bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
GÖÇLE GELEN NÜFUSUN EĞİTİM SEVİYESİNİN İL YAŞAM STANDARDI ÜZERİNDEKİ ETKİLERİNİN AMPİRİK ANALİZİ
Authors: TAŞTEKİN Nevin , ÇAĞATAY Selim , ARIK Şebnem
Published: October 2023

Türkiye’de iç göçün temel nedeni bireylerin içinde bulunduğu ekonomik koşulları bir anlamda yaşam standartlarını değiştirme isteğidir. Bireyler göç kararı verirken sadece kendi koşullarını değil, çocuklarının eğitimini, ulaşım koşullarını, sosyal statü ve ilişkilerini ve hatta iklim koşullarını da göz önünde bulundurmaktadırlar. Bu çalışmada, 81 ili kapsayan, sosyal refahı yansıtacak göstergeler ele alınarak bir yaşam standardı endeksi yaratılmıştır. Bu endeksin açıklanan değişken olduğu bir ekonometrik modelde, açıklayıcı değişkenler olarak göçle gelen ve lokal nüfusun eğitim seviyelerinin, kent ekonomik büyüklüğünün yaşam standardını ne şekilde etkilediği incelenmiştir. Sabit etkili panel modelin kullanıldığı, il düzeyinde incelemelerin yapıldığı çalışmada farklı cinsiyet ve eğitim düzeylerinden oluşan göçmenlerin yaşam standartları üzerinde negatif etki yarattığı gözlenmiştir. Bunun temel sebebinin göçmenlerin geldikleri illerde hemen istihdama katılamamaları olarak öngörülmektedir.
Addressing the Barriers to Design-Thinking Driven Problem Solving in Higher Education
Authors: Finnegan-Kessie Threase , Vaugh Trevor , White Amalia , Baker Síofra
Published: October 2023

The Higher Education structure was believed to be established to protect itself from either internally or externally motivated change. As time has progressed, ‘change’ has begun to trickle into Higher Education Institutions, with the belief that individuals with characteristics synonymous with ‘innovators’ have spurred change in this space. For Design Thinking to become the primary mode for problem-solving in relation to curriculum and learning design, we must first understand current staff members’ experiences of making changes within Higher Education, and identify the behaviours, attitudes and structural processes involved in making change. This paper will address the following research questions: Through understanding the barriers to making change currently experienced by Higher Educations staff, what can we do to create an environment where the principles of Design and Design Thinking can be fully embraced by members of the Higher Education community? This paper presents the findings from a qualitative research project conducted by the authors, where 32 members of staff in a selected Higher Education Institution were interviewed to understand their experiences of making changes to their teaching and working practices. Emphasis is placed on understanding the barriers to making change, namely: the embedded conservatism in Higher Education and associated fear of change; committee structures; energy; the current institutional understanding of ‘collaboration,’ and; the Institution’s commitment to making change. Drawing on the findings of this research, three actionable insights will be presented which will help Design and Design Thinking methods become embraced in terms of further developing teaching, learning, and working practices in Higher Education.
The Conceptualisation of the E(ducation)-Pizza Game as a Radical Collaborative Thinking and Curriculum and Learning Design Transformation Tool
Authors: Nerantzi Chrissi , McDonald Damian , Hammersley John , Briggs Sarah
Published: October 2023

A cross-disciplinary team of educators and Education Services staff at the University of Leeds collaborated with students to co-create a game which can be used to foster curriculum and learning conversations in playful and liberating ways. Inspired by the concept of food as a connector, the project used pizza and its toppings as a metaphor for a game design which fosters radical collaboration, exploration, and democratic participation, where all voices and perspectives matter. The game is designed to enable small groups to create their own pizza representing their university experience, a programme of study, a module, or a specific pedagogic dimension of one of those experiences, such as assessment, or personal tutoring. This contribution reports on the first three stages of the game design process namely the concept identification, research and defining game mechanics and the human-centred design process and experiences of the project team and what has been learnt so far.
Beyond the survey: Service design approaches to inclusive programme review
Authors: Newton Radka , Doherty Michael
Published: October 2023

The paper outlines the potential of service design as an approach to transformational review of students’ experiences on University degree programmes. The paper presents the Inclusive Programme Review method that has been developed as a human-centered approach to understanding holistic student experience during their programme of study. The focus of the paper is on the divergent stage of gathering insights through collaborative generative sessions between students and programme teams who co-create boundary objects as a means of communication and shared understanding as well as a stimulus for value-add improvements on the degree programme. The paper challenges the dominant methods of transactional student surveys that generate impersonal facts, depriving educators of a deeper understanding of their heterogeneous cohorts. The aim is to explore the potential of service design, in particular through persona co-creation and emotional journey mapping, to stimulate empathy and purposeful student-staff engagement complementing survey results and feedback forms. The paper showcases the utility of these service design methods not only within formal curriculum design, but also in the overall management and practical delivery of degree programmes. The innovative practice presented here celebrates students’ agency and empowerment for change and contribution to their University experience. This practice is outlined step-by-step, and accompanied by reflections and visual representations, so that any educator is able to apply it to their own context.
Design Thinking in the Executive MBA
Authors: DeClercq Cheri , Gretter Sarah
Published: October 2023

