bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Açai (Euterpe oleracea Mart) modulates oxidative stress and inflammation by NF-κB inactivation and Nrf2 up-regulation in experimental diabetes
Authors: Lima Deyse Yorgos , Rodrigues Adelson Marçal , Mouro Margaret Gori , Seif Elias jorge Muniz , Silva Manoel Victor , Punaro Giovana Rita , Higa Elisa Mieko Suemitsu
Published: April 2022

To evaluate the effects of açai extract (EA) on oxidative stress and inflammation induced by high glucose in cultured mouse immortalized mesangial cells (MiMC) and diabetic rats. MiMC cell viability and proliferation were determined by MTT. Extracellular and intracellular nitric oxide (NO) and intracellular ROS were also measured. The cell proteins were extracted for analysis of catalase, Nrf2, p-Nrf2, SOD-1, SOD-2, iNOS, NF-κB, p-NF-κB and TNF-α expression. Male, adult Wistar rats were distributed into 3 groups: control (CTL) and diabetic (DM) rats who received water and DMEA and received 1 mL/day EA (200 mg/kg) via gavage for 8 consecutive weeks. After treatment with EA, metabolic profile, renal function and thiobarbituric acid reactives substances (TBARS) levels were evaluated, and kidneys were collected for qualitative histological analysis. EA maintained cell viability above 90% in all groups; it decreased proliferation in the HG group, both significant. NO levels, ROS generation, iNOS, NF-κB, p-NF-κB and TNF-α expression were reduced significantly after 72 h of EA treatment, with significant increases for all antioxidants studied. DMEA vs DM showed a significant increase in body weight, improved kidney function and reduced TBARS excretion. EA treatment decreased proliferation, oxidative stress and inflammation in MiMC, and although açai did not decrease fasting glucose, it recovered the body weight and delayed the decline of renal function in the diabetic animals, suppressing the signaling of inflammatory mediators via NF-κB inactivation and increasing all antioxidants studied by upregulating the Nrf2 response pathway.
Using historical tropical cyclone climate datasets to examine wind speed recurrence for coastal Australia
Authors: Bell S. S. , Dowdy A. J. , Ramsay H. A. , Chand S. S. , Su C-H , Ye H.
Published: April 2022

Likelihood estimates of extreme winds, including those from tropical cyclones (TCs) at certain locations are used to inform wind load standards for structural design. Here, wind speed average recurrence intervals (ARIs) determined from TC climate data dating back to the 1970s in two quantile-quantile adjusted reanalysis datasets (ERA5 and BARRA [1990]), and best-track observations for context, were compared with Standardized ARIs (AS/NZS) across seven tropical and two subtropical Australian inland coastal regions. Inherent differences between the data used to determine the Standard ARIs (large sample size allow for larger extrapolations; GEV function) and TC data ARIs (smaller sample size and less certain data; the more asymptotic Lognormal/Weibull functions are used) led to the use of different extreme value functions.Results indicated that although these are two distinct ways of determining design wind speeds, when they are considered equivalent, there was a moderate reproduction of the ARI curves with respect to the Standard in both reanalysis datasets, suggesting that similar analyses using climate model products can provide useful information on these types of metrics with some caveats.Trends in TC wind strength affecting coastal Australia were also analyzed, indicating a potential slight downtrend in tropical West coast TC wind strength and slight uptrends for tropical East coast TC wind strength, subtropical West coast TC wind strength and subtropical East coast ETC wind strength with low-to-medium confidence. Noting considerable uncertainties, and large interannual variability makes it hard to determine any of these results with a high degree of confidence based on current data.It is also difficult to attribute any noted changes in extreme wind gust strength in these datasets to anthropogenic climate change at this time given the relatively short time period and limitations of the data quality including that over longer time periods and preceding the era of widespread satellite coverage in the Australian region. It is hoped that climate models can provide a more homogenous base for these types of evaluations and subsequent projections with respect to climate change simulations.
Increased lactate dehydrogenase reflects the progression of COVID-19 pneumonia on chest computed tomography and predicts subsequent severe disease: A retrospective cohort study
Authors: Kojima Kensuke , Yoon Hyungeun , Okishio Kyoichi , Tsuyuguchi Kazunari
Published: April 2022

Background: Chest computed tomography (CT) is very effective for assessing the severity and prognosis of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). However, the clinical factors that are associated with the disease progression of COVID-19 pneumonia on chest CT at admission and that can consistently predict a subsequent severe clinical course remain unclear.Methods: We conducted a single-center retrospective cohort study of 450 patients admitted with confirmed SARS-Cov-2 infection between October 2020 and September 2021. An automated image processing tool was used to quantify the COVID-19 pneumonia lesion extent within total lung on chest CT at admission. Factors associated with the progression of COVID-19 pneumonia on chest CT were estimated by a multiple regression analysis using the quantified value as the objective variable. After adjusting for background factors by propensity score matching, a multivariate Cox proportional hazards analysis with the factors estimated by a multiple regression analysis as explanatory variables was conducted to identify factors associated with severe disease after admission.Results: In the multiple regression analysis, sex, body-mass index (BMI), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), C-reactive protein (CRP), and albumin were identified as independent factors associated with the COVID-19 pneumonia lesion extent on chest CT: female sex (partial regression coefficient [B], 1.11; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.02–1.21), BMI (B, 4.19; 95% CI, 2.65–6.66), LDH (B, 3.38; 95% CI, 2.33–4.89), CRP (B, 1.18; 95% CI, 1.08–1.29), and albumin (B, 0.36; 95% CI, 0.21–0.63). The standardized partial regression coefficients (β) for continuous variables (BMI, LDH, CRP, and albumin) were 1.76, 2.42, 1.54, and 0.71, respectively. In a multivariate Cox proportional hazards analysis, LDH (hazard ratio [HR], 1.003; 95% CI, 1.001-1.005) was identified as a factor independently associated with severe COVID-19 pneumonia.Conclusion: LDH was found to be an independent factor reflecting the disease progression of COVID-19 pneumonia on chest CT at admission and was also associated with subsequent severe disease. Increased serum LDH level at admission may be useful in real-world clinical practice for appropriate and early non-invasive and simple screening of patients with COVID-19 who are at high risk of developing severe disease.
Crime Prediction with Graph Neural Networks and Multivariate Normal Distributions
Authors: Tekin Selim Furkan , Kozat Suleyman Serdar
Published: April 2022

