Greater Investment Research Articles

A Comprehensive Analysis of the Drivers Behind the Effective Tax Rate of Financial Times Stock Exchange (FTSE) in Malaysia

This study examines corporate effective tax rates (ETR) of Malaysian multinational corporations (MNC) listed in the Financial Times Stock Exchange (FTSE) Bursa Malaysia Kuala Lumpur Composite Index (KLCI) and FTSE Bursa Malaysia Mid 70 Index. The main objective of this study is to examine the relationship between the ETR of MNCs with subsidiaries in tax haven countries, and selected corporate characteristics such as firm size, leverage, capital intensity, return on assets, inventory intensity, profit margin, and foreign directors. Using a multiple linear regression approach on a balanced panel sample of 68 companies (321 firm-years) spanning 2017 to 2021, the study provides evidence for the variability of corporate ETRs in which the average corporate ETRs falls below the STR for the financial year 2021 of 24%. The statistical results also reveal that lower ETRs are associated with highly leveraged companies, and greater investments in fixed assets. Further, a negative coefficient for return on assets and profit margin suggests that companies have benefited from tax incentives provided by the government. Hence, this study contributes to tax literature and policymakers on factors that influence the corporate ETR, especially MNC with subsidiaries in tax haven countries. Tax authorities should implement tight monitoring to avoid these MNCs extensively engaging in tax planning which will result in revenue loss to the Malaysian income tax collection.

Ethnic Identity and Mechanisms of Mental Health Service Engagement Among Young Adults with Serious Mental Illnesses.

Young adults from minoritized racial and ethnic groups have lower rates of engagement in treatment for serious mental illnesses (SMI). Previous research suggests a relationship between ethnic identity development and engagement in mental health services, but it remains unclear how a sense of belonging and attachment to one's racial and ethnic group influences participation in treatment among young adults with SMI. Bivariate analyses and structural equation modeling (SEM) were used to examine whether ethnic identity was associated with treatment engagement (attendance and investment in treatment) and how ethnic identity might influence engagement through theoretical proximal mediators. Eighty-three young adults with SMI (95% from minoritized racial and ethnic groups) were recruited from four outpatient psychiatric rehabilitation programs and assessed at least 3 months after initiating services. Stronger ethnic identity was associated with greater investment in treatment but not with treatment attendance. The SEM analysis indicated that stronger ethnic identity may improve investment in treatment by enhancing hope (0.53, p < .05) and beliefs that mental health providers are credible (0.32, p < .05), and by increasing self-efficacy (-0.09, p < .05). Proximal mediators of engagement were associated with investment in treatment (hope and credibility, p < .05, and self-efficacy p = 0.055). Findings provide preliminary evidence of an empirical and theoretical relationship between ethnic identity development and engagement in treatment among young adults with SMI. Assessment and strengthening of a young person's ethnic identity may be a promising approach for improving their engagement in services and reducing inequities in their care.

A no-win situation: psychiatrists navigating competing obligations between free will, paternalism, duty of care, and position of guarantee

This paper examines the ethical tensions psychiatrists encounter in balancing competing obligations to patients and society, heightened in the COVID-19 era. With reference to the Italian situation, legal concepts such as duty of care or the rule of law defined “position of guarantee” engender heightened duties of care but generate discordance concerning patient autonomy. As a matter of fact, Italian psychiatrists are considered responsible for the effects of their interventions on patients and their behaviors. Consequently, managing involuntary treatment, assessing risk, and worrying about liability strain practitioners' efforts to uphold non-maleficence. As mental healthcare needs escalate globally amidst resource constraints, the application of ethical principles is imperative. Evidence-based approaches prioritizing collaborative harm reduction over social control must be reinforced through education, oversight, and organizational policies. With balanced civil commitment criteria and realistic expectations acknowledging risk prediction limits, therapeutic alliances can be maintained. Greater investment in community-based systems can mitigate coercion and marginalization. Psychiatrists worldwide endeavor to uphold beneficence and non-maleficence within shifting accountability landscapes. This perspective advocates collective efforts to promote patient welfare through equitable, quality care. Navigating the multifaceted nexus of competing obligations demands thoughtful dialogue and judicious reforms responsive to both practitioner and patient needs. By engaging with ethical complexities with scientific rigor and compassion, psychiatry can uphold humane, ethical standards despite mounting challenges.

