Sound Knowledge Research Articles

The Structural Relations of Component Reading Comprehension Skills in Kiswahili: The Influence of Socio‐Economic Status and Home Literacy Environment

AbstractThis research explores structural relations among the component skills of reading comprehension in Kiswahili. Furthermore, the study examines the relationship between socio‐economic status, home and school language use, and home literacy environment with Kiswahili reading outcomes. The study utilized secondary data from the baseline Tusome Literacy activity implemented in Kenya at scale from 2015 to 2022 by USAID, Research Triangle Institute in collaboration with the Ministry of Education Kenya and other partners. A three‐stage stratified sampling procedure was used to randomly select the schools and students from a sample frame compiled from multiple education databases of public formal and non‐formal schools in Kenya. The final sample comprised 4886 grade 1 and 2 learners who completed a battery of early grade literacy assessment in Kiswahili and a survey of the socio‐economic status (SES), home literacy environment (HLE), and school and home language use. We conducted a regression analysis to examine structural relations among the component skills of reading comprehension and the relationships between the SES, HLE, and early literacy skills. The findings indicate that the component skills are interconnected with the sub‐lexical skills, serving as the building block for the higher‐order skills. Letter sound knowledge, text reading fluency, and listening comprehension predict reading comprehension. Reading stories at home, reading aloud, and silent reading practice at school significantly influences reading outcomes. The mismatch between home and school language and low SES negatively impacts reading outcomes. These findings indicate that systematic and explicit instruction is critical in acquiring literacy skills, particularly for learners from disadvantaged backgrounds.

Factors affecting the implementation and sustainability of an Australian community-based doula service: A qualitative study

BackgroundCommunity-based doula support for women and gender-diverse birthing people has a range of benefits in improving maternal outcomes and experiences. However, there is limited research on how doula services operate in Australia. Birth for Humankind is an Australian community-based volunteer doula service, which provides free doula support for women and gender diverse birthing people experiencing social discrimination and financial disadvantage. The aim of this study was to understand facilitators and barriers to implementation and sustainability of a community-based doula service delivered to clients concurrently receiving care at a major maternity hospital in Melbourne, Australia. MethodsWe conducted a qualitative study consisting of 30 in-depth interviews with doulas and managers of the community-based doula service Birth for Humankind, and midwives, doctors and social workers from a maternity hospital. Data were inductively thematically analysed, and themes were then deductively categorised using the Capability, Opportunity, and Motivation (COM-B) model and Theoretical Domains Framework (TDF) to understand behavioural influences and facilitators and barriers to implementing and sustaining the doula service within a hospital setting. ResultsFacilitators to implementation of the doula service included: collaborative relationships; having sound knowledge of referral processes; and being a valued professional doula service with dedicated volunteers. Barriers to implementation included: limited knowledge of the doula service from hospital staff; difficulty in retaining volunteer doulas; being a small non-profit doula service; and limited capacity of hospitals to financially support the doula service. Advocacy for renumerating doulas may be one means to strengthen and sustain existing doula-provider service relationships. ConclusionConsideration of establishing strategic partnerships between the doula service and hospitals may create financially-sustainable pathways to enable provision of high-quality, community-based doula support for women and gender diverse birthing people to continue.

Sexual health education knowledge required by health education teachers in Finland

ABSTRACT Health education teachers have a crucial role to play in delivering sexual health education in schools, with their own knowledge being key to providing comprehensive sexual health education to adolescents. The purpose of this study was to describe the sexual health education knowledge required by health education teachers in Finland. Qualitative methods were used to explore the perspectives of Finnish health education teachers using semi-structured interviews and e-forms. Data collection from 15 health education teachers took place in March and April 2023. The data were analysed using inductive content analysis. Findings highlight the importance of health education teachers having sound knowledge about: 1) the diversity of adolescent sexual health, 2) the functions of the adolescent body, 3) factors threatening adolescent sexual health, 4) factors promoting adolescent sexual health, and 5) relevant relevant forms of pedagogy. The findings from this study offer a unique perspective on the wide-ranging knowledge required by health education teachers regarding sexual health education in Finland. It is imperative that present and future health education teachers are well-trained and qualified. Both pre- and in-service training should be comprehensive and accessible to enable the delivery of high-quality sexual health education to adolescents and, consequently, the promotion of sexual health.