We study high-resolution crime prediction and introduce a new generative model applicable to any spatiotemporal data with Graph Convolutional Gated Recurrent Units (Graph-ConvGRU) and multivariate Gaussian distributions. We introduce a subdivision algorithm and create a graph representation to tackle the sparsity and complexity problem in high resolution spatiotemporal data. By leveraging the flexible structure of graph representation, we model the spatial, temporal, and categorical relations of crime events and produce state vectors for each region. We create a multi-variate probability distribution from the state vectors and train the distributions by minimizing the KL-Divergence between the generated and the actual distribution of the crime events. After creating the distributions, crime can be predicted in any resolution as the first time in the literature. In our experiments on real-life and synthetic datasets, our model obtains the best score with respect to the state-of-the-art models with statistically significant improvements. Hence our model is not only generative but also precise. We also provide the source code of our algorithm for reproducibility.
Facilitating hand hygiene in displacement camps during the COVID-19 pandemic: A qualitative assessment of a novel handwashing stand and hygiene promotion package
Authors: White Sian , Jain Anika , Bangura Abie , Farrington Michelle , Mekonen Melaku , Nhial Bang Chuol , Hogue Enamul , Moniruzzaman Md. , Namegabe Pascaline , Walassa John , Majorin Fiona
Published: April 2022

Background: Handwashing with soap is critical for the prevention of diarrhoeal diseases and outbreak related diseases, including interrupting the transmission of COVID-19. People living in large displacement settings are particularly vulnerable to such outbreaks, however, practicing handwashing is typically challenging in these contexts. Methods: We conducted a process evaluation of the implementation of a combined intervention to facilitate handwashing behaviour in displacement camps and in surrounding communities in Bangladesh, Ethiopia and the Democratic Republic of Congo during the COVID-19 pandemic. The intervention comprised an infrastructural component (provision of the Oxfam Handwashing Station) and a hygiene promotion package (Mum’s Magic Hands). We used programmatic logbooks, interviews with implementation staff and focus group discussions with crisis-affected populations to assess the use, feasibility and acceptability of the intervention. Results: Both components of the intervention were viewed as novel and appealing by implementing staff and crisis-affected populations across the study sites. The acceptability of the handwashing station could be improved by redesigning the tap and legs, exploring local supply chain options, and by providing a greater number of facilities. The fidelity and dose of the hygiene promotion package varied substantially by country making it challenging to evaluate and compare. A greater focus on community engagement could address misconceptions, barriers related to the intuitiveness of the handwashing station design, and willingness to participate in the hygiene promotion component. Conclusions: The combination of a ‘hardware’ and ‘software’ intervention in these settings appeared to facilitate both access and use of handwashing facilities. The acceptability of the combined intervention was partially because a great deal of effort had been put into their design. However, even when delivering well-designed interventions, there are many contextual aspects that need to be considered, as well as unintended consequences which can affect the acceptability of an intervention.
Psychometric properties of the Traffic locus of control scale – Arabic version (T-LOC-A) among Lebanese drivers
Authors: Youssef Dalal , Salameh Pascale , Abou-Abbas Linda , Salmi Louis-Rachid
Published: April 2022