Sperm production is negatively associated with muscle and sperm telomere length in a species subjected to strong sperm competition.

Life-history theory suggests that ageing is one of the costs of reproduction. Accordingly, a higher reproductive allocation is expected to increase the deterioration of both the somatic and the germinal lines through enhanced telomere attrition. In most species, males' reproductive allocation mainly regards traits that increase mating and fertilization success, that is sexually selected traits. In this study, we tested the hypothesis that a higher investment in sexually selected traits is associated with a reduced relative telomere length (RTL) in the guppy (Poecilia reticulata), an ectotherm species characterized by strong pre- and postcopulatory sexual selection. We first measured telomere length in both the soma and the sperm over guppies' lifespan to see whether there was any variation in telomere length associated with age. Second, we investigated whether a greater investment in pre- and postcopulatory sexually selected traits is linked to shorter telomere length in both the somatic and the sperm germinal lines, and in young and old males. We found that telomeres lengthened with age in the somatic tissue, but there was no age-dependent variation in telomere length in the sperm cells. Telomere length in guppies was significantly and negatively correlated with sperm production in both tissues and life stages considered in this study. Our findings indicate that telomere length in male guppies is strongly associated with their reproductive investment (sperm production), suggesting that a trade-off between reproduction and maintenance is occurring at each stage of males' life in this species.

Quantitative estimates of preventable and treatable deaths from 36 cancers worldwide: a population-based study

Cancer is a leading cause of premature mortality globally. This study estimates premature deaths at ages 30-69 years and distinguishes these as deaths that are preventable (avertable through primary or secondary prevention) or treatable (avertable through curative treatment) in 185 countries worldwide. For this population-based study, estimated cancer deaths by country, cancer, sex, and age groups were retrieved from the International Agency for Research on Cancer's GLOBOCAN 2020 database. Crude and age-adjusted cancer-specific years of life lost (YLLs) were calculated for 36 cancer types. Of the estimated all-ages cancer burden of 265·6 million YLLs, 182·8 million (68·8%) YLLs were due to premature deaths from cancer globally in 2020, with 124·3 million (68·0%) preventable and 58·5 million (32·0%) treatable. Countries with low, medium, or high human development index (HDI) levels all had greater proportions of YLLs at premature ages than very high HDI countries (68·9%, 77·0%, and 72·2% vs 57·7%, respectively). Lung cancer was the leading contributor to preventable premature YLLs in medium to very high HDI countries (17·4% of all cancers, or 29·7 million of 171·3 million YLLs), whereas cervical cancer led in low HDI countries (26·3% of all preventable cancers, or 1·83 million of 6·93 million YLLs). Colorectal and breast cancers were major treatable cancers across all four tiers of HDI (25·5% of all treatable cancers in combination, or 14·9 million of 58·5 million YLLs). Alongside tailored programmes of early diagnosis and screening linked to timely and comprehensive treatment, greater investments in risk factor reduction and vaccination are needed to address premature cancer inequalities. Erasmus Mundus Exchange Programme and the International Agency for Research on Cancer. For the German, French, Spanish and Chinese translations of the abstract see Supplementary Materials section.

Antibiotic prescribing practices for acute respiratory illness in children less than 24 months of age in Kenema, Sierra Leone: is it time to move beyond algorithm driven decision making?