This article describes the redesign of a Strategic Vision course in an Executive Master of Business Administration (EMBA) program in the United States, and the subsequent use of design thinking as a critical problem-solving tool in the program itself. Using Design Thinking as the curricular framework, this experiential course aims to introduce business executives to solving business challenges through design thinking methodologies. Over eight weeks, student teams work with external project partners to produce creative business solutions to current and complex organizational challenges. Teams are introduced to Design Thinking and practice steps in the Design Thinking process by applying them to a real-life business challenge. Here, we describe the genesis of the course redesign, iterations on its content, and the feedback it has received from students, faculty, and project partners, in the hope that it will contribute to the curation of new design frameworks in higher education.
Design Thinking in Education: Adding Collaboration, Uncertainty, Phronesis and Fairydust to Curriculum Design
Authors: Sinfield Sandra , Burns Tom , Abegglen Sandra
Published: October 2023

We exist in an age of supercomplexity with policy and strategies both impacting and restricting creative curriculum development and participatory classroom practices particularly in Higher Education (HE). As academic developers who have also taught undergraduate programmes we inhabit liminal space - both enacting and subject to policy - both professing and subverting practice. In this paper we outline how we have engaged in human centred curriculum design ourselves. Typically curriculum evaluation and development processes are presented to our staff-as-students as something far removed from design thinking (DT). Curriculum design emphasises thorough thinking, it is slow-paced, and continuously evaluated. DT requires trust and collaboration, open sharing of diverse and often contradicting ideas, rapid prototyping - a non-judgemental space that will help ideas develop and grow, playing with initiatives that might not work. DT encourages experimentation. We used a collaborative Practice-Based Research (PBR) approach to explore our processes to reveal how DT can be a valuable part of a more fast-paced, urgent, creative and human centred curriculum design.
Teaching Sustainable Frugal Innovation Development to Business Students
Authors: Albert Martin
Published: October 2023

Frugal innovations have the potential to address social, ecological, and economic issues. Students as future engineers and managers can play an important role to foster frugal innovations. Previous research related to the teaching of frugal innovation in higher education focus primarily on engineering and design study courses. There are no publications how to teach the concept of frugal innovation to future managers respectively, to students of the economic/business sciences. I introduce and evaluate a new concept for teaching sustainable frugal innovation to business students by means of LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY® and Design Thinking. Design Thinking as a concrete innovation method supports the sustainable frugal innovation development process and LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY® as a method of playful learning and creative education provides a less technological access for the business students to innovation development. I present concrete results of the innovation development of a TV for elderly and sustainability-conscious people. The social aspects of the developed TV addresses identified needs of elderly people for self-determination, social integration, and not feeling lonely. Regarding ecological aspects, the developed innovation addresses the four key circular economy principles: design, reduce, repair and maintenance, and reuse and recycle. Design Thinking is suitable to develop frugal innovations, due to the customer focus is emphasized in the empathize- and define-phase and highly relevant for the analysis of demanded core functionalities and related performance levels of frugal innovations. The here presented concept allows other researchers, lecturers, and practitioners to apply Design Thinking and LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY® for sustainable frugal innovations.
Woody vegetation on arid Dagestan territories
Authors:   Mountain botanical garden DFRC RAS, Sadykova G.A.
Published: October 2023

The flora of Dagestan has been studied quite fully (numerous works by N.I. Kuznetsov, I.I. Tumadzhanov, Ya.I. Prokhanov, L.N. Chilikina, P.L. Lvov, etc.). At the same time, information about vegetation, including those related to arid light forests, is fragmentary and not systematized. In this article, we have made an attempt to assess the level of knowledge of woody vegetation in the arid territories of Dagestan; the results of many years of work on the altitudinal limits of their distribution, as well as the geobotanical description and classification of communities are presented. Arid light forests on the territory of Dagestan are formed by both coniferous and deciduous species. The former are represented by Juniperus oblonga M. Bieb., J. polycarpos C. Koch, J. sabina L. for Dagestan, we did not find them on the territory of the republic. Deciduous tree formations in the arid territories of Dagestan are mainly represented by the communities of the keep-tree (Paliurus spina-christi Mill.) and spirea (Spiraea hypericifolia L.). Other xerophilous tree species (Lonicera tatarica L., Cotinus coggygria Scop., some species of Rhamnus L. and Cotoneaster L., Rosa L., Celtis L., etc.) are included in other formations and do not form pure communities. Large natural massifs on the territory of Dagestan have been identified for Armeniaca vulgaris L. and species Berberis L. For the studied species of woody plants in arid territories, the habitats are marked, the areas and altitudinal limits are estimated, and the geobotanical characteristics of the communities with their participation are given.
Improving efficiency of tree canopy texture segmentation by using very high spatial resolution satellite images
Authors:   Marchuk Institute of Numerical Mathematics of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Dmitriev Y.V. , Melnik P.G. ,   BMSTU (Mytishchi branch), Donskoy S.A. ,   «Roslesinforg», Kondranin T.V. ,   Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology (State University)
Published: October 2023