Background: The Traffic Locus of Control scale (T-LOC) measures a personality attribute revealing how a driver generally perceives possible causes of traffic crashes. Objective: This study aimed to assess the psychometric properties of the Arabic version of T-LOC (T-LOC-A) among Lebanese drivers and to test its reliability and construct validity. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted between October and December 2019 among a national sample of Lebanese drivers aged 18 years old and above, from all Lebanese governorates. A standardized questionnaire, developed in the Arabic language, includes three sections: Socio-demographic characteristics section, driving variables section; and the measurements section including the T-LOC and the driver behavior questionnaire. The internal consistency of the scale was assessed using Cronbach’s alpha. Exploratory factor analysis and confirmatory factor analysis were performed to examine the construct validity of the T-LOC. Correlation between T-LOC and driver behavior was assessed using Pearson correlation. In addition, the associations between T-LOC-A and sociodemographic characteristics were evaluated.Results:A total of 568 drivers participated in the study. Of the total, 69% were male and aged between 18- and 82-years-old. In the previous three years, around 40% of the surveyed drivers had been involved in accidents and 50.4% were penalized for traffic offenses. The T-LOC-A had adequate psychometric properties, revealing good to excellent reliability levels and support the original four-factor structure of the T-LOC (α=0.85), including self (α=0.88), other drivers (α=0.91), vehicle/environment (α=0.86), and fate (α=0.66). The confirmatory factor analysis revealed a good data fit. Men reported a higher tendency to attribute the responsibility for driving situations to the other drivers (p=0.024), while women believed more in fate and luck than men (p=0.0012). Other drivers’ subscale (r=0.387, p<0.05), and self-related dimensions of T-LOC-A (r=0.155, p<0.05) were positively correlated with the aggressive violation. Conclusion: The Arabic-version T-LOC-A exhibited good psychometric properties. In the Lebanese driving environment and cultural specificities, it is found to be a valid and reliable instrument, supporting the three factorial structures of the original T-LOC.
Oncological and Reproductive Outcomes for Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone Agonist Combined with Aromatase Inhibitors or Levonorgestrel-releasing Intrauterine System Fertility-Sparing Treatment in Women with Endometrial Cancer or Atypical Endometrial Hyperplasia: A single-center retrospective analysis of 179 cases
Authors: Chen Junyu , Cao Dongyan , Yang Jiaxin , Yu Mei , Zhou Huimei , Cheng Ninghai , Wang Jinhui , Zhang Ying , Peng Peng , Shen Keng
Published: April 2022

Purpose: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist (GnRHa) combined with levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine system (LNG-IUS) or aromatase inhibitor (AI) in women with endometrial carcinoma (EC) and atypical endometrial hyperplasia (AEH) who wish to preserve their fertility.Methods: 179 EC/AEH patients who were contra-indicated or unsuitable for high-dose oral progestin were included in our study. Patients were treated with the combination of GnRHa with LNG-IUS (group GLI: GnRHa IH every 4 weeks and LNG-IUS insertion constantly) or combination of GnRHa with AI (group GAI: GnRHa IH every 4 weeks and oral letrozole 2.5mg, daily). Histological evaluation was performed every 3-4 months. After achieving complete remission (CR), maintenance treatments including LNG-IUS, cyclical oral contraceptives or low-dose cyclic progestin were recommended until they began attempting to conceive. Results: Overall, 169 (94.4%) patients achieved CR, 96.7% in AEH and 93.3% in EC patients. The CR rate in GLI and GAI was 93.5% and 95.8%, respectively. The median time to CR was 6 (3-18) months, 4 (3-10) months in AEH and 8 (3-18) months in EC patients. After a median follow up of 27.5 months, 41 (24.3%) women developed recurrence with the median recurrence time of 17 (6-77) months. Of the patients with CR, 134 cases desired to conceive, 42 (32.3%) women became pregnant, 24 (17.9%) of them successfully delivered and 5 (3.7%) were in pregnancy, while 13 of them miscarried.Conclusion: GnRHa combined treatment achieved good oncological and reproductive outcomes. Future larger multi-institutional studies should be designed to confirm these preliminary findings.
Characteristics of cardiopulmonary exercise testing in patients with combined post- and pre-capillary pulmonary hypertension due to left heart disease
Authors: Goda Ayumi , Yanagisawa Yoshiaki , Takeuchi Shinsuke , Takeuchi Kaori , Kikuchi Hanako , Inami Takumi , Kohno Takashi , Satoh Toru , Soejima Kyoko
Published: April 2022

Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is a common and morbid complication of left heart disease (LHD), comprising two subtypes: (1) isolated post-capillary PH (Ipc-PH) and (2) combined post-capillary and pre-capillary PH (Cpc-PH). Knowledge of physiological characteristics distinguishing Cpc-PH from Ipc-PH remains limited. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the utility of cardiopulmonary exercise test (CPX) variables in detecting Cpc-PH. Among 105 consecutive patients with LHD (age: 55 ± 13 years; male/female = 79/26) who underwent right heart catheterization and CPX, 37 (35%) were classified as PH-LHD. Ipc-PH (n = 23) was defined as diastolic pulmonary pressure gradient (DPG) < 7 mmHg and/or pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR) ≤ 3 Wood units (WU), whereas Cpc-PH (n = 14) was defined as DPG ≥ 7 mmHg and/or PVR > 3 WU. Patients with Cpc-PH had a significantly lower peak PETCO2 (Non-PH/Ipc-PH/Cpc-PH = 38.3 ± 6.7 vs. 35.6 ± 5.9 vs. 32.7 ± 4.0 mmHg, p = 0.006), higher VE vs. VCO2 slope, and lower ΔVO2/ΔWR than those with Ipc-PH and non-PH. Logistic regression analysis revealed that peak PETCO2 was an independent predictor of Cpc-PH (odds ratio: 0.854, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.757–0.962, p = 0.009). Peak PETCO2 was the optimal predictor of Cpc-PH in the ROC analysis (AUC: 0.747, 95% CI: 0.640–0.854, p = 0.003). In conclusion, peak PETCO2 was associated with Cpc-PH in patients with LHD.
Biomechanical comparison of four triangular osteosynthesis fixations for unilateral verital sacral fractures
Authors: Ma Yupeng , Zhao Yong , Hong Huanyu , Huang Tao , Li Yu
Published: April 2022