BackgroundLower respiratory tract infections are the leading cause of mortality in young children globally. In many resource-limited settings clinicians rely on guidelines such as IMCI or ETAT + that promote empiric antibiotic utilization for management of acute respiratory illness (ARI). Numerous evaluations of both guidelines have shown an overall positive response however, several challenges have also been reported, including the potential for over-prescribing of unnecessary antibiotics. The aims of this study were to describe the antibiotic prescribing practices for children less than 24 months of age with symptoms of ARI, that were admitted to Kenema Government Hospital (KGH) in the Eastern Province of Sierra Leone, and to identify the number of children empirically prescribed antibiotics who were admitted to hospital with ARI, as well as their clinical signs, symptoms, and outcomes.MethodsWe conducted a prospective study of children < 24 months of age admitted to the KGH pediatric ward with respiratory symptoms between October 1, 2020 and May 31, 2022. Study nurses collected data on demographic information, medical and medication history, and information on clinical course while hospitalized.ResultsA total of 777 children were enrolled. Prior to arrival at the hospital, 224 children (28.8%) reported taking an antibiotic for this illness without improvement. Only 15 (1.9%) children received a chest radiograph to aid in diagnosis and 100% of patients were placed on antibiotics during their hospital stay.ConclusionsDespite the lives saved, reliance on clinical decision-support tools such as IMCI and ETAT + for pediatric ARI, is resulting in the likely over-prescribing of antibiotics. Greater uptake of implementation research is needed to develop strategies and tools designed to optimize antibiotic use for ARI in LMIC settings. Additionally, much greater priority needs to be given to ensuring clinicians have the basic tools for clinical diagnosis, as well as greater investments in essential laboratory and radiographic diagnostics that help LMIC clinicians move beyond the sole reliance on algorithm based clinical decision making.

Plant defences as functional traits: A comparison across savannas differing in herbivore specialization

Abstract Top‐down and bottom‐up forces in tropical savannas have shaped the evolution of traits that enable plants to thrive in environments where soils are poor, dry seasons are long, fire is frequent, woody plants and grasses compete and herbivores range from cryptic caterpillars to elephants that topple entire trees. African savannas and the South American cerrado have similar climates and fire regimes, but differ in the presence of large mammal herbivores, which are mostly extinct in the cerrado. These biomes offer an instructive comparison to understand how plant defence traits evolved in response to differential herbivore pressure. Within Africa, mammalian herbivore pressure also differs across savannas, being lower in the miombo relative to more open, mixed savannas. The dominance of specialist insect herbivores in the cerrado, relative to the more generalist mammalian herbivores in Africa, suggests that defence traits will differ between savannas in accordance with herbivore identity and pressure. Wood is densest in mixed African savannas, as expected because large mammals often damage trees. Specific leaf area, related to palatability, is higher in mixed African savannas and the cerrado relative to the miombo, while leaf N is surprisingly higher in miombo species. Ant mutualists are important defences in mixed African savannas and the cerrado. Defensive chemistry has received less attention in the trait literature. Foliar phenolics, the most commonly studied chemical defences in savannas, vary in their efficacy. New analyses isolating specific compounds are informative as is the evaluation of phytochemical diversity as a defence. There are indications that phytochemical defences are more diverse in the cerrado, which may be related to greater specialization of cerrado herbivores. Synthesis. The dominance of specialist insect herbivores in the cerrado, relative to generalist mammalian herbivores in Africa, selected for different plant defence traits, contributing to the separation of species along the leaf economics spectrum and demonstrating the importance of plant defences as plant functional traits. African savanna species seem to follow a more acquisitive strategy, followed by miombo species. Cerrado species appear to follow a more conservative strategy with greater investments in tough leaves and chemical defences.

Pollinator-dependent crops significantly contribute to diets and reduce household nutrient deficiencies in sub-Saharan Africa

Recent literature highlights the potential of animal pollinator-dependent (PD) crops in enhancing food and nutrition security, although there is a lack of detailed household-level estimates. In this study, we investigate the nutrient composition, productivity, and contribution of PD and pollinator-independent (PI) crops to household nutrition in four sub-Saharan African (SSA) countries. We also evaluate the impact of reallocating resources from PI crops to PD crops on nutrient deficiencies, utilizing nationally representative panel data from three waves and over 30,000 household-year observations. Our findings reveal that PD crops exhibit higher micronutrient content per unit, albeit with lower macronutrient content compared to PI crops. PI crops have higher yield of calories per hectare while PD crops have higher vitamin A yield per hectare. However, protein and iron yield for PD and PI crops varies across countries. PI crops predominantly contribute to macronutrients and iron, while PD crops significantly contribute to vitamin A production. Our econometric results demonstrate that increasing the cultivation of PD crops relative to PI crops reduces the prevalence of nutrient deficiencies and increases crop income without compromising macronutrients production. This suggests that greater investment in PD crop production can be an integral approach to achieving nutrition security in SSA.

