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Clarifying the Distinction Between Review Articles and Survey Research
Full text linkExtensive Reviews continues to receive numerous submissions that fall outside its publication scope, particularly in the form of survey research, case studies, and other empirical formats submitted as review articles. As the managing editor, I have observed that many authors misunderstand the fundamental differences between a review article and a survey article. This editorial seeks to clarify the conceptual and methodological distinctions between review articles and survey research, and to restate the journal’s scope for acceptable submissions. I intend to help authors better understand what constitutes a review article and encourage contributions that align with the journal’s scope, namely, the publication of in-depth, critical, and literature-based scholarly reviews. Clear understanding of article types not only supports the integrity of the journal but also enhances the efficiency of the peer review process. I hope this clarification will improve submission quality and promote a better understanding of article types within academic publishing
Third Generation Warfare in Post-9/11 Cinema: A Socio-Political and Cultural Analysis
Full text linkAlthough a considerable body of literature examines military strategies and their portrayal in films, the way in which post-9/11 films mediate the principles of third-generation warfare remains under-examined in the literature. By analyzing the major themes and narrative structures of selected films, this study investigates this unexplored dimension and offers insight into their socio-political and cultural implications. It analyzes how third-generation warfare is represented in post-9/11 war films through a qualitative approach, conceptualizing these films as cultural markers that influence public understanding of modern warfare. The study focuses on three popular films, Black Hawk Down, The Hurt Locker, and 13 Hours, selected for their visibility, narrative focus on U.S. military operations, and engagement with third-generation warfare tactics. These are examined using thematic analysis following Braun and Clarke’s six-phase method. Five major themes are identified: heroism, moral ambiguity, media influence, political impact, and cultural representation. The analysis draws on ideology critique, cultural discourse theory, and media framing theory to explore how cinematic narratives construct dominant meanings around war and identity. This study contributes to media studies, sociology, and political science by connecting cinematic narratives to broader socio-political discourse
The Possibilities of Finding a Cure for HIV: A Literature Review
Full text linkThe human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is a major worldwide health concern, affecting millions of people globally, and when untreated progresses into acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS). With the availability of antiretroviral therapy (ART), HIV infection is defined as a manageable, but not curable, chronic health condition. ART inhibits viral replication and prevents HIV transmission but does not eliminate the virus due to viral latency in memory T cells, exacerbated by the rise in drug resistant mutations (DRMs), so lifelong treatment and monitoring is required. In this review, we discuss the justifications and research approaches towards finding a “cure” for HIV i.e. complete elimination or control of the virus without the need for further treatment. The two main barriers to developing a cure for HIV infection are the property of HIV viral latency and high mutation rate of the virus. A few cases of HIV have been cured through bone marrow transplants to treat acute myeloid leukaemia, where the donors had rare mutations in the CCR5 gene, required for viral entry. More viable approaches to a cure include the “Shock and Kill” method which aims to use reverse viral latency allowing these cells to be detected and destroyed with ART, and the “Block and Lock” method aims to block viral transcription in HIV-infected latent cells, preventing a rebound viral replication after the cessation of ART. The possibility of vaccination has been widely explored, but an effective HIV vaccine has yet to be developed after more than 40 years of the pandemic. Currently, the “Block and Lock” approaches appear to be the most favourable, possibly in conjunction with other recently developed interventions such as passive immunisation with broadly neutralizing antibodies. However, approaches taken to develop a cure for HIV cannot be detached from ethical concerns which need to be acknowledged and navigated
Can Stem Cell Therapy be an Effective Therapeutic Option for Complex and Neurological Conditions?