[Objective] To compare the stability and biomechanical characteristics of four commonly used triangular osteosynthesis techniques to treat unilateral vertical sacral fractures and provide a clinical application reference.[Methods] Finite element models of Tile C type pelvic ring injury (unilateral Denis Ⅱ sacral fracture) were produced. In four models, sacral fractures were fixed with a combination of unilateral L5, unilateral L4,and L5 iliac lumbar fixation with lengthened sacroiliac screws and normal sacroiliac screws, respectively. The biomechanical properties of the four fixation models were measured and compared under bipedal stance and lumbar rotation.[Results] The fixation stability of the model with the lengthened sacroiliac screw was excellent, and the fracture end was stable. The stability of fixation using unilateral L4 and L5 segments was close to that of unilateral L5 segment fixation.[Conclusions] Triangular osteosynthesis transverse stabilization device using lengthened sacroiliac screws can increase the vertical stability of the sacrum after internal fixation and increase the stability of the fracture. When triangular osteosynthesis lumbar fixation segments were selected, simultaneous fixation of L4 and L5 segments versus only L5 segments did not significantly enhance the vertical stability of the sacrum or the stability of the fracture end.
Relationship between serum vitamin D3 levels and mental health in shift nurses
Authors: Tang Hsin-Ya , Ko Wang-Sheng , Yan Yuan-Horng , Yu Su-Chen , Chiou Ya-ling
Published: April 2022

Purpose: The nurses work long hours and in various shifts, and often accompanied by depression, fatigue and sleep disorders. Many studies have found that vitamin D is related to mental health. We aimed to investigate the relationship between depression, sleep problems, fatigue, and serum vitamin D3 levels in shift nurses as a basis for improving their mental health. Methods: We recruited 34 day-shift, 30 evening-shift and 31 night-shift nurses. The questionnaires used are: The Beck Depression Inventory II (BDI-II), Numerical Rating Scale and General Sleep Disturbance Scale. Results: Approximately 96.1% of shift nurses had deficient (<20 ng/ml) and inadequate (20–29 ng/ml) vitamin D3 levels. Approximately 84.2% of shift nurses experienced fatigue. Night-shift nurses experienced significantly more severe sleep disturbance than day-shift and evening-shift nurses. However, no significant correlation was observed between vitamin D3 levels and mental health when the vitamin D3 level was categorized.Conclusion: Vitamin D3 deficiency, sleep disturbance, depression, and fatigue were common in shift nurses, but it was not possible to demonstrate the impact of vitamin D3 deficiency on the mental health of shift nurses. However, the relationship between serum vitamin D3 levels and mental health in shift nurses could not be ignored.
The prognostic value of IPI in patients with primary breast lymphoma, a multicenter retrospective study
Authors: Feng Kexin , Zhao Shuangtao , Shang Qingyao , Qiao Guangdong , Liu Jiaxiang , Yang Chenxuan , Wei Ya , Li Yalun , Ren Fei , Xuan Lixue , Wang Xiang , Wang Xin
Published: April 2022

Background The prognostic value of International Prognostic Index (IPI) of primary breast lymphoma (PBL) remain controversial. The present study aimed to evaluate the prognostic value of IPI in patients with PBL in a Chinese population. Methods We searched the published cohort studies regarding PBL and summarized 25 studies on the prognostic value of IPI in PBL. Then a multicenter retrospective study of 71 patients with PBL was performed. The Kaplan–Meier method and log-rank tests were used for the survival analysis. Cox regression analysis was performed to evaluate the prognostic factors. Subgroup analysis was performed to assess the prognostic significance of IPI scores.Results The median follow-up was 4.7 years (range, 0.7–21.8 years). The 5-year progression-free-survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) rates were 90.2% and 96.3%. In the multivariate analysis, only IPI scores and radiotherapy were signiﬁcantly associated with OS and PFS (P < 0.05). Subgroup analyses showed survival analysis of IPI scores for the PFS and OS of patients using rituximab were not significantly different (P > 0.05). Conclusions Our study confirms the prognostic value of IPI in patients with PBL, but the prognostic value of IPI proved to be relatively low with the addition of the rituximab.
Percutaneous nephrostomy in complicated urinary tract infections
Authors: Mondal Utsav , Viswanathan Stalin , Sreeniva Sreerag Kodakkattil
Published: April 2022

Purpose:
The study aimed to determine the various indications for PCN primarily in patients with a urinary tract infection, and to determine the various complications arising in these patients due to the procedure.
Materials and methods
A retrospective study of 5-years data based on registers of the Department of Urology was performed. Among 716 patients, 226 inpatient data were obtained, curated, and analyzed. Indications for PCN, the periprocedural complications, the PCN's duration, details of antibiotics, risk factors for UTI, development of acute kidney injury, and renal replacement therapy were recorded.
Results
Patients were mostly female (53.1%, n = 120/226). Malignancy (n = 109, carcinoma cervix = 68/109) and nephrolithiasis (n = 70) contributed to 79.2%. Infections such as pyelonephritis, renal abscess, perinephric abscess, and genitourinary tuberculosis were identified in 47. Infectious diseases were significantly associated with younger age, female gender, diabetes, and prior pyelonephritis. PCN was placed a median of two days after admission, and bilateral PCN was placed in 36 (15.2%) patients. Hydroureteronephrosis (probably infected) was an indication for PCN in 164/226 patients. In 33 patients with an infectious disease, PCN was performed for an obstructed urinary system. One major and two minor complications gave a rate of 0.06% for patients with infections, which was less than the accepted threshold of 4%.
Conclusion
We intended to study the utility and problems with placing a percutaneous nephrostomy (PCN) catheter in patients with complicated urinary infections. We conclude that PCN is a safe and effective procedure in urinary tract infections with obstructed drainage.
Corroboration of Twitter Sentiment Analysis and Event Analysis of Indian Budget 2022 on Bitcoin Market
Authors: G Abhinand , V Uma Maheswari
Published: April 2022