Enablers and barriers of implementing a whole school approach to ovulatory menstrual health literacy: a case study of a single-sex school in Western Australia

AbstractMy Vital Cycles® is a holistic ovulatory menstrual health literacy program for adolescent females. A whole school approach was used when trialled in one single-sex secondary school in Perth Australia. This study investigated the enablers and barriers for its future implementation from the perspective of the school’s teachers, nurses and psychologists. The design was a pre-trial survey of ovulatory menstrual health knowledge and attitudes, followed by post-trial interviews and focus group discussions (FGDs). In the pre-trial survey, 12 school staff demonstrated positive attitudes to ovulatory menstrual health; sound anatomical knowledge; but limited knowledge of cycle patterns. There were two FGDs with five participants and eight post-trial semi-structured interviews, giving 13 school staff in total. Deductive thematic analysis identified 14 themes within a whole school approach framework, specifically: policies and resources; community partnerships; curriculum; social-emotional environment; and school health services. Enablers included school staff’s positive attitudes; the program’s validated materials; its curricular alignment; and address of stigma. Barriers included school staff’s need for professional development; extending the program over years; Health and Science silos; dependence on school leadership; and challenges of building community partnerships. Co-design with school leadership and staff to enhance opportunities for a whole school approach is recommended for future implementation.

Revisiting the Intratemporal Course of the Facial Nerve.

Introduction The facial nerve displays a lot of variations and anomalies in its course. Having sound knowledge about the surgical anatomy along with its intricacies is essential in mastoid surgeries. In this study, we have documented the angle of deviation of the mastoid segment of the facial nerve during its intratemporal course and the importance of this angle during mastoid surgeries. Aim and objectives The objectives of this study were to document and assess the orientation of the intratemporal course of the mastoid segment of the facial nerve and to measure the angle of deviation of the mastoid segment of the facial nerve as it traverses from the second genu to the stylomastoid foramen. Methodology A prospective observational study was conducted between December 2023 and June 2024 on 20 wet temporal bone specimens. Following canal wall down mastoidectomy, the facial nerve was explored and completely traced from the second genu to the stylomastoid foramen. High-quality images were captured and uploaded to the GIMP 2.10.36 software. At the second genu, a tangential line was drawn in the sagittal plane. Another line was drawn along the course of the facial nerve until its exit at the stylomastoid foramen. The angle between these two lines was estimated, and the angle of deviation was documented using this software and statistically analyzed. Results The mean angle of deviation at the second genu was found to be 15 (12-18) degrees in all 20 specimens. It was found that as the facial nerve traverses towards the stylomastoid foramen, from its anteromedial course it becomes more lateral and superficial. The anteroposterior angulation between males and females had a p-value of 0.02591, showing that it was significant. Similarly, the medial to lateral angulation between males and females had a p-value of 0.0458, which showed significance. However, the anteroposterior and medial to lateral angles did not show any significance when compared to the standard angle of 15 degrees as per literature, showing a p-value of 0.456 and 0.275 respectively. This helped us understand and document the highly variable course of the mastoid segment of the facial nerve, which can be emphasized during further research. Conclusion This angle of deviation of the mastoid segment of the facial nerve, around 15 degrees, will help surgeons be more careful during mastoid surgeries as it helps in assessing the depth and highly variable course of the facial nerve during its intratemporal course. This further acts as a guiding tool for budding surgeons in preventing inadvertent facial nerve injuries.

Detection of Androgen Receptors in Spermatozoa of Small Ruminants: A Putative Modulation Pathway for Cryoresistance Through AQP3.

