Incorporate Research Findings Research Articles

Health researchers’ efforts in bridging evidence into policy and decision making in Malawi

Background: Health research is typically disseminated through peer-reviewed journals and academic forums. However, evidence suggests limited exploration of alternative communication methods for effective knowledge dissemination.Objectives: This study aimed to determine the extent to which policymakers in Malawi consult health researchers while translating their knowledge. This study aimed to determine the post-research endeavours of Malawian health researchers to incorporate research findings into policy and decision making.Method: Conducted at Kamuzu University of Health Sciences (KUHeS), this cross-sectional study employed a 5-point Likert scale survey to collect data from researchers, offering a snapshot view without indicating temporal changes or causality.Results: Researchers rarely created suggestions, take-home messages, or actionable instructions for use by health officials. They seldom give users access to a searchable database of papers, studies, and syntheses that summarise recommendations for policymakers in the field of health. They seldom send reprints of papers from scientific publications to decision-makers. Few researchers have created summaries of articles or systematic reviews for health officials’ use.Conclusion: Traditional channels, such as journals and conferences, dominate the dissemination of health research. However, limited evidence suggests the need for broader communication strategies. The current landscape lacks effective products and methods, urging researchers to produce accessible formats with clear, key messages to address policy questions.Contribution: Researchers should develop research products in compelling formats by using clear key messages. The summarised evidence should answer important policy questions. Researchers should involve the media to communicate their research outputs.

Editorial: nutrition at key stages of the lifecycle.

Nutritional requirements of individuals vary across the lifecycle, according to activity, age and gender. To optimize human health, consideration of nutritional priorities at each stage is needed. This conference brought together multidisciplinary experts in maternal and child nutrition and health, cardiometabolic and plant-based nutrition and dietitians involved in the care of vulnerable populations, plus nutritional metabolism, health and ageing. The presentations highlighted the most important nutrition research in these areas, updating knowledge and suggesting how dietary advice and policy could be adapted to incorporate research findings. With the global increase in non-communicable disease (NCD) and nutrition being considered as a key modifiable risk factor for the prevention and management of NCD, this conference was much needed.

Occupational health nursing: Realities and challenges.

Designing and enhancing resilient occupational health and safety systems is a challenge. This fact makes it clear that occupational health professionals must be able to develop their full range of competencies. From this premise, it is appropriate to define and deepen the strengths and weaknesses of occupational health nursing (OHN), as well as to point out the opportunities and realities that address its performance. In the history of the professionalization of this speciality, different circumstances have conditioned its projection: the absence of its own body of doctrine, the lack of professional recognition, limited autonomy, and the definition of a clear regulatory framework. In addition to an epistemological limitation and the absence of clear leadership. In the consolidation of this speciality, there is a limited capacity to implement its own competencies, the invisibility of nursing care, the absence of leadership that incorporates research findings and difficulties in the application of scientific evidence, in addition to the influence of regulatory provisions and the idiosyncrasies of the company. The analysis of classical models with a transformative approach invites a more fluid and coordinated communication between occupational health, occupational risk prevention, primary care and public health, a proposal that induces collaboration and a more holistic approach to care for workers.

A Mixed-Methods Analysis of Deception Detection by Neurodiverse Young Adults

Purpose: Differences in social cognition between autistic and nonautistic people may put autistic people at greater risk of being deceived. To inform communication interventions related to deception, the purposes of this mixed-methods study were to examine the deception detection strategies used by young adults with varying levels of autistic traits and to explore whether those strategies differed between groups or in terms of accuracy. Methods: Fifty-one young adults with varying levels of autistic traits watched a series of videos. For each video, the participant judged whether the recorded speaker was truthful and gave the reasoning for their judgment. Inductive thematic analysis was used to identify themes in participants' stated reasons, which were used to quantitatively examine (1) between-group differences based on self-reported autistic traits and (2) theme-based differences in accuracy. Results: Thematic analysis of the open-ended responses yielded four major themes: subjective descriptions of the person, nonverbal communication, observable features of the response, and nebulous reasons. Statistical analyses indicated no significant group differences in frequency of use of the four themes. When the four themes were compared with each other, observable response features yielded significantly more accurate judgments than nonverbal communication or subjective descriptions. Discussion: Findings are discussed within the framework of speech–language pathologists' role in helping communicators determine a speaker's truthfulness, with the ultimate goal of avoiding deception and/or manipulation. Suggestions for incorporating research findings into the design of communication interventions are included.