This study aims to understand the corroboration of the results of Sentimental analysis with Event Analysis on the Indian Budget 2022 announcement on cryptocurrency. Sentimental analysis tries to classify the tweets on Bitcoin on the budget day into Positive or Negative and deciphers the overall sentiment of the bitcoin investors on the Budget Day and the subsequent 2 days. This has been made possible by using a supervised machine learning algorithm. Event Analysis identifies whether any abnormal returns are seen on the event day and the subsequent 10 days. This study observes that the range between the positive and negative sentiments is minimal and there is no abnormal returns found post the budget announcement in the event study. It may be concluded that positive sentiments nullified the negative sentiments where the overall sentiments have a mean subjectivity score that is more leaning towards the less-opinionated side, which may be accounted for the lack of abnormality was found on the event day as well as the adjustment period.
Dual Image Efficient Watermarking Technique Based on LWT-CZT-SVD and Arnold Transform with Grey Wolf Optimization
Authors: Awasthi Divyanshu , Srivast Vinay Kumar
Published: April 2022

In this paper, a new algorithm of multi-image watermarking is proposed for the security of multimedia data by using the features of Lifting wavelet transform (LWT), Singular value decomposition (SVD), Chirp Z-transform (CZT), and Arnold transform (AT). In the embedding procedure , split the input image into sub-bands using lifting wavelet transform and select HL and LH sub-bands for image watermarking, then apply the chirp Z-transform in the selected sub-bands and then decompose these two sub-bands by using SVD. Two watermark images are selected for embedding them into the input image, and the security of the second watermark is increased by using Arnold transform. Apply the lifting wavelet transform on both the watermark images and then transform them by SVD. Singular values (SVs) of watermarks are used to embed into SVs of the input image. The grey wolf optimization (GWO) technique is preferred here to calculate the scaling factor. Scaling factor plays very important role in the performance of watermarking. The effectiveness of the proposed algorithm is checked by applying different types of attacks. The superiority of the proposed work is mentioned in the results. Peak signal to noise ratio (PSNR), Normalized correlation coefficient (NCC) & Mean square error (MSE) is used for performance evaluation.
Cardiovascular and Renal Outcomes of the New Kid on the Block: FiFi analysis
Authors: Ferreira Hilaryano da Silva , Lopes Joana Lima
Published: April 2022

Finerenone is a selective nonsteroidal mineralocorticoid receptor antagonist that has been shown to reduce the urinary albumin-to-creatinine ratio in patients with CKD treated with a renin angiotensin system blocker, improving cardiovascular injury while having smaller effects on serum potassium levels than spironolactone. We aim to assess whether nonsteroidal mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists are effective in the treatment of patients with type 2 diabetes and chronic kidney disease using a systematic review approach. We searched PubMed and screened the resulting records on 10 September 2021. A total of 13026 participants were included in this analysis. Overall cardiovascular outcomes were significantly lower in the finerenone group (RR 0.88 (95% CI 0.81 to 0.96; I² = 0%; p = 0.004). Cardiovascular death had an RR of 0.88 (95% CI 0.76 to 1.02; I² = 0%), nonfatal myocardial infarction had an RR of 0.91 (95% CI 0.74 to 1.13; I² = 8%), and heart failure hospitalizations had an RR of 0.79 (95% CI 0.66 to 0.64; I² = 23%; p = 0.001). Overall renal outcomes were significantly lower in the finerenone group (RR 0.84 (95% CI 0.79 to 0.90; I² = 0%; p ≤ 0.00001). Death from renal causes had an RR of 0.86 (95% CI 0.73 to 1.01; I² = 0%). End-stage kidney disease was lower in the intervention arm (p = 0.05) (RR 0.79 (95% CI 0.63 to 1.00; I² = 10%). These results suggest that finerenone might have an additional protective effect on the cardiovascular and renal systems that is nonexistent with the use of spironolactone and eplerenone.
The Study of Ocular Parameters in Low to Moderate Myopic Chinese Children Age Between Eight to Eighteen-year-old
Authors: Li Zhengxuan , Sun Lu , Song Hongxin
Published: April 2022