This work was aimed to identify androgen receptors (AR) in the spermatozoa of wild and domestic ruminants and to assess the effect of testosterone on sperm localization of aquaporin-3 (AQP3) and cryopreservation process. Sperm samples from wild species were incubated with testosterone (T group), 1,3-propanediol (PDO group), phloretin (PHL group), PDO+T group, PHL+T group. Western blot identified the presence of AR as a single band of about 48 KDa. Immunolabelling of AR was located in the equatorial segment of the sperm head. In mouflons, the cryoresistance ratio for acrosome integrity was lower (p < 0.05) in the PHL+T than in Control and T groups. In ibexes, the cryoresistance ratio for acrosome integrity was lower (p < 0.05) in the PHL+T, PHL, and T group than in the Control group; the cryoresistance ratios for sperm kinematic variables were lower (p < 0.05) in PDO+T than in Control. No changes were found among treatments in the proportion of spermatozoa showing AQP3 in the different membrane domains after incubation and thawing in both mouflon and ibex. In conclusion, testosterone negatively affected sperm cryoresistance expressed as acrosome integrity, enhancing the effects of the AQP blocker PHL. Our findings provide a sound knowledge of the molecular mechanisms that explain the seasonal variation in sperm freezability from ruminants.

Relationship Between Dementia and Lifestyle Diseases

As society ages, the number of people with dementia increases worldwide, and the prevention of dementia has become increasingly important. Lifestyle diseases are associated with the development of dementia, and preventing or controlling lifestyle diseases in middle-aged individuals is particularly important. Hypertension, diabetes, and dyslipidemia are associated with dementia. Hypertension is strongly associated with dementia, and strict blood pressure control is required. Among the drugs used to treat lifestyle diseases, some antihypertensive drugs(e.g., dihydropyridine calcium channel blockers, angiotensin 2 receptor blockers), hypoglycemic drugs(e.g., glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonists and sodium-glucose co-transporter-2 inhibitors), and statins may reduce the incidence of dementia. However, individual interventions for lifestyle diseases have only a limited effect in reducing the incidence of dementia. Comprehensive interventions may have significant effects. Clinicians involved in the management of lifestyle diseases need to have sound knowledge of these diseases and provide comprehensive management at an early stage.

“I’ve got ninety-nine problems…”: a starting point for investigating the risk prioritisation paradox

It has been shown in several previous studies that the implementation of risk-reducing interventions or adoption of safer behaviours is considerably less amongst individuals with low sociodemographic status. In turn, this has led to an increasing inequality of mortality risk and a considerable challenge for societal actors. Decreasing economic hurdles, that is, making safety interventions cheaper, and increasing knowledge has often been the chosen strategies to reduce inequality and although some success has been shown in terms of specific risks, the overall trend is towards increased inequality. An assumption underlying the sociodemographic differences in prevention has been that individuals with low sociodemographic status have an incorrect understanding of their risk. However, several recent studies have shown that individuals with objectively high risk also perceive their risk as higher therefore raising the question of why—despite having a sound knowledge of risks—they more often refrain from risk-reducing interventions. One hypothesis is that individuals with low sociodemographic status (correctly) experience that they have a higher risk in relation to many different hazards. Given the greater number of risks needing to be handled, these individuals need to prioritise which risks to focus upon, thereby not necessarily prioritising the risks that society would like them to prioritise. Using a large dataset on the self-reported perception of a large number of different risks, the differences between sociodemographic groups are analysed to investigate whether an underlying issue in the inequality of risk is that lower sociodemographic status groups perceive more risks as greater than those of higher sociodemographic status.

Importance of English in Commerce from International Perspective

English is a widely spoken language, which is used in day-to-day transactions in international sphere. Without English international communication can’t happen smoothly and there lies the importance of English. Present research paper will try to understand the importance of English in commerce from international perspective and the solution over the problem where still the knowledge of English is not provided and thereby commercially those people are backward due to barrier of language. Commerce is a very important sector, which deals with monetary transactions, sales and marketing, portfolio investments and all banking transactions. When you think about International Commerce you see the communication is purely business but it involves English extensively. In international transactions English is a barrier to those who don’t know the language and for the people who are fluent in English, for them it is like their mother tongue. English and Commerce are two different sectors, but in international sphere they are interdependent. Mere commercial transactions won’t run successfully if you can’t communicate in English. So, it’s very important that the people who are involved in Commerce sector should have sound knowledge of English and they should fluently able to communicate in English. In this research paper, we will find the difficulties faced by the people involved in commerce sector while dealing with English and will try to find out the solution over this.

The Physician King Buddhadasa: A Mine of Virtues, as the Sea is of Jewels.

