scholarly journals COVID-19 and the scientific publishing system: Growth, open access and scientific fields

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tina Nane ◽  
Nicolas Robinson-Garcia ◽  
Francois van Schalkwyk ◽  
Daniel Torres-Salinas
Keyword(s):  
Open Access ◽  
Scientific Literature ◽  
Research Community ◽  
World Health ◽  
Crucial Aspect ◽  
Domain Specific ◽  
Scientific Outputs ◽  
Health Organization ◽  
Scientific Fields ◽  
Large Corpus

We model the growth of scientific literature related to COVID-19 and forecast the expected growth from 1 June 2021. Considering the significant scientific and financial efforts made by the research community to find solutions to end the COVID-19 pandemic, an unprecedented volume of scientific outputs is being produced. This questions the capacity of scientists, politicians and citizens to maintain infrastructure, digest content and take scientifically informed decisions. A crucial aspect is to make predictions to prepare for such a large corpus of scientific literature. Here we base our predictions on the ARIMA and exponential smoothing models and use two different data sources: the Dimensions and World Health Organization COVID-19 databases. These two sources have the particularity of including in the metadata information on the date in which papers were indexed. We present global predictions, plus predictions in three specific settings: by type of access (Open Access), by NLM source (PubMed and PMC), and by domain-specific repository (SSRN and MedRxiv). We conclude by discussing our findings.

Natural products from the traditional Moroccan pharmacopoeia: A potential lead for the prevention and treatment of COVID-19

2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (SPL1) ◽  
pp. 1278-1285
Author(s):  
Mohamed Yafout ◽  
Amine Ousaid ◽  
Ibrahim Sbai El Otmani ◽  
Youssef Khayati ◽  
Amal Ait Haj Said
Keyword(s):  
Medicinal Plants ◽  
Plant Extracts ◽  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Scientific Literature ◽  
Treatment Protocol ◽  
World Health ◽  
The World ◽  
Health Organization ◽  
Promising Source

The new SARS-CoV-2 belonging to the coronaviruses family has caused a pandemic affecting millions of people around the world. This pandemic has been declared by the World Health Organization as an international public health emergency. Although several clinical trials involving a large number of drugs are currently underway, no treatment protocol for COVID-19 has been officially approved so far. Here we demonstrate through a search in the scientific literature that the traditional Moroccan pharmacopoeia, which includes more than 500 medicinal plants, is a fascinating and promising source for the research of natural molecules active against SARS-CoV-2. Multiple in-silico and in-vitro studies showed that some of the medicinal plants used by Moroccans for centuries possess inhibitory activity against SARS-CoV or SARS-CoV-2. These inhibitory activities are achieved through the different molecular mechanisms of virus penetration and replication, or indirectly through stimulation of immunity. Thus, the potential of plants, plant extracts and molecules derived from plants that are traditionally used in Morocco and have activity against SARS-CoV-2, could be explored in the search for a preventive or curative treatment against COVID-19. Furthermore, safe plants or plant extracts that are proven to stimulate immunity could be officially recommended by governments as nutritional supplements.

scholarly journals Beyond the List: Bioagent-Agnostic Signatures Could Enable a More Flexible and Resilient Biodefense Posture Than an Approach Based on Priority Agent Lists Alone

Pathogens ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (11) ◽  
pp. 1497
Author(s):  
Owen P. Leiser ◽  
Errett C. Hobbs ◽  
Amy C. Sims ◽  
George W. Korch ◽  
Karen L. Taylor
Keyword(s):  
Research Community ◽  
Interdisciplinary Teams ◽  
World Health ◽  
Biological Warfare ◽  
The World ◽  
Health Organization ◽  
Data Analytic ◽  
Current List ◽  
Great Harm