The issue of increasing the accuracy of tree canopy segmentation structures in the processing of very high spatial resolution satellite images by joint use of textural features extracted by different methods is considered. The TTSPCA method (Total Texture Statistics Principal Component Analysis) is proposed and its effectiveness is shown for a number of test cases. Estimates of TTSPCA effectiveness are obtained for the forest stands segmentation and growth types. The panchromatic Worldview-2 image of the test area (Bronnitskoye forestry, Moscow region) obtained in summer was used as remote data. To perform texture segmentation, in addition to TTSPCA, several standard second-order statistical methods and a spectral (energy) method based on the wavelet transform were also used. It is shown that almost all considered statistical and spectral methods provide forest stand segmentation with errors not exceeding 3–4 %. It has been established that the TTSPCA method makes it possible to reduce the probability of errors in the forest inventory zone, as well as to identify sections with a predominance of natural and artificial plantations with an accuracy of over 85 %. The results obtained can be further recommended for use in order to improve the system we are developing for joint spectral-textural processing of satellite images with different spatial resolutions.
Effect of Postharvest Treatments on Physiological, Chemical, Microbial and Sensory Qualities of Fruits of Papaya Variety Surya
Authors: Sebastian Karishma , Bindu B. , Greeshma K.G.
Published: October 2023

Background: Papaya is a climacteric fruit which is highly perishable due to rapid ripening and softening and susceptibility to biotic or abiotic stresses, resulting in large losses during storage. Traditionally, people resort to the application of synthetic chemical fungicides on to the crop plant and to the fruits during storage, to control the anthracnose caused by the fungus Colletotrichum gloeosporioides on fruits. But their repeated use has caused resistance in microorganisms and toxicity for humans. Hence, nowadays there has been increasing interest in using natural alternatives instead of chemical treatment. Methods: Fruits of papaya variety Surya collected at fully mature green stage were subjected to different postharvest management practices namely precooling, surface sanitization, treatment with chitosan and were packaged in corrugated fibre board boxes and stored till the end of shelf life under ambient condition. Untreated fruits (control) were also used in the study. Result: Fruits coated with chitosan (1%) registered an improved shelf life of 6.33 days as against 4.33 days in control in ambient storage and it further improved the sensory score for all the organoleptic parameters, after six days of storage. 1% chitosan coating also reported significantly lowest physiological loss in weight (3.51 %), ion leakage (60.47%), total soluble solids (12.13 °Brix), total carotenoids (2.34 mg 100g-1), total sugar (7.26%) and reducing sugar (6.34%) and least disease index (16.67%), bacterial count (22.33 cfu/ml × 106) and fungal count (7.33 cfu/ml × 103) after three days of storage when compared with control.
Comparison and analysis of modern combustion powertrain systems of rail vehicles
Authors: Daszkiewicz Pawel , Kołodziejek Daniel
Published: October 2023

The article presents the currently used technologies and solutions for rail vehicle drive systems that can be used in the future. The most popular systems used in locomotives and multiple units are described. In addition, modern solutions such as bi-mode locomotives and hybrid vehicles are shown. The article also discusses the possibility of using ultracapacitors, batteries or fuel cells in order to increase the efficiency of the powertrain of a rail vehicle. The selection of the appropriate solution depends on the intended use of the vehicle and the assumed traction characteristics and requires a thorough analysis including, among others, modeling of the drive system and its management.
The role of service innovation in mediating entrepreneurial orientation, organizational learning capability, and organizational performance relationship
Authors: Pusparani Rima , Moko Wahdiyat , Prabandari Sri Palupi
Published: October 2023

In 1997, Indonesia had a severe economic crisis, which prompted the Indonesian government to face significant pressure to promptly initiate governmental reform. There is a prevailing desire among the general public for enhancements in governance, with one aspect of this being the implicit need for improvements in government performance. This study investigates the role of service innovation as a mediator in the relationship between entrepreneurial orientation, organizational learning capability, and organizational performance. The study was conducted at the Directorate General of State Assets Management (DGSAM) in Indonesia. The questionnaires were collected from a total of 226 head offices, specifically from the heads of sections under the vertical agency of DGSAM, which is the State Assets and Auction Service Office (Kantor Pelayanan Kekayaan Negara dan Lelang/KPKNL). A quantitative approach was employed in order to elucidate, substantiate, and exemplify the hypothesis posited in the investigation pertaining to the observed events. The statistical technique employed for data processing was Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM). This study demonstrates a significant and positive correlation between entrepreneurial approach and organizational learning capability, and both service innovation and organizational success. However, it is determined that service innovation does not act as a mediator in the relationship between entrepreneurial attitude and organizational learning capability in terms of organizational performance. The anticipated outcomes of this study are expected to make significant contributions to the field of science and its associated stakeholders.
The state of and prospects for the application of blockchain technology in e-commerce
Authors: Karani Mohamed , Mwapwele Samwel Dick
Published: October 2023