Perceptions, preferences and barriers: A qualitative study of greenspace and under‐representation in Leeds, UK

AbstractGreenspaces facilitate well‐being benefits for humans in several ways including through cognitive restoration, physical exercise and social interaction. However, some groups are under‐represented in greenspaces, including women, older people, those with health conditions, people with lower socioeconomic status and people from ethnic minority backgrounds, and so are less likely to accrue these benefits.Using thematic analysis and semi‐structured interviews with 40 individuals from under‐represented groups in Leeds, UK, we explore (1) a range of perceived barriers to greenspace access, (2) how spending time in greenspace contributes to well‐being for these groups, (3) the perceived positive and negative aspects of greenspace, (4) what impact COVID‐19 had on access to greenspace and (5) how greenspaces could be improved.We also highlight inter‐group differences and how some barriers disproportionately affect some of the groups in this study. Safety concerns were particularly important for women and people with low incomes, which included problems with anti‐social behaviour (e.g. incivilities and disorder). Cultural barriers were also evident with ethnic minority participants often citing concerns about dogs and issues with visibility and prejudice. Participants desired physical improvements to the quality of greenspaces, along with easier access and transport options, changes in policy regarding dogs and increased security and park wardens to limit anti‐social behaviour.We argue that to increase visitation for under‐represented groups, upgrades in the physical environment must be coupled with harnessing community involvement and co‐design. Some group differences and tensions in greenspaces, and problems with anti‐social behaviours and safety concerns might be limited by more considerate planning and incorporating research findings that address these tensions through intergroup contact.Read the freePlain Language Summaryfor this article on the Journal blog.

Improving drought tolerance in maize: Tools and techniques.

Drought is an important constraint to agricultural productivity worldwide and is expected to worsen with climate change. To assist farmers, especially in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), to adapt to climate change, continuous generation of stress-tolerant and farmer-preferred crop varieties, and their adoption by farmers, is critical to curb food insecurity. Maize is the most widely grown staple crop in SSA and plays a significant role in food security. The aim of this review is to present an overview of a broad range of tools and techniques used to improve drought tolerance in maize. We also present a summary of progress in breeding for maize drought tolerance, while incorporating research findings from disciplines such as physiology, molecular biology, and systems modeling. The review is expected to complement existing knowledge about breeding maize for climate resilience. Collaborative maize drought tolerance breeding projects in SSA emphasize the value of public-private partnerships in increasing access to genomic techniques and useful transgenes. To sustain the impact of maize drought tolerance projects in SSA, there must be complementary efforts to train the next generation of plant breeders and crop scientists.

Case-Control Studies in Neurosurgery: The Issue of Effect Estimates

Clinical research questions are commonly answered using a case-control design. The decision to use this design is usually justified due to low cost, feasibility, and ease of execution. However, the case-control design presents challenges in execution, selection of cases/controls, and interpretation of effect measures (odds ratios, among others). In this paper, we clarify for a neurosurgical audience the design and appropriate effect size measures obtained from case-control studies. A narrative review was conducted of published literature on the topic. The future implementation of such studies was discussed and highlighted with several examples from neurosurgical practice. In a case-control design, participants are selected for a study based on their outcome status. Some participants have the outcome of interest (cases), whereas others do not (controls). Controls can be selected from a variety of sources, such as the general population, relatives/friends, or hospital patients without the disease under investigation. The most important criterion is that these controls come from the same study base as cases. Furthermore, it is essential to realize that measures of association obtained from a case-control study depend on the sampling strategy of the controls and, as such, have equivalent counterparts available from cohort studies. We delineate traditional case-control, case-cohort, and incidence density-sampled case-control studies and their applicability to common conditions encountered in daily neurosurgical practice (e.g., glioblastoma, aneurysms, and epilepsy). Neurosurgeons must understand the types of case-control studies and their associated effect measures to properly conduct research and incorporate research findings into clinical practice.

