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Background: Evidence-based guidelines (EBGs) in the nutrition management of advanced liver disease and enhanced recovery after surgery recommendations state that normal diet should recommence 12-24 h following liver transplantation. This study aimed to compare postoperative nutrition practices to guideline recommendations, explore clinician perceptions regarding feeding after transplant surgery, and implement and evaluate strategies to improve postoperative nutrition practices., Methods: A pre-post multimethod implementation study was undertaken, guided by the knowledge-to-action framework. A retrospective chart audit of postoperative dietary practice and semistructured interviews with clinicians were undertaken. Implementation strategies were informed by the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research-Expert Recommendations for Implementing Change matching tool and then evaluated., Results: An evidence-practice gap was identified, with the median day to initiation of nutrition (free-fluid or full diet) on postoperative day (POD) 2 and only 25% of patients aligning with the EBGs. Clinician interviews identified belief in the importance of nutrition, with variation in surgical practice in relation to early nutrition, competing clinical priorities, and vulnerabilities in communication contributing to delays in returning to feeding. An endorsed postoperative nutrition protocol was implemented along with a suite of theory- and stakeholder-informed intervention strategies. Following implementation, the median time to initiate nutrition reduced to POD1 and alignment with EBGs improved to 60%., Conclusion: This study used implementation frameworks and strategies to understand, implement, and improve early feeding practices in line with EBGs after liver transplant. Ongoing sustainability of practice change as well as the impact on clinical outcomes have yet to be determined., (© 2024 American Society for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition.)

Background: The invasion of Anopheles stephensi into Africa poses a potential threat to malaria control and elimination on the continent. However, it is not clear if the recent malaria resurgence in Ethiopia has linked to the expansion of An. stephensi . We aimed to summarize the major achievements and lesson learnt in malaria control in Ethiopia from 2001 to 2022, to assess the new challenges and prospects for the control of An. stephensi ., Methods and Findings: We obtained the clinical malaria case reports, antimalarial drug treatment records, insecticide-treated and long-lasting insecticidal net (ITN/LLIN) distribution and utilization records, and indoor residual spraying (IRS) coverage data from the Ethiopian Ministry of Health (MoH) for the period 2001-2022. We analyzed clinical malaria hotspots using spatially optimized hotspot analysis. We investigated malaria outbreaks in 2022 and examined the potential role of An. stephensi in the outbreaks.Clinical malaria cases in Ethiopia decreased by 80%, from 5.2 million cases (11% confirmed) in 2004 to 1.0 million cases (92% confirmed) in 2018; however, cases increased steadily to 2.6 million confirmed cases (98% confirmed) in 2022. Plasmodium vivax cases and proportion have increased significantly in the past 5 years. Clinical malaria hotspots are concentrated along the western Ethiopian border areas and have grown significantly from 2017 to 2022. Major malaria outbreaks in 2022/23 were detected in multiple sites across Ethiopia, and An. stephensi was the predominant vector in some of these sites, however, it was absence from many of the outbreak sites., Conclusions: The malaria burden has been significantly reduced in Ethiopia in the past two decades, but in recent years it has increased substantially, and the cause of such increase is a subject of further investigation. Major gaps exist in An. stephensi research, including vector ecology, surveillance, and control tools, especially for adult mosquito control., Competing Interests: Competing Interests The authors declare they have no competing interest.

The concept of literature review has several dimensional operations, including reading, analysis, criticism, and synthesis. It is also related to the concept of knowledge gap. In addition, literature review raises many technical issues that may confuse researchers and students at the beginning of their research path, or when their research would be evaluated. Is it possible to always prefer systematic reviews to narrative ones? Could narrative review always be subject to a bias error? How narrative reviews can appear more neutral. In general, what is the fundamental notion to conduct a literature review? To address such issues, this current review paper seeks to draw the attention to a better comprehensive/practical conducting of literature reviews. It might be difficult to discuss abstract issues such as the concept of literature review. However, this issue is a central variable that holds a prominent position in research projects. This paper tries to illuminate several facets of the literature review process. Furthermore, it elucidates the complexity of this process and simplifies this complexity altogether.