As of 2021, the biothreat policy and research communities organize their efforts around lists of priority agents, which elides consideration of novel pathogens and biotoxins. For example, the Select Agents and Toxins list is composed of agents that historic biological warfare programs had weaponized or that have previously caused great harm during natural outbreaks. Similarly, lists of priority agents promulgated by the World Health Organization and the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases are composed of previously known pathogens and biotoxins. To fill this gap, we argue that the research/scientific and biodefense/biosecurity communities should categorize agents based on how they impact their hosts to augment current list-based paradigms. Specifically, we propose integrating the results of multi-omics studies to identify bioagent-agnostic signatures (BASs) of disease—namely, patterns of biomarkers that accurately and reproducibly predict the impacts of infection or intoxication without prior knowledge of the causative agent. Here, we highlight three pathways that investigators might exploit as sources of signals to construct BASs and their applicability to this framework. The research community will need to forge robust interdisciplinary teams to surmount substantial experimental, technical, and data analytic challenges that stand in the way of our long-term vision. However, if successful, our functionality-based BAS model could present a means to more effectively surveil for and treat known and novel agents alike.

scholarly journals Levels of domain-specific physical activity at work, in the household, for travel and for leisure among 327 789 adults from 104 countries

2020 ◽  
Vol 54 (24) ◽  
pp. 1488-1497 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tessa Strain ◽  
Katrien Wijndaele ◽  
Leandro Garcia ◽  
Melanie Cowan ◽  
Regina Guthold ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Vigorous Physical Activity ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
World Health ◽  
Low Income Countries ◽  
Domain Specific ◽  
Country Level ◽  
Household Travel ◽  
Health Organization

ObjectiveTo compare the country-level absolute and relative contributions of physical activity at work and in the household, for travel, and during leisure-time to total moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA).MethodsWe used data collected between 2002 and 2019 from 327 789 participants across 104 countries and territories (n=24 low, n=34 lower-middle, n=30 upper-middle, n=16 high-income) from all six World Health Organization (WHO) regions. We calculated mean min/week of work/household, travel and leisure MVPA and compared their relative contributions to total MVPA using Global Physical Activity Questionnaire data. We compared patterns by country, sex and age group (25–44 and 45–64 years).ResultsMean MVPA in work/household, travel and leisure domains across the 104 countries was 950 (IQR 618–1198), 327 (190–405) and 104 (51–131) min/week, respectively. Corresponding relative contributions to total MVPA were 52% (IQR 44%–63%), 36% (25%–45%) and 12% (4%–15%), respectively. Work/household was the highest contributor in 80 countries; travel in 23; leisure in just one. In both absolute and relative terms, low-income countries tended to show higher work/household (1233 min/week, 57%) and lower leisure MVPA levels (72 min/week, 4%). Travel MVPA duration was higher in low-income countries but there was no obvious pattern in the relative contributions. Women tended to have relatively less work/household and more travel MVPA; age groups were generally similar.ConclusionIn the largest domain-specific physical activity study to date, we found considerable country-level variation in how MVPA is accumulated. Such information is essential to inform national and global policy and future investments to provide opportunities to be active, accounting for country context.

scholarly journals Take-Home Messages from the COVID-19 Pandemic: Strengths and Pitfalls of the Italian National Health Service from a Medico-Legal Point of View

Healthcare ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 17
Author(s):  
Matteo Bolcato ◽  
Marco Trabucco Aurilio ◽  
Anna Aprile ◽  
Giulio Di Mizio ◽  
Bruno Della Pietra ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Intensive Care ◽  
Scientific Literature ◽  
Point Of View ◽  
World Health ◽  
Medical Treatments ◽  
Emergency Situations ◽  
The World ◽  
Italian National Health Service ◽  
Italian National Health ◽  
Health Organization

The World Health Organization (WHO) declared the outbreak of the Coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) infection a pandemic on 11 March 2020. As of the end of October 2020, there were 50 million cases of infection and over one million deaths recorded worldwide, over 45,000 of which occurred in Italy. In Italy, the demand for intensive care over the course of this pandemic crisis has been exceptionally high, resulting in a severe imbalance between the demand for and availability of the necessary resources. This paper focuses on elements of preventive medicine and medical treatments in emergency and non-emergency situations which, based on the international scientific literature, may prove to be useful to physicians on a behavioral level and avert professional liability problems. In order to achieve this objective, we have performed a search on MEDLINE to find published articles related to the risks associated with the pandemic that contain useful suggestions and strategies for mitigating risks and protecting the safety of the population. The results have been collocated in line with these specific study areas.