Full text linkThis article explores the feasibility and potential benefits of stem cell therapy as a promising therapeutic intervention for individuals facing severe behavioral and cognitive impairments, targeting underlying neurological mechanisms to offer potential symptom improvement and function restoration, thereby enhancing the quality of life for patients and potentially alleviating stress and burnout among caregivers. The aims of the study include investigating the efficacy of stem cell therapy in addressing these impairments and evaluating its potential to alleviate caregiver burden. Through a comprehensive review of existing literature, clinical trials, and studies, this research synthesizes the mechanisms of stem cell therapy, potential applications, clinical trial outcomes, caregiver experiences, and economic implications. The methods employed involve analyzing diverse data sources to provide a holistic understanding of the possibilities and challenges associated with stem cell therapy. Key outcomes of the study include highlighting promising results from clinical trials targeting conditions such as autism spectrum disorder, Parkinson's disease, and Crohn's disease, which underscore the transformative potential of stem cell therapy in patient care. Additionally, economic implications suggest potential reductions in healthcare costs and alleviation of financial strain on individuals, families, and healthcare providers. Stem cell therapy represents a paradigm shift in healthcare, promising to redefine treatment approaches and alleviate broader societal burdens associated with complex neurological conditions. The relevance of the study lies in emphasizing the need for continued research, ethical considerations, and multidisciplinary collaboration to ensure the safe and effective integration of stem cell therapy into clinical practice, ultimately offering new hope and improved care for patients, caregivers, and healthcare systems worldwide
The Role of University Community Engagement Programs in Influencing Higher Education Outcomes and Community Development: An Insight from Uganda
Full text linkA specialised approach to academic research, teaching, and learning known as community engagement entails actively involving communities in cooperative initiatives that improve university teaching, learning, and research objectives while also addressing the needs and opportunities of the community. In this paper, we investigate how university community involvement positively impacts higher education results and community development, primarily using one Ugandan public university and one Ugandan private university as examples. The concept of university community engagement, as well as its advantages and drawbacks for the institution, students, and community at large, were addressed in the present study. Communities gain from university community engagement as members and organisations from the community share and integrate their knowledge with that of faculty and students, resulting in an improved understanding of community issues and the development of collective capacity to address them, producing either or both short-term impacts and long-term transformational change. University community participation benefits students by enhancing learning possibilities that can result in new and improved outcomes in terms of academic learning, development of skills and competences, leadership, and good citizenship. Enhancing teaching and learning possibilities, growing student enrolment and retention, co-creating new information and ideas, providing opportunities for research, and improving the university's reputation are all advantages for the higher education institution. Despite the aforementioned advantages, community participation is associated with a reproach of being more difficult, expensive, and possibly problematic than conventional approaches of knowledge and instruction. Better methods for recording and communicating academic progress are required, and there’s need to expand our awareness of important community engagement outcomes outside of the academic sphere. To promote sustainable community development and improve higher education outcomes, established and future higher education institutions must completely embrace and strengthen their community participation to a global scale
Revising the Volume Titles of the Journal to Match Actual Publication Year
Full text linkThe Advanced Journal of Graduate Research (AJGR), a peer-reviewed journal for mentored research conducted by undergraduate and postgraduate students, historically followed a biannual publication model with issues designated as January and July volumes. However, this system often caused confusion regarding the actual year of publication, especially when articles published in the latter half of a year were assigned to the January volume of the following year. To address this inconsistency, AJGR decided to adopt a revised volume titling system beginning with the next issue. The new naming convention, June and December volumes, aligns volume titles with the calendar year of publication, thereby enhancing transparency, improving citation accuracy, and ensuring alignment with indexing standards
Agricultural Value Chains and Gender in the Post-reform Era: A Review