Abstract Heart disease and stroke are the first and fifth leading causes of death in the United States, respectively. Employers have a unique opportunity to promote cardiovascular health, because >60% of US adults are employed, and most spend half of their waking hours at work. Despite the scope of the opportunity,

The concept of the piosphere is important in rangeland management, wildlife management, desertification. Piosphere research describes the changes in soil, biota and fauna as a function of distance from water sources utilized by grazing animals. Piosphere research has provided a better understanding of how grazing pressure can affect local environments. We conducted a bibliometric analysis to describe the progress of piosphere knowledge between 1915 and 2018. This is the first comprehensive bibliometric analysis of piosphere research, and it provides insights on future challenges, research challenges, and knowledge gaps. Google Scholar was used to identify 875 publications from 68 countries and 10 different languages. Our analyses showedthat research article was the most frequent publication type and piosphere was the most frequent keyword. Australia was first in the number of publications followed by South Africa and USA. Ivan Thrash is the most contributed author with 11 publications. The most frequently cited article is 'Responses of Mediterranean grassland plants to grazing and protection' in The Journal of Ecology. Herbivores, vegetation, soil, livestock, wildlife, and ecological were the most frequent research areas of piosphere investigations. English was the major and dominant language of piosphere publications. Rapid growth was found in piosphere research since the 1990s, enlivened by advances in statistics, remote sensing, GIS, and programming. We recommend that future research should investigate knowledge gaps such as grazing system relationships to piosphere patterns, economic analysis of watering point development and closure, and the implications of climate change and new piospheres. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Several funding organizations using different agendas support research in general practice. Topic selection and prioritization are often not coordinated, which may lead to duplication and research waste. Objectives: To develop systematically a national research agenda for general practice involving general practitioners, researchers, patients and other relevant stakeholders in healthcare. Methods: We reviewed knowledge gaps from 90 Dutch general practice guidelines and formulated research questions based on these gaps. In addition, we asked 96 healthcare stakeholders to add research questions relevant for general practice. All research questions were prioritized by practising general practitioners in an online survey (n = 232) and by participants of an invitational conference including general practitioners (n = 48) and representatives of other stakeholders in healthcare (n = 16), e.g. patient organizations and medical specialists. Results: We identified 787 research questions. These were categorized in two ways: according to the chapters of the International Classification for Primary Care (ICPC) and in 12 themes such as common conditions, person-centred care and patient education, collaboration and organization of care. The prioritizing procedure resulted in top 10 lists of research questions for each ICPC chapter and each theme. Conclusion: The process resulted in a widely supported National Research Agenda for General Practice. We encourage both researchers and funding organizations to use this agenda to focus their research on the most relevant issues in general practice and to generate new evidence for the next generation of guidelines and the future of general practice.

In the context of the COVID-19 global pandemic, promoting influenza knowledge and vaccine helps reduce the risk of dual pandemics and relieve the pressure on healthcare systems. Due to the low rate of influenza vaccination in China, we conducted a cross-sectional survey to investigate whether a knowledge gap regarding influenza and influenza vaccine exists between Chinese groups of different socioeconomic statuses and then explore the possible factors influencing knowledge level. A total of 951 valid questionnaires were collected online in this study. Variance analysis shows a knowledge gap regarding influenza and influenza vaccination between different socioeconomic status groups. Correlation analysis shows that internet media, social media, public communication, and interpersonal communication are positively associated with the knowledge level. Multilevel regression analysis shows a significant interaction between internet media and educational level. This study finds that internet media use helps narrow the knowledge gap between groups with different education levels. This article recommends a multi-channel promotion of influenza and vaccine knowledge and better pertinence between contents and readers.

YouTube has become a complement learning platform which fosters learning on demand with educational videos. Educational videos are understood as a fruitful strategy to enhance the user’s knowledge and are applied in schools, as well as in science communication, e.g., to inform about climate change. This paper discusses two perspectives which become visible in the current research literature on educational videos on YouTube. First, studies assume that watching educational videos changes the attitude or behavior of the recipients. Second, studies question whether educational videos have a higher impact than other information materials such as texts. We frame both perspectives with regard to theories from media effect studies and learning concepts from education science and discuss their conclusions for educational videos on YouTube. We will first focus on students as a target group for educational videos, but in the further course, we will discuss the results for the public as targeted group of science communication as well. In the final section we will summarize which potentials and limitations educational videos have for educational purposes in science communication.

