bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Clustering Some MicroRNAs Expressed in the Breast Tissue Using Shannon Information Theory and Comparing the Results With UPGMA, Neighbor-Joining, and Maximum-Likelihood Methods
Authors:   Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Animal Science and Food Industry, Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources University of Khuzestan, Ahvaz, Iran, Askari Rad Arezo , Fayazi Jamal ,   Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Animal Science and Food Industry, Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources University of Khuzestan, Ahvaz, Iran, Dehghanzadeh Houshang ,   Department of Animal Science Research, Guilan Agricultural and Natural Resources Research and Education Center, Rasht, Iran.
Published: February 2021

Background: Because milk and milk products play a vital role in human nutrition, dairy cattle farmers are working in increasing milk production or changing its composition. For this reason, researching the genes which play an important role in milk production and its composition is of high value. Information theory is an interdisciplinary branch of mathematics which overlaps with communications engineering, biology, and medicine. It has been used in genetic and bioinformatics analyses such as the biological structures and sequences. Materials and methods: In this study, a total of 20 microRNAs from those affecting the breast tissue and mammary glands have been extracted from the microRNA database. For each microRNA sequence, the entropy values of the first- to third-order were calculated and the Kullback-Leibler divergence criteria were estimated. Then, the Kullback-Leibler divergence matrix of the microRNAs was considered as the inputs for clustering methods. All calculations were performed in the R program. The biological pathway of each target was predicted using the KEGG server. Results: MicroRNAs are divided into two main groups based upon comparing and analyzing all the created clusters. The first group contains 18 microRNA and the second group contains 2 microRNAs at the first- and third-order entropies. The second-order entropy contains 19 microRNA in the first group and only 1 microRNA in the second group. The clustering topology changes as the entropy order changes from 1 to 3, with the most significant changes being seen in the clustering resulted from the third-order entropy. Conclusion: In the proposed method of clustering, we obtained a biological grouping of genes. There is a good concordance between most of the microRNAs within one cluster and their biological pathway. The algorithm is applicable for clustering a range of genes and even genomes based on their DNA sequences entropy. Our method can help assign and predict the biological activity of those genes that lack robust annotations because it relies only on the DNA sequence and length of the genes.
Isolation and Characterization of Lactic Acid Bacteria From Milk and Their Effects on the Pathogenic Bacteria
Authors:   Department of Microbiology, University of Mohaghegh Ardabili, Ardabil, Iran., Ghazaei Ciamak
Published: February 2021

Background: Probiotics are “live microbial cells” that are beneficial for human and animal health. Lactobacilli are such a diverse group of bacteria with similar metabolic and physiological characteristics, and constitute important and beneficial gut microflora. During carbohydrate fermentation, lactobacilli produce lactic acid as an end product in metabolism. Hence, lactobacilli have high significance to be used as probiotics in the food industry, because of their acidifying properties. Also, lactobacilli are considered “safe”, owing to their ubiquitous presence in the food. Many researchers provided evidence for the presence of lactobacilli in milk sources. Thus, the present study aimed to isolate and characterize different lactobacilli strains from milk sources and analyze their “probiotic potential”. Materials and methods: Forty-one lactobacilli isolates were obtained from raw cow milk. Then, the strains were characterized by morphological identification and biochemical tests. Besides, probiotic potentials were evaluated with the bile tolerance test, antibiotic susceptibility test, and determining suitable pH for the optimal growth of lactobacilli. The lactobacilli isolates were also analyzed for their probiotic characteristics and the release of antimicrobial substances. Their antimicrobial activities against pathogenic strains were assessed by determining the minimum inhibitory concentration, with the help of agar diffusion methods. Results: From 50 milk samples, 41 lactobacilli isolates were obtained, out of which five lactobacilli strains were identified as Lactobacillus casei, Lactobacillus plantarum, Lactobacillus brevis, Lactobacillus acidophilus, and Lactobacillus lactis. Moreover, 35 isolates showed an inhibitory effect. These strains were able to survive and grow in 0.5% to 2.5% bile salt concentrations. Lactic acid bacteria were susceptible to antibiotics, and 35 isolates obtained from raw milk showed an inhibitory effect against pathogenic bacteria. The observed minimum inhibitory concentration ranged from 50 to 100 µL and varied between the different pathogens. Conclusion: Out of 41 Lactobacillus isolates obtained from cow milk samples, 35 were identified with probiotic characteristics. Hence, this study highlighted the novel probiotic bacteria and validated the antimicrobial properties of the Lactobacillus spp against pathogenic bacteria.
Planting the Seeds: Insights for Researchers Interested in Working With Indigenous Peoples
Authors: Macklin Christopher David , Marchand Chris , Mitchell Eric , Price Roberta , Mitchell Vanessa , Bryant Leslie
Published: February 2021

