Search

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 obtained the clinical malaria case reports and malaria intervention data from the Ethiopian Ministry of Health (MoH) for the period 2001-2022. We analyzed clinical malaria hotspots and investigated the potential role of An. stephensi in the 2022 malaria outbreaks. Clinical malaria cases in Ethiopia decreased by 80%, from 5.2 million cases in 2004 to 1.0 million cases in 2018; however, cases increased steadily to 2.6 million confirmed cases 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 2022/2023 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. The causes of recent upsurge in malaria in Ethiopia may be multi-factorial and it is a subject of further investigation.

This study explores the interrelationships between Knowledge Sharing (KS), Knowledge Transfer (KT), and Knowledge Gaps (KG) within the water sector of Caribbean Small Island Developing States (SIDS), highlighting their diverse socio-cultural, economic, and biophysical characteristics and unique vulnerabilities. The research utilises a quantitative, non-experimental survey involving 515 employees across 16 SIDS, with findings indicating a well-educated and experienced workforce, yet a notable gender disparity. Reliability analysis yielded a high Cronbach's Alpha, confirming the robustness of the KS questions. Significant positive correlations were identified between KS and KT (r=0.741, p<0.001), KS and KG (r=0.649, p<0.001), and KT and KG (r=0.644, p<0.001), emphasising the need for open communication, collaboration, and information exchange to enhance KT processes. However, increased KS may widen KG due to varying knowledge interpretations and applications, posing challenges in achieving effective understanding. The study underscores the necessity of robust governance, adaptive strategies, community participation, and capacity building to mitigate climate change effects and improve water management practices. Effective Knowledge Management (KM) is critical for organisational success, with information technologies offering solutions to enhance KS and KT, thereby contributing to sustainable development and climate resilience in Caribbean SIDS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Athletic training education requires the inclusion of emergency management (EM) best practices; however, the Board of Certification (BOC) does not mandate any continuing education (CE) past Emergency Cardiac Care (ECC). With EM best practices continuing to change there is potential for a large knowledge gap to develop in practicing athletic trainers (ATs) who do not chose to engage in EM CE. This study's purpose was to identify knowledge gaps in practicing ATs' EM skills via low fidelity simulation. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in an educational laboratory setting involving twenty-two ATs (age 36.7±10.8 years; 13 males, 9 females, years of experience 13 + 11) attending a simulation-based CE event. A convenience sample of participants who attended the CE event voluntarily participated in data collection. Upon the completion of an educational review session, participants completed four low fidelity simulations (elbow dislocation, femur fracture, heat stroke and external hemorrhage) based on the 2020 Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education (CAATE) standards. Checklists (completed/not completed) were utilized to grade participants simulation specific skill application. Mean overall, critical action, SAMPLE and vital scores were analyzed. Scores were calculated as percentages in order to compare the low fidelity simulation outcomes. A benchmark of 80% skill application was utilized for a successful pass rate. Results: The only benchmark achieved was the critical action score within the femur fracture simulation (82.89% ±14.56). A success rate of 9.6% (8/83) was calculated across all simulations. The mean total percent scores were as follows; elbow dislocation 65.0 ± 11.0, femur fracture 55.3 ±10.0, heatstroke 67.7 ±17.5 and external hemorrhage 64.0 ±13.0. All means beyond the critical action femur, were below the benchmark of 80%. Conclusions: A knowledge gap exists between practicing clinicians and the 2020 CAATE EM standards. Considering the importance of ATs lifesaving skills, ATs should aim to choose CE to improve their EM skills. While this study only investigates EM, ATs may demonstrate knowledge gaps in other domains and therefore ATs should aim to diversify their CE to stay current with best practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soil and soil biodiversity are often a neglected component in assessments of ecosystems and their services. One of the reasons is the increasing complexity of scientific investigation of biotic and abiotic interactions and mechanisms from soil biodiversity and soil components via ecosystem structures, processes, and functions that finally provide specific ecosystem services for human well-being. In particular, soil-related cultural ecosystem services are missing in the publications on interactions. We tested this hypothesis by using a systematic literature analysis and taking Germany as a case study. The findings revealed a huge research gap. Among 2104 peer-reviewed scientific papers, covering all types of soil-related ecosystem services, only 28 publications were related to soil-related cultural ecosystem services in Germany. Furthermore, the terminological awareness of "ecosystem services" is still limited. The following five main categories for cultural soil-related ecosystem services were identified: (1) place of sense, (2) spiritual value, (3) recreation, (4) forecasts and measures, and (5) soil as an archive. Soil as an archive was further divided into storage, archaeological site, and reconstruction of the past. By highlighting the importance of cultural soil-related ecosystem services and their interactions with soil biodiversity, this study underlines the urgent need to better consider soil biodiversity and soil processes in ecosystem service assessments. This systemic and interdisciplinary approach increases also the societal and political relevance of soil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract New anti-diabetic medications, including glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RA) and sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors are recommended in guidelines to reduce cardio-renal events in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), independent of glucose control. Yet they might be underused in real world. This study aims to address the knowledge gap, prescription patterns and barriers faced by Chinese doctors. Cardio-Metabolic Survey was a cross-sectional study conducted among doctors managing diabetic patients in clinical practice, via a designated online questionnaire from May 1st, to Dec. 31th, 2022. A total of 358 doctors from 57 hospitals across Beijing participated in this survey, 34.9% from tertiary hospitals. Only 30–40% doctors demonstrated somewhat understanding of the mechanism and clinical applications of GLP-1RA or SGLT2 inhibitors. There is no difference in understanding of these two medications overall (p = 0.336). However, doctors in tertiary hospitals have a higher understanding of GLP-1RA and SGLT2 inhibitors compared to those in non-tertiary hospitals (p = 0.049, and 0.008, respectively). 40.2% doctors have never prescribed GLP-1RA, and 36.6% for SGLT2 inhibitors. The frequency of prescribing SGLT2 inhibitors was significantly higher than prescribing GLP-1RA (p = 0.005). The main barriers on prescription include high cost, poor adherence, side effects concern, and insufficient knowledge about these medications. Chinese doctors currently have limited understanding and low prescription frequency for GLP-1RA and SGLT2 inhibitors. Multifaceted approaches are needed to improve doctors' knowledge and strengthen their ability to manage T2DM effectively.