This paper seeks to understand how local emergency managers perceive and define social vulnerability. There has been a significant increase recently in the amount of research on social vulnerability, yet little is known about the extent to which that knowledge is being translated into practice. To address this void, the authors conducted semi‐structured interviews with a sample of local emergency managers (N=24), asking them to describe what social vulnerability means to them. The analysis identified four primary perspectives on social vulnerability prevalent in the sample, pertaining to: (i) culture and poverty; (ii) a moral imperative; (iii) a lack of security; and (iv) a lack of knowledge and awareness. Although these practitioner viewpoints may not align perfectly with the definitions of social vulnerability predominant in the hazards and disasters literature, the results of this study do suggest a possible narrowing of the gap between research and practice as it relates to social vulnerability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to assess the perceived disaster vulnerability, mitigation of humanitarian issues, and the existing knowledge gaps of humanitarian activities in the coastal areas of Bangladesh. Indicators based semi-structured questionnaire was developed to collect data through an extensive literature review followed by several workshops among the authors and relevant stakeholders, and data were analyzed quantitatively. Results indicate that the study area is still highly vulnerable to natural disasters and these vulnerability indices vary significantly (p value

Objective: The purpose of the study was to assess knowledge and perceptions related to carbohydrates, including sugars, among Canadian nutrition-major undergraduates compared to those enrolled in elective nutrition courses (i.e., "nutrition-elective students"). Methods: Cross-sectional surveys were distributed during class time at eight Canadian universities, which included 32 questions on demographics, knowledge and perceptions of carbohydrates and sugars. Descriptive analyses were performed. Differences between groups were tested by Chi-squared statistics. Results: A total of 1207 students (60% nutrition-majors) participated in the survey (January 2016–February 2017). Internet-based sources accounted for one-third of the sources where students obtained nutrition information. About 61% of internet-bases sources were "online" or "website" with no qualifiers, and about a quarter was from social media. A higher percentage of nutrition-majors correctly answered knowledge questions of carbohydrates compared with nutrition-elective students (p < 0.01); no difference was observed for sugars-related knowledge questions. The perceptions of sugars were generally negative and did not differ between groups. Conclusions: Several knowledge gaps and common perceptions on topics related to carbohydrates and sugars were identified; nutrition-major students performed better than nutrition-elective students on carbohydrate knowledge questions, but not sugars. These results highlight the importance of identifying methods to help students bridge knowledge gaps and develop skills to critically evaluate nutrition information from various resources and challenge personal biases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This European Heart Rhythm Association (EHRA) Scientific Initiatives Committee, EHRA Young Electrophysiologists, Association of Cardiovascular Nursing and Allied Professionals, and European Society of Cardiology (ESC) Council on Stroke joint survey aimed to assess the interpretation of the CHA2DS2-VASc score components and preferred resources for calculating the score. Of 439 respondents, most were general cardiologists (46.7%) or electrophysiologists (EPs) (42.1%). The overall adherence to the ESC-defined scoring criteria was good. Most variation was observed in the interpretation of the significance of left ventricular ejection fraction and brain natriuretic peptide in the scoring for the 'C' component, as well as the 'one-off high reading of blood pressure' to score on the 'H' component. Greater confidence was expressed in scoring the 'H' component (72.3%) compared with the 'C' (46.2%) and 'V' (45.9%) components. Respondents mainly relied on their recall for the scoring of CHA2DS2-VASc score (64.2%). The three most favoured referencing resources varied among different professionals, with pharmacists and physicians relying mainly on memory or web/mobile app, whereas nurses favoured using a web/mobile app followed by memory or guidelines/protocol. In conclusion, this survey revealed overall good adherence to the correct definition of each component in scoring of the 'C', 'H', and 'V' elements of the CHA2DS2-VASc score, although the variation in their interpretations warrants further clarifications. The preferred referencing resources to calculate the score varied among different healthcare professionals. Guideline education to healthcare professionals and updated and unified online/mobile scoring tools are suggested to improve the accuracy in scoring the CHA2DS2-VASc score. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: The standardized mode of delivering curriculum across the globe is didactic lectures. Formative and summative assessment methods are routine practices used to assess the students understanding and mastery in content and concepts which is delivered. The formative assessment methods are extremely popular in medical educational training but the data supporting such claims is largely lacking. The aim of this observational study was to determine if frequently provided formative assessment methods like practice quizzes, take home assignments can have any positive impact on student learning strategies and assessment outcomes in examination. Material and Methods: A total of 145 students were included in this study. This study explored the relationship between student performance in various low stakes formative quizzes and high stakes summative examination. Based on the student performances across various formative assessment methods, the students were encouraged to modify or retain the study strategies and the effect of such recommendations were observed over the course of the semester. Results: The data analysis showed positive relationship between the student performance on formative assessments and summative assessment before and after the intervention to study methods and strategies. Students in top, second, third and bottom quartile gained a cumulative average of 72.4%, 61.0%, 56.6% and 48.3% in the formative assessment and an average of 89.3%, 79.8%, 75.0%, and 65.7% on their summative examination which were used as tools for early intervention. Conclusion: Following the early intervention and modifications in study strategies, there was a steady increase in student performance on high stakes examination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this scoping review by the American Society for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition (ASPEN) Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Nutrition Task Force was to examine nutrition research applicable to the COVID-19 pandemic. The rapid pace of emerging scientific information has prompted this activity to discover research/knowledge gaps. This methodology adhered with recommendations from the Joanna Briggs Institute. There were 2301 citations imported. Of these, there were 439 articles fully abstracted, with 23 main topic areas identified across 24 article types and sourced across 61 countries and 51 specialties in 8 settings and among 14 populations. Epidemiological/mechanistic relationships between nutrition and COVID-19 were reviewed and results mapped to the Population, Intervention, Comparator, Outcome, and Time (PICO-T) questions. The aggregated data were analyzed by clinical stage: pre-COVID-19, acute COVID-19, and chronic/post-COVID-19. Research gaps were discovered for all PICO-T questions. Nutrition topics meriting urgent research included food insecurity/societal infrastructure and transcultural factors (pre-COVID-19); cardiometabolic-based chronic disease, pediatrics, nutrition support, and hospital infrastructure (acute COVID-19); registered dietitian nutritionist counseling (chronic/post-COVID-19); and malnutrition and management (all stages). The paucity of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) was particularly glaring. Knowledge gaps were discovered for PICO-T questions on pediatrics, micronutrients, bariatric surgery, and transcultural factors (pre-COVID-19); enteral nutrition, protein-energy requirements, and glycemic control with nutrition (acute COVID-19); and home enteral and parenteral nutrition support (chronic/post-COVID-19). In conclusion, multiple critical areas for urgent nutrition research were identified, particularly using RCT design, to improve nutrition care for patients before, during, and after COVID-19. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As part of IFB's fast global growth, leaders in Ethiopia are responsible for remaining competent to run shariahcompliant products. In this regard, the research aimed at the assessment of leadership gaps and challenges in the implementation of IFB in Ethiopia. An exploratory research design was applied, with a mixed research approach. Sample units of 75 managers were conveniently drawn, and the content of the responses and documents was thoroughly analysed quantitatively and qualitatively. The findings show perception, knowledge, legal, and project management gaps and challenges: attention given by leaders to IFB was found to be minimal; leaders and employees lack IFB personality and appearance, which happens in some cases due to fear of the unknown tailored to the IFB. Sustainable training and development programmes were not planned properly. There is a lack of adoption of appropriate technology. The legal framework of IFB is viewed through the lens of a typical conventional banking context. Leadership, along with the hierarchy, should cultivate personalities that favour the success of IFB. Perception should be surveyed to rectify and leaders should be involved in IFB decision making to create an IFB-friendly atmosphere that reflects its values. It requires crafting rigorous and diverse training programmes and public awareness. A clear IFB institutional structure with appropriate technology adoption should be established. NBE should look for ways to adopt internationally accepted IFB standards, reinforce, and revisit the current NBE directives and legal framework. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: North Pacific Costa Rica is generally considered rich in marine habitats and species. However, some areas are subject to fishing pressures that could degrade ecosystems. The Gulf of Papagayo comprises protected and unprotected areas with various degrees of impact. Objectives: Our aim was to evaluate the conservation status of fish and invertebrate communities in rocky reefs and sandy areas in two unprotected bays of the Gulf of Papagayo. Methods: The study was conducted at Cabuyal and Zapotillal Bays, south of Santa Rosa National Park. From December 2017 to April 2018, a total of thirty-five transects were done parallel to the coast at 3-10 m depth. We identified fish and invertebrate species and estimated biomass by trophic group in fish, and density in invertebrates. Results: We found a high number of species of fish (81) and invertebrates (70) in rocky reefs, which indicates a biodiverse ecosystem, but few species of fish in sandy areas. Species composition differed between the two bays. Density of juvenile fishes was high in Zapotillal Bay, suggesting that the area could be important for recruitment and breeding. Fish biomass was higher in sandy areas than in rocky reefs and all trophic groups had lower biomass than in other unprotected areas of the region. On average, reef fish biomass was 1.57 ± 0.67 (s.e.) t ha-1, similar to previous reports for Costa Rican North Pacific. By trophic group, piscivorous and planktivorous had the highest biomass in sandy areas and piscivorous and carnivorous in rocky reefs. Mean coral cover was low with 4.09% ± 2.51 (s.e.), similar to previously reported for the region. Conclusions: Cabuyal and Zapotillal Bays in the Gulf of Papagayo are biodiverse in fish and invertebrates. However, the area may be impacted by local fisheries and other human activities, affecting fish and invertebrate populations, and coral formations. Our study fills some gaps in knowledge of marine biodiversity in the Gulf of Papagayo that can contribute to the conservation of marine life in North Pacific Costa Rica. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Healthcare providers describe having gaps in their knowledge about body image. • These providers recognize body image as an important but challenging concept. • Notably, providers are uncertain about the links between weight and body image. • Results encourage broad dissemination of body image knowledge into healthcare. • Training in body image knowledge, screening, and referral needs attention. Research has shown that healthcare providers lack confidence in having the knowledge needed to have conversations about body image with their patients. No research to date has explicitly explored how providers in primary healthcare understand body image, including its definition and how it impacts plans for care. Accordingly, the current study explored how primary healthcare providers define body image and how they see the concept of body image manifest in their practice. A total of 21 participants were interviewed, including 3 registered dietitians, 6 occupational therapists, 4 physiotherapists, 1 registered massage therapist, 1 kinesiologist, 4 family physicians, 1 nurse, and 1 social worker. Using thematic analysis, it was found that gaps in knowledge about body image were quite apparent as participants' understanding of body image was slippery (e.g., they struggled to articulate specifics about the concept within care and recognized body image is not something associated with a clinical guideline that would bring form to the concept). However, healthcare providers believed in the importance of body image in their patients' care in broad and far reaching ways. Future directions for bridging the knowledge gap with respect to body image among primary healthcare providers are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent decades, a growing number of studies have addressed connections between ecological and evolutionary concepts in biologic invasions. These connections may be crucial for understanding the processes underlying invaders' success. However, the extent to which scientists have worked on the integration of the ecology and evolution of invasive plants is poorly documented, as few attempts have been made to evaluate these efforts in invasion biology research. Such analysis can facilitate recognize well-documented relationships and identify gaps in our knowledge. In this study, we used a network-based method for visualizing the connections between major aspects of ecology and evolution in the primary research literature. Using the family Poaceae as an example, we show that ecological concepts were more studied and better interconnected than were evolutionary concepts. Several possible connections were not documented at all, representing knowledge gaps between ecology and evolution of invaders. Among knowledge gaps, the concepts of plasticity, gene flow, epigenetics and human influence were particularly under-connected. We discuss five possible research avenues to better understand the relationships between ecology and evolution in the success of Poaceae, and of alien plants in general.

In recent decades, a growing number of studies have addressed connections between ecological and evolutionary concepts in biologic invasions. These connections may be crucial for understanding the processes underlying invaders' success. However, the extent to which scientists have worked on the integration of the ecology and evolution of invasive plants is poorly documented, as few attempts have been made to evaluate these efforts in invasion biology research. Such analysis can facilitate recognize well-documented relationships and identify gaps in our knowledge. In this study, we used a network-based method for visualizing the connections between major aspects of ecology and evolution in the primary research literature. Using the family Poaceae as an example, we show that ecological concepts were more studied and better interconnected than were evolutionary concepts. Several possible connections were not documented at all, representing knowledge gaps between ecology and evolution of invaders. Among knowledge gaps, the concepts of plasticity, gene flow, epigenetics and human influence were particularly under-connected. We discuss five possible research avenues to better understand the relationships between ecology and evolution in the success of Poaceae, and of alien plants in general.