Moving Beyond Current Treatment: Responding to Extreme States With Compassion and Dignity

Newer research around extreme experiences is showing that recovery is far more prevalent than has been represented in the past. In addition, some aspects that have traditionally been considered the first line of treatment are now being found to be less effective than once believed or even harmful. However, approaches that combine new information, compassion, and that restore dignity to the individual are finally being recognized as the underpinnings of successful outcomes. Individuals who have gone through an extreme state deserve to learn about the impact of cultural aspects and childhood experiences on such. They should be reminded that many will experience positive growth from the extreme state itself. It should be normalized how frequently these experiences arise throughout the world and how often people do recover. It is important for individuals to understand the beneficial impact of enhancing relationships and connections in their daily life and of fostering empowerment for themselves and their choices. By incorporating research findings and inviting the individual to seek out a meaningful life, as determined by themselves, people can and do recover from these experiences.

Oxidative Stress and Male Infertility: Evidence From a Research Perspective.

Male fertility potential can be influenced by a variety of conditions that frequently coincide. Spermatozoa are particularly susceptible to oxidative damage due to their limited antioxidant capacity and cell membrane rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs). The role of oxidative stress (OS) in the etiology of male infertility has been the primary focus of our Stellenbosch University Reproductive Research Group (SURRG) over the last 10 years. This review aims to provide a novel insight into the impact of OS on spermatozoa and male reproductive function by reviewing the OS-related findings from a wide variety of studies conducted in our laboratory, along with those emerging from other investigators. We will provide a concise overview of the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and the development of OS in the male reproductive tract along with the physiological and pathological effects thereof on male reproductive functions. Recent advances in methods and techniques used for the assessment of OS will also be highlighted. We will furthermore consider the current evidence regarding the association between OS and ejaculatory abstinence period, as well as the potential mechanisms involved in the pathophysiology of various systemic diseases such as obesity, insulin resistance, hypertension, and certain mental health disorders which have been shown to cause OS induced male infertility. Finally, special emphasis will be placed on the potential for transferring and incorporating research findings emanating from different experimental studies into clinical practice.

Coronavax: preparing community and government for COVID-19 vaccination: a research protocol for a mixed methods social research project

IntroductionAhead of the implementation of a COVID-19 vaccination programme, the interdisciplinary Coronavax research team developed a multicomponent mixed methods project to support successful roll-out of the COVID-19 vaccine in Western...

The Value of Knowledge Translation in an Infectious Disease Context: The COVID-19 Pandemic Perspective

As of 2021, the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic is evident in every facet of life, despite the availability of knowledge to prevent or mitigate the spread of infectious diseases. Infectious disease pandemics will continue to be a global challenge, and yet the hesitancy of decision makers to utilize the plethora of evidence based strategies in a pandemic response threatens the future global health security. Therefore, this paper focuses on exploring how knowledge translation (KT) practices can be integrated into infectious disease prevention and control using the current COVID-19 pandemic to identify KT barriers. By continually synthesizing and incorporating research findings into routine decision making processes, public health institutions can adequately prepare health systems to manage a pandemic. The application of KT can be approached from four different stages: synthesis of information, dissemination of knowledge, exchange of knowledge, and ethical application of knowledge. Using the four stages of KT, the following propositions were made: investing in links between knowledge synthesis and utilization, engaging broader stakeholders in knowledge dissemination activities, creating effective two-way communication lines between knowledge producers and users, and strengthening knowledge utilizing activities. By demonstrating the utility of applying the four KT stages in an infectious disease pandemic context, it is hoped that more discussions and research is stimulated to engage the incorporation of KT into future outbreak responses.