Behavioral and Emotional Problems among School Children in Tripoli, Libya: What Impact does it have on Community Public Health?

Objective: to detect the prevalence of mental health problems, including behavioral and emotional difficulties among school children (6-15 years) in Tripoli, Libya as observed by their parents and teachers. Methods: The study took place in Tripoli, Libya. Data was collected over three months period between January and March 2022 from parents and teachers. The Arabic version of Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ. Goodman 2002) were used. The sample size was 300 children aged between 6 and 15 years who were attending compulsory education. Four schools were randomly selected and then children were randomly sampled from each class. Parents were asked to hand over the questionnaire to their child’s teacher and collect them later. Data was analyzed to describe normative scores, bandings and cut-offs for normal, borderline and abnormal scores. Only public schools were included in the study. Results: When it came to the perception of teachers and parents, it was found that the response rate for parents and teachers were almost the same only 245 questionnaires were returned (134 male and 111 female) giving a response rate of 81.6%. out of these, 208, both the parents and teacher questionnaires were returned (84.8%),26 filled in only the parents' questionnaires (10.6%), and 11 returned only the teacher’s questionnaire (4.4%). TEACHERS rated their pupils consistently as showing difficulties in all areas with (23.0 %) of the children considered to be displaying abnormal behavior (Total Difficulties Score). The highest proportion of abnormal behavior was for peer relation (17.0%) and conduct problems (18.0%). PARENTS rated their children as having fewer problems than rated by teachers, but rates were still high with (15%) of the children receiving total difficulty scores in the abnormal band. The most problematic areas as assessed by parents were peer relations (29%) followed by emotion problems (22%). Conclusion: Parent SDQs revealed high rates of children with conduct, emotional and peer problems falling above the 90th centile established in the UK sample. Teachers SDQs revealed higher rates of children with conduct problems. Comparison with UK and Egypt data showed abnormal total difficulties score of 11.9% which is a bit higher than UK (10.1%) but lower than that of Egypt (20.6%). Much greater investment in child mental health care is needed. More efforts are needed to identify those children and decide what we can usefully do to help the many-not only the few. Keywords: Tripoli, Libya, behavioral problems, school children, SDQ, mental health

Sexual and reproductive healthcare utilisation and affordability for South Sudanese refugees and host populations in Northern Uganda: A mixed methods study.

Given Uganda's increasing refugee population, the health financing burden on refugee and host populations is likely to increase because Uganda's integrated health system caters to both populations. We used sexual, reproductive, and maternal health (SRMH) as a lens to assess the utilisation and user cost of health services in Northern Uganda to identify potential gaps in SRMH services and their financing. We conducted a cross-sectional survey among 2,533 refugee and host women and girls in Arua and Kiryandongo districts. We conducted 35 focus group discussions and 131 in-depth interviews with host and South Sudanese refugees, community members, health workers, NGO and governmental actors. Qualitative data were analysed thematically using a framework approach. Quantitative data were analysed using t-test, chi-square tests, multivariate logistical regression, and a two-part model. We found high levels of access to maternal care services among refugee and host communities in Northern Uganda, but lower levels of met need for family planning (FP). Refugees had higher uptake of delivery care than host communities due to better-resourced refugee facilities, but incurred higher costs for delivery kits and food and less for transport due to facilities being closer. FP uptake was low for both groups due to perceived risks, cultural and religious beliefs, and lack of agency for most women. Host communities lack access to essential maternal healthcare services relative to refugees, especially for delivery care. Greater investment is needed to increase the number of host facilities, improve the quality of SRMH services provided, and further enhance delivery care access among host communities. Ongoing funding of delivery kits across all communities is needed and new financing mechanisms should be developed to support non-medical costs for deliveries, which our study found to be substantial in our study. All populations must be engaged in co-designing improved strategies to meet their FP needs.