Purpose
The primary aim of this study was to analyze the distribution of ocular parameters of children aged from eight to eighteen-year-old with low to moderate myopia as well as offer useful information for the design and clinical fitting of ortho-k lens in China.
Methods
In this retrospective study, we collected data of 300 subjects (600 eyes) age between eight to eighteen-year-old from the myopic control outpatient clinic at Beijing Tongren Hospital, Beijing, China. The spherical equivalent (SE), axial length (AL), central corneal thickness (CCT), anterior chamber depth (ACD), corneal endothelial cell density (CECD), corneal diameter (CD), simulated K (Sim K) were collected from all the subjects and analyzed.
Results
The mean of SE for all subjects was − 3.12 ± 1.21D, the median was − 3.16D. The mean of AL for all subjects was 24.72 ± 0.83 mm, the median was 24.72 mm. The mean of CCT for all subjects was 537.8 ± 29.82 µm, the median was 538.17 µm. The mean of CECD for all subjects was 3340.3 ± 352.6 cells/mm2, the median was 3357.77 cells/mm2. The mean of ACD for all subjects was 3.71 ± 0.21 mm, the median was 3.69 mm. The mean of CD for all subjects was 12.15 ± 1.67 mm, the median was 12.05 mm. The mean of flat K was 42.80 ± 1.29, the median was 42.81. The mean of steep K was 43.76 ± 1.37, the median was 43.76.
Conclusions
This study provided the distribution of ocular parameters to offer useful information for diagnosis of many eye conditions. Meanwhile, the distribution of ocular parameters of children aged from eight to eighteen-year-old with low to moderate myopia is beneficial to make the application of overnight orthokeratology lens more appropriate and effective.
Psychoactive substances use before suicide: detailed analysis of all cases that occurred in the Brazilian Federal District in a 10-years period
Authors: Gomes Juliano de Andrade , de Souza Diego Mendes , Oliveira Karina Diniz , Gallassi Andrea Donatti
Published: April 2022

Background: Psychoactive substances (PASs) are an important risk factor for the suicide. This study investigated the sociodemographic characteristics, the methods employed, the circumstances of the events, and the use of PASs in all suicides that occurred between 2005-2014 in the Brazilian Federal District, besides to compare cases with positive and negative detection for PASs in the post-mortem analysis. Methods: A population-based, observational, cross-sectional study with an analytical aspect was conducted with suicides cases collected from local police, which toxicological examination was performed (headspace gas chromatographic-mass spectrometry-HS-GC/MS) for detection of ethanol and methanol in blood samples; immunoassay for other substances (cocaine, marijuana, benzodiazepines, etc.). Results: The results showed that the increase in the suicide rate was 10x greater than the population growth and 44% of the individuals used PASs before suicide. Individuals are more likely to die by suicide at home, to be male, to have tried before and to change their behaviour days before death; they chose hanging as the method and are under the influence of alcohol. Conclusion: Identifying what sociodemographic characteristics are associated with a fatal suicide attempt among individuals who use PASs and those who do not use, as well as among those who have/not have mental disorders and what methods are employed, could be a path to better interventions. Thus, prevention actions could be planned and directed to individuals with greater risk.
Die Fernwärmeversorgung — eine rechtliche Einordnung
Authors: Abegg Andreas , Musliu Nagihan
Published: April 2022

Die Wärmeversorgung im Siedlungsgebiet soll einen massgeblichen Beitrag dazu leisten, die Energiestrategie 2050 des Bundes umzusetzen und die klimapolitischen Ziele zu erreichen. Allerdings stellen sich bei Planung, Bau und Betrieb von Fernwärmenetzen verschiedenste Rechtsfragen, die bisher wenig Beachtung gefunden haben. Der vorliegende Beitrag beleuchtet zunächst die Zuständigkeitsordnung und die planerischen Vorgaben für den Bau eines Netzes. Sodann untersucht der Beitrag, welche Bewilligungen und Konzessionen erteilt resp. eingeholt werden müssen, wie der Betrieb eines Netzes an Drittpersonen übertragen werden kann und ob Anschlusspflichten bestehen und diese mit Anschlussrechen korrespondieren.

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L’approvisionnement en chauffage des zones urbanisées est déterminant pour la mise en œuvre de la stratégie énergétique 2050 de la Confédération et contribue à la réalisation des objectifs de la politique climatique. Toutefois, la planification, la construction et l’exploitation des réseaux de chauf­fage à distance soulèvent diverses questions juridiques. Le présent article analyse tout d’abord la répartition des com­ pétences et les directives de planification pour la construc­tion d’un réseau. Il examine ensuite quelles autorisations et concessions doivent être accordées ou obtenues, comment l’exploitation d’un réseau peut être transférée à des tiers, s’il existe des obligations de raccordements, et cas échéant, si celles­ci correspondent à des droits de raccordements.
The relational effects of perceived leadership 4.0, workplace ostracism, and innovative work behavior on organizational performance in the fourth industrial revolution (4IR)
Authors: Adekanmbi Foluso Philip , Ukpere Wilfred Isioma
Published: April 2022

This study evaluates the correlational effects of perceived leadership 4.0, workplace ostracism, innovative work behavior, and organizational performance within work organizations. The sample for this investigation was extracted from ten (10) organizations in Oyo and Lagos States, Nigeria. They are organizations from Nigeria’s service, financial, and manufacturing industries. Guarantee Trust Bank Plc, FullRange Microfinance Bank Limited, First Bank Plc, Evans industries Limited, Nestlé Nigeria Plc, Friesland Campina Nigeria Plc, IBFC Alliance Limited, United Bank for Africa Plc, DHL Courier Service, and Martyns Consulting Limited. This investigation has adopted a cross-sectional survey method, where the current scholar randomly distributed the study’s questionnaires. Nonetheless, from the 500 questionnaires floated, 478 were suitable for investigation and analyzed with a Statistical Packages for Social Sciences (SPSS version 27). This investigation noted a significant correlation between Leadership 4.0, workplace ostracism, innovative work behavior, and organizational performance. It further stated the significant joint influence of Leadership 4.0, workplace ostracism, innovative work behavior on organizational performance within Nigeria’s work organizations in the 4IR. Managers and leaders of work organizations are encouraged to investigate and adopt the most suitable leadership styles (for instance, Leadership 4.0) for the diverse situations and challenges, presented by the 4IR. They should also consistently encourage workplace support, using further employee/workplace family support in job-sharing programs. Besides, they should promote innovative management practices, as they are essential in overcoming the challenges, posed by the 4IR.
The effect of employee value proposition on normative commitment
Authors: Phungula Nompilo , Dhanpat Nelesh , Braine Roslyn de
Published: April 2022