Health research in Canada carries a history of exploitation and cultural insensitivity in its approaches, resulting in a deeply rooted mistrust among Indigenous Peoples. Communities are signalling the urgent need for health research to be conducted in a more conscientious way. To address these gaps, our team of three Elders and three researchers co-developed a series of workshops in the province of British Columbia, Canada, in 2019 to increase participants’ knowledge and skills for conducting culturally responsive health research. Workshops examined power and privilege; self-awareness/self-reflection; Indigenous and Western worldviews; cultural safety; allyship; and research principles and practices. Activities were experiential and privileged Indigenous knowledges. An Indigenous-informed evaluation captured participants’ experiences via online surveys. Participants described workshop learnings as deeply impacting ways they approach research practice. Thematic analysis of participant reflections revealed three overarching themes: bringing together the mind and the heart; self-reflection and initiating change; and understanding cultural safety as a lifelong journey. Lessons learned by facilitators included the importance of applying Indigenous ways of knowing to create safe spaces for healing and learning; empowering participants to critically self-reflect; and rooting the work in ceremony. The ethical responsibility to allow time and space for meaningful dialogue was crucial for aligning with Indigenous protocols of coming together. This project demonstrates that experiential workshops, co- facilitated by Elders and researchers, are an innovative, effective, and Indigenous-centred approach for providing education on how to engage in culturally safe and culturally resonant research.
Collaborative and Systems Approach to Transforming Primary Health Care in Manitoba First Nations Communities
Authors: Kyoon-Achan Grace
Published: February 2021

The models of primary health care currently operating in First Nations communities are rooted in policies that were crafted without prior appropriate consultations. Many have continued to be applied even though they no longer adequately serve the needs of First Nations communities and people, if they ever did. Transforming primary health care will necessarily involve community- inclusive and self-determined reviewing of existing policies with a goal of implementing opportunities to update policies and models of care. This study was a partnership with university-based researchers, a First Nations health and social development entity separately established by a regional organization of First Nations Chiefs, and eight First Nations communities. A multi-pronged methodology was used in which five concurrent studies employing qualitative, quantitative, and case-study methods provided information on the primary health care experiences of First Nations and rural and remote communities. The program of research took a community-based participatory approach to engage participants in designing and carrying out data gathering while strengthening local capacity and encouraging long-term ownership of the process of research for change. Participating communities pointed out key setbacks to community- based primary health care, including differing models of care, jurisdictional complexities, funding that creates isolated programs within the same community, lack of promotion of cooperation among health care services, and a general acute approach to health care service delivery in the community. These barriers are both problems and opportunities for change. A borderless health care system that is jurisdictionally seamless and that promotes collaboration through cooperative funding models that reflect community priorities is recommended and advocated for all Manitoba First Nations communities.
From Breath to Beadwork: Lessons Learned From a Trauma- Informed Yoga Series With Indigenous Adolescent Girls Under Youth Protection
Authors: Barudin Jessica Willow Grace
Published: February 2021

This paper explores the promising practice of an emerging culturally adapted, trauma-informed yoga program for Indigenous adolescent girls. I draw from my experiential learning during a series of 12 yoga sessions over 2018 and 2019 with eight Indigenous girls (ages 13–17) from rural and remote Inuit communities in Quebec, Canada. Participants had experienced varying degrees of child maltreatment and interaction with the child welfare system, and they were all under the care of youth protection services in a residential facility. The yoga and mindfulness intervention provided weekly 60-minute sessions in the residential unit. Yoga sessions integrated a blended model of cultural teachings, group dialogue, and trauma-informed yoga. The approach included circle sharing, cultural teachings, gentle progressions of physical postures, guided meditation, breathing techniques, centring practices, and beadwork. This promising practice explores trauma-informed yoga as a strengths-based community strategy for relational healing that promotes cultural connectedness, safety, and resilience among Indigenous adolescent girls removed from their rural and remote communities to a residential facility in an urban area. This paper outlines an introductory framework for health professionals, paraprofessionals, program administrators, and staff working with Indigenous children and youth in residential facilities. Specifically, this promising practice builds on existing findings of trauma-informed yoga with adolescents, as well as movement and centring approaches through an Indigenous lens of relational healing.
The The Violence of Colonization and the Importance of Decolonizing Therapeutic Relationship: The Role of Helper in Centring Indigenous Wisdom
Authors: Dupuis-Rossi Riel
Published: February 2021

Engaging existing literature and current mainstream frontline health and mental health practice, this article expands research on the impact of colonization and mainstream mental health practices on Indigenous clients. Through this process, it creates new ground on which decolonizing therapeutic responses to ongoing attempted genocide are introduced, described, and developed. I identify the brutality of historical and contemporary colonization as one of the major influences in undermining Indigenous clients’ health and wellbeing—a perspective that decentres and resists individualistic pathologizing that is the focal point of mainstream psychiatric diagnoses and treatment. I also illustrate the negative impacts of psychiatric assessment for Indigenous clients and demonstrate how mainstream mental health practices, in not acknowledging colonization as the context for Indigenous clients’ suffering, are implicated in ongoing enactments of colonial oppression. The mainstream assessment of Indigenous clients’ suicidality as an individualized mental health disorder is also problematized. I conclude by centring Indigenous ways of knowing and culture in the promotion of health and wellbeing for Indigenous clients.
Forced or Coerced Sterilization in Canada: An Overview of Recommendations for Moving Forward
Authors: Shawana Christine , Ryan Chaneesa , Ali Abrar
Published: February 2021