Whilst e-commerce continues to grow, it has met privacy, trust, and security challenges. Blockchain technology is among the solutions that e-commerce can use to address these challenges. Blockchain technology poses benefits but comes with its challenges. The purpose of this study was to systematically review literature that focused on the state and prospects of blockchain technology in e-commerce. Specifically, the research question is what is the state of the application of blockchain technology in e-commerce? The study conducted searches using four databases (EbscoHost, Science Direct, IEEE Explore, and Jstor) as well as Google Scholar. Exclusion and inclusion criteria were applied in the searches to answer the research question. In total, 25 articles were used for this research and were thematically analysed. The results showed that while there are many benefits in implementing blockchain technologies in e-commerce, there are also challenges. The benefits include an increase in privacy, enhanced security, and minimized costs of transactions. The challenges are tax evasion, black market transactions, and lack of regulation. Results also showed blockchains are used to track product movement and originality. The study's novel contribution is to theory by developing a model for the application, benefits, and challenges of the blockchain technology ecosystem in e-commerce. The study contributes to policy by focusing on sustainable development goals 7 and 9. The research also contributes to the body of knowledge on the application of blockchain. Businesses, scholars, government officials, and other stakeholders can use this study to understand the application, challenges, and benefits of blockchain in e-commerce.
Transfer pricing in Indonesia: Do managers still utilize it as an effective strategy?
Authors: Larasati Nadifa Vicri , Arieftiara Dianwicaksih
Published: October 2023

This research aims to find out and analyze the effect of the bonus mechanism, tunneling incentive, and exchange rate on company decisions to perform transfer pricing practices in 35 manufacturing and mining sector companies listed on the Indonesia Stock Exchange for the 2018–2020 period. The population of this research is used in the manufacturing and mining sectors listed on the Indonesia Stock Exchange (IDX).  This research is a type of quantitative research using secondary data in the form of the company’s annual report and financial statement. The Random Effect Model (REM) with panel data regression was used in this study using STATA version 16. Based on the test results and analysis, it can be concluded that the bonus mechanism has a significant positive effect on transfer pricing, the exchange rate has a significant negative effect on transfer pricing, and the tunneling incentive has no effect on transfer pricing.
Bidirectional and cross-lag relationship between social media use and psychological wellbeing: Evidence from an Indian adolescent cohort study
Authors: Maurya Chanda , Dhillon Preeti , Sharma Himani , Kumar Pradeep
Published: October 2023

Introduction: In an online era like today, the relationship between social media and depression among adolescents and young adults is erratic and still continues to be a debatable subject. The study aims to examine the association and bi-directional relationship between social media usage and depressive symptoms among the adolescent boys and girls in India.
Methods: The study uses data from two waves of Understanding the Lives of Adolescents and Young Adults (UDAYA) project survey conducted in two Indian states of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. Depression was measured by a Patient Health Questionnaire. Logistic regression has been used for analyzing the data comprising the same time period, whereas the bidirectional relationship between two time periods has been evaluated by Cross-Lagged Path Model.
Result: Findings suggest that the percentage of moderate depressive symptoms increased from 1.7% to 3.0% from Wave 1 to Wave 2. Depression among adolescent girls increased slightly from wave 1 to wave 2 whereas a slight decrement was noticed in the moderate form of depressive symptom among adolescent girls using social media for the two waves. Socioeconomic factors like education, age, gender played an important role in affecting depression among adolescents in both the Wave of the survey. The path relationship reveals that social media users in Wave 1 [β=0.22, p<0.001] were positively associated with social media users in Wave 2. Similar patterns were observed for depressive symptoms at both the waves of the survey. However, cross lagged relations between social media use and depression could not be established between the survey periods.
Conclusion: A significant degree of association was found between social media use and depression among adolescent boys and girls in the study. The present study concludes that factors like age, gender and education showed significant relationships with social media use and depression.
Effect of ultrasonic-assisted organic acid washing on heavy metals and nutrients in tannery sludge
Authors: Li Ziran , Wu Yonggui , Lu Hongpei , Luo Youfa , Wang Ziqi , Qiang Yibin , Liu Zhongjuan , Yang Hao
Published: October 2023

The rapid growth of the tannery industry has led to an increasingly serious problem of how to treat tannery sludge. Washing, which is an effective method for remediating polluted sludge, requires suitable washing reagents. In this study, the removal of heavy metals by washing tannery sludge with three organic acid reagents, namely citric acid (CA), oxalic acid (OA) and tartaric acid (TA), was investigated. The influences of washing reagent concentration, pH, solid‒liquid ratio, and ultrasound assistance on the removal of heavy metals were also analysed. When the optimal single-factor test was satisfied, the removal rates of Cr, Zn and Pb reached 49.11%, 63.74% and 31.88% for CA, 66.25%, 56.72% and 10.44% for OA and 32.79%, 67.53% and 18.34% for TA, respectively. The use of ultrasound-assisted organic acid treatment for heavy metal removal significantly improved the washing efficiency and shortened the reaction time. Moreover, tannery sludge washed by CA, OA and TA, in which the residual heavy metals are less likely to mobile and less harmful to the environment. In addition, the pH and ammonium nitrogen (AN) and rapidly available potassium (AK) contents of the washed tannery sludge decreased, while the organic matter (OM) and available phosphorus (AP) contents increased. The results showed that CA, OA and TA are effective washing reagents and that the washed sludge has the potential for resource utilization.
YouTube as a Source of Information for Pressure Injury: Quality Assessment and Content Analysis
Authors: Bang Myeonghwan , Jang Chan Woong , Cho Han Eol , Kim Hyoung Seop
Published: October 2023