Phoxinus minnows are small freshwater fish found throughout Eurasia. The taxonomy of this genus is still under investigation, and new species are regularly described. They are frequently introduced outside their native range due to their use as live bait for angling, and such fish introductions can have diverse impacts on the recipient areas. Before the rise in interest regarding the diversity of this genus in the past 15 years, studies carried out on their biology and ecology reported their findings for the Eurasian minnow Phoxinus phoxinus Linnaeus, 1758, which was then considered ubiquitous. A parasites checklist for Phoxinus minnows has yet to be published, and the recent progress on the taxonomy of this genus has enabled us to propose a reassignment of parasite records to their proper host. The most thoroughly studied potential species were the North European species Phoxinus sp. 7 sensu Palandačić et al. 2017, Phoxinus isetensis, and P. phoxinus. We were able to highlight a gap in knowledge for numerous species that have received little‐to‐no attention in terms of parasitology. Systematic molecular identification of Phoxinus minnows should be conducted when studying their parasites, as a reliable identification of the host is vital in parasitology research. Future research will certainly reveal a species‐specific composition of the parasitofauna occurring in Phoxinus, especially among widespread parasites such as Gyrodactylus and Diplostomum. Such specificities could even become tools for assessing the introduction routes of Phoxinus species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

New anti-diabetic medications, including glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RA) and sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors are recommended in guidelines to reduce cardio-renal events in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), independent of glucose control. Yet they might be underused in real world. This study aims to address the knowledge gap, prescription patterns and barriers faced by Chinese doctors. Cardio-Metabolic Survey was a cross-sectional study conducted among doctors managing diabetic patients in clinical practice, via a designated online questionnaire from May 1st, to Dec. 31th, 2022. A total of 358 doctors from 57 hospitals across Beijing participated in this survey, 34.9% from tertiary hospitals. Only 30–40% doctors demonstrated somewhat understanding of the mechanism and clinical applications of GLP-1RA or SGLT2 inhibitors. There is no difference in understanding of these two medications overall (p = 0.336). However, doctors in tertiary hospitals have a higher understanding of GLP-1RA and SGLT2 inhibitors compared to those in non-tertiary hospitals (p = 0.049, and 0.008, respectively). 40.2% doctors have never prescribed GLP-1RA, and 36.6% for SGLT2 inhibitors. The frequency of prescribing SGLT2 inhibitors was significantly higher than prescribing GLP-1RA (p = 0.005). The main barriers on prescription include high cost, poor adherence, side effects concern, and insufficient knowledge about these medications. Chinese doctors currently have limited understanding and low prescription frequency for GLP-1RA and SGLT2 inhibitors. Multifaceted approaches are needed to improve doctors' knowledge and strengthen their ability to manage T2DM effectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examined how social media influence the knowledge gap between low and high socioeconomic status (SES) groups in artificial intelligence (AI), a highly debated scientific subject warranting immediate scholarly attention. A national survey of U.S. adults (N = 965) was conducted. The results showed that education and social media exposure to AI information (SME) predicted greater AI knowledge, and SME did not moderate the SES-based AI knowledge gap. Furthermore, information elaboration moderated the association between SME and the AI knowledge gap. SME was associated with a smaller AI knowledge gap when information elaboration was high rather than low. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Objectives Methods Results Conclusion Misconceptions among psoriatic patients often lead to a negative impact on disease outcomes.Our main target was knowledge assessment among a sample of psoriatic patients in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region where data are scarce.The present study is a cross‐sectional descriptive survey. It consists of an online questionnaire comprising 19 questions designed to assess psoriasis knowledge and five demographic questions. The questionnaire link was posted on the official Facebook page of the Kasr Al Ainy Psoriasis Unit (KAPU).The questionnaire was taken by 527 participants, but only 396 responses were complete and adequate for analysis. The mean psoriasis knowledge score was higher in females (P = 0.005) and participants with advanced education degrees (P < 0.001). Patients reporting regular follow‐ups with dermatologists were more likely to acknowledge joint involvement (P = 0.044) but also incorrectly assume biologics are a final cure (P = 0.038). In addition, they were more likely to assume psoriasis affects pregnancy (P = 0.013). Patients with a family history of psoriasis showed a better mean knowledge score than those without (P = 0.01). Only 54.55% of participants reported knowledge of possible disease exacerbation by drugs. A minority (26.77%) of our patients responded that a diet change could not permanently cure psoriasis.This study reports knowledge gaps in a cohort of Arabic‐speaking psoriasis patients, especially regarding areas of extracutaneous involvement, the hereditary nature of the disease, and the effect of psoriasis on pregnancy and fertility. Most participants were unaware that biological therapy and a change in diet do not offer a permanent cure. Dermatologists in our region must reach out to their patients and correct the various misconceptions reported in this study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Arab Journal for Scientific Publishing is the property of Research & Development of Human Recourses Center (REMAH) and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Freshwater resources remain unequally distributed in time and space around the world. Water resource frameworks should be designed, planned, and overseen in order to fully meet current and future social and economic objectives. The difficulties grow as the system gets bigger and more complex, with varying spatial distribution of water and insufficient resources, making water re-distribution more difficult. The current study fills such gaps by evaluating several factors influencing conjunctive management. In the current study, an effort has been made to compile the best data on water use, agricultural practises, socioeconomic status, and so on through field surveys in order to comprehend the reality on the ground. Additionally, investigations are being conducted into the causes and barriers that are most likely to have slowed the implementation of conjunctive use of available water resources. Two comprehensive socioeconomic surveys were conducted using the quantitative research methodology in a river basin in Southern India, and the results clearly show that stakeholders are unaware of the most effective agricultural water management techniques and the rationale behind modern irrigation systems. Over ninety-five percent of the total respondents were farmers, with only five percent having basic knowledge of watershed development and conjunctive use water management. The identified gaps and the inference made in the study are in the context of conjunctive water management of agricultural water. The current work may provide useful information on the baseline scenarios for upcoming agricultural water management plans, as well as a useful tool for achieving significant milestones in the agricultural sector. Furthermore, the prepared questionnaire and the data gathered for the study may also be helpful to decision-makers.