Contribution of Rural Development Programs in Empowerment of Tribal Women: A Case Study

Empowerment of tribal women is critical for inclusive development of tribal communities. This study aims to analyze the contribution of rural development programs in empowering tribal women in Dhalbhumgarh, Jharkhand. The research involved a survey of 200 tribal women beneficiaries of programs, focused group discussions, and interviews with stakeholders. The study assessed the impact on social, economic, and political empowerment parameters. Key findings show limited outreach and utilization of programs by tribal women. The programs have moderately improved education, health, and livelihoods. However, impact on reducing gender disparities, improving participation in governance, and addressing systemic discrimination is inadequate. Patriarchal norms, lack of awareness and mobility, poor program quality and targeting are key challenges. The study recommends redesigning programs to suit local context, greater investment, participatory planning, and sensitization of tribal communities to achieve holistic empowerment.

How Can Girls’ Education and Family Planning Improve Community Resilience to Climate Change in the Sahel?

Population growth and climate change are currently the two greatest threats to food security in the Sahel region of Africa. The population of the countries that make up the Sahel is projected to nearly double by 2050, from 506 million to 912 million. Paired with the expected rise in temperature and increased frequency of extreme climatic events, these numbers could quickly overwhelm relief efforts. Strengthening human capital and economic stability are critical to prevent catastrophic suffering. This article recommends two evidence-based approaches that expand women’s autonomy and support their income-earning potential while building resilience to climate change. The first recommendation, would be greater investments in adolescent girls’ education and autonomy, including efforts to delay marriage and childbearing. The second calls for an improvement in the availability and quality of reproductive health services, with a special focus on voluntary family planning. These interventions can increase incomes, reproductive autonomy and gender equity which build community resilience and adaptability to climate change.

The Potential of Brazilian Beef Production from the Perspective of Effectiveness and Efficiency

The general objective of the research is to analyze the national bovine protein market in order to compare the Brazilian production and productivity in relation to the main world producers of bovine livestock, in order to discuss, under the prism of effectiveness and efficiency in the perspective of rural administration. For the analysis procedure of this work, the SWOT Matrix tool was applied, focusing on the criteria of "strength", "weakness", "threat" and "opportunity". Based on the results found in the research, it was possible to conclude that Brazil has significant chances of growth for this sector of the economy, but it will only be able to sustain itself in this market when efficiency is also part of the decision-making process. Based on the SWOT Matrix, it was observed that the “strength” of the country in this segment is concentrated, in general, in the significant available agricultural production areas and in the hegemonic technologies existing at the national level. In the field of “weakness”, it was observed that the concentration of technologies in a certain group of rural producers reduces the diversification of production technologies, which may represent a loss of competitiveness in certain market niches, mainly in those more demanding sectors. In addition, high production costs were also perceived as a “weakness” that impacts the country's competitive power. The “opportunities”, on the other hand, are more linked to the growing global demand for food, placing Brazil at the forefront of food on the planet. The “threats”, in turn, observed in this study are linked to food safety and more demanding production criteria in competitive markets, which impose, in the Brazilian reality, the need to adopt a strategic vision and greater investments in science and technology, aiming to improve the development, in the national territory, of technologies more adapted to the realities of different biomes, such as the Amazonian biome.&#x0D; Keywords: Effectiveness, Efficiency, Livestock, Cattle, Brazil.

Putting provenance into perspective: the relative importance of restoration site conditions over seed sourcing

Post‐mining scenarios present challenges for restoration in a wide range of environments, especially in the context of climate change. The source of seed for restoration has been an issue of intense focus, as seed provenance can impact plant fitness and restoration outcomes. However, post‐mining landscapes require substrate reconstruction prior to vegetation re‐establishment. Critically, the relative importance of provenance and substrate in ecosystem recovery has been rarely quantified in a statistically rigorous framework. We established a large provenance trial with Banksia attenuata and Eucalyptus todtiana at two Western Australian mine sites in post‐mining reconstructed and adjoining un‐mined substrates. We show that site and substrate were 4 and 26 times more important than provenance in explaining survival for B. attenuata and E. todtiana, respectively. At one site, there was 100% mortality in the post‐mining substrate but high survival and no clear provenance effect in the un‐mined substrate. At the second site, there was again no clear provenance effect, but E. todtiana survival was higher in the post‐mining than un‐mined substrate. Our results show that post‐mining substrate changes can overwhelm provenance issues. Consequently, where substrates are highly impacted, alternative restoration targets and/or greater investment in substrate research are needed to improve restoration outcomes. Due to the thousands of mines across the world, this is an internationally relevant finding with important implications for investment into global ecosystem recovery.