Full text linkThis article systematically reviewed literature on agricultural market reforms, value chains and gender, selected from Global South developing countries to generate evidence on the changes in smallholder agricultural value chains and gender relations, following liberalization reforms. The study specifically aimed to; identify and critically analyse previous attempts to categorize agricultural value chains; and provide new value chain categorizations and associated gender relations. We found that only 5% of the reviewed 60 publications have attempted to categorize agricultural value chains, however with no consideration of gender relations. A new value chain typology has been provided as: “Traditional”, Digitally-led”, “Group-led” and “Firm-led” value chains, respectively basing on 13%, 35%, 32%, and 24% of the publications. With regard to gender relations, the main finding was that unequal gender relations are inherent in all forms of value chains but tend to be experienced differently by value chain actors –men and women – depending on the type of value chain. The commonly identified underlying factors for gender inequality included; patriarchal structures that bestow upon men decision-making power and control over production resources mostly land. Related were social norms that confine women to the domestic realm, proscribe their mobility and participation in higher value chain nodes and farmer groups. Lastly were gender disparities in education, skills and income leading to differences in access, ownership and use of ICTs. From the results, we note that inasmuch as different forms of value chains present some opportunities for actors, the evolution in smallholder value chains continues to engender equality challenges, mostly affecting women. We contributed to filling the knowledge gap on transformations in post-reform value chains and its effect on gender relations
Comparative Analysis of Phytocompound Variations in Leaves, Bark and Roots of Allspice (Pimenta Dioica) Collections in Tanzania
Full text linkAllspice, scientifically known as Pimenta dioica, holds potential as a natural source of beneficial compounds that have been historically used to address various human health concerns. The aim of this research was to explore differences in the compounds found in parts of Allspice (i.e., the leaves, bark, and roots). Petroleum ether, dichloromethane, and methanol were used to extract the substances from each part; the resulting crude extracts were then analyzed using gas chromatography mass spectrometry. To interpret the obtained data, the National Institute of Standards and Technology database was referred to for a spectra analysis. The findings indicated that the leaves contained 81 phytocompounds, bark had 18 types, and roots exhibited 12 varieties. Prominent phytocompounds found in the leaves were eugenol in 72.24% – 73.91% of the total compounds detected. Bark was primarily composed of 1,4-Methanoazulene, decahydro-4,8,8-trimethyl-9-methylene-, [1S-(1. alpha.,3a. beta.,4. alpha.,8a. beta.)] in 74.35% – 84.24%; while roots contained γ-sitosterol at an 86.08% concentration level. In terms of solvent performance, methanol exhibited high efficiency on leaves, while dichloromethane demonstrated optimal results on bark and roots. The findings confirm significant variations in phytocompound composition in different parts of Allspice and underscores the importance of considering specific types of phytocompounds, as well as extraction techniques to achieve valuable outcomes
The Impact of the 2021 Fire in the Municipality of Ancient Olympia in Greece on the Mental Health of Residents: The Occurrence of Post-Traumatic Stress and Depression in Beneficiaries of Social Services
Full text linkA natural disaster is the probability of a potentially catastrophic event occurring over a period of time in a specific geographical area. The aim of this research was to investigate whether the catastrophic fire of 2021 affected the mental health, in terms of post-traumatic stress and depression, of the social care services beneficiaries in the Municipality of Ancient Olympia in Greece. A questionnaire was used which, apart from demographic questions, contained two main tools: a) the PCL Scale (a tool for assessing post-traumatic stress), b) the Geriatric Depression Scale. The individuals with post-traumatic stress in the sample are in the range of moderate to high PTSD symptomatology. The majority of the participants are in the range of moderate PTSD symptomatology, but there is also a significant percentage who are in the range of high PTSD symptomatology. In terms of geriatric depression, the individuals in the sample are close to the mean. This article was written to serve as reference for the PTSD that can be directly caused by natural disasters
Intersectionality in Educational Psychology and Curriculum Studies: A Critical Review
Full text linkThe review article draws on key literature on intersectionality: theory, methodology, and empirical applications in Educational Psychology and Curriculum Studies. The review points out the urgent need to account for diverse learners’ intersectional identities (racial/ethnic backgrounds, gender, linguistic ability, citizenship status, and other social identity markers) and embrace a social-justice-oriented praxis in education. We argue that integrating the intersectionality framework with existing learning theories, methods (quantitative, qualitative, and mixed), and pedagogies is possible and necessary. Based on the critical review, we propose four recommendations for researchers and practitioners in Educational Psychology and Curriculum Studies: (a) staying faithful to the activism and liberatory commitment of intersectionality, (b) adopting appropriate method(s) and methodology with sound epistemological and axiological orientations, (c) reconceptualizing extant learning theories, which entails the re-thinking and validation of some education and psychological constructs, and (d) encouraging teaching and research on intersectionality and/or from an intersectional lens. The review article can serve as a guideline to incorporate intersectionality as theory and analytical framework. It is only through these practices that center intersectionality that we, as researchers and practitioners, become capable of creating a more equitable and inclusive learning environment from K-12 to Higher Education