Organisations continuously seek opportunities to be more productive through the human capital they employ. A firm offering of the employee value proposition (EVP) and understanding of employee commitment could enable organisations to have committed employees that enjoy their work and are oriented towards a growth trajectory. This study sought to examine the effect of the EVP on normative commitment in a parastatal organisation. A quantitative research approach was selected to explore the research objectives. The research instruments comprised of value attributes scale and normative commitment scale. The population sample consisted of employees (N=251). Convenience sampling was used within the context of the study. Descriptive statistics, Factory analysis, Pearson correlation analysis, and Regression analysis were employed to interpret data collected and address the research objectives. A positive relationship between the variables was established. The three EVP factors (work, rewards, and opportunity) positively correlate with normative commitment. Recommendations are made to managers and HR Practitioners regarding the EVP and normative commitment of parastatal employees, which have the potential to employee commitment when implemented. The study provided insights on the factors, affecting EVP and normative commitment. The study also showed the relationship between the variables, enabling management, and HR practitioners to implement strategic interventions to influence employees' normative commitment and EVP experience.
In vitro Screening for Cytotoxic Effect of Pore Forming Colicin N and Its Domains on Human Cancer Cells
Authors:   Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, 10330, Thailand, Duangkaew Methawee , Arunmanee Wanatchaporn ,   Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, 10330, Thailand
Published: April 2022

Protein-based drugs have increasingly become an important segment of cancer treatment. In comparison with chemotherapy, they offer high efficacy and fewer side effects due to specifically targeting only cancer cells. Monoclonal antibodies are currently the main protein-based drugs in the market but their complexity and limitations in tumour penetration led to the development of alternative protein therapeutics such as pore-forming toxins. Colicin N (ColN), a pore-forming protein produced by E. coli, was previously found to exhibit cytotoxicity and selectivity in human lung cancer cells with promising potential for further development. Here we aimed to screen for the cytotoxicity of ColN in breast (MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231), lung (A549) and colon cancer cells (HT-29 and HCT-116) by MTT (3-(4,5-Dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-Diphenyltetrazolium Bromide) assay with various concentrations for 72 h and to investigate the cytotoxic effect of ColN domains on cancer cells. It showed that ColN mildly mediated the decrease in cell viability except for MCF-7. The highest effect was seen in A549 and HCT-116 cells which showed 31.9% and 31.5% decrease in cell viability, respectively. The mild inhibition or promotion of cancer cell proliferation by ColN tend to be based on the cell types. Furthermore, to search for the functional domain of ColN used for cytotoxicity, full-length ColN and truncated ColN with deletion of translocating, receptor binding and pore-forming domains were also tested on HCT-116 colon cancer cells. The findings indicated that HCT-116 cells were not significantly sensitive to ColN but full length ColN caused slight decrease in cancer cell viability. The data in this study will benefit the further development of ColN for alternative protein-based cancer therapy.
Morphological Variation between Hatchery Bred and Wild Caught Anabas testudineus in Malaysia
Authors:   Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture, College of Forestry and Fisheries, University of Agriculture, P.M.B. 2373 Makurdi, Nigeria, Tosin Okomoda Victor ,   Institute of Tropical Aquaculture and Fisheries Research (AKUATROP), Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, 21030 Kuala Nerus, Terengganu, Malaysia, Mohamed Ahmad Azfar ,   Department of Marine Science, Kulliyyah of Science, International Islamic Universiti Malaysia, 25200 Kuantan, Malaysia, Ariffin Nur Asma ,   Faculty of Food Science and Fisheries, Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, 21030 Kuala Nerus, Terengganu, Malaysia, Chowdhury Ahmed Jalal Khan ,   Department of Marine Science, Kulliyyah of Science, International Islamic Universiti Malaysia, 25200 Kuantan, Malaysia, Abol-Munafi Ambok Bolong ,   Institute of Tropical Aquaculture and Fisheries Research (AKUATROP), Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, 21030 Kuala Nerus, Terengganu, Malaysia,   Faculty of Food Science and Fisheries, Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, 21030 Kuala Nerus, Terengganu, Malaysia
Published: April 2022

This study was designed to characterise the cultured and wild populations of Anabas testudineus in Malaysia using morphological parameters. Fish samples from the East and West coast of the country were obtained from fishermen (wild samples) and well-recognised climbing perch farmers in Kedah, Kelantan, Johor and Selangor. The Truss network method was applied to obtain necessary data and analysed to examine phenotypic variation between the cultured and wild stocks. Results obtained suggest that each hatchery population belonged to a distinct stock as revealed by their separate clustering into individual unique groups. However, an extensive overlap was observed in the wild population suggesting similarity of origin. The most important morphological parameters for the discrimination of the two populations are the homologous landmark B (i.e., snout to insertion of the pelvic fin) and C (i.e., above the eye to insertion of the pelvic fin). Genetic characterisation of the A. testudineus is needed to complement the findings of this study and establish a baseline for the development of a selective breeding programme for the fish species in Malaysia.
PTSD Prevalence Rates of US Funeral Directors during the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Hicks Emily , Mashinchi Genna , Heppner Hannes , Bean Phoebe , Maxson Chelsey
Published: April 2022