King Buddhadasa was a monarch of the Kingdom of Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka, in the 4th century A.D. He was a unique king with sound knowledge and skill in medicine according to the traditional medical system. The primary source of Sri Lankan history describes him as "a mine of virtues, as the sea is of jewels." This is due to his virtue of being a righteous king and a compassionate physician, whose healing extended to both humans and animals. His contributions went beyond curative medicine to include preventative care, medical administration, and scholarly work such as the Sarartha Sangrahaya. Similar to Charaka and Sushruta in the South Asian region, his life and work are exemplary and inspirational to modern-day physicians. This review provides an account of the life of King Buddhadasa as recorded in the primary chronicle of Sri Lankan history. Some of his healing accounts may seem mystical to the reader. The article also endeavours to find plausible explanations for those occurrences based on allopathy and science. These records serve as important lessons for modern-day physicians, encouraging the inculcation of good conscience and morality in medical practice.

Comparison of Problem-based Learning and Didactic Lecture as a Teaching–Learning Method among Undergraduate Medical Students: An Interventional Study

Background Didactic lecture (DL) is a teaching method that has been there for a long time in our educational system, but student involvement is minimal. Problem-based learning (PBL) differs in that it involves students in the learning process. Various skills are learned, such as self-learning, group discussion, communication skills, teamwork and knowledge retention. Critical thinking, analysis and the ability to solve real problems are some benefits of PBL, which can help medical students understand clinical scenarios and analyse, interpret and come up with possible solutions based on sound knowledge. Thus, there is a need to assess the effectiveness of PBL in recall, interpretation and problem-solving skills as compared to the traditional lecture method, as there are very few Indian studies related to PBL in Indian medical students. Materials and Methods A non-randomised interventional study was carried out in the Department of Pharmacology at East Point Medical College, Bengaluru. Groups A and B, each with 60 medical students, participated in PBL and DL for either of the two competencies (myocardial infarction and iron deficiency anaemia). After the completion of the DL and PBL sessions, 20 multiple-choice questions (MCQs) were given to the students. The effectiveness of the teaching method was determined by comparing the mean scores of MCQs of both groups. Results The group scores were compared using an independent sample t-test and expressed as mean ± standard deviation. The total mean score of PBL for the topic myocardial infarction (11.00 ± 2.64, p value = .001) was statistically significant compared with the total mean score in the DL group (9.38 ± 2.52), and the total mean score of PBL for the topic iron deficiency anaemia (15.28 ± 3.53, p value = .001) was significant compared to the total mean score in the DL group (12.98 ± 3.61), respectively. The mean score for recall and problem-solving for the topic of myocardial infarction was statistically significant in the PBL group compared to the DL group. The mean score for recall, interpretation and problem-solving for the topic of iron deficiency anaemia was statistically significant in the PBL group compared with the DL group. Conclusion PBL showed marked improvement in recall, interpretation and problem-solving abilities compared with DL. So, including PBL as a teaching–learning method can promote active and student-centered learning.

Walidacja odczytów rejestratora wypadkowego wykonanych za pomocą systemu Axes ADW

A comparison between readouts of crash data records taken with Axes ADW and Bosch CDR systems is presented. For a small group of readouts a reference was made by reading out the module memory in laboratory conditions, or using the Jaguar-Land Rover Tools. The comparison indicates favourable prospects as to the reliability of Axes ADW tool. The system offers interesting possibilities for vehicles otherwise not supported by any other tools and sporadic errors do not disqualify it from the use for crash reconstruction. However, the observed anomalies emphasize the need for the analysts of these data to have a sound knowledge background as the unconditional trust in the recovered information may lead to misinterpretations. Whenever possible, it is advised to employ various readout systems together with cross checking the recovered data.

Sarcoma or haematoma? If only it was that simple! Part 2.

Imaging appearances and clinical presentation of soft tissue sarcoma and soft tissue haematomas are similar. It is imperative that sarcoma is differentiated from benign soft tissue lesions due to the poor outcomes and high morbidity associated with sarcoma. Part 2 of this pictorial review summarises the key ultrasound appearances of soft tissue sarcoma and soft tissue haematomas and some differential diagnoses. Ultrasound is the first line test in the investigation of soft tissue masses. With the overlapping ultrasound appearances of soft tissue sarcoma and soft tissue haematomas, it is essential that practitioners are aware of key ultrasound appearances and understand when to escalate cases for further investigation. Sound knowledge of the clinical and sonographic features of soft tissue haematomas and soft tissue sarcoma as well as recognising potential differential diagnoses is fundamental to ensuring an accurate diagnosis, timely management and improved patient outcomes.