Open ecosystems occur all around the world in various forms including temperate and tropical grasslands, savannas, shrublands, heathlands, among others. They are home to unique biodiversity, provide key ecosystem services and sustain traditional livelihoods of nearly two billion people. In the face of ongoing climate change, practitioners aiming to restore open ecosystems need the support of the scientific community more than ever. The aim of this Special Issue (SI) is to provide an attention-grabbing collection of high-quality publications addressing the growing challenges of open ecosystems restoration. The SI contains 14 papers that fill various, often interdisciplinary knowledge gaps. Three papers deal with the challenges of identifying the right target states, including the genetic composition of constituting plant species, for restoration under changing environmental conditions and competing stakeholder interests. Five papers advance our understanding on the appropriate timing and methodological toolkit to actively ignite re-assembly of the target plant communities, while two papers focus on situations where spontaneous processes can still also be relied on. The interaction of open ecosystems health and recovery with higher trophic levels, particularly grazers, is also discussed in three papers. Finally, a review paper systematically identifies further knowledge gaps, such as the role of soil microbes in grassland recovery and makes clear guidelines how to fill them. Due to the variety of topics and the rigorous content, this SI provides strong support for open ecosystems restoration policy and practice under the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration and beyond.

Background: The prevalence of syphilis among pregnant women in Somalia has been poorly studied, despite its significant impact on maternal and fetal health. In Somalia, the last syphilis study was conducted approximately 30 years ago, leaving a critical knowledge gap regarding the current epidemic of syphilis among pregnant women. Materials and methods: From January 2023 to April 2023, a hospital-based cross-sectional study was conducted on maternal and child health. A total of 300 pregnant women were included in the study, and the seroprevalence of syphilis was determined using the Venereal Disease Research Laboratory. This one-step quick diagnostic test cassette was used as the preliminary screening tool, and Positive results were confirmed using the full chemiluminescence immunoassay (CLIA) analyzer MAGLUMI. A structured questionnaire was used to collect demographic characteristics and knowledge regarding syphilis transmission and mother-to-child transmission. SPSS Version 27.0 was used to analyze the gathered data. Statistical significance was set at p < 0.05. Results: Overall, 5.3% (16/300) of pregnant women had syphilis seroprevalence. Seroprevalence rates were higher in women aged 24-34 (50.0%). There were significant relationships between syphilis infection and education (p < 0.000), occupation (p < 0.000), and residence (p = 0.002). Furthermore, a significant majority of pregnant women (78%) were unaware of syphilis transmission routes and its correlation to HIV risk (81.7%). Stillbirths constituted 23.3% of pregnancy-related problems, whereas 17% of pregnant women had a prior record of blood transfusions. Conclusions: The study found an alarming syphilis seroprevalence in pregnant women, especially in certain demographic groups. The lack of knowledge of syphilis transmission and its effects highlights the necessity for targeted education. Improved prenatal care, health awareness, and effective prevention should lessen the effects of syphilis on mother and newborn health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The gap in knowledge and information-seeking between high and low socioeconomic status (SES) has been well documented. This study extends this knowledge gap hypothesis to narrative persuasion in the context of parents' knowledge and information-seeking intention concerning adolescents' COVID-19 vaccination. It specifically tests if the gap is moderated by a message type (narrative vs. non-narrative). An online quasi-experiment, with a 2 (participants' education level: high vs. low) × 3 (message type: narrative vs. non-narrative vs. no-message) between-subject design, showed a main effect of education level (i.e., parents with a higher [vs. lower] education level rated a higher intention to seek information and provided more correct answers on questions about adolescents' COVID-19 vaccination) and an interaction between the two factors. The interaction showed that the gap between high- and low-education groups in information-seeking intention disappeared among those who read the narrative or non-narrative, and the gap in knowledge disappeared among those who read the narrative. Study findings suggest the utility of narratives in narrowing the gap in knowledge and information-seeking to improve parents' decisions on child vaccination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Han Wang,1,&ast; Wei Song,2,&ast; Yuwei Wang,1 Xiwen Wu3 1School of Journalism and Communication, Jinan University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510632, People’s Republic of China; 2School of Journalism and Information Communication, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan City, Hubei, 430074, People’s Republic of China; 3School of Media and Communication, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK&ast;These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Xiwen Wu, School of Media and Communication, University of Leeds, Leeds, LS29JT, UK, Tel +44 7536 249140, Email me22xw@leeds.ac.ukBackground: Monkeypox, as a significant public health concern, warrants a thorough investigation into public knowledge and understanding. Especially in non-endemic areas like China, exploring the factors contributing to knowledge and understanding gaps is crucial for effective disease management and prevention strategies.Objective: This study aims to assess the level of monkeypox knowledge among the Chinese public and to identify the factors that influence this knowledge, particularly focusing on the knowledge gaps between different educational groups.Methods: An online cross-sectional survey was conducted involving 720 participants stratified by age, between July and August 2023. The survey used a modified monkeypox knowledge questionnaire, and hierarchical regression analysis was employed to analyze the data.Results: The study revealed a significant knowledge gap in the understanding of monkeypox among the Chinese public. Key factors influencing this knowledge included educational level, perceived relevance of information, interpersonal communication, and exposure to social media and official health websites. Notably, exposure to social media was found to widen the knowledge gap between different educational groups, with its positive impact more pronounced in individuals with at least a junior high school education.Conclusion: The findings emphasize the need for varied communication strategies to effectively disseminate information about monkeypox and bridge the existing knowledge gaps. Tailoring health communication to different educational levels and utilizing diverse information sources are crucial for improving public understanding and containment of monkeypox.Keywords: monkeypox, health knowledge, knowledge gap, online survey, media exposure, awareness, China

Introduction Invasive meningococcal disease (IMD) is a leading cause of life-threatening bacterial meningitis and septicemia. Evidence points to a knowledge gap among parents, teenagers, and healthcare providers (HCPs) regarding IMD and available vaccines, including those against the highly prevalent serogroup B. Areas covered An online survey was conducted between March 27 and 12 April 2019, to gather insights into the knowledge that parents/guardians have about IMD vaccines. The children were aged 2 months to 10 years in Australia, Brazil, Germany, Greece, Italy, and Spain, 5–20 years in the UK, and 16–23 years in the USA. The findings were discussed in the context of the available literature and solutions were proposed to minimize the knowledge gap and the barriers to vaccination against IMD. Expert opinion The survey demonstrated that parents have a good understanding of IMD but a limited understanding of the different serogroups and vaccines. The available literature highlighted multiple barriers to IMD vaccine uptake; these may be reduced through education of HCPs, clear recommendations to parents by HCPs, the use of technology, and disease-awareness initiatives that engage parents through physical and digital channels. Further studies are warranted to assess the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on IMD vaccination.

Soil and soil biodiversity are often a neglected component in assessments of ecosystems and their services. One of the reasons is the increasing complexity of scientific investigation of biotic and abiotic interactions and mechanisms from soil biodiversity and soil components via ecosystem structures, processes, and functions that finally provide specific ecosystem services for human well-being. In particular, soil-related cultural ecosystem services are missing in the publications on interactions. We tested this hypothesis by using a systematic literature analysis and taking Germany as a case study. The findings revealed a huge research gap. Among 2104 peer-reviewed scientific papers, covering all types of soil-related ecosystem services, only 28 publications were related to soil-related cultural ecosystem services in Germany. Furthermore, the terminological awareness of “ecosystem services” is still limited. The following five main categories for cultural soil-related ecosystem services were identified: (1) place of sense, (2) spiritual value, (3) recreation, (4) forecasts and measures, and (5) soil as an archive. Soil as an archive was further divided into storage, archaeological site, and reconstruction of the past. By highlighting the importance of cultural soil-related ecosystem services and their interactions with soil biodiversity, this study underlines the urgent need to better consider soil biodiversity and soil processes in ecosystem service assessments. This systemic and interdisciplinary approach increases also the societal and political relevance of soil.