The COVID-19 pandemic has created physical and mental health concerns for funeral directors. Past literature notes that high job demands, occupational death exposure, and heightened numbers of funerals have negative impacts on the mental health of funeral workers. Additionally, previous studies have found prevalence rates of PTSD to be more than three times higher in funeral directors than the general population. The present study sought to evaluate PTSD rates of funeral directors in the United States during the COVID-19 pandemic given the increased job demands, high rates of burnout, and heightened death exposure they have faced. A convenience sample was used, and 10 participants completed an online survey containing the PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5) and questions regarding awareness of mental health resources. Findings indicate that 50% of participants met criteria for a provisional PTSD diagnosis (n = 5), and 30% of participants had little to no awareness of mental health resources for funeral directors (n = 3). The results highlight the need for increased research and awareness regarding the mental health of funeral directors, particularly during times of increased stress, and the need for mental health services for funeral workers.
COVID-19 School Closures in Uganda and their Impact on the Well-being of Teachers in Private Institutions in Semi-urban Districts
Authors: Nakijoba Rosemary , Mugabi Ddungu Racheal , Awobamise Ayodeji O
Published: April 2022

Objective: This article explored how teachers were supported for continued professional growth and on their general well-being before and after the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Experiences of teachers of private schools in Semi-Urban districts during COVID-19 Wave 1&2 lockdown in Uganda are explored. It assess professional growth aspects and their well-being before and during closure of education institutions. The study illustrates challenges experienced by the teachers as well as coping strategies adopted. Methods: In-depth individual interviews, and key informant interviews were employed. At the time of reaching saturation, one hundred and three private secondary school teachers had been interviewed; eight key informants that were head teachers of selected private schools. Data was analyzed using the Conservation of Resources (COR) theory. Results: Teachers’ professional growth is in limbo after suffocation during the COVID-19 given longtime school closures with inability of private schools to earn from their clientele. The well-being of teachers is wanting. Many teachers ought not return to teaching and are engaged in various trades for a living. Conclusion: Teachers of private academic institutions contribute to government’s effort in providing quality education. Exploring their experiences during emergencies such as the current COVID-19 pandemic informs stakeholders in education on how to deal with their professional growth and general well-being. Conclusion: Teachers of private academic institutions contribute to government’s effort in providing quality education. Exploring their experiences during emergencies such as the current COVID-19 pandemic informs stakeholders in education on how to deal with their professional growth and general well-being.
Information Scrambling with Conservation Laws
Authors: Kudler-Flam Jonah , Sohal Ramanjit , Nie Laimei
Published: April 2022

The delocalization or scrambling of quantum information has emerged as a central ingredient in the understanding of thermalization in isolated quantum many-body systems. Recently, significant progress has been made analytically by modeling non-integrable systems as periodically driven systems, lacking a Hamiltonian picture, while honest Hamiltonian dynamics are frequently limited to small system sizes due to computational constraints. In this paper, we address this by investigating the role of conservation laws (including energy conservation) in the thermalization process from an information-theoretic perspective. For general non-integrable models, we use the equilibrium approximation to show that the maximal amount of information is scrambled (as measured by the tripartite mutual information of the time-evolution operator) at late times even when a system conserves energy. In contrast, we explicate how when a system has additional symmetries that lead to degeneracies in the spectrum, the amount of information scrambled must decrease. This general theory is exemplified in case studies of holographic conformal field theories (CFTs) and the Sachdev-Ye-Kitaev (SYK) model. Due to the large Virasoro symmetry in 1+1D CFTs, we argue that, in a sense, these holographic theories are not maximally chaotic, which is explicitly seen by the non-saturation of the second Rényi tripartite mutual information. The roles of particle-hole and U(1) symmetries in the SYK model are milder due to the degeneracies being only two-fold, which we confirm explicitly at both large- and small-N. We reinterpret the operator entanglement in terms of the growth of local operators, connecting our results with the information scrambling described by out-of-time-ordered correlators, identifying the mechanism for suppressed scrambling from the Heisenberg perspective.
Introduction to Monte Carlo for matrix models
Authors: Jha Raghav Govind
Published: April 2022

We consider a wide range of matrix models and study them
using the Monte Carlo technique in the large N limit. The results we obtain agree with exact analytic expressions and
recent numerical bootstrap methods for models with one and two matrices. We then present new results for several unsolved multi-matrix models where no other tool is yet available. In order to encourage an exchange of ideas between different numerical approaches to matrix models, we provide programs in python that can be easily modified to study potentials other than the ones considered here. These programs were tested on a laptop and took between a few minutes to several hours to finish depending on the model, N, and the required precision.
Editorial
Authors: Jung Jae Yup
Published: April 2022

Welcome to the first issue of the Australasian Journal of Gifted Education for 2022. In this exciting issue of the journal, we have contributions from scholars based in three different countries (i.e., Australia, the United States and Saudi Arabia) representing eight different institutions (i.e, University of Arizona, University of Georgia, King Saud University, Univeristy of Wollongong, University of New South Wales, University of Sydney, Deakin University and the New South Wales Department of Education). A common theme in the contributions is that they all qualify as innovative studies that advance knowledge in the field of gifted education.