Partial equivalent sound pressure level as an approach to manage irrelevant sounds in environmental noise measurements

Residual sound and unwanted events are known factors affecting the accuracy of environmental noise measurements. ISO 1996-2 provides methods to manage these irrelevant sounds, for example by applying correction factors, but the methods require a degree of knowledge of the irrelevant sounds that is not always practical or possible to obtain when performing long-term measurements with unattended monitoring stations in complex urban soundscapes. While automatic detection of irrelevant sounds provides the required information, it also allows for new approaches not described in ISO 1996-2. In this paper, we discuss a metric called partial equivalent sound pressure level (Partial Leq), calculated after data samples with residual sound and unwanted events are identified automatically and replaced by project-specific values. Our hypothesis is that better estimates of equivalent sound pressure levels (Leq) can be achieved with this metric, compared with the general methods given in ISO 1996-2. Comparisons of results are presented, together with a discussion of applicability of the Partial Leq metric and experiences gathered from its use.

Knowledge and Attitude of the First Aid Among School Teachers in Saudi Arabia: Systematic Review

Aim: Injury poses a serious threat to health as it is the main contributor to early mortality and morbidity as well as the main reasons for the death of adolescents. About one- third time of school children is spent in schools, where they are frequently in danger of accidents and medical issues. First-aid (FA) has been shown to be beneficial in the prevention and management of injuries. Teachers are the bystanders or first responders in case a mishap occurs in schools. It is therefore very crucial for teachers to have sound knowledge of first aid. This systematic review aims to assess the status of knowledge among Saudi Arabia school teachers and for studies to be conducted in future it aims to provide recommendations. Methods: The PRISMA guidelines were followed in conducting the systematic review. For the search of relevant studies, the strategy of using text words and MeSH terms was included. The studies included in the review were cross-sectional studies and survey research studies. Studies in government as well as private schools of every level, primary, intermediate, secondary, higher secondary, in any part of Saudi Arabia with more than 100 subjects were included in the systematic review. Studies carried out on populations in school settings apart from teachers, such as sports instructors, helpers, or students were excluded. The risk of bias was assessed using “the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) critical appraisal checklist for analytic cross-sectional studies”. Results: Twenty-nine studies were incorporated for assessment. Largest number of studies were conducted in Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia. Questionnaires from previous studies were adapted in seventeen studies. Six studies utilized case-based questionnaires. 11 studies showed high risk of bias. Conclusion: The studies lacked well-developed, standard questionnaires containing uniformity in questions for similar kind of study. Level of knowledge was found to be low or barely adequate in major proportion of the studies

To assess the preparedness of primary care physicians in terms of their knowledge, attitude, beliefs, and confidence regarding smoking cessation in Gilgit

ABSTRACT Background: Tobacco smoking poses a great threat to the healthcare system both in developed and developing countries due to its health hazard. Healthcare professionals and in particular physicians can play an effective role in encouraging people to quit smoking which will ultimately improve the overall health of their patients and hence prolong their lives Subjects and Methods: Data were collected from physicians from public and private hospitals that included Aga khan Health Services in Gilgit, Ghizer, and Hunza, District health quarter Hospitals in Gilgit, Hunza, and Ghizer, Sehat foundation between 1 December, 2021, and 30 May, 2022. A precoded questionnaire was filled which assessed the knowledge, attitude, practices, beliefs, and confidence of physicians in smoking cessation. Results: The mean age of physicians was 35.4 ± 9.11 years, of which 64.7% (n = 66) were males and 10.8% (n = 11) were current smokers. 23.5% (n = 24) of physicians had received formal training on smoking cessation (P value 0.002). 55.5% (n = 57) were unsure that Bupropion helps in quitting smoking and only 23.5% (n = 24) reported that they are very well prepared for counselling, whereas 42.2% (n = 44) were unsure how to assess smoker’s different stages of readiness to quit. Conclusion: We concluded that physicians of Gilgit Baltistan have sound knowledge about the adverse effects of smoking, but they are not confident in prescribing medication due to unaware of different methods of treatment available for smoking cessation.