Evidence-based self-medication: development and evaluation of a professional newsletter concept for community pharmacies

Background Providing evidence-based care is recognized as a key competence for all healthcare professionals. In order to support community pharmacists in evidence-based self-medication counseling, the umbrella organization of German pharmacists initiated the development of a nationwide concept. The key element of the concept was a professional newsletter that should help pharmacists incorporate research findings into their daily counseling practice. Objective To develop, implement and evaluate the professional newsletter concept. Setting German community pharmacies. Method Clinical pharmacists from a German university compiled and synthesized clinical trial data in a professional newsletter that would supply community pharmacists with evidence-based information on common over-the-counter medicines as well as instructions for searching and appraising scientific literature. The electronic newsletter was offered to interested community pharmacists free of charge, once or twice a month, after they signed up for a subscription. About one year after the publication of the first newsletter issue, the subscribers were invited to take part in an anonymous cross-sectional online survey. In all, 21 newsletter issues were published through the end of the survey period. Main outcome measure Perceived value of the professional newsletter with 10 predefined objectives. Results A total of 1975 persons subscribed to the professional newsletter. Of those, 150 persons working in community pharmacies completed the survey. Most of them perceived the synthesized information as ‘useful’ (81–95%). They attributed positive changes in knowledge (89%), skills (87–91%), awareness (85%), and motivation (67–77%) to the newsletter. However, almost half of them (43%) found it difficult to incorporate reading the newsletter in their everyday working life. Free-text feedback suggested that further modifications should be considered to facilitate a better integration of the newsletter into everyday pharmacy practice. Conclusion A nationwide provided professional newsletter can play a vital part in supporting pharmacists in evidence-based self-medication counseling. However, the practicability of such a newsletter needs to be further improved and the newsletter should be accompanied by additional measures.

Living Network Meta-Analyses to Evaluate Effects of HIV Self-Test Distribution Strategies on HIV Testing Uptake

Background: HIV self-testing (HIVST) has the potential to reach underserved populations in need of HIV testing services. Given the range of possible distribution strategies available to those implementing HIV self-testing, we undertook a systematic review and network meta-analysis (NMA) to evaluate the comparative effects of self-test distribution strategies on HIV testing uptake. Methods: We searched electronic databases, clinical trial registries and conference abstracts for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that compared HIVST distribution strategies with each other or with traditional HIV testing by health care workers (HCWs) at health facilities or in the community, between 4 June 2006 and 4 June 2019, and applied PRISMA guided systematic review techniques and GRADE methodology for network meta-analyses. We grouped HIVST distribution strategies into six categories based on who distributed the self-test and where and how the test was distributed. We used Bayesian Hierarchical random logit models to generate network estimates and rank comparative effects of each strategy on HIV testing uptake. To account for heterogeneity and avoid intransitivity we divided networks by regions and conducted sensitivity analyses and meta-regression. We plan updating the review every six months or at the time of publication of important new studies. PROSPERO registration number: CRD42018088078. Findings: Searches yielded 14,333 records, resulting in 24 RCTs for inclusion. There was substantial heterogeneity of setting, target population and HIVST distribution strategies. For HIV testing uptake in the sub-Saharan Africa network, partner HIVST distribution (predominantly distribution to male partners) ranked highest (1st, 78% probability) compared to five other HIV testing strategies: traditional facility-based HIV testing (RR: 2.39, 95% CrI 1.65-3.45), facility-based HIVST distribution (RR:1.42; 95%CI: 0.87-2.31), health worker community HIVST distribution (RR:1.68; 95%CI: 0.90-3.14), health worker community traditional HIV testing (1.74; 95%CI: 0.60-5.08) and peer community HIVST distribution (RR:1.82; 95%CI:1.00-3.27). Facility based HIVST distribution ranked 2nd (46% probability) and traditional facility-based testing ranked lowest - 6th (64% probability). In the North American-Asia and Pacific region network where the focus was primarily on men who have sex with men (MSM), web-based and mail HIVST distribution ranked highest (ranked 1st with 93% probability) compared to two testing strategies: traditional facility-based self-testing (RR 1.53, 95% CrI 1.1-2.41), and facility-based HIVST distribution (RR: 1.15; 95%CI: 0.57 -2.00). All HIVST strategies ranked higher than traditional HIV testing services at health facilities in terms of HIV testing uptake. This analysis was limited by few studies contributing to network estimates, substantial qualitative heterogeneity of testing strategies and the use of self-reported outcomes which resulted in findings being downgraded to low or very low certainty evidence in the GRADE system. Interpretation: HIVST increases testing for underserved groups (specifically men). Distribution by sexual partners in sub-Saharan Africa and through mail among MSM populations in North AmericanAsia and Pacific region, combined with direct HIVST distribution by HCWs at health facilities, could be considered for implementation in these settings. Taken together, these analyses demonstrate the application of network meta-analysis techniques to explore HIVST implementation approaches in RCTs. A living approach will incorporate research findings as they emerge and enable the public health community to reach firm conclusions about HVST distribution strategies rapidly. Funding: NIH: K24 AI134413; Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation: OPP1215984 Declaration of Interests: Authors have no competing interests.