This study, located in a School of Education in South Africa, explores English Education pre-service teachers' perceptions of preparedness to teach grammar and the influences that shape such perceptions. To understand the knowledge gap in English Education pre-service teachers' readiness to teach grammar, the study employed an interpretive paradigm, qualitative approach, case study design and purposive sampling. Data was generated using open-ended questionnaires and semi-structured interviews. Findings from the study revealed that the pre-service teachers of English believed that they were not ready to teach grammar upon graduation and their lack of preparedness was attributed to their prior negative experiences of learning grammar at school and on the focus of their teacher education programmes on pedagogical knowledge and not content knowledge. This paper argues that the knowledge gap between the thought and taught knowledge need to be addressed to enable pre-service teachers to leave teacher education programmes with confidence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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This study was conducted in Mardan and Dera Ismail Khan (D.I. Khan) districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province in Pakistan during 2018. The main objective of the study was to find the influences of farmers' characteristics on knowledge gap of sugarcane recommended production management practices in the research area. Data were collected personally through face to face interview schedule from 285 sample respondents randomly selected from eight villages of the eight selected union councils. The empirical results indicated that farmers of district Mardan had 41 percent knowledge gap with cane yield 58387 kgs/hectare and sample farmers of district Dera Ismail Khan had 33 percent knowledge gap with 82184 kgs/hectare. The results showed that in both districts sugarcane farmers had medium knowledge gap (37%) with cane yield 70912 kgs/hectare. Findings revealed that one-year improvement in the education level of the farmers would bring likely 58 percent decrease in the knowledge gap. Similarly, a year increase in the cane farming experience of the farmers would likely bring 6 percent reduction in the knowledge gap of the farmers. The results further explained that land owners had more knowledge gap than that of tenant farmers while contact with the agriculture extension department reduces the knowledge gap of sugarcane recommended management practices. The results further show that the coefficient value of knowledge gap of district Mardan farmers is high than the farmers of district D.I. Khan research area. The study suggested that government should provide proper education facilities to the farming community for reducing illiteracy. Agricultural extension department should provide training and special information about sugarcane recommended management practices in the research area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using two unique surveys, one that includes over 6,000 respondents interviewed across 39 cities and another that includes over 47,000 respondents interviewed across 26 U.S. cities, we investigate the extent to which perceptions of local conditions—the state of the local economy, the quality of local schools, and local crime—reflect actual local conditions. We examine individual-level differences in the accuracy of perceptions of local conditions using two different frameworks, one that emphasizes factors that limit information acquisition and may exacerbate political inequalities, and another that emphasizes motivations for information processing. Objective conditions influence perceptions of conditions, but the relationship between objective and perceived local conditions is strongest among individuals with high levels of education and preexisting knowledge. In addition, we find that partisanship plays a role in shaping perceptions of local conditions. While the partisan match between a respondent and the mayor of their city has little effect on local perceptions, the match between a respondent's partisanship and the president's party has a strong effect on perceptions of the local economy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research endeavors generally to analyze the knowledge gap of farmers and extension personnel in Assiut Governorate, Egypt in the area of safe use of pesticides, by achieving the following aims: Recognizing the levels of perceived and calculated knowledge needs for farmers and extension personnel about pesticide safe use recommendations; Determining the perceived and calculated knowledge needs for farmers and extension personnel about pesticide safe use recommendations; Arranging the pesticide safe use recommendations according to the perceived and calculated knowledge needs for farmers and extension personnel; Identifying the significance of the differences between farmers and extension personnel in the perceived knowledge gap about pesticide safe use recommendations; Defining the significance of the differences between farmers and extension personnel in the calculated knowledge gap about pesticide safe use recommendations. The study was conducted on two groups of respondents; the first included 39 respondents from extension personnel in Assiut Governorate, and the other included 146 farmers who were chosen from three villages randomly selected from three districts in Assiut Governorate. Data were collected using questionnaire form during August 2019. Frequencies, percentages, arithmetic mean, and Mann Whitney test were used for data presentation and analysis. The results showed the emergence of knowledge gap for the majority of farmers and extension personnel, ranging from high level in perceived gap, and medium level in calculated gap. Concerning the studied recommendations separately, it came to clear that the perceived knowledge gap for farmers and extension personnel was high, while the calculated knowledge gap was moderate for most of these recommendations. The results indicated the difference in the studied recommendations' ranks between perceived and calculated gaps, whether for farmers or extension personnel, due to the emergence of unfelt knowledge needs for the respondents. The results also showed that the differences between the perceived knowledge gap of farmers and extension personnel were not significant, while these differences were significant with respect to the calculated knowledge gap