Research and development of planting techniques with low water resources in desert and semi-desert areas

This research addresses the problem of the worldwide decrease in water resources due to climate change and desertification. The main objective is to develop a cultivation method that uses a biogel to optimize water absorption by plants and reduce evaporation in desert areas. A mixed methodology was employed, combining qualitative and quantitative elements. Black bean seeds (Phaseolus vulgaris) were sown in bags with substrate prepared with the biogel, administering 20 ml of water every 3 days. Over 37 days, observations were made of plant development, substrate moisture, and the presence of pests or diseases. The results showed efficient water absorption by the plants and a substrate that remained moist, without the presence of pests or diseases. However, additional laboratory analyses are required to determine the exact cause of plant death before 45 days. It is concluded that the biogel cultivation method has potential for efficient water use in desert areas, but greater investment in equipment and a multidisciplinary team is needed to obtain conclusive results.

New tuberculosis vaccines in India: modelling the potential health and economic impacts of adolescent/adult vaccination with M72/AS01E and BCG-revaccination

BackgroundIndia had an estimated 2.9 million tuberculosis cases and 506 thousand deaths in 2021. Novel vaccines effective in adolescents and adults could reduce this burden. M72/AS01E and BCG-revaccination have recently completed phase IIb trials and estimates of their population-level impact are needed. We estimated the potential health and economic impact of M72/AS01E and BCG-revaccination in India and investigated the impact of variation in vaccine characteristics and delivery strategies.MethodsWe developed an age-stratified compartmental tuberculosis transmission model for India calibrated to country-specific epidemiology. We projected baseline epidemiology to 2050 assuming no-new-vaccine introduction, and M72/AS01E and BCG-revaccination scenarios over 2025–2050 exploring uncertainty in product characteristics (vaccine efficacy, mechanism of effect, infection status required for vaccine efficacy, duration of protection) and implementation (achieved vaccine coverage and ages targeted). We estimated reductions in tuberculosis cases and deaths by each scenario compared to the no-new-vaccine baseline, as well as costs and cost-effectiveness from health-system and societal perspectives.ResultsM72/AS01E scenarios were predicted to avert 40% more tuberculosis cases and deaths by 2050 compared to BCG-revaccination scenarios. Cost-effectiveness ratios for M72/AS01E vaccines were around seven times higher than BCG-revaccination, but nearly all scenarios were cost-effective. The estimated average incremental cost was US$190 million for M72/AS01E and US$23 million for BCG-revaccination per year. Sources of uncertainty included whether M72/AS01E was efficacious in uninfected individuals at vaccination, and if BCG-revaccination could prevent disease.ConclusionsM72/AS01E and BCG-revaccination could be impactful and cost-effective in India. However, there is great uncertainty in impact, especially given the unknowns surrounding the mechanism of effect and infection status required for vaccine efficacy. Greater investment in vaccine development and delivery is needed to resolve these unknowns in vaccine product characteristics.

Travel-associated cost savings to patients and the health system through provision of specialist head and neck surgery outreach clinics in rural New South Wales, Australia.

Centralisation of head and neck surgical services means that patients in regional and remote Australia need to travel long distances for treatment and follow-up, imparting a significant financial burden on patients and the health system. To estimate costs of travel to local outreach clinics and determine potential cost savings to patients and the health system by avoiding patient travel to major cities for head and neck surgical care. Retrospective audit of three head and neck surgery outreach clinics in New South Wales, Australia over 4 years (2017-2020). Direct costs of travel from a patient's residence to their local outreach clinic were estimated. Costs of travel and accommodation to Sydney for an appointment were calculated for different travel modes. Estimated reimbursements for travel through government support schemes were calculated based on published rates. Some 657 patients attended the three clinics, accounting for 1981 appointments. Depending on mode of travel, the estimated median cost of return travel (including accommodation) to Sydney was $379 to $739 per patient per trip and the median government reimbursement ranged from $182 to $279 per trip. In comparison, the cost of return travel by car to local outreach clinics ranged from $28 to $163 per appointment. Outreach clinics were estimated to save patients a median of $285 per trip and avoided government reimbursements of $215 per trip. Despite uptake in telehealth, outreach medical services remain an important asset for people living in regional areas to address inequities in access. However, the cost benefits are likely to be underestimated as our approach did not account for indirect costs associated with travel. Outreach head and neck surgical services located in regional areas can reduce the financial burden on both patients and the healthcare system. Greater investment in outreach clinics could ensure sustainability of services to promote equitable access to specialised surgical services.

