapies, but the lack of an efficient delivery system is still a major hurdle. Here, we have summarized the investigated information on CAF features, isolation, and induction procedures, and highlighted the miRNA-CAF communications, providing special insight into nano-delivery systems.