Hereditary Ataxias in Cuba: Results and Impact of a Comprehensive, Multidisciplinary Project.

Spinocerebellar ataxia type 2 is a degenerative disease that causes physical disability and, ultimately, prostration and death. Globally, reported prevalence is around 3 cases per 100,000 population and Cuba has the world's highest rates of the disease, affecting both patients and their at-risk descendants. In Holguín Province, which has the country's highest concentration of cases, incidence is 4.4 per 100,000 population and prevalence is 40.2 per 100,000 population. In 2000, a specialized research center was established in that province. Supplied with the necessary equipment and human resources, the center conducted national multidisciplinary studies involving molecular biology, clinical care, epidemiology, psychology, clinical neurophysiology, imaging, clinical genetics and community medicine, among others. A training and continuing education program also raised scientific capacity. Priority was given to developing international collaborations for academic exchange and training of Cuban researchers.Multiple results from research involving clinical and epidemiologic characterization of the disease, identification of biomarkers and therapeutic targets, genetic association studies, clinical trials and characterization of the disease's preclinical stages have been introduced in care of patients and their at-risk descendants. This has been accomplished through various programs including personalized rehabilitation, predictive diagnosis and social services. These results have also been published in high-impact scientific journals and received national and international awards. Such an experience in the context of Cuba's national health system-which is universal, free, accessible, comprehensive, prevention-oriented and with a record of international cooperation-demonstrates the possibility of providing quality care to affected families. Incorporating research findings into medical practice, with the resulting impact on patients' health and wellbeing, is a practical example of translational medicine in Cuba. KEYWORDS Spinocerebellar ataxia type 2, health services research, biomedical research. health care delivery, translational medicine, translational research, health equity, Cuba.