Objective
We aimed to assess the quality and reliability of pressure injury-related videos uploaded on YouTube, analyze the sources and contents, and examine the correlation between video parameters.
Methods
We searched YouTube using two keywords, "pressure ulcer" and "pressure sore", on August 20, 2022. The quality of videos was assessed using the Global Quality Scale (GQS), while their reliability was evaluated by the modified DISCERN (mDISCERN) tool. In addition, we evaluated the videos in which content (risk factors, assessment, prevention, treatment) was included. Furthermore, we analyzed the correlation between GQS, mDISCERN, and video parameters and whether there were any differences in GQS, mDISCERN, and video parameters based on the sources that provided the videos.
Results
We initially found a total of 100 videos for each keyword and finally included and analyzed 77 videos. The mean scores for the mDISCERN and GQS were 2.35 ± 0.98 and 3.09 ± 0.99, respectively. Both GQS and mDISCERN showed statistically significant correlations with each other (rho = 0.54, p < 0.001*) and with the length of the videos, respectively (rho = 0.36, p < 0.01*), (rho = 0.29, p < 0.05*). Of the videos created by physicians, 8 (57.1%) included content related to treatment, while of the videos created by nonphysician health personnel, 22 (57.9%) included content related to prevention. Analyzing whether there were differences in video parameters based on the sources, we observed significant differences between sources in GQS (p < 0.001*), mDISCERN (p < 0.001*), and video length (p = 0.001*). In the post hoc analysis, videos uploaded by physicians or nonphysician health personnel showed higher quality and reliability than videos uploaded by other sources.
Conclusions
YouTube videos provide information on pressure injury and exhibit significant heterogeneity in terms of quality, reliability, and content composition. Therefore, the results of this study can be useful for healthcare providers, as well as patients and caregivers, to search for high-quality and reliable videos on YouTube.
Evaluating the effectiveness of the BeHealthyR study: A group-randomized controlled trial using an integrated approach to improve smoking cessation behavior among disadvantaged smokers
Authors: Shagiwal Sara , Schop-Etman Astrid , Merkelbach Inge , Kocken Paul , Denktas Semiha
Published: October 2023

BackgroundSmokers with a low socioeconomic position (SEP) often experience heightened stress due to increased exposure to daily hassles and multiple environmental, social, and smoking-specific stressors. In turn, these stressors may deplete mental bandwidth and trigger unhealthy behavioral responses, such as smoking. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of an integrated multicomponent intervention developed to concurrently target stress- and smoking-related behaviors among socioeconomically disadvantaged smokers.MethodsA 3-group randomized controlled trial was conducted between February 2018 and July 2019. Adult low-SEP smokers experiencing stress complaints were recruited from disadvantaged neighborhoods in Rotterdam. Groups of participants were randomly assigned to a stress management course (SM, n = 62), stress management with a buddy component (SMb, n = 66) or a waitlist (n = 90). The SM and SMb groups received psychoeducation topics linked to cognitive and behavioral technique activities. SMb additionally provided emotional and instrumental support. The waitlist group received the intervention after the study. Groups were randomized using a computer-generated random allocation. Participants were blinded to the study hypotheses, while the research team was unblinded to allocation. Primary outcomes were assessed at baseline (T0), at week four of the intervention (T1) and at 12 weeks (T2), and included total stress scores, nicotine dependence scores, self-reported and expired carbon monoxide (eCO)-validated smoking abstinence at T1 and T2. The analyses were intention-to-treat and adjusted for covariates measured at baseline. Intervention effectiveness was examined using mixed-effects models.ResultsOf 209 participants (mean age, 47.1 (SD = 11.3, range 21–78 years), 176 completed the intervention (retention rate 84%). A significant reduction in stress levels was found in the SM at one month and in the SMb at three months compared to the waitlist. At one month and three months, nicotine dependence scores were significantly lower in the SM and SMb groups than in the waitlist group. No significant changes were observed in expired carbon monoxide levels.ConclusionsThese findings show that a multicomponent intervention aimed at relieving stress complaints may be a solution to improve smoking-related outcomes among socioeconomically disadvantaged smokers. These findings have implications and merit further evaluation. Trial registration: www.clinicaltrials.gov; identifier: NCT03553979; date of registration: 01/01/2018
Measurements of traditional Chinese medicine health literacy regarding chronic pain: A scoping review
Authors: Qian Zhiyi , Wang Grace , Henning Marcus , Chen Yan
Published: October 2023

