Editorial: The Social-Ecological Context of Health Literacy

Most recent empirical findings from the WHO European Region indicate a limited ability to find, understand, critically assess and apply health-related information for between 25% (Slovenia) and 72% (Germany) of the adult population (1). Moreover, it has been widely shown that limited health literacy is associated with poor health behavior, lower use of health screenings, more hospitalization and lower general health (2, 3). With regard to economic effects, limited health literacy causes additional costs that range from 3 to 5% of the annual total health care costs (4). Given these findings, it is not surprising that health literacy is high on the public health agenda with 19 Member States of the WHO European Region having a health literacy policy on a national or local leve

Humanity\u27s Best Friend: A Dog-Centric Approach to Addressing Global Challenges

No other animal has a closer mutualistic relationship with humans than the dog (Canis familiaris). Domesticated from the Eurasian grey wolf (Canis lupus), dogs have evolved alongside humans over millennia in a relationship that has transformed dogs and the environments in which humans and dogs have co-inhabited. The story of the dog is the story of recent humanity, in all its biological and cultural complexity. By exploring human-dog-environment interactions throughout time and space, it is possible not only to understand vital elements of global history, but also to critically assess our present-day relationship with the natural world, and to begin to mitigate future global challenges. In this paper, co-authored by researchers from across the natural and social sciences, arts and humanities, we argue that a dog-centric approach provides a new model for future academic enquiry and engagement with both the public and the global environmental agenda

Self-reported substance use, in dental and oral hygiene students at a university in South Africa

A recent study amongst South African dental students found that a number of them had perceived moderate to severe stress and as a result, some have resorted to stimulant drugs. The aim of the study was to assess substance use by dental and oral hygiene students at a university in South Africa. A cross-sectional design was used and all dental and oral hygiene students registered in 2019 at a university in South Africa were asked to participate. Materials and Methods A pretested, validated self-administered questionnaire was used to achieve the aim. The objectives were to identify which substances were used, where they were obtained, frequency and reasons for use, as well as the self-perceived benefits and side effects experienced. Data was analysed using SPSS version 27. The data was confidential and anonymity was ensured. A total of 303 (88%) agreed to participate with ages from 17 to 36 years and a mean of 22.3 years. Over two thirds 206 (67.9%) used substances. Almost half of the group (44.6%) took one product, 16.5% took two, and 7% consumed between 3 and 5. The sources of substances ranged from peers, friends, acquaintances and pharmacies. Nearly twenty percent of the students used caffeine products, energy drinks, and methylphenidate. Almost 10% used anti-anxiety pills and anti-depressants whilst just above 11% used natural boosters and multivitamins. More than half of the students used the substances to stay awake and improve marks and 45(22%) of the users struggled to stop. Conclusions Over two thirds of students used substances, with almost half using one substance. There were multiple sources of substances. More than half of the students used them to stay awake and improve marks

Adoption of unconventional approaches in construction: The case of cross-laminated timber

Achieving sustainable development requires the decoupling of economic growth from the use of non-renewable resources. This depends on industry adopting unconventional approaches to production. This research explores the root causes of barriers to the adoption of such approaches in the construction industry, and applies a behavioural model to assess whether companies are hindered by capability, opportunity or motivation. The long history of lowest-cost tendering in construction has led to a path-dependent lock-in to conventional market-driven objectives of cost and risk reduction; it is suggested that locked-in companies lack the commercial opportunity and hence motivation, rather than the capability, to adopt approaches perceived to increase cost or risk. Such companies will therefore tend to resist unconventional approaches, restricting the physical opportunity for other project participants. This theory is explored in a case study of first adoptions of cross-laminated timber (CLT) in UK projects, using a survey and series of semi-structured interviews. The case study found that project contexts created market niches. This provided designers, who were motivated to use CLT, the opportunity to promote its use in the project. CLT was seen as key to successful resolution of project constraints, thereby providing motivation to other project participants to adopt the material

Energy Balance of Laying Hens under Different Climates

A series of short term (3-4 weeks) energy balance experiments on laying hens were carried out under temperate and tropical climates. The results indicated that hens on ME restriction could produce egg while at the same time maintained positive energy balance. This was possible because nutrient requirements to maintain higher body weight which resulted from energy restriction, could have been reduced. Total heat production data obtained for temperate and tropical climates were 172 and 187 kcal(kgo.75 respectively

Fair game: exploring the dynamics, perception and environmental impact of ‘surplus’ wild foods in England 10kya-present

This paper brings together zooarchaeological data from Neolithic to Post-medieval sites in England to explore the plasticity of cultural attitudes to the consumption of wild animals. It shows how, through time, game has been considered variously as ‘tabooed’ and ‘edible’, each having implications for patterns of biodiversity and wildlife management. The essential points being made are that deeper-time studies can reveal how human perceptions of ‘surplus foods’ have the potential to both create and remedy problems of environmental sustainability and food security. Perhaps more significantly, this paper argues that understanding the bio-cultural past of edible wild animal species has the potential to transform human attitudes to game in the present. This is important at a time when food security and the production of surplus are pressing national and global concerns

Spatial nonlocal pair correlations in a repulsive 1D Bose gas

We analytically calculate the spatial nonlocal pair correlation function for an interacting uniform 1D Bose gas at finite temperature and propose an experimental method to measure nonlocal correlations. Our results span six different physical realms, including the weakly and strongly interacting regimes. We show explicitly that the characteristic correlation lengths are given by one of four length scales: the thermal de Broglie wavelength, the mean interparticle separation, the healing length, or the phase coherence length. In all regimes, we identify the profound role of interactions and find that under certain conditions the pair correlation may develop a global maximum at a finite interparticle separation due to the competition between repulsive interactions and thermal effects.Comment: Final published version, modified titl