Between 2015 and 2019, over 100 Indigenous women from six provinces and two territories have come forward to say that they were forced or coerced to undergo a sterilization procedure in Canada. Despite this, government action is lacking. Through this paper, the research team aims to collect and synthesize the recommendations that have been made in response to the recent cases of forced or coerced sterilization of Indigenous women in Canada. Through a secondary analysis of data, we outline the findings of a thematic analysis of 162 recommendations from four selected sources: (a) Tubal Ligation in the Saskatoon Health Region: The Lived Experience of Aboriginal Women, an external review by Senator Yvonne Boyer and Dr. Judith Bartlett, July 22, 2017; (b) a meeting of the Senate Committee on Human Rights, April 3, 2019; (c) meetings of the House of Commons Standing Committee on Health, June 13 and 18, 2019; and (d) a letter from Bill Casey, Member of Parliament and Chair of the House of Commons Standing Committee on Health, to three federal ministers, August 2, 2019. Seven themes emerged following the thematic analysis of the 162 recommendations: (a) Services and Supports (b)Accountability, (c) Training and Education, (d) Legislation and Policy, (e) Criminalization, (f) Data Collection, and g) Investigation. These themes represent seven areas where immediate government action is required to meaningfully and appropriately respond to the recent cases of forced or coerced sterilization of First Nations, Inuit, and Metis women in Canada.
Editorial
Authors: Isaac-Mann Sonia , Adams Evan , Mala Ted
Published: February 2021

Welcome to this two-part guest edition of the International Journal of Indigenous Health (IJIH), produced by the First Nations Health Authority (FNHA) in the province of British Columbia (BC), Canada. As guest co-editors, we are pleased to present to you this collection of research, promising and wise practices, innovations, and Indigenous Knowledge on health and wellness. These papers constitute a substantive contribution to, as our call for submissions framed it, “Health Systems Innovation: Privileging Indigenous Knowledge, Ensuring Respectful Care, and Ending Racism toward Indigenous Peoples in Service Delivery.”
Entsisewata’karí:teke (You Will Be Healthy Again): Clinical Outcomes of Returning to a Traditional Haudenosaunee Diet
Authors: De Souza Russell Jude , Bilodeau Nicole M , Gordon Kelly , Davis A Darlene , Stearns Jennifer C , Cranmer-Byng Mary , Gasparelli Katie , Davis Hill Lori , Anand Sonia Savitri
Published: February 2021

Haudenosaunee Peoples of eastern North America have a strong agricultural tradition and culture associated with maize horticulture. Traditional foodways and diet were disrupted after the people were dispossessed from traditional lands maintained prior to colonization. As a result, Haudenosaunee have been disconnected from their traditional diet and lifestyle, and chronic diseases such as diabetes and obesity are increasing. Healthy Roots was developed in Six Nations of the Grand River territory by Haudenosaunee community members. It started as a 90-day challenge, in which participants adhere to a diet of traditional foods found in Haudenosaunee territories pre-European contact. The community decided to formally evaluate the impact of the diet in a pilot pre–post intervention study of 22 participants in 2016/17. We investigated the effects of the 3-month dietary intervention on physical measurements, ectopic fat (including visceral and liver adipose tissue), serum lipids, and hemoglobin A1c among Haudenosaunee participants in Six Nations. We provided biweekly Haudenosaunee food boxes, and offered workshops, cooking classes, and individual support from a dietitian. The intervention reduced body weight, body circumferences including waist circumference, hemoglobin A1c, and MRI-detected hepatic fat fraction. There were no adverse events. Engagement in the program was high and trends favoured improved well-being. The intervention shows great potential as a mechanism for improving physical health and restoring cultural connectedness and identity. The implications for improving mental health and community cohesion are also important areas to consider in future research.
Bringing Ethics Review Home to Cowichan: Indigenizing Ethics Review in British Columbia, Canada
Authors: Cowichan Tribes
Published: February 2021

Cowichan Tribes’ territory, located in the Cowichan Valley on Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada, is experiencing an alarmingly high rate of preterm births compared to the national average of Indigenous Peoples in Canada. In response, and in partnership with the First Nations Health Authority (FNHA), Cowichan Tribes is in the first year of a 3-year study to investigate causes. Cowichan Tribes’ Elders and community members are guiding the study to ensure it follows Cowichan Tribes’ research processes and to support self- determination in research. Furthermore, as a way to enhance reconciliation, Elders and community members guided an on-site ethics review on Cowichan Tribes territory. This article outlines the collaborative, in-person research ethics review process that Cowichan Tribes, Island Health, and FNHA completed on August 21, 2019. The purpose of this article is to provide suggestions other First Nations could use when conducting a research ethics review, and to explain how this process aligns with the principles of ownership, control, access, and possession (OCAP®), the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada, and above all, the Cowichan snuw’uy’ulh (teachings from Elders).
Urban Land-Based Healing: A Northern Intervention Strategy
Authors: Redvers Nicole , Nadeau Melanie , Prince Donald
Published: February 2021