for most of the studied recommendations. Finally, the study recommends to close the knowledge gap for farmers and extension personnel through preparing the necessary extension and training programs for farmers and extension personnel, taking into account the priorities of their knowledge needs in the form of the most needed recommendations ranks, which indicated by the current study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To date, there does not appear to be a study published that has examined the prevalence of clinical use and the perceived and actual knowledge of cupping therapy that clinicians possess. The purpose of this study was to determine the perceived and actual knowledge of cupping therapy among athletic trainers. Methods: 113 athletic trainers completed the study (age = 35 ± 10 years, certified experience = 12 ± 10 years). Participants were sent an electronic survey via email that assessed frequency of usage, perceived knowledge, and actual knowledge of cupping therapy. Measures of central tendency (means, standard deviations, frequencies) were calculated for all survey items. A Pearson correlation was calculated for the perceived knowledge and actual knowledge items to identify a knowledge gap between what one believes they know and actually what they do know. Finally, an independent samples t-test was used to explore differences on the actual knowledge assessment based on prior education. Significance was set at P < .05 a priori. Results: The majority of certified athletic trainers reported not viewing the use of cupping therapy as necessary to their clinical practice. However, the majority also reported using cupping therapy at least once in the past week when treating patients. Regarding perceived knowledge, the majority of respondents were in the mid-range of agreement/disagreement, indicating at least some level of uncertainty. Average scores on actual knowledge were 8.90±1.34 out of 12 questions. A poor positive relationship was found between perceived and actual knowledge (r = 0.125, P = 0.259). We also identified a poor positive relationship (r = 0.079, P = 0.439) between the actual knowledge assessment score and the likelihood to pursue continuing education item from the perceived knowledge assessment. Conclusions: While the majority of athletic trainers did not view cupping therapy as necessary to their clinical practice, the majority did use the tool in their weekly practice. The relationship between actual knowledge and pursuit of continuing education suggestion that continuing education may improve knowledge of cupping therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rationale, aims, and objectives: Osteoporosis is a common health problem in India, which leads to significant morbidity and mortality in elderly individuals. Lack of knowledge and awareness among medical professionals is one of the important barriers in management of these patients. Therefore, this study was conducted to assess knowledge pertaining to diagnosis and treatment of osteoporosis among a group of Indian medical practitioners. Methods: The study participants included 222 allopathic medical professionals, either graduate or postgraduate working in primary or secondary health care levels. They were assessed using a previously validated Fogelman's multiple choice questionnaire. Out of a total of 18 questions, four questions pertained to knowledge of diagnosis, three questions to treatment decisions, one question to assess knowledge regarding recommended dosage of vitamin D and calcium supplementation, five questions concerned medication use, and the rest to assess attitude and practices. The correct answers were converted into scores and expressed as percentages with a maximum of 100. Results: The mean total score among them was 22.5%, which was quite low. Almost all of them had a score of less than 50%. Medical practitioners performed better in diagnosis‐related questions, (19.4% answered all options correctly) than in medication knowledge (no correct response regarding side effects and 2% regarding contraindications). In treatment‐related decisions, 37.4% answered correctly for duration of treatment, and 59% answered correctly for treatment goal. Only 1.4% of them were able to answer correctly regarding recommended calcium and vitamin D intake. Professional literature, conferences, and Continuing Medical Education (CME's) were regarded as the main sources of information on the subject by 40% of practitioners. Conclusion: This study showed suboptimal knowledge among a group of medical professionals regarding various aspects of diagnosis and management of osteoporosis, and it stipulates the need for escalating the efforts to improve their knowledge regarding various aspects of osteoporosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cotton is an important source of fiber and used as main input in the textile industries throughout the world. Pakistan is 4th in terms of cotton production and 10th in terms of yield. There is a serious decline in production of cotton since last few years in Pakistan due to untrained farmers. The aims of this study were to address the skill gap of the farmers and how to bridge those gaps. Random sampling technique was used to determine sample size. The total sample size of the study was 300 respondents. The collected data were analyzed by using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS). Results showed that most of the cotton growers had skill gap in production practices and control of factors involved in low production and poor quality. Majority of the production practices have a significant relationship with the educational level of the respondents. Highest significance relationship was found between the biological control of pests and educational level of the respondents. It appeared that there is no relationship between knowledge regarding production practices of cotton and age of the respondents. Yield per acre of the respondents is directly proportional to the educational level of the respondents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Potential hazards of OPFRs to ecosystems and human health have been intensified. • A huge knowledge gap exists in the realm of emerging OPFRs (eOPFRs) research. • eOPFRs display significant structural diversity and have broad sources of occurrence. • Environmental residue and toxicity of eOPFRs are comparable to the traditional OPFRs. • Heightened focus and extensive research efforts should be dedicated to eOPFRs. The