IntroductionThis study describes perceived knowledge gaps of third-year medical students after participating in a virtual surgical didactic rotation (EMLR) and shortened in-person surgery rotation during the COVID-19 Pandemic.MethodsOpen-ended and Likert questions were administered at the end of the virtual rotation and inperson-surgical rotation to medical students. Three blinded coders identified themes by semantic analysis.Results82 students (51% of all MS3s) participated in the EMLR. Semantic analysis revealed gaps in perioperative management (Post-EMLR:18.4%, Post-Inpatient:26.5%), anatomy (Post-EMLR:8.2%, PostInpatient:26.5%). and surgical skills (Post-EMLR: 43.0%, Post-Inpatient: 44.1%). Students also described gaps related to OR etiquette (Post-EMLR: 12.2%, Post-Inpatient: 8.8%) and team dynamics/the hidden curriculum (Post- Inpatient:26.6%). There was a significant improvement in perceived confidence to perform inpatient tasks after completing the inpatient clinical experience (p ≤ 0.01).ConclusionVirtual interactive didactics for cognitive skills development cannot replace a full clinical surgical experience for third-year medical students. Future curricula should address perceived gaps.

Coastal ecosystems are diverse and provide essential global functions, supporting biodiversity conservation, economic growth, and human welfare. However, they are under threat from human activities such as overexploitation, coastal degradation, and anthropogenic impacts. The present study aimed to explore the level of public awareness and understanding of coastal ecosystems in four coastal cities in the Northern Province of Sri Lanka namely Jaffna, Kilinochchi, Mullaitivu, and Mannar. A three-part questionnaire survey was administered to respondents (n = 641) chosen using a systematic sampling method across four coastal cities in the North from April to November 2022. A key highlight from the study is that approximately 75% of the respondents demonstrated significant awareness and knowledge regarding the degradation of the coastal ecosystem in their respective local areas and 81% reported observing an increase in the trend. The influence of social media for awareness was found in nearly half of the respondents followed by mass media (21%). Encouragingly, there is a positive trend among the respondents in recognizing the roles and responsibilities of the government and local community (58%) in addressing coastal ecosystem degradation and promoting conservation efforts. Overall, respondents from Jaffna and Mannar demonstrated a comparatively higher awareness of coastal ecosystems and their degradation than those from Kilinochchi and Mullaitivu. Given their role as transitional zones between terrestrial and marine environments, their intricate socio-ecological dynamics, and the requirement for integrated planning and management strategies, it becomes evident that gaining insight into the level of public awareness of coastal ecosystems is of utmost importance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Misconceptions related to terminology used in the diagnosis and treatment of substance use disorders are common among healthcare providers and may contribute to inappropriate management and education of patients. The objective of this study was to evaluate baseline knowledge of addiction, tolerance, and physical dependence in first-year pharmacy students completing a unit on the neurobiological basis of addiction. Students were asked to define the terms addiction, tolerance, and dependence at the beginning of a didactic unit on nervous system pathophysiology and pharmacology. Handwritten responses were transcribed to a spreadsheet and deidentified by sequential assignment to a single numeric identifier. Data were analyzed by three reviewers through open coding and thematic analysis. Descriptive statistics were used to describe the results. One hundred eighty-seven individual student submitted responses were included in the analysis. Many students were unable to provide a substantive definition for the terms physical dependence (32%) and addiction (27%). The definition of tolerance was partially correct in >80% of student responses, though no students provided a complete description. Approximately 5% of students defined physical dependence as addiction, and > 18% incorrectly attributed withdrawal symptoms to addiction. Significant knowledge gaps or misconceptions regarding terminology related to substance use disorder exists among first-year pharmacy students despite continuing efforts within professional organizations to develop consensus definitions. Developing effective teaching methods to identify and correct misinformation and preconceptions related to care for patients with substance use disorders should continue to be a priority for pharmacy educators. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Family physicians are often the first healthcare providers to encounter patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in Nigeria, given the paucity of rheumatology services nationwide. This study aimed to assess and address the knowledge gap regarding RA among family physicians in Nigeria. Methods: A cross‐sectional survey involving 609 family physicians from all six geopolitical zones of Nigeria was conducted in October 2022. Pre‐intervention questionnaires were administered to assess the participants' knowledge of RA. An investigator‐led PowerPoint presentation on RA was then delivered as an intervention, followed by the same participants completing post‐intervention questionnaires to evaluate knowledge improvement. Data were analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Science, version 25. Results: The mean age of participants was 42 ± 15 years, predominantly male (63.9%). The median pre‐intervention knowledge score was 3.2 (IQR: 2.0–4.5), with 77.0% scoring <5. After the intervention, the median score significantly improved to 7.1 (IQR: 4.3–8.6) (p =.001), with 62.6% scoring >7. Significant improvements were observed in several knowledge areas where gaps existed pre‐intervention, including the understanding that NSAIDs are not the mainstay of management (p <.001), the effectiveness of glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate (p <.001), confidence in diagnosing RA (p =.016), the recognition of joint deformities as a characteristic feature (p <.001), and the understanding that rheumatoid factor is not definitive for diagnosis (p <.001). Conclusion: This study highlights the importance of interventions in closing the knowledge gap about RA diagnosis and management. We recommend the implementation of a comprehensive approach to rheumatology education and services by policymakers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An unresolved dilemma facing many disciplines is how theory and practice can better work together to enhance the decision-making processes on the ground. This widely-known theory-practice gap often contributes to the misdiagnosis of problems and undermines the effectiveness of responses. Despite decades of research into why this gap remains, there is still a continuing and heated debate as to why it exists and how it could be resolved. This article examines the theory-practice gap through a systematic review that draws insights across diverse disciplines such as health, science, governance, and business. It builds a conceptual framework based on the findings, allowing for the analysis of the various drivers and solutions for addressing the gap. The findings show that to resolve this gap is necessary to change our perspective of the gap and understand it as a bilateral issue, where both theory and practice play a role in creating the gap. Thus, solutions to the gap need to follow a cyclical and integrative approach. As the gap may never be fully closed, the framework provides the tools to respond to it whenever it arises. Future research will be required to empirically test and advance the framework. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tropical regions contain ecologically and socio‐economically important habitats, and are home to about 3.8 billion people, many of which directly depend on tropical coastal waters for their well‐being. At the basis of these ecosystems are biogeochemical processes. Climate change is expected to have a greater impact in the tropics compared to temperate regions because of the relatively stable environmental conditions found there. However, it was surprising to find only 660 research articles published focusing on the impact of climate change on the biogeochemistry of coastal tropical waters compared to 4823 for temperate waters. In this perspective, we highlight important topics in need of further research. Specifically, we suggest that in tropical regions compared to temperate counterparts climate change stressors will be experienced differently, that organisms have a lower acclimation capacity, and that long‐term baseline biogeochemical datasets useful for quantifying future changes are lacking. The low number of research papers on the impacts of climate change in coastal tropical regions is likely due to a mix of reasons including limited resources for research and limited number of long time series in many developing tropical countries. Finally, we propose some action points that we hope will stimulate more studies in tropical coastal waters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study evaluated climate change awareness among geography students in government universities by following a combination of descriptive analytical approach and quantitative method. Randomly selected geography students (307) from various public universities (Jordan University, Mut'ah University, Al Hussein University, Al-Albait University, and Yarmouk University) participated in this study. The questionnaire-based data was collected featuring validity and reliability. The results revealed a medium level of climate change awareness among geography students in terms of concept, awareness, addressing climate change, and factors affecting climate change. The level of awareness significantly differentiated among students based on gender, age, and the university. The study strongly recommends the establishment of climate change study programs to enlighten the students with an in-depth understanding of this issue, nurture their critical thinking skills, and provide practical remedies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The environmental issue has become central in the public debate, but the new scenario of the infosphere within which it takes place with its informal formation, does not seem to increase awareness but rather confusion and cognitive difficulty that holds citizens back from participating in public decisions on the environment. An alarm for pedagogy, ecopedagogy and science in general that should foster a dialogue based on a different approach to the co-construction of knowledge between expert and lay knowledge and new education.