Ciencias de la implementación: de la evidencia a la práctica

La amplia gama de evidencias científicas que respaldan diversas intervenciones clínicas no son suficientes para que dichas intervenciones se utilicen en la práctica. De tal modo que la Medicina Basada en la Evidencia debe dar el paso hacia la Practica Basada en la Evidencia, a través de procesos de implementación que permitan desplegar y contextualizar intervenciones en salud respaldadas por la evidencia. Para tal fin se ha desarrollado la Ciencia de la implementación, la cual investiga los factores que influencian el uso efectivo y completo de las innovaciones científicas en la práctica, intentando maximizar los beneficios de las intervenciones en salud. Esta ciencia se define como el estudio de los métodos que promueven la incorporación sistemática de hallazgos de investigación en la rutina clínica, con el objetivo de mejorar la calidad y efectividad de los servicios e intervenciones en salud. El propósito de este artículo es introducir el concepto de Ciencia de la Implementación en relación con la epidemiología clínica y establecer las razones por las cuales existe una imperiosa necesidad de su desarrollo. Además, tiene el propósito de explicar el porqué de la necesidad de acelerar la aplicación efectiva de la Medicina Basada en Evidencia y definir los principales modelos que precisan el ámbito de trabajo de esta ciencia, incluyendo: las particularidades de los estudios de implementación, sus diferencias con los estudios clásicos de la epidemiología clínica, los modelos de implementación y evaluación, así como la definición de los desenlaces esperados en un estudio de implementación.

Incorporating research findings in the economics syllabus: evidence on genuine sociality from Italy and the UK

Economics education is proving slow in incorporating into the syllabus the genuine advances made in economics research in the last few decades. As economics education relies primarily on the single approach of neoclassical economics, whilst recent advances in research have been marked by a wide variety of approaches, many of which are interdisciplinary, the methodological divide between education and research is growing wider. We attempt to measure how keen students are to incorporate research findings in the syllabus by developing a questionnaire which introduces undergraduate students in Italy and the U.K. to key findings in the research literature on genuine sociality, an area in which the methodological divide is very noticeable. Students display moderate support for being taught the material on genuine sociality. Students who wish to incorporate genuine sociality in the syllabus tend to be older, value virtue and have a religion.

The Role of Affect in Intraindividual Variability in Task Performance for Young Learners

Young learners (defined as children ages 5–12) of English as a foreign language are growing in number worldwide. At the policy level, foreign language (FL) programs for young learners are increasingly emphasizing the use of task‐based language teaching (TBLT). In practice, however, designing and implementing tasks for young learners poses numerous challenges, especially considering that young learners are in the midst of developing cognitively, socially, linguistically, and affectively. In this article, the author focuses on the role of affect (emotion and mood) in TBLT, a research topic that has largely been ignored. Drawing on existing theories in psychology that explain relationships between affect and cognition or learning, as well as on research on children's development, play, and game research, she advocates for the need both to pay more serious attention to affect and to incorporate research findings on the role of affect in task designs and implementation into theory building and practice in TBLT. Instead of treating affect as an individual and stable trait (i.e., as an interindividual variable) and searching for a linear cause‐and‐effect relationship between learners’ affect and their performance in tasks, she argues that we need to pay more attention to intraindividual variability in children's task performance (i.e., variability in performance within individuals) and to examine the role of affect in such intraindividual variability in a dynamic fashion. Though her argument is primarily based on TBLT for young learners, she believes that the importance of affect in TBLT applies to wider contexts as well.