Urban Indigenous populations face significant health and social disparities across Canada. With high rates of homelessness and substance use, there are often few options for urban Indigenous Peoples to access land-based healing programs despite the increasingly known and appreciated benefits. In May 2018, the first urban land-based healing camp opened in Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, Canada, one of the first to our knowledge in Canada or the United States. This camp may serve as a potential model for an Indigenous-led and Indigenous-based healing camp in an urban setting. We present preliminary outcome data from the healing camp in a setting with a high-risk population struggling with substance use and homelessness. Reflections are presented for challenging logistical and methodological considerations for applications elsewhere. This northern effort affords us ample opportunity for expanding the existing knowledge base for land- based healing applied to an urban Indigenous high-risk setting.
Collaborative Data Governance to Support First Nations-Led Overdose Surveillance and Data Analysis in British Columbia, Canada
Authors: Sabeti Soha , Xavier Chloé , Slaunwhite Amanda , Meilleur Louise , MacDougall Laura , Vaghela Snehal , McKenzie Davis , Kuo Margot , Kendall Perry , Aiken Ciaran , Gilbert Mark , McDonald Shannon , Henry Bonnie
Published: February 2021

First Nations Peoples in the province of British Columbia (BC), Canada, have been disproportionately affected by the overdose crisis. In 2016, a public health emergency was declared by BC’s Provincial Health Officer (PHO) in response to the significant rise in opioid-related overdose deaths reported in BC. New surveillance systems were required to identify trends in overdose events and related deaths in the province as a whole, and for First Nations Peoples. Data sharing and analysis processes that adhered to the principles of OCAP® (ownership, control, access, and possession), and to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada’s Calls to Action, needed to be developed. The First Nations Health Authority (FNHA), BC Centre for Disease Control, PHO, and the BC Ministry of Health have worked collaboratively to facilitate identification of First Nations persons in surveillance data for appropriate analysis by FNHA. This paper outlines the data stewardship and governance context, principles, and operational considerations for creating overdose surveillance systems to measure overdose events among First Nations Peoples in BC.
Promoting Healthy Medication Use Through Indigenous Knowledge Sharing: A Coyote Story
Authors: Gaspard Gina , Gadsby Carrie , Preston Cindy
Published: February 2021

Polypharmacy is the administration of more medications than clinically required or appropriate, and it can negatively impact wellness. Prescribers, pharmacists, nurses, and those receiving care services all have an important role to play in promoting healthy medication use and minimizing the risk related to polypharmacy. Medication management involves health care professionals regularly reviewing drug therapies with patients for any needed changes. This strategy is a key way to reduce the harms of polypharmacy. A review of the First Nations Health Authority Health Benefits Claims data in 2015 confirmed that polypharmacy is an issue for First Nations in British Columbia, Canada. This was further validated in a series of meetings held in four First Nations communities. The learnings from these meetings were that many people do not know the names of their medications, the reasons for taking them, or how to advocate for themselves during health care interactions. A unique strategy was needed to both encourage and empower First Nations and Indigenous people to discuss managing their medications, and to support health care professionals to better understand how to engage First Nations patients about their medications.
Climate Change and Vibrio cholerae in Herring Eggs: The Role of Indigenous Communities in Public Health Outbreak Responses
Authors: Abernethy Paivi , Waters Shannon , Kulchyski Tim , Rolston Dave , Swinkels Helena , Luttrell Gethsemane , Pillsworth Linda
Published: February 2021

Climate change brings about novel types of public health emergencies. Unforeseen challenges put additional pressure on health systems and require innovative approaches to address emerging needs. The health of Indigenous Peoples is particularly impacted by the changing climate, because of their close connection to the land. For instance, the physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual well-being of coastal First Nations in British Columbia (BC), Canada, is interconnected with the abundance of healthy marine food sources that form the base of local traditional diets. The 2018 discovery of Vibrio cholerae illness in those who had eaten contaminated herring eggs not only had a clinical health impact but also created concerns for the safety of local food systems. The limited magnitude of the outbreak demonstrates the critical importance of collaborative partnerships between coastal First Nations communities in BC and health authorities working together in outbreak investigations. Yet, the lack of procedures that address cultural and institutional differences led to unnecessary discrepancies in the approach. This paper introduces the public health intervention used during the first ever Vibrio cholerae outbreak in coastal BC. The intervention has the potential to inform best practices when developing emergency response protocols potentially affecting Indigenous people and traditional foods. In this qualitative case study of the formal institutional documents and narratives of the key partners involved in the response, we assess the intervention, highlight the challenges and enablers, share lessons learned, and identify knowledge requirements to improve confidence in the traditional food system and support early warning systems.
Putting Indigenous Harm Reduction to Work: Developing and Evaluating “Not Just Naloxone”
Authors: Medley Andrea , Levine Sarah , Norton Alexa
Published: February 2021