Abstract Gender differences in heart failure (HF), ranging from epidemiological and pathophysiological factors to therapeutic response and prognosis, have been well documented in Western countries, especially in Europe and North America. The above gender differences in HF found in Westerners are rarely investigated in Asians. In this review, we explore the worrying knowledge gap on the gender differences in HF that existed in Asia in contrast with Western populations based on the following four aspects: epidemiology, risk factors, therapy, and prognosis. Finally, we conclude that investigations of gender differences in HF in Asia lag behind those in Europe and North America. Future work is required to establish and better use the high‐level, population‐based cohorts and develop our own high‐quality, convincing clinical trials to deliver robust gender‐specific conclusions in Asia.

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 obtained the clinical malaria case reports and malaria intervention data from the Ethiopian Ministry of Health (MoH) for the period 2001–2022. We analyzed clinical malaria hotspots and investigated the potential role of An. stephensi in the 2022 malaria outbreaks. Clinical malaria cases in Ethiopia decreased by 80%, from 5.2 million cases in 2004 to 1.0 million cases in 2018; however, cases increased steadily to 2.6 million confirmed cases 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 2022/2023 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. The causes of recent upsurge in malaria in Ethiopia may be multi-factorial and it is a subject of further investigation.

Climate change is an environmental threat in Indonesia, affecting not only physical and environmental but also psychological conditions. Youth are among the most vulnerable groups in society to the impacts of climate change. However, the attention and involvement of young people on climate change issues are minimal. This study aimed to determine the knowledge and sources of information about climate change, and the impacts of climate change on young people aged 15-29 years. A descriptive qualitative approach with open-ended questionnaires was used for the study with 107 participants. Findings revealed that young people equated climate change with changes in weather or seasons, and also the rising temperatures. Indonesia's climate is increasingly extreme, erratic, and hotter, leading to physical, psychological, and social impacts. Participants felt worried, scared, anxious, sad, angry, panicked, and confused as the psychological impacts of climate change. Surprisingly, instead of experiencing negative emotions, some participants felt nothing and expressed curiosity about climate change. The internet and social media are the main sources of information. Meanwhile, friends are the first option to talk about climate change. Results indicate that Indonesian youth have little understanding of climate change, but they are aware of the crisis. Further research on the psychological impacts of climate change is needed.