The global, regional and national burden of type 2 diabetes mellitus in the past, present and future: a systematic analysis of the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019.

To report the global, regional, and national burden of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in 2019, assess its trends in the past, and forecast its trends in the future. The main data source was the Global Burden of Disease 2019 database. We assessed the changes in T2DM burden from 1990 to 2019 with joinpoint regression analysis. Age-period-cohort analysis was used to forecast the T2DM incidence and mortality rate from 2020 to 2034. The burden of T2DM has increased from 1990 to 2019 generally. The low-middle socio-demographic index (SDI) region had the highest increase in age-standardized incidence rate (ASIR), age-standardized prevalence rate (ASPR), age-standardized mortality rate (ASMR), and age-standardized disability-adjusted life years (ASDR) due to T2DM. Nationally, the increase in ASIR (r=0.151, p=0.046) and the decrease in ASMR (r=0.355, p<0.001) were positively correlated with SDIs. In 2019, the global ASIR, ASPR, ASMR, ASDR due to T2DM were 259.9 (95% UI 240.3-281.4), 5282.9 (95% UI 4853.6-5752.1), 18.5 (95% UI 17.2-19.7), and 801.5 (95% UI 55477000-79005200) per 100,000 population, respectively. Additionally, the ASIR (r=0.153, p=0.030) and ASPR (r=0.159, p=0.024) of T2DM were positively correlated with SDIs, while ASMR (r=-0.226, p=0.001) and ASDR (r=-0.171, p=0.015) due to T2DM were negatively correlated with SDIs. The ASIR was estimated to increase to 284.42, and ASMR was estimated to increase to 19.1 from 2030 to 2034, per 100,000 population. Globally, the burden of T2DM has increased in the past and was forecast to continue increasing. Greater investment in T2DM prevention is needed.

Addressing water resource management challenges in the context of climate change and human influence

&lt;b&gt;Background:&lt;/b&gt; Globally, natural water resources are not sufficient most of the times and do not meet the growing demand over the last five decades at least. Climate change is becoming more and more intense. As a result, multiple issues arise. This perspective study aims to identify and document current issues with managing water resources caused by climate change and the human aspect.&lt;br /&gt; &lt;b&gt;Results and purpose:&lt;/b&gt; Purpose of this study is to identify and record contemporary challenges regarding the management of water resources arising from both climate change and the human factor. Adverse public health from climate change, the process and management of water at a global level is at high risk and involves a big challenge.&lt;br /&gt; &lt;b&gt;Methodology:&lt;/b&gt; Methodology includes the review of various studies in the Greek and international academic community, which were drawn from the international databases Medline, Scopus, and PubMed. The exclusion criterion of the articles was the language other than English and Greek.&lt;br /&gt; &lt;b&gt;Conclusions:&lt;/b&gt; The narrative review studies the ways of water resources management, exposes the issues created due to lack of infrastructure, and concludes that a new water resources management framework needs to be updated and implemented. Also, greater investments must be made for the maximum utilization of existing water resources saving a lot of potable water.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Human Research Ethics Committees (HRECs) are essential in promoting our health and wellbeing.

The history of unethical and inhumane research conducted on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people since colonisation highlights the critical need for specific Human Research Ethics for research involving Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in Australia. The development of Aboriginal Human Research Ethics Committees (AHRECs) has played a vital role in ensuring research is safe and delivered for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in a way that protects and promotes their health and wellbeing. However, there remains a lack of appropriate and critical ethical governance for such research in areas without specific Aboriginal HRECs in each jurisdiction. This perspective argues that greater investment in state-based AHRECs and consideration of a national AHREC are essential to ensure the ongoing health and wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in the research process -the ultimate aim of any research that involves them.