First Nations people and communities have long been championing the provision of holistic, self-determining, culturally safe, and responsive health care. In April 2016, a catastrophic rise in illicit drug overdose deaths in the province of British Columbia (BC), Canada, led to the declaration of a public health emergency. Due to the compounding historical and ongoing impacts of colonialism, including trauma and inequitable access to health services, First Nations people in BC are disproportionately impacted by this crisis. In response, the First Nations Health Authority created Not Just Naloxone (NJN), a train-the-trainer workshop designed to build Indigenous harm reduction knowledge and skills within First Nations communities. This article describes the NJN program and presents the results of a follow-up evaluation of 37 participants from six NJN workshops held between December 2017 and October 2018. Core strengths of the training included an Indigenized approach and the opportunity to build networks of support. Respondents reported increased knowledge and confidence presenting about harm reduction and feeling more prepared to respond to overdoses. Areas for improvement included maintaining up-to-date training materials and navigating emotional triggers for participants. Trainees went on to train over 2,400 community members in naloxone and Indigenous harm reduction, and reported that communities’ awareness and attitudes around harm reduction began to change. Challenges providing community trainings included buy-in from local leadership and persistent abstinence-based beliefs. This evaluation demonstrates the impact of holistic, culturally safe harm reduction training and the need for a connected community of Indigenous harm reduction champions.
Introduction
Authors: Jock Richard , Erickson Colleen
Published: February 2021

On behalf of the First Nations Health Authority (FNHA) in British Columbia (BC), and FNHA’s Board of Directors, we welcome you to this two-part guest edition of the International Journal of Indigenous Health (IJIH): “Health Systems Innovation: Privileging Indigenous Knowledge, Ensuring Respectful Care, and Ending Racism toward Indigenous Peoples in Service Delivery.” This guest edition encompasses two issues, “Honouring the Sacred Fire: Ending SystemicRacism toward Indigenous Peoples” and “Wisdom of the Elders: Honouring Spiritual Laws in Indigenous Knowledge,” which address significant determinants of Indigenous Peoples’ health, and issues in health systems here in Canada and globally.
Effect of Plant Spacing on the Growth and Yield of Rainfed Rice (Oryza Sativa) in the Bimodal Rain Forest Zone of Cameroon
Authors: Marie-Noel Melie Feyem , Joseph Bell Martin , Liliane Tanzi , Felix Foncha , Dorothy Malaa , Prince Salvador Djouffo
Published: February 2021

A study was carried out on plant density at the experimental field of the Institute of Agricultural Research for Development (IRAD) Nkolbisson, Yaoundé to determine the appropriate spacing to improve rainfed rice production in the bimodal rainfall forest zone of Cameroon. The experiment was conducted during the main cropping seasons of 2017 and 2018. The planting spacing used were 15cm x 15cm, 20cm x 20cm, 25cm x 25cm and 30cm x 30cm giving the plant populations of 444444, 250000, 160,000 and 111,111 plants / ha respectively using two varieties (Nerica 3 and Nerica 8). The experiment was laid out in a randomized complete block design with three replications. Significant differences were observed in the growth and yield across the years. Treatments were highly significant concerning the number of days to the appearance of the first flower, the number of days to 50% flowering, and the number of days to 50 % maturity. Plants were taller with more tillers and gave higher yields in 2017 than those of 2018. The spacing significantly affected the plant height, number of tillers, and panicle length for both varieties. The interaction of spacing and variety was significant for the number of tillers per m2 and the number of seeds per panicle, however, it was not for the weight of 1000 grains and the percentage of full bales. The yield components determining yield increase were the number of panicles / m2 and the number of seeds/panicles. Nerica 3 variety gave higher yields compared to the Nerica 8, the closer the spacing, the higher the yield. There were a strong significance and positive correlation between yield, number of panicles, and the number of grain per panicle. The spacing that gives the highest number of panicle per m2 was 15 cm X 15 cm and this spacing gave good yield in the region where the study was carried out.
HUMAN-COMPUTER INTERACTION IN MEDICAL EDUCATION
Authors: Mohamed Mustafa M. A. , Darabee Hatem A. M. , Soykan Emrah
Published: February 2021

Background: As a pivotal and critical constituent of medical education, notable human-computer interaction (HCI) conduct emphasizes attention for building a domain in which each and every employee develops and excels. HCI, as is always an essential partner in medical field, is here understood as the central idea or the thematic statement of the study.

Aim: The aim is to summarize the analysis of the selected sample into a compound article that move within the circle of human-computer interaction in medical education.

Sample: The study was conducted as a review of 55 articles selected from refined 250 ones, within the concept of technology in medicine in a period of 3 years (2016-2019).