Health information literacy (HIL), as an essential part of the wellbeing of citizens, is a crucial indicator used to measure a country's primary public health level. The present study collected 1051 samples in southern China to examine the factors predicting HIL. The results showed that males, those less educated, and older adults had lower HIL. Television exposure, unofficial Internet exposure, trust in government and trust in doctors and medical institutions were positively associated with HIL. In contrast, newspapers, radio exposure and trust in web celebrities were negatively associated with HIL. Official Internet media exposure helps to bridge the HIL knowledge gap generated by differences in education level, while trust in celebrities—especially web celebrities—could widen the HIL knowledge gap. This study extends the knowledge gap theory in health communication in the Chinese context and provides pathways for future health interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gender differences in heart failure (HF), ranging from epidemiological and pathophysiological factors to therapeutic response and prognosis, have been well documented in Western countries, especially in Europe and North America. The above gender differences in HF found in Westerners are rarely investigated in Asians. In this review, we explore the worrying knowledge gap on the gender differences in HF that existed in Asia in contrast with Western populations based on the following four aspects: epidemiology, risk factors, therapy, and prognosis. Finally, we conclude that investigations of gender differences in HF in Asia lag behind those in Europe and North America. Future work is required to establish and better use the high‐level, population‐based cohorts and develop our own high‐quality, convincing clinical trials to deliver robust gender‐specific conclusions in Asia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Freshwater habitats are vital for both humans and nature owing to their exceptional biodiversity and valuable ecosystem services, but they are currently facing serious threats. The designation and management of protected areas have been proposed as the most feasible way to ensure conservation objectives for the future. However, traditional approaches have not protected freshwater fauna effectively, especially freshwater fish.Previous studies have identified the most irreplaceable terrestrial places to achieve conservation goals. Here, the aim was to investigate how the present network of protected areas preserves irreplaceable rivers for freshwater fish.The irreplaceability of the world's river basins was calculated using International Union for the Conservation of Nature Red List distribution maps, considering the rarity, richness, and conservation status of their freshwater fish fauna. The overlap between irreplaceable basins and the present network of protected areas was also calculated.The results highlight the conservation significance of tropical rivers, particularly those in the Neotropics. The subset of the basins covering 30% of the most irreplaceable land surface (in line with the United Nations 30by30 target) encompasses 99% of freshwater fish species. However, protected areas do not seem to provide sufficient protection to these basins, as 89% of their surface area lies outside protected areas. Only 7% of freshwater ecoregions meet the United Nations 30by30 target.Given the context of climate change, allocating new protected areas becomes crucial in providing better survival opportunities for freshwater fish species. Despite the limitations inherent to the absence of total knowledge of freshwater fish biogeography and the irreplaceability index itself, this study identifies priority sites for their conservation that may help inform decision‐making in the future to establish more effective protected areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Finland, there is an ongoing adoption and learning process considering the cultivation of cover crops (CCs). The primary aim is to claim the benefits of CCs for agricultural production and ecosystems, which are both appreciated by Finnish farmers. A farmer survey with 1130 respondents was carried out to build an up-to-date understanding of how farmers have succeeded with CCs and whether they intend to continue with the use of CCs and to collect farmers' views on knowledge gaps that should be filled by research or better knowledge sharing. The studied groups were farmers who had selected CCs as a registered measure in 2020 to receive agricultural payments. Data came from the Finnish Food Authority. Organic farmers were slightly more positive: they have had longer experience with CCs, but organic production is also more dependent on the ecosystem services provided by CCs. A high share of respondents agreed that their experiences with CCs have improved over time and were confident that CCs had become a permanent element of their production systems. Most of the farmers also agreed that the area under CCs would expand significantly in Finland and considered the cultivation of CCs as an effective measure to improve soil conditions. They often considered that challenges in adopting CCs were exaggerated and disagreed that bad experiences prevented them from expanding or continuing the use of CCs. The agricultural payment available for Finnish farmers to support the cultivation of CCs is quite reasonable (EUR 97 + EUR 50 per hectare) to compensate for any economic risks of CCs. Free word answers from the farmers highlighted research needs (in descending order) in the following areas: crop protection, sowing practices, the use of diverse CCs and their mixtures, and impacts on yield and profitability. Many of these are universal, i.e., have been reported elsewhere. Younger farmers (≤50 years) highlighted profitability, which is, in many European countries, a key barrier to the deployment of CCs. Farmers from the east and north regions, where the growing season is short, highlighted alternative CC choices as a knowledge gap. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Tobacco usage has been identified as a leading preventable cause of mortality and is responsible for six million fatalities per year globally. India had enacted COTPA in 2003. Tobacco vendors are one of the key stakeholders for Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act (COTPA) implementation. Objective: To assess the knowledge gap on COTPA and to explore the perceived factors influencing implementation of COTPA among tobacco vendors in Puducherry. Materials and Methods: A mixed-method study was conducted among tobacco vendors from Point of Sale (PoS) around 230 educational institutions (schools and degree colleges) in Puducherry for three months. Simple random sampling was applied to select educational institutions and the tobacco vendors from PoS located around these institutions were included. Data capture was done using a pretested, face-validated questionnaire incorporated in Epicollect software 5 and data analysis by SPSSv24. Purposive sampling was employed to conduct in-depth interviews among tobacco vendors till the point of saturation and manual content analysis performed. Written informed consents were sought. Institutional Ethical Committee approval was obtained. Results: Majority (95.7%) reported that they were aware of tobacco control legislation, but only one person had heard of COTPA. Awareness about the display of signage boards at PoS was observed in 75.7% vendors. Around 41.7% reported that they should not advertise any kind of tobacco products. Three major themes were identified: facilitators, barriers, and suggested measures for COTPA implementation. Conclusion: Tobacco vendors in Puducherry were aware of tobacco control legislations but not familiar with the COTPA and its provisions. It is necessary to put forth efforts to educate these important stakeholders to be more cognizant of COTPA and to effectively include them in anti-tobacco programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of polyethylene (PE) mulch causes environmental pollution where incomplete removal leaves fragments susceptible to escape to ecosystems, such as the ocean, where they can cause ecological harm. PE mulch is generally nonrecyclable due to contamination with soil and crop debris after use, leaving growers with few end-of-life options for used PE mulch. Research studies have shown that soil-biodegradable plastic mulch (BDM) is comparable to PE mulch in terms of performance, soil health, and overall economics and is preferred from an environmental perspective, but the adoption of BDM by producers is still low. Previous research has shown that the primary barriers to BDM adoption are insufficient knowledge about BDM, high purchase cost, and unpredictable breakdown of BDM in the soil. The high purchase cost of BDM compared with PE mulch is offset by the costs for PE mulch removal, transport, and disposal fees. This project was conducted to develop BDM training materials, to educate and assess BDM knowledge gained by extension personnel and other agricultural professionals through trainings and webinars, and to educate producers about BDM through hands-on experience. Thirty-six research and extension publication outputs from two previous US Department of Agriculture Specialty Crop Research Initiative BDM projects were reviewed and transcribed into 45 new extension publications that included 11 slide presentations, 5 lecture slides, 10 fact sheets, and 3 videos. All the training materials are posted on a public university website. Professional development trainings were conducted at local, regional, national, and international levels to provide agricultural professionals the current, science-based information on BDM and resources for information. Survey results showed that at a local level, the greatest change of knowledge among participants was observed for “BDM use in organic production” (60%), and the lowest reported change of knowledge was observed for “limitations to PE mulch disposal” (19%). At a regional level, out of 58 participants, 23% to 35% of participants learned “a lot” and 35% to 51% learned “some new information” regarding BDM from the webinar. At the national level, out of 30 participants, 48% responded that they learned “a lot” and another 48% learned “some new information” on BDM from the training. Growers were trained about BDM via field days and on-farm demonstrations where five strawberry (Fragaria ×ananassa) growers volunteered to participate in BDM trials. The participant growers observed no difference in weed control and fruit yield between the PE mulch and the BDM. Growers expressed concerns about slow biodegradation of BDM after soil incorporation, potential impacts on soil biological activity, food safety concerns with BDM fragments and that BDM is not currently permitted for use in organic production.