Translating Trial Results in Clinical Practice: the Risk GP Model

The medical research community is fairly unanimous in its agreement that Btranslating scientific discoveries^ and Btranslating research findings^ is important, but achieving translation remains a challenge [1]. There exists a research literature on strategies for knowledge dissemination or transfer [2]. In comparison, an equally important aspect of translation, the incorporation of research findings in clinical reasoning, has been all but ignored. What does a Brelative risk reduction of 20 %^ in a population of clinical trial participants tell us about whether the drug will work for a particular patient outside the trial? In this article, we examine the logic of translating therapeutic study results (e.g., clinical trial findings) in clinical practice. The kind of translation we have in mind is often called knowledge translation (KT) or T2 [1]. Although little explicit attention is given to the logic of translation, we argue that a particular model of translation is implicit in most KT activities; we call it the Risk Generalization-Particularization (Risk GP) Model. Here, we describe the model, including its limitations. Elsewhere, we argue that the Risk GP Model is the standard model of prediction in prognosis and therapy [3]. In therapy, prediction requires making an inference about a patient’s response to treatment. In the Risk GP Model, this involves translating study findings in two stages. In the first stage, generalization, translation involves transportation of the group-level effect size from the trial to a target population. The preferred measures of effect size, particularly in cardiovascular research, are derived from the absolute risk (AR), and include the relative risk (RR) and absolute risk reduction (ARR). For instance, in a meta-analysis of trials, the RR of cardiovascular disease (CVD) events due to a cholesterollowering statin was approximately 0.8 [4]. In the Risk GP Model, the evidence user generalizes this RR of 0.8 to a target population (e.g., patients at high risk of CVD in the USA). In the second stage, particularization, translation involves transformation of the effect size into a change in outcome for a patient in the target population. Thus, we call this model the Risk GP Model. The inference from populations to individual patients (particularization or Bindividualization^) has received virtually no attention, yet is presupposed whenever clinicians Bapply^ study results to particular patients. When the effect size is derived from the AR (which quantifies the relative frequency of outcomes/events), the output of particularization is the change in probability of the outcome for the patient. Thus, if a patient in the high risk target population has an untreated CVD risk of 25 %, we predict that a statin with a RR of 0.8 will lower their probability of CVD to 20 %. The slip in the meaning of Bmedical risk^ at this stage often goes unnoticed. The RR or ARR measured in the trial is Associate Editor Craig Stolen oversaw the review of this article

Traditional Chinese Medicine acupuncture and myofascial trigger needling: The same stimulation points?

BackgroundAcupuncture originates in China, and its effectiveness has been well documented in musculoskeletal pain disorders and other conditions. A widely accepted contemporary medical treatment option for myofascial pain is trigger point needling. Although there are many differences between Traditional Chinese Medicine acupuncture theory and the myofascial trigger point needling framework, it is argued that the stimulation sites for these two needling modalities are similar. DiscussionIn this paper we examined the correspondence between Traditional Chinese Medicine acupoints and myofascial trigger points. Based on this correspondence, we considered exploration of Ah-shi points from four aspects: pain recognition, distal Ah-shi points, Anti-Ah-shi points, and management approaches.Summary: The extent of correspondence is influenced by definitions of acupoints. Myofascial trigger points are significantly correlated to Traditional Chinese Medicine acupoints, including primary channel acupoints, extra acupoints, and Ah-shi points. Considering the correlation between MTrPs and acupoints and the rarely-studied research area of Ah-shi points, it may be reasonable to incorporate research findings of myofascial trigger points into further investigations into Ah-shi points. Correspondence between myofascial trigger points and acupoints enhances contemporary understanding of the mechanism of action of acupuncture, and may serve to facilitate increased integration of acupuncture into clinical management.

Value Added: Exploring Porcelain and Gold in Ceramic Art

Exploring porcelain claybodies and gold as a surface embellishment as a way of adding value to ceramic art was the focus of our research and creative activity. Researchers visited museums, attended curatorial lectures, and participated in workshops. Investigators applied the results of this research to personal artworks, increasing value, enhancing skillsets and material understanding. All research was documented and participants developed professional portfolios. Acceptance into juried competitions, a solo exhibition during the national Ceramics conference in Kansas City, and a community exhibition during the Hays Spring Gallery Walk offered venues for sharing the creative activity enriched by this research. Claybodies were tested for shrinkage, porosity, plasticity, translucency, glaze compatibility and standing strength. Results were compared and the investigators applied their findings to one of a kind artworks exploiting the characteristics of each clay body. Gold is an expensive, relatively rare and precious material used in embellishing ceramic surfaces. A variety of gold applications were demonstrated and explored. Gold luster was applied with brushes and ink pens to create linear drawings. Gold decal images and patterns were applied to embellish surfaces enriching the glazes. Gold leaf known as gilt was added to surfaces that did not require firing. Traveling to learn from experts, inviting artists onto campus to teach their techniques, exploring and incorporating research findings into artistic practice has advanced the art of all investigators. The resulting artwork will be shared with the campus, community and global community through exhibitions and virtual display.