Design and methods: descriptive approach is used through an evaluative analysis, where literature review is considered as a tool for data collection.
MA STUDENTS’ VIEWS ON THE LECTURERS’ USE OF POWERPOINT PRESENTATIONS IN ONLINE LIVE LECTURES DURING THE COVID-19 LOCKDOWN
Authors: Günhan Aslı Kasabalı , Köprülü Fatma
Published: February 2021

PowerPoint Presentations have been one of the content delivery tools used heavily by the lecturers in online live lectures during the Covid-19 lockdown.  They were chosen by the lecturers for the delivery of the lessons with the belief that they provide an effective visual support and organization of the content.  However, do students have the same views on the use of PowerPoint presentations? The study aimed to present the views of  MA students’ on the lecturers’use of PowerPoint presentations during online live lectures.To meet the aim of this research, qualitative research method was used.  Data obtained fromstructured interviews which consisted of 4 open-ended questions.  Participants presented their views on the use of Power Point presentations during live lectures in terms of positive and negative sides mentioning the problems, if any, and their suggestions to those problems.The study group was comprised of 16 MA students who were studying at Near East University during the Spring term of the academic year 2019-2020.Results of the research indicated that in MA students’ views, the use of materials presented through PowerPoint proves to be practical in the lesson, offers visual richness while at the same time providing efficient monitoring and evaluation.

 

Key words: PowerPoint presentations, online live lecture, Covid-19
CONTENT ANALYSIS STUDY FOR THE STUDIES DONE ON PARENTAL EDUCATION
Authors: Sorakın Yasemin , Çerkez Yağmur
Published: February 2021

The aim of this study is to analyze the studies which were carried out for the education of both mother and father in respect of content analysis. This research is a document review type study. The current study is limited to and analyzed by 150 articles that were published in the database of Web of Science, Scopus, EBSCO and Ulakbim between the years 2008-2018. The articles were evaluated in terms of year of publication, country, method and sample group in accordance with the main objective. Based on this analysis, it was detected that the studies that were carried out regarding the education of mother is higher than the education of father. Furthermore, it was detected that the studies were carried out in the year 2017 mostly. Considering the analyses that were carried out, it was observed that mostly mother, subsequently father and child groups as sample groups were included in these studies. It was also detected that the studies were carried out mostly as quantitative research method. Moreover, it was specified in the reviewed databases that the studies regarding the issues of education of mother and father were implemented in America mostly.

 

Key Words: Mother’s Education, Father’s Education, Parental Education
ANXIETY AND SUBJECTIVE WELL-BEING RELATIONSHIP IN INDIVIDUALS WITH VISUALLY IMPAIRED PARENTS
Authors: Ulu Ezgi , Haksal Mehmet Eyüp
Published: February 2021

The aim of this study is to examine the anxiety and subjective well-being levels of individuals between the ages of 18-30, whose mothers and fathers are visually impaired and who do not have any disabilities in themselves. 50 individuals were participated in the study whose both of their parents are visually impaired. Research data were collected using the Beck Anxiety and Subjective Well-being Scale. SPSS 25.0 software was used to analyze the data. As a result of the study, it was found that the congenital condition of the parents’ visual impairment did not make a difference in the registration level of the individuals, but the congenital state of the mother's visual impairment made a difference in subjective well-being. In addition, a negative, weak and significant relationship was found between individuals' anxiety and subjective well-being levels. It is thought that supporting the children of visually impaired parents from birth will play a protective role for the high anxiety they may cause in the future.

Keywords: Visually Impaired, Anxiety, Subjective well-being
EVALUATING THE CONTENT OF TEACHER CANDIDATES’ COURSE BOOKS ACCORDING TO VISUAL DESIGN ELEMENTS
Authors: Demir Burak , Baştaş Mert , Yücesoy Yücehan
Published: February 2021

Abstract

Textbooks are one of the indispensable materials of educational life, even if the technology has developed, textbooks from past to present are still among the most basic building blocks of education and it can be said that they will continue in this way in the future, and in this research, social studies textbooks taught in schools in the Republic of Turkey and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus are intended to be evaluated by teacher candidates for visual design principles. Alpan (2004) was used in the research, which is the visual design scale of "Graphic/Visual Design Principles Scale for Textbooks". The score of the scale is calculated as "Yes" option is calculated as 2 points, "Partially" option is calculated as 1 point and "No" option is calculated as 0 points. The data obtained as a result of the research were evaluated by scoring between 1-10. According to the result of the evaluation of the teacher candidates from the research, it was determined that the books had different levels of averages according to the scale dimensions but were quite suitable as a general line.