Chronic pain is a prevalent health condition that imposes a significant burden on the global health system. Health literacy is a determinant of the quality of pain management which directly impacts public and individual health. However, the existing health literacy measurements have predominantly focused on medical models stemmed from Western culture and the knowledge of Indigenous and other non-Western health models has largely been neglected. This review scopes refereed health literacy publications with regards to traditional Chinese medicine and chronic pain to explore and identify 1) the conceptual basis underlying the development of Traditional Chinese medicine health literacy (TCM-HL) in this area, and 2) measurement tools used in this area and their associated psychometric qualities. Twenty-eight were assessed and the results showed that most studies’ conceptual basis was unable to cover three key health literacy aspects defined by the World Health Organization (access, understand, and apply). Furthermore, the identified health literacy measurement tools generally lacked rigorous psychometric evaluation. Future studies should focus on exploring a comprehensive model that encompasses various health models and develop measurement tools with more culturally representative psychometric assessments.
Analysis of activity rhythm and behavior pattern of plateau pika in patchily degraded alpine meadow
Authors: SU Xiaoxue , LI Xilai , Sun Huafang , song zihan
Published: October 2023

In this paper, the ecological habits and activity rhythm of plateau pika (Ochotona curzoniae) in patchily degraded alpine meadow in the Source Zone of the Yellow River (SZYR) on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau were investigated for the effective prevention and control strategies of plateau pika. Video surveillance cameras for continuous monitoring were employed in the different degraded patches (i.e., active patches (with plateau pika), inactive patches (without plateau pika) and recovered patches) of alpine meadow in the SZYR during March 2021 to February 2022. The time allocation of plateau pika behavior (i.e., digging, foraging, guarding, moving and other behaviors) and activity rhythm (i.e., day, month and season) were analyzed. The results showed that: (1) The peak of ground activity of plateau pika appeared at 10:00 and 16:00, and it was inactive at night, so it belonged to diurnal animals. (2) In the daily behavior activities of plateau pika, the highest frequency of digging and foraging appeared in the periods of 9:00–12:00 and 16:00. (3) The relative frequencies of digging and foraging behavior in season was winter > spring > summer > autumn. (4) The proportion of annual activity distribution of plateau pika, digging and foraging accounted for 66.13%, guarding for 13.35%, moving for 11.64%, and other behaviors for 8.88%. There was a significant difference in the frequency of each behavior between the two groups (P < 0.05). The results which reveal the daily activity rhythm of plateau pika from the perspective of video surveillance camera, are helpful to understand the behavioral ecology of plateau pika and provide scientific basis for the restoration and management of patchy degradation of alpine meadow.
Microorganisms Improve Physiological Performace to Oil Palm Seedings Growth Promote
Authors: Mendonça Danielle Pereira , Brito Maria Luiza Brito , Dias Juliana Tavares , Silva Verônica Daniely Pereira Paes da , Pacheco Mauro Junior Borges , Ferreira Thayná da Cruz , Rodrigues Maria Carolina Sarto Fernandes , Júnior Dalton Dias da Silva , Silva Gisele Barata Da , De Castro Gledson Luiz Salgado
Published: October 2023

Elaeis guineensis Jacq. It is the oilseed that has stood out in the production of oil of high economic value. The main global producers are Malaysia and Indonesia. In Brazil, the cultivated area is concentrated in the state of Pará. Seedling production requires a long nursery period and high consumption of chemical fertilizers. Currently, studies reporting the use of microbial technology to minimize the excessive use of chemical fertilizers and promote earlier seedling development. The objective of this study was to evaluate biometrics, biomass accumulation and gas exchange in oil palm seedlings inoculated with microorganisms. The experiment was conducted in a greenhouse, in a completely randomized design with five treatments, consisting of the inoculation of four Trichoderma microorganisms and a control, with five replications. The data were subjected to analysis of variance and treatment means were compared using the SNK test (P < 0.05). The inoculation of microorganisms promoted the growth of oil palm seedlings. The height, stem diameter, number of leaves, leaf area, root length, total chlorophyll, net photosynthesis, stomatal conductance, transpiration, dry mass of leaves, aerial part, root and total, increased on average in inoculated seedlings compared to control seedlings. Total soluble sugars, on the other hand, decreased for inoculated plants compared to the control. Starch decreased compared to control. Therefore, the results show that better photosynthetic performance may be associated with the promotion of growth in oil palm seeds inoculated with microorganisms. It is likely that some physiological mechanisms are being activated by microorganisms for greater growth.
Acquisition of thermotolerance in slow growing poultry: Elucidating through sequential mechanism of thermal conditioning during embryonic and early post-hatch period
Authors: Nayak Nibedita , Bhanja Subrat Kumar , Chakurkar Eaknath B. , Sahu Amiya Ranjan , Tyagi J.S , Das Bappa , Shinde Krutika R. , Champati Abhijeet
Published: October 2023

This study aimed to elucidate the impact of embryonic thermal conditioning (ETC) in combination with early post-hatch heat conditioning (PHHC) on acquired thermotolerance in slow growing CARI-Debendra birds till 12 weeks. Embryonic conditioning was done only from E11-16 at 39.5°C with RH 60–70% for 5hrs/ day while conventional incubational conditions followed in control. After hatching, the chicks were chosen in a random manner group-wise and further distributed in to two sub groups each (No manipulation, early post-hatch heat conditioning). Early post-hatch heat conditioning was carried out for first five weeks for chicks with brooding temperature of 37 ± 1°C than control. Significant difference was observed in hatch weight and hatching time between ETC and control without any adverse effect on fertility and hatchability. Rectal temperature and surface temperature in ETC group were + 1.04 and + 4.76% higher than the control at hatch which diminishes with age. ETC had improved body weight from 1st wk till 12th wks while heat conditioning group displayed a 1% increase in body weight at six weeks. Stress biomarkers such as concentration of T4, potassium and activity of creatinine kinase enzyme was more in ETC group than control while H/L ratio and concentration of T3 was less in ETC group. Expression dynamics of HSP70 gene was significant only in liver and intestine tissues of ETC group respectively, while GRP78 gene showed tissue-specific upregulation in the intestine of 12-week-old chickens. Embryonic thermal manipulation and early post-hatch heat conditioning positively influenced thermotolerance ability and productivity of slow growing birds.
Intra-articular injection of bone marrow aspirate concentrate in end stage knee osteoarthritis: 4 year results of 37 knees
Authors: Pabinger Christof , Kobinia Georg Stefan , Lothaller Harald
Published: October 2023