The construction industry has a great impact on the environment and, more than ever, bears responsibility for achieving global sustainability goals. Despite the increasing technological development in the industry, information asymmetry between construction project participants affects communication and causes risks that have the potential to seriously harm project goals. The main objective of this systematic review is to collect and analyze existing scientific papers to summarize knowledge on the risks influenced by information asymmetry in construction projects. The established PRISMA 2020 methodology was used to collect and analyze papers from the two largest databases of scientific literature, Web of Science and Scopus. The coding rules were set up to evaluate the 94 articles that were assessed as eligible. Furthermore, the content analysis was applied with a set of coding rules and with the help of the software Mendeley. This study finds that research on risks caused by information asymmetry is still new, limited and not well connected with theoretical concepts. The most common methods used by researchers are simulation and case study. With a thematic analysis of current knowledge, this study provides a synthesis of identified risks, consequences and mitigation measures, as well as directions for future research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Authors of the knowledge gap hypothesis predicted television's potential to narrow the gaps in some circumstances. This online experiment aimed to bound the conditions that facilitate the leveling role of audiovisual news for a foreign-born audience (N = 137) residing in the United States. Results showed that audiovisual news narrowed the gaps by improving learning for those who scored low on language or U.S. education and by attenuating improvements in learning for those with high language or education scores. Conversely, text news widened the gaps by sizable gains in learning for those with better language or more education. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Tobacco usage has been identified as a leading preventable cause of mortality and is responsible for six million fatalities per year globally. India had enacted COTPA in 2003. Tobacco vendors are one of the key stakeholders for Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act (COTPA) implementation. Objective: To assess the knowledge gap on COTPA and to explore the perceived factors influencing implementation of COTPA among tobacco vendors in Puducherry. Materials and Methods: A mixed-method study was conducted among tobacco vendors from Point of Sale (PoS) around 230 educational institutions (schools and degree colleges) in Puducherry for three months. Simple random sampling was applied to select educational institutions and the tobacco vendors from PoS located around these institutions were included. Data capture was done using a pretested, face-validated questionnaire incorporated in Epicollect software 5 and data analysis by SPSSv24. Purposive sampling was employed to conduct in-depth interviews among tobacco vendors till the point of saturation and manual content analysis performed. Written informed consents were sought. Institutional Ethical Committee approval was obtained. Results: Majority (95.7%) reported that they were aware of tobacco control legislation, but only one person had heard of COTPA. Awareness about the display of signage boards at PoS was observed in 75.7% vendors. Around 41.7% reported that they should not advertise any kind of tobacco products. Three major themes were identified: facilitators, barriers, and suggested measures for COTPA implementation. Conclusion: Tobacco vendors in Puducherry were aware of tobacco control legislations but not familiar with the COTPA and its provisions. It is necessary to put forth efforts to educate these important stakeholders to be more cognizant of COTPA and to effectively include them in anti-tobacco programs.