 

Keywords: Education, Social Studies, Visual Design
EXAMINATION OF GRADUATE THESES CONDUCTED ON PRESCHOOL INCLUSION BETWEEN 2016-2020 IN TURKEY
Authors: Özçelik Mahide , Demirok Mukaddes Sakallı
Published: February 2021

The aim of this study is to examine the current research trends in graduate theses on preschool inclusion in Turkey. Document analysis technique, one of the qualitative research methods, was used in the research. It was carried out on 31 graduate theses, which were obtained as a result of scanning the thesis archive of the Higher Education Council (YÖK) and were open to access between 2016 to 2020. The search was carried out by typing "pre-school integration" into the search engine of the Higher Education Institution's thesis archive. The theses included in the study were analyzed using the thesis analysis form prepared beforehand by the researchers. In the prepared form, the theses were analyzed according to the year, thesis level, university, institute, department, thesis supervisor title, research model, number of participants, data collection tool, data analysis method, and domestic and foreign references. The findings obtained within the framework of the examination were interpreted with percentage and frequency tables, and recommendations were made for future research.

Key Words: Mainstreaming, preschool, thesis, document analysis.
THE INFLUENCE OF PARENTAL EDUCATION ON THE ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION OF PRE-SCHOOLERS: A CASE STUDY OF SELF-DESIGNED PICTURE BOOK
Authors: Fang Shyang-Chyuan
Published: February 2021

Environmental problems nowadays pose threats to the sustainability of environment, such as global warming, urban air pollution, water scarcity, environmental noise, and biodiversity loss. The root cause of those problems is human behavior. Inspiring the interest of preschoolers is crucial in their future cognition of the environment. This research discussed the influence of parent-child reading on the children’s environmental interest. It also integrated environmental education into the learning process of preschoolers more comprehensively and continuously. A questionnaire was used for data collection and the data were analyzed using Smart PLS 2.0. The results show that personality trait, visual attention, and expression of ideas have statistical significance in terms of the children’s learning attitude. The picture book designed in this study can improve the pro-environmental behavior after parent-child reading. Keywords: parent-child reading, picture book, environmental education, pro-environmental behavior, parenting education.
DESIGN, DEVELOPMENT AND EVALUATION OF A PROBLEM-BASED WITH COOPERATIVE MODULE ON SCIENTIFIC CREATIVITY OF PRE-SCHOOLERS
Authors: Siew Nyet Moi , Chin Mui Ken
Published: February 2021

The purpose of this research was to design and develop a teaching and learning module using Problem-Based Learning and Cooperative Learning (PBL-CL) and evaluate its effects on scientific creativity of pre-schoolers. The module was developed using the ADDIE instructional design model which included five phases: Analysis, Design, Development, Implementation, and Evaluation. Formative evaluation was conducted to determine the reliability, content validity, pedagogical usability and pre-schoolers’ acceptability of the module, which involved five subject matter experts, 10 pre-school teachers, and 30 six-year-old pre-schoolers. The results of formative evaluation indicated an acceptable reliability, good content validity, high acceptability among the pre-schoolers, and high level of pedagogical usability. Finally, a pre- and post-test non-equivalent control group quasi experiment design was employed to determine the effects of the PBL-CL module. A total of 144 six-year-old pre-schoolers from three pre-schools were randomly assigned to PBL-CL group (n=72) and control group (n=72). The finding of Paired Sample T-test and Independent T-test established the effects of the PBL-CL module and would therefore represent a reliable, credible, and effective teaching and learning module for fostering scientific creativity among pre-schoolers. Keywords: ADDIE model, cooperative learning, teaching and learning module, pre-schoolers, problem-based learning, scientific creativity.
TEACHING PHYSICS WITH SIMULATIONS: TEACHER-CENTERED VERSUS STUDENT-CENTERED APPROACHES
Authors: Dervić Dževdeta , Salibašić Glamočić Džana , Gazibegović-Busuladžić Azra , Mešić Vanes
Published: February 2021

Teaching and learning with simulations is widely used in today's classrooms. Therefore, it is important to examine the factors that potentially influence the effectiveness of simulation-based teaching environments. The aim of this research was to compare the effectiveness of teacher-centered and student-centered Physlet-based classes about one-dimensional kinematics at the level of upper-secondary school. The student sample consisted of 43 students (mostly 15-year-olds). Within the teacher-centered approach the teacher ran and controlled the simulations, and students watched the simulations on the projection screen. In the student-centered approach the students had the opportunity to work through the simulations on their computers. At the post-test, students from the teacher-centered approach outperformed their peers when it comes to conceptual understanding of kinematics, but students from the students-centered approach were more successful in solving quantitative problems. The results of this research support the idea that a progression from teacher-centered to student-centered approach may be optimal for learning novel concepts.
Keywords: cognitive load theory, teaching materials, teaching strategies, kinematics simulations
THE COMPARISON OF OR-IPA TEACHING MODEL AND PROBLEM BASED LEARNING MODEL EFFECTIVENESS TO IMPROVE CRITICAL THINKING SKILLS OF PRE-SERVICE PHYSICS TEACHERS
Authors: Jatmiko Budi , Prahani Binar Kurnia , Munasir Munasir , Imam Supardi Z. A. , Wicaksono Iwan , Erlina Nia , Pandiangan Paken , Althaf Rosyid , Zainuddin Zainuddin
Published: February 2021