Purpose:
Cell based therapies are increasingly used and results of bone marrow aspirate concentrate (BMAC) show encouraging short- to middle term results, superior to hyaluronic acid and platelet rich plasma (PRP). Most studies describe patients with mild to moderate arthritis and short term results of patients with severe osteoarthritis of the knee. Hence, the aim of this prospective study was to investigate the mid-term outcome of BMAC injections in patients with severe osteoarthritis of the knee.
Methods:
The BMAC was retrieved from the iliac crest as previously published with the “reorientation technique” from the iliac crest in prone position in sedoanalgesia and injected into the patients’ osteoarthritic knees. Patients were followed-up for 4 years. WOMAC, IKDC, SF 36 and walking distance were measured in a total of 37 participants.
Results
There was an improvement of IKDC and WOMAC from the first year onwards and a significant improvement beginning from year 2 up to the mid-term follow-up: IKDC increased significantly from 56±12 (range 34-81) to 73±13 (range 45-100), p<.001. WOMAC decreased significantly from 40±23 (range 6-96) to 18 ±18 (range 0-67), p<.001. 35 of 37 knees improved regarding IKDC and WOMAC score from the first to the last follow-up. Not a single protheses had to be implanted. Elaborate statistical analysis was done to exclude covariates and confounders (age, time, BMI,…) .
Conclusion
In summary, this is the first study on BMAC injections into 37 osteoarthritic knees with a 4- year follow up showing significant improvements in IKDC and WOMAC scores, and with a 95% success rate and significant improvement in walking distance.
Level of Evidence: Level I
Benzodiazepine Use in Medical Cannabis Authorization Adult Patients from 2013-2021: Alberta, Canada
Authors: Lee Cerina , PharmD Heidi Fernandes , Lin Mu , Martins Karen J.B. , Dyck Jason R.B. , Klarenbach Scott W. , Richer Lawrence , Jess Ed , Hanlon John G. , Hyshka Elaine , Eurich Dean T.
Published: October 2023

Background
Benzodiazepines are a class of medications that are being increasingly prescribed in Canada but carry significant risk of harm. There has been increasing clinical interest on the potential “sparing effects” of medical cannabis as one strategy to reduce benzodiazepine use. The objective of this study as to examine the association of medical cannabis authorization with benzodiazepine usage between 2013–2021 in Alberta, Canada.
Methods
A propensity score matched cohort study with patients on regular benzodiazepine treatment authorized to use medical cannabis compared to controls who do not have authorization for medical cannabis. A total of 9690 medically authorized cannabis patients were matched to controls. To assess the effect of medical cannabis use on daily average diazepam equivalence (DDE), interrupted time series (ITS) analysis was used to assess the change in the trend of diazepam equivalence in the 26 weeks (6 months) before and 52 weeks (1 year) after the authorization of medical cannabis.
Results
Over the 1-year follow-up period after medical cannabis authorization, there was no overall change in the DDE use in authorized medical cannabis patients compared to matched controls (-0.27 DDE, 95% CI: -0.62 to 0.08). With respect to prescription benzodiazepine discontinuation any time after the index date, similar rates of 51.5% (4986/9690) and 49.2% (4766/9690) of those authorized medical cannabis and controls, respectively, ceased using benzodiazepine during the follow-up (p < 0.001).
Conclusions
This short-term study found that medical cannabis authorization had minimal effects on benzodiazepine use. Our findings may contribute ongoing evidence for clinicians regarding the potential impact of medical cannabis to reduce benzodiazepine use.
Despite treatment, HbA1c > 37mmol/mol in the first trimester is associated with premature delivery among South Asian women with gestational diabetes mellitus: a retrospective cohort study
Authors: Punnose John , Malhotra Rajeev Kumar , Sukhija Komal ,   Rashika M Rijhwani1, Choudhary Naimaa , Sharma Asha
Published: October 2023