production and usage of organophosphate flame retardants (OPFRs) in textiles, plastics, and electronics have surged, with phosphorus-based flame retardants constituting over 30 % of the global consumption of flame retardants. Meanwhile, concerns regarding the potential hazards of OPFRs to ecosystems and human health including disruptions in the endocrine system, inhibition of reproduction, and manifestation of developmental defects have intensified. However, our comprehensive data analysis has unveiled a pronounced and critical knowledge gap, as at present, a majority of studies emphasize the attributes of traditional OPFRs, such as triphenyl phosphate (TPHP), while emerging OPFRs (eOPFRs) remain undeservedly overlooked. We elaborated on the current advancements and challenges regarding eOPFRs research and demonstrated that eOPFRs exhibit considerable diversity in terms of their chemical structures, substantial residue levels, broad sources of occurrence, and limited understanding of their potent (eco)toxicological implications. In light of these attributes, it becomes evident that the environmental and health risks of eOPFRs can be comparable to, if not surpass, those attributed to traditional OPFRs. This compelling observation underscores an imperative need for heightened research focus and extensive research efforts dedicated to the study of eOPFRs, rather than still focusing on the realm of their traditional counterparts. Despite the challenges ahead, the emphasized environmental surveillance and toxicological assessment are imperative to prevent the potential evolution of these compounds into a significant ecological and human health threat. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Higher Education Institutions (HEI) are ever more i nterested in the development of tools that would enable to evaluate and manage the expectations of their students, with the purpose of attracting and keeping them satisfied. This study has proposed to compare what the gap between what faculty believes the student to expect from a course from a HEI and the real expectations of the student entering higher education. For this purpose, a quantitative research was conducted with students from a HEI through the application of a questionnaire. In order to enable t he gap analysis, the faculties’ perceptions at the HEI were also collected through an adapted questionnaire. The results of the investigation demonstrated that the faculty believes that the student expects aspects related to the physical infrastructure, te chnology, internal processes and the required resources for the teaching service delivery. However, the student expects a placement in the market and their ascension in their professional and personal lives. We concluded that to identify the existence of t he gap will enable the HEI to adjust its services in a more assertively manner, which can lead students to satisfaction.

Introduction Organ transplantation is a critical intervention for patients with end-stage organ failure, but misconceptions and knowledge gaps often hinder organ donation. This study evaluates the acceptability and effectiveness of an organ donation campaign focusing on addressing knowledge gaps and misconceptions in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Methods A two-day awareness campaign was conducted in a shopping mall, featuring four stations providing information on various aspects of organ donation. Participants completed a self-administered, researcher-developed, questionnaire before and after the tour. Results Of the 201 participants, 167 completed the questionnaire (83% response rate). The majority (92.9%) reported learning new information and indicated that the knowledge improved their perspective on organ donation. A high percentage (93.5%) felt the campaign answered their questions, with 90.9% deciding to register as organ donors. Conclusion A knowledge-enhancing campaign can effectively improve public perception and promote awareness of organ donation and transplantation. However, the study is limited by its short timeframe, location, and subjective data. Future research should explore the impact of such campaigns on donor registrations and evaluate their effectiveness in different cultural contexts., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist., (Copyright © 2024, Shaheen et al.)

Democracies rely upon politically knowledgeable citizens for their legitimacy and to sustain themselves. In Australia, policy initiatives have addressed concerns about the low levels of political knowledge among young people. Yet research about how young Australians acquire political knowledge, beyond schools, is scarce. The present study referring to the concepts of situated learning, self-determination and knowledge gap, asks whether young adult's participatory practices (e.g., participation in politics, prior involvement in decision-making at school) predict political knowledge. Analyses that control for multiple predictors of political knowledge suggest differential associations between political knowledge and different participatory practices. Motivational inequality, as defined by interest in politics, moderates the associations with party-political participation and participation at school; the conditional effect of party-related political participation is further moderated by educational resources. Gendered differences are identified for some participatory practices. Directions for future research and the importance of participatory experiences and how to establish a foundation of young citizens' political knowledge are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article provides a meta-analysis of the knowledge gap hypothesis literature published between 1966 and 2018. We find the basic assumption of a positive education-knowledge relationship to be supported. This result is robust across different geographical settings of the knowledge topics examined, independent of the country of data collection, and – in line with the belief gap hypothesis – restricted to (politically) uncontested topics. The central assumption of the hypothesis – that an increase of mass media information fosters knowledge divides between those with less and more formal education – was supported. While TV fulfils a role as a knowledge gap maintainer, print media and especially online media use appears to increase knowledge inequalities between groups with discrepant educational attainment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]