Critical thinking skills are one of the 21st century skills that are effectively trained by using the OR-IPA and Problem Based Learning (PBL) Model, therefore this research aims to compare the effectiveness of both. Research design used True Experiment with Randomized Subject Control-group Pre-test and Post-test with 94 pre-service physics teachers. Data collected using the critical thinking skills test and the student response sheet, and then analyzed using t-test and N-gain. The results showed: (1) the teaching instruments of OR-IPA and PBL Model have fulfilled the validity requirements (rα ~ .26) and reliability (α = .96 - .99). (2) Each of OR-IPA, PBL, and Conventional Model can significantly increase critical thinking skills at α = 5%, respectively with average N-gain: medium (.60), medium (.48), and low (.14); with the student response of: very positive, very positive, and less positive. (3) The OR-IPA and PBL Model are effective to improve critical thinking skills, while the Conventional Model is ineffective, and the OR-IPA Model is more effective compared to the PBL Model. Implication of this research is that the OR-IPA Model can be an innovative solution to improve critical thinking skills, but there is still a need for repetitive research like this. Keywords: basic physics, critical thinking skills, OR-IPA model, pre-service physics teachers, and PBL model.
SAUDI CHILDREN’S TAXONOMIC KNOWLEDGE OF ANIMAL SPECIES
Authors: Alanazi Fayadh Hamed
Published: February 2021

The purpose of this research was to explore and compare the ideas of Saudi boys and girls on animal species. Eighty-four children (comprising 42 boys and 42 girls), aged nine years, from four primary schools, participated in structured interviews to determine their ideas pertaining to taxonomic labels, namely ‘animal’, ‘fish’, ‘amphibian’, ‘reptile’, ‘bird’, ‘mammal’, and ‘insect’. The results demonstrated that Saudi children of both genders display a wide range of alternative conceptions; more specifically, the effect of gender was significant for all taxonomic vertebrate labels, suggesting that Saudi boys have better knowledge relating to animals than girls. However, generally, children did not have adequate forms of reasoning for biological classification. It was also found that none of the fourth graders thought of humans as animals due to the Islamic science worldview. Based on these findings, it is argued that science education, notably in an international context, should strive to incorporate an understanding of local values and beliefs. Keywords: early year's science, animal taxonomy, socio-cultural perspective, Islamic science worldview
DIFFERENTIATION IN SAUDI PRE-SERVICE SCIENCE TEACHER PROGRAM
Authors: Alghamdi Amani K. Hamdan , Azam Saiqa
Published: February 2021

Saudi students’ science academic performance has declined as evidenced by (TIMSS). Saudi science teachers are characterized as using the lecture format without considering individual student differences and failing to provide differentiated Method (DM). This paper reports on an effort to help female Saudi pre-service science teachers (PSST) develop DI knowledge and skills, striving to discern how they understood and practiced differentiation during their field experience after completing a specially-designed DM-focused university course. A mixed method research design followed a sequential, connected approach wherein quantitative data were collected through classroom observations (N=47) using a Likert scale observation instrument followed by qualitative interviews (n=11). The pre and post averages of differentiated teaching skills in the DM planning stage were statistically significant (p=.0001). The PSSTs moved from very small to moderate mastery on virtually all 10 planning items, from 1.75 to 2.99 on a five-point Likert scale. The DM implementation stage (20 items) also reflected a statistically significant difference with scores moving from 1.68 to 3.01 (moderate mastery). Interview qualitative data confirmed and elucidated the quantitative results. The course was deemed effective in developing PSSTs’ differentiated teaching skills (statistically significant, p=.01). Teaching PSSTs about DM should improve Saudi students’ science academic achievement. Keywords: differentiation, pre-service science teachers, teacher education, Saudi Arabia, TIMSS.
A DESCRIPTION OF VISUAL LITERACY AMONG THIRD YEAR BIOCHEMISTRY STUDENTS
Authors: Mnguni Lindelani
Published: February 2021

The use of visual models in teaching, learning and research has increased. Consequently, students have to develop various new competencies including visual literacy in order to learn efficiently. However, visual literacy among biochemistry students is not well documented. Using quantitative research methodology, the current research was aimed at determining visual literacy among biochemistry students. The participants were 74 purposefully selected third year undergraduate biochemistry students from the University of KwaZulu-Natal. The data were collected using a Senior Aptitude test and BioVisual Literacy test. The results show that students performed well in the sub-sections of the Senior Aptitude test including patterns test and spatial perception 2D test. They had difficulties with non-verbal reasoning with figures and spatial visualization 3D tests, as well as with the BioVisual Literacy tests. The results suggest that students generally have poor visual literacy, which could affect their ability to comprehend content knowledge in biochemistry.
Keywords: biochemistry, biovisual literacy, senior aptitude, visual literacy, visuo-spatial abilities.