Unusual causes of Small bowel obstruction: a review of the literature and revisited cross-sectional imaging checklist.

Intestinal obstruction is a common surgical emergency with high morbidity and mortality. Patients presenting with features of small bowel obstruction need urgent evaluation to avoid complications such as bowel gangrene, perforation, or peritonitis. Imaging is necessary in most cases of suspected bowel obstruction, to take an appropriate decision, for apt patient management. Among the common causes of small bowel obstruction, adhesions, external herniae, malignancies, and Crohn's disease top the chart. Imaging helps in determining the presence of obstruction, the severity of obstruction, transition point, cause of obstruction, and associated complications such as strangulation, bowel gangrene, and peritonitis. This review is based on the cases with unusual causes of bowel obstruction encountered during our routine practice and also on the extensive literature search through the standard textbooks and electronic databases. Through this review we want our readers to have sound knowledge of the imaging characteristics of the uncommon yet important causes of bowel obstruction. We have also revisited and structured a checklist to simplify the approach while reporting a suspected case of small bowel obstruction. Imaging plays a key role in the diagnosis of small bowel obstruction and in determining the cause and associated complications. Apart from the common causes of small bowel obstruction, we should also be aware of the uncommon causes of small bowel obstruction and their imaging characteristics to make an accurate diagnosis and for apt patient management.

Transverse interlaminar ultrasound-guided C1-C2 puncture for the intrathecal administration of nusinersen in patients with spinal muscular atrophy.

Severe spinal deformities and previous spinal orthopedic instrumentation may result in substantial technical challenges for nusinersen delivery through lumbar puncture in patients with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA). The aim of this paper was to review our experience with ultrasound-guided cervical puncture as an alternative approach for the intrathecal administration of nusinersen. This was a retrospective medical record review of transverse interlaminar ultrasound-guided C1-C2 puncture for nusinersen delivery in SMA patients. The details of puncture, complications, and success rate of the procedure were summarized. There were four patients who received a total of 13 cervical punctures for nusinersen delivery. All procedures were technically successful with no major complications. Full doses of nusinersen were delivered intrathecally. Transverse interlaminar ultrasound-guided C1-C2 puncture is an alternative approach for administering nusinersen if lumbar puncture fails. The success of the technique requires a thorough preprocedural evaluation of cervical spine imaging, sound knowledge of the cervical sonoanatomy and careful manipulation of the needle.

Importance of Clinical Examination in Homeopathy

A clinical examination is consisting of three phases: case history, examination, and explanation. Out of which for homeopaths a brief case taking or history of patient is a crucial component. But, it is equally important to focus on physical examination (having the sound knowledge of all allied subjects) in order to make a provisional diagnosis, for therapeutic propose, to save patients from unnecessary investigations as well as to develop a good doctor- patient relationship

Australian SLPs’ knowledge and actions regarding the early signs of autism: When does caution become gatekeeping?

Purpose Speech-language pathologists (SLPs) are often the first point of contact for families of children with autism. Despite this, little is known about SLPs’ understanding of autism and its early indicators. This study sought to investigate what Australian SLPs know about autism, the early indicators, and the actions they take when they identify these characteristics. Method A 34 question cross-sectional online survey was distributed through professional networks, social media channels, and industry contacts to Australian SLPs. Quantitative and qualitative data were analysed. Result The 70 participants worked in various contexts around the country. The majority of participants demonstrated sound knowledge of the main characteristics of autism, and some early indicators. Quantitative analysis identified a significant correlation between participant age and confidence talking to parents about possible autism. Overarching themes were identified: (a) caution may delay or prevent SLPs from taking action, (b) some factors may influence SLPs’ action, and (c) SLPs take action. Conclusion Australian SLPs working with children have the knowledge and understanding of the main characteristics of autism and some early indicators. However, they demonstrate a cautious approach around the subject of autism, and this caution may cause delays for children requiring diagnostic services.