scholarly journals COVID Obesity: A One-Year Narrative Review

Nutrients ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (6) ◽  
pp. 2060
Author(s):  
Diana L. Palacios Ovalle ◽  
Susana Rodrigo-Cano ◽  
Aránzazu González ◽  
Carla Soler ◽  
Ana I. Catalá-Gregori ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Scientific Literature ◽  
Narrative Review ◽  
World Health ◽  
First Year ◽  
Anthropometric Parameters ◽  
The West ◽  
Anthropometric Parameter ◽  
The Mean ◽  
One Year ◽  
Health Organization

On 11 March 2020, coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) was declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization (WHO). This study focuses on a narrative review about the illness during the first year of the pandemic in relation to obesity. Databases were used to search studies published up to 8 December 2020. In total, 4430 articles and other scientific literature were found, and 24 articles were included in this one-year narrative review. The mean BMI value of severe COVID-19 patients ranged from 24.5 to 33.4 kg/m2, versus <18.5 to 24.3 kg/m2 for non-severe patients. Articles using the terms obesity or overweight without indicating the BMI value in these patients were common, but this is not useful, as the anthropometric parameters, when not defined by this index, are confusing due to the classification being different in the West compared to among Asian and Korean criteria-based adults. We proposed a new term, called COVID obesity, to define the importance of this anthropometric parameter, among others, in relation with this pandemic.

scholarly journals Readiness of healthcare facilities with tuberculosis services to manage diabetes mellitus in Tanzania: A nationwide analysis for evidence-informed policy-making in high burden settings

PLoS ONE ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (7) ◽  
pp. e0254349
Author(s):  
Festo K. Shayo ◽  
Sigfrid Casmir Shayo
Keyword(s):  
Diabetes Mellitus ◽  
Healthcare Services ◽  
World Health ◽  
Service Availability ◽  
Limited Information ◽  
Readiness Assessment ◽  
Healthcare Facilities ◽  
High Burden ◽  
Domain Specific ◽  
Health Organization

Introduction Double disease burden such as Tuberculosis and Diabetes mellitus comorbidity is evident and on rising especially in high burden settings such as Tanzania. There is limited information about the availability of tuberculosis/diabetes integrated healthcare services in Tanzania. Therefore, this study explored the availability and examined the readiness of healthcare facilities with tuberculosis services to manage diabetes mellitus in Tanzania. Methods We abstracted data from the 2014–2015 Tanzania Service Provision Assessment Survey datasets. The service availability was assessed by calculating the proportion of tuberculosis facilities reported to manage diabetes mellitus. There were four domains; each domain with some indicators for calculating the readiness index. High readiness was considered if the tuberculosis facilities scored at least half (≥50%) of the indicators listed in each of the four domains (staff training and guideline, diagnostics, equipment, and medicines) as is recommended by the World Health Organization-Service Availability and Readiness Assessment manual while low readiness for otherwise. Results Out of 341 healthcare facilities with tuberculosis services included in the current study, 238 (70.0%) reported providing management for diabetes mellitus. The majority of the facilities were dispensaries and clinics 48.1%; publicly owned 72.6%; and located in rural 62.6%. Overall, the readiness of tuberculosis facilities to manage diabetes was low (10.8%). Similarly, the readiness was low based on the domain-specific readiness of trained staff and guidelines. Conclusion Although the majority of the healthcare facilities with tuberculosis services had diabetes mellitus services the overall readiness was low. This finding provides a piece of evidence to inform the policymakers in high burden and low resource countries to strengthen the co-management of tuberculosis and diabetes.

scholarly journals Open Access to Research. Changing Researcher Behavior Through University and Funder Mandates.

