Editorial Material
Computer Science, Hardware & Architecture
Devdatt Dubhashi
Summary: The three books provide varied perspectives on the rise of artificial intelligence.
COMMUNICATIONS OF THE ACM
(2021)
Article
Economics
Yanpeng Jiang, Paul Waley
Summary: This paper explores the role of financialization in the construction and operation of new urban and infrastructural landscapes in China, focusing on the pressures faced by local governments and their corporations in funding development projects. While there are signs of resorting to securitized loans, it is argued that this does not represent a systemic move into a financialized stage of capitalism in corporatist China.
Article
Obstetrics & Gynecology
Tanya Djanogly, Jacqueline Nicholls, Melissa Whitten, Anne Lanceley
Summary: This study explores women's experiences and perceptions of the consent process for episiotomy. The findings suggest that participants had minimal information about episiotomy, felt limited in their choices, and experienced episiotomy as distressing. Therefore, it is important to provide timely information to fulfill legal requirements and facilitate genuine choice.
BMC PREGNANCY AND CHILDBIRTH
(2022)
Review
Cell Biology
Adiv A. Johnson, Bradley W. English, Maxim N. Shokhirev, David A. Sinclair, Trinna L. Cuellar
Summary: Although chronological age is related to age-related diseases and conditions, it does not fully reflect an individual's functional capacity, well-being, or mortality risk. In contrast, biological age provides information on overall health and the pace of aging. Research has shown that aging clocks, computational models using inputs like DNA methylation sites, can predict biological age. This predicted biological age is associated with age-related diseases, social factors, and mental health conditions. Age acceleration, indicated by an increase in predicted biological age relative to chronological age, is linked to higher premature mortality risk.
Article
Hospitality, Leisure, Sport & Tourism
Xialu Liu, Wenjin Wang
Summary: 'Revenge travel' is a term used by the media to describe the surge in tourism after the COVID-19 pandemic, but there is limited empirical evidence to support its existence. This study analyzed monthly visitor numbers to Hawaii from 49 states and Washington D.C. between January 1999 and August 2022, comparing pre-pandemic and post-pandemic patterns. Rigorous statistical models were utilized to confirm the reality of 'revenge travel' and estimate its duration.
CURRENT ISSUES IN TOURISM
(2023)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Shirin Biglari, Shevvaa Beiglary, Tiru Arthanari
Summary: This study investigates Iran's capacity as a developing country to achieve sustainability and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through a conceptual system dynamics (SD) model. The study finds that Iran faces obstacles in achieving SDGs, which not only affect specific goals but also impact other goals. Additionally, the study identifies the most influential SDGs in Iran's context for achieving the desired system behavior.
JOURNAL OF CLEANER PRODUCTION
(2022)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Liyin L. Liang, Miko U. F. Kirschbaum, Vickery L. Arcus, Louis A. Schipper
Summary: Climate warming can reduce global soil carbon stocks by enhancing microbial decomposition. Previous research suggested a negative relationship between carbon quality and temperature sensitivity, implying that recalcitrant carbon is more sensitive to temperature. However, new research indicates that this relationship may be an invalid artifact caused by the arbitrary choice of reference temperature. By using the uncatalysed reaction rate as the carbon quality index, it was found that there is no relationship between carbon quality and temperature sensitivity in enzyme-catalysed reactions. This suggests that the temperature sensitivity of microbial decomposition of soil carbon is similar regardless of its quality, alleviating concerns about the acceleration of warming-induced decomposition of recalcitrant carbon.
GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY
(2022)
Review
Chemistry, Physical
Wei Gao, Siu Fung Yu
Summary: The current research focuses on the lasing performance of optically pumped perovskite lasers and the control of carrier transport and recombination properties. While challenges remain in fabricating electrically pumped perovskite lasers, a new manufacturing strategy based on the successful development of organic semiconductor laser diodes is proposed.
Editorial Material
Cell & Tissue Engineering
Deepa Bhartiya
Summary: The tissue homeostasis of adult tissues is believed to be maintained by resident stem cells, but isolating these quiescent stem cells has proven difficult. Recent single-cell RNAseq studies have not been able to detect stem cells in several adult tissues, possibly because they were unknowingly discarded during processing.
STEM CELL RESEARCH & THERAPY
(2021)
Review
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Stamatia Simati, Alexander Kokkinos, Maria Dalamaga, Georgia Argyrakopoulou
Summary: The obesity paradox refers to the observation that certain chronic diseases show a protective association between body mass index (BMI) and clinical outcomes. However, this association may be influenced by factors such as limitations of BMI, unintended weight loss due to chronic illness, different phenotypes of obesity, and cardiorespiratory fitness levels. Recent evidence suggests that cardioprotective medications, obesity duration, and smoking status also play a role in the obesity paradox.
CURRENT OBESITY REPORTS
(2023)
Review
Rheumatology
Hanna W. van Steenbergen, Andrew P. Cope, Annette H. M. van der Helm-van Mil
Summary: The concept of a 'window of opportunity' in treating diseases, specifically rheumatoid arthritis, suggests that there is a specific time period where treatment can effectively modify the course of the disease. This review summarizes the results of trials that have been conducted to test the effectiveness of treating individuals with symptomatic pre-arthritis phase, with the goal of preventing the development of rheumatoid arthritis or reducing disease burden. However, further research and tools are needed to identify individuals at highest risk and monitor treatment progression.
NATURE REVIEWS RHEUMATOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Integrative & Complementary Medicine
Benjamin Warren, Jerome Sarris, Roger T. Mulder, Julia J. Rucklidge
Summary: While clinical observations suggest an association between elevated HPL and mental disorders, current research has not definitively proven the robust correlation between elevated HPL and increased mental health symptoms, increased excretion of zinc and B-6 in urine, and the efficacy of high-dose zinc and B-6 as a treatment for mental health problems associated with elevated HPL. Further research is needed in identifying specific clinical populations with elevated HPL, validating the chemistry and testing validity, and conducting controlled trials to establish the efficacy of high-dose zinc and B-6 as a treatment for elevated pyrroles.
JOURNAL OF ALTERNATIVE AND COMPLEMENTARY MEDICINE
(2021)
Review
Rheumatology
Daniel Toro-Dominguez, Marta E. Alarcon-Riquelme
Summary: The potential of precision medicine remains uncertain, but single-cell molecular studies contribute to understanding autoimmune diseases and the focus should shift towards preventive medicine.
Article
Biology
Robert H. Cowie, Philippe Bouchet, Benoit Fontaine
Summary: There have been five Mass Extinction events in the history of Earth's biodiversity, and the Sixth Mass Extinction may currently be occurring due to human activities. While some dispute the existence of the Sixth Mass Extinction, arguing that the rate of species loss is not significantly different from background rates, this viewpoint is flawed due to the bias of the IUCN Red List. Incorporating estimates of invertebrate extinctions suggests that the current rate of extinction far surpasses background rates, pointing to the start of the Sixth Mass Extinction.
BIOLOGICAL REVIEWS
(2022)
Review
Medicine, General & Internal
Glenn N. Levine
Summary: This review critically examines and summarizes the research data supporting the association between stress and cardiovascular risk. It also summarizes the potential mechanisms by which psychological stress may contribute to heart disease and precipitate myocardial ischemia and infarction.
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF MEDICINE
(2022)