Purpose: To examine the effects of first-trimester HbA1c (HbA1c-FT) >37mmol/mol on preterm birth (PTB) and large-for-gestational-age (LGA) babies in a retrospective cohort of South Asian pregnant women with gestational diabetes (GDM).
Methods: The cohort (n = 686) was separated into two groups based on HbA1c-FT values: Group A (n=97) and Group B (n=589), with values of 37-46 mmol/mol (5.5-6.4%) and <37 mmol/mol (5.5%), respectively. HbA1c-FT's independent influence on PTB and LGA babies was examined using multivariable logistic regression in groups A and B women. The reference group (Group C) included 2031 non-GDM women with HbA1c-FT <37 mmol/mol (<5.5%). The effects of HbA1c-FT on PTB and LGA babies in obese women in Groups A, B, and C (designated as A-ob, B-ob, and C-ob, respectively) were re-analyzed using multivariable logistic regression.
Results: Group A GDM women with greater HbA1c-FT had a higher risk for PTB (aOR: 1.90, 95% CI: 1.12 to 3.20) but not LGA babies (aOR: 1.20, 95%: 0.74 to 1.95). The risk of PTB was higher for obese women in Group A-ob: aOR 3.15 [95% CI 1.62 to 6.15]. However, GDM women with normal HbA1c-FT exhibited no elevated risk for PTB: Groups B and B-ob had aORs of 1.17.(95% CI 0.89 to 1.55) and 1.29 (95% CI 0.84 to 1.97) respectively.
Conclusions: South Asian GDM women with prediabetic HbA1c FT; 37-46 mmol/mol (5.5-6.4%) are more likely to deliver preterm babies despite treatment, while the risk for LGA babies was the same as non-GDM women.
Of goats and heat, the differential impact of summer temperature on habitat selection and activity patterns in mountain goats (Oreamnos americanus) of different ecotypes
Authors: Michaud A. , White K. S. , Hamel S. , Richard J. H. , Côté S.D.
Published: October 2023

Climate change disproportionately affects northern and alpine environments, with faster rates of warming than the global average. In this context, understanding the effect of projected temperature increase on the species inhabiting these ecosystems is essential. Most alpine and northern ungulates are particularly well adapted to low temperatures and must modify their behaviour when temperatures exceed a critical threshold. We analyzed the influence of summer weather conditions, particularly temperature, on the activity patterns and habitat selection of four populations of a mountain specialist, the mountain goat (Oreamnos americanus), representing the two ecotypes found in this species - coastal and continental. We collected GPS location and activity sensor data during 2010-2019 from 223 mountain goats in four different study areas in both the coastal range of Alaska and the Rocky Mountains of Alberta. Mountain goats of each ecotype used different habitat selection tactics to avoid thermal stress. When temperatures increased, mountain goats of both ecotypes decreased selection for alpine meadows, but goats in coastal environments increased selection for open habitats close to snow, while continental goats increased selection for forest environments. With respect to altitude, mountain goats in continental environments selected higher elevation open habitats only when temperature increased. In coastal environments, goats selected higher elevation habitats at all temperatures, but the selection for high elevations was strongest in warm conditions. Mountain goats of both ecotypes reduced the proportion of time spent active when temperatures increased during the middle of the day. Our study shows that mountain goats use diverse tactics that are likely to mitigate thermal stress. Mountain goats living in different ecosystems use alternative tactics. The observed ecotypic variation highlights the importance of assessing the impact of climate change at the population rather than the species level, a pattern that arises because populations are experiencing different environmental constraints.
Xinfeng capsule inhibits cartilage extracellular matrix degradation and inflammation in osteoarthritis by modulating circ_0032131 and miR-502-5p/TRAF2 axis
Authors: zhouqiao Qiao , Liu Jian , Hu Yuedi , Qi Yajun
Published: October 2023

Clinical practice has proved that Xinfeng capsule (XFC) can effectively cure osteoarthritis (OA). In our study, we investigated the molecular mechanism and role of XFC in the treatment of OA using network pharmacology and cellular experiments. hsa_circ_0032131 was overexpressed in OA peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). Both PBMCs and chondrocytes are cellular members of the inflammatory microenvironment in OA. To investigate the function of hsa_circ_0032131 in PBMCs stimulated chondrocytes. A series of functional experiments revealed the relationship between hsa_circ_0032131 and the miR-502-5p/TRAF2 axis. To further determine whether XFC might treat OA through the interaction of circ_0032131 with the miR-502-5p/TRAF2 axis. CKK-8 assay and flow cytometry were conducted to detect the proliferation and apoptosis process of XFC-treated cells. Multiple experimental methods were utilized to detect the expression levels of inflammatory factors, extracellular matrix, and so on. The results demonstrated that the expression of hsa_circ_0032131 was obviously elevated in PBMCs of OA patients and correlated with clinical immuno-inflammatory factors and ECM indexes. Network pharmacology verified that the chief active ingredients of XFC exerted their roles mainly in the regulation of inflammation (IL1A, IL1B, IL4), extracellular matrix metabolism (MMP13, COL2A1), and tumour necrosis factor (TNF, TRAF2). In vitro experiments revealed that knockdown of circ_0032131 in PBMCs-stimulated chondrocytes inhibited apoptosis, inflammation and ECM degradation. Circ_0032131 was verified as a sponge of miR-502-5p by targeting, and TRAF2 was a direct target of miR-502-5p. In addition, rescue experiments verified that XFC blocked the effects of hsa_circ_0032131 overexpression on extracellular matrix, inflammation and cell viability. XFC has a favorable anti-inflammatory effect on OA, and its molecular mechanism was preliminarily elucidated.