2011 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 33-41 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stevan Harnad
Keyword(s):  
Open Access ◽  
Research Community ◽  
Research Progress ◽  
Primary Research ◽  
Primary Target ◽  
Publish Or Perish ◽  
Institutional Repositories ◽  
Long Time ◽  
Scientific Fields ◽  
Zeno's Paradox

The primary target of the worldwide Open Access initiative is the 2.5 million articles published every year in the planet's 25,000 peer-reviewed research journals across all scholarly and scientific fields. Without exception, every one of these articles is an author give-away, written, not for royalty income, but solely to be used, applied and built upon by other researchers. The optimal and inevitable solution for this give-away research is that it should be made freely accessible to all its would-be users online and not only to those whose institutions can afford subscription access to the journal in which it happens to be published. Yet this optimal and inevitable solution, already fully within the reach of the global research community for at least two decades now, has been taking a remarkably long time to be grasped. The problem is not particularly an instance of "eDemocracy" one way or the other; it is an instance of inaction because of widespread misconceptions (reminiscent of Zeno's Paradox). The solution is for the world's research institutions and funders to (1) extend their existing "publish or perish" mandates so as to (2) require their employees and fundees to maximize the usage and impact of the research they are employed and funded to conduct and publish by (3) depositing their final drafts in their Open Access (OA) Institutional Repositories immediately upon acceptance for publication in order to (4) make their findings freely accessible to all their potential users webwide. OA metrics can then be used to measure and reward research progress and impact; and multiple layers of links, tags, commentary and discussion can be built upon and integrated with the primary research.

Breast-feeding

2011 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. Mark Beattie ◽  
Anil Dhawan ◽  
John W.L. Puntis
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Breast Feeding ◽  
Scientific Literature ◽  
Gastrointestinal Disease ◽  
Developed Countries ◽  
World Health ◽  
Exclusive Breast Feeding ◽  
The World ◽  
Health Organization ◽  
The Ideal

Benefits of breast-feeding 25Breast-feeding basics 26Contraindications to breast-feeding 27Promotion of breast-feeding 28Breast milk is the ideal food for infants. The World Health Organization recommends exclusive breast-feeding for at least the first 6 months of life. Until March 2001, the WHO recommended exclusive breast-feeding only for the first 4–6 months of life. This change in policy was based on a systematic review of the published scientific literature which highlighted a protective effect of prolonged breast-feeding against gastrointestinal disease, and confirmed health benefits to mothers. The applicability of these findings to developed countries has been questioned....

WHO—A Source of Inspiration for Researchers?

1987 ◽  
Vol 15 (2) ◽  
pp. 57-61 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hannu Vuori
Keyword(s):  
Health Services ◽  
World Health Organization ◽  
National Health ◽  
Technical Assistance ◽  
Research Community ◽  
World Health ◽  
Staffing Pattern ◽  
Staff Members ◽  
The World ◽  
Health Organization

Traditionally, the research community—be it biomedical or socio-medical—has not looked at the World Health Organization for inspiration. Understandably so: according to its constitution, the organization was founded to assist the Member States in strengthening health services by providing technical assistance (1). The staffing pattern has reflected this role; most staff members are technical experts, not researchers. They often come from the national health administrations and have limited exposure to—sometimes even limited understanding of—research.

scholarly journals Audit of ICD-10 diagnosis use at admission assessments and in discharge summaries by psychiatric trainees

2011 ◽  
Vol 8 (4) ◽  
pp. 94-96
Author(s):  
Hezekiah Agboji ◽  
Alan Moore
Keyword(s):  
Natural History ◽  
Royal College ◽  
Scientific Literature ◽  
World Health ◽  
Psychiatric Training ◽  
Cultural Considerations ◽  
Icd 10 ◽  
History Of ◽  
Health Organization ◽  
Discharge Summaries

Article 14 of the General and Specialist Medical Practice Order 2003 for specialties in psychiatry describes the specific conditions that a doctor must meet in order to be eligible as a specialist for the purposes of inclusion on the Specialist Register. The conditions as published by the Royal College of Psychiatrists (2003) include, among other requirements, that the psychiatrist shall demonstrate working knowledge of the epidemiology, aetiology, psychopathology, clinical features and natural history of the major psychiatric disorders in ICD-10 (World Health Organization, 1992), including age, gender and socio-cultural considerations, based upon the scientific literature. Familiarity with ICD-10 diagnostic criteria is therefore an important part of psychiatric training.

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