Insignificant Positive Correlation Research Articles

Alpha-amylase Activity in Serum is Positively Associated with C-reactive Protein in Obesity and Diabetes

Alpha-amylase plays a critical job in metabolic homeostasis. Appraisal of alpha-amylase activity in metabolic disorders, for example, obesity and diabetes are important. The current investigation was meant to evaluate the relationship of alpha-amylase activity with C-reactive protein in obesity and diabetes. Alpha-amylase activity along with different biochemical markers like glucose level, triglyceride, total cholesterol, C-responsive protein, and creatinine level were analyzed in healthy, obese, and diabetes populations. In obese and diabetes, a significant deviation (p<0.05) was seen in the degree of biochemical markers including blood glucose, lipid profile, C-reactive protein (CRP), creatinine, and alpha-amylase action when compared with healthy volunteers. The alpha-amylase activity was found to be strongly associated (p< 0.01) with Body Mass Index (BMI), blood glucose level, and duration of diabetes Thus, it can be stated that alpha-amylase can initiate a cross-linking mechanism between BMI and blood glucose level facilitating the propensity of obesity and diabetes. Moreover, alpha-amylase indicated a positive correlation with CRP, a marker for inflammation, proposing a complex job in mediating inflammation in obesity (r= 0.486, p < 0.01) and diabetes (r=0.507, p<0.01). Serum creatinine was demonstrated as an insignificant positive correlation with alpha-amylase activity in obesity and type-2 diabetes. Alpha-amylase can be considered as a significant hazard factor in the pathogenesis of obesity and diabetes-related complications. Dhaka Univ. J. Pharm. Sci. 23(1): 7-12, 2024 (June)

Assessment of Rural Flood Risk and Factors Influencing Household Flood Risk Perception in the Haut-Bassins Region of Burkina Faso, West Africa

In the past two decades, several floods have affected people and their properties in Burkina Faso, with unprecedented flooding occurring in Ouagadougou in September 2009. So far, most studies have focused on Ouagadougou and surrounding localities and have paid little attention to other flood-prone regions in Burkina Faso. Consequently, there is a data and knowledge gap regarding flood risk in the Haut-Bassins region, which in turn hinders the development of mitigation strategies and risk reduction measures in affected communities. This study demonstrates how data collected at the household level can be used to understand flood risk and its components at the village level in this data-scarce region. Using an indicator-based method, we analyzed both flood risk and flood risk perception at the village level. Moreover, we determined the factors influencing flood risk perception at the household level using an ordered logit model. We found that 12 out of the 14 villages in our sample group had experienced high levels of flood risk. The management of runoff from the nearest urban areas as well as poorly designed civil engineering infrastructures, such as roads, were highlighted by households as significant factors that increased their vulnerability. Additionally, we found that the perceived flood risk consistently exceeds the estimated flood risk, with an insignificant positive correlation between both risk indices. Regression results indicate that flood risk perception is mainly influenced by informational and behavioral factors of households. The findings of this study can provide valuable information to municipal and regional authorities involved in disaster risk management within the study area. Moreover, our/this method is transferable to other data-scarce regions.

Detection of helicobacter pylori by urea breathe test in a Nigerian population with upper gastrointestinal symptoms

Background: Helicobacter Pylori, a class one carcinogen is common globally with about 50% of the world’s population affected. It causes severe symptoms and complications including peptic ulcer disease and gastric cancer in infected persons. This study therefore aimed to determine the prevalence of Helicobacter Pylori as well as the clinical profile of patients with upper gastrointestinal symptoms seen at the Rivers State University Teaching hospital. Methodology: One hundred consecutive patients with upper GI symptoms undergoing Urea Breath test who fulfilled the inclusion criteria constituted the study population. The data was analyzed using IBM-SPSS Statistics for Windows, Version 22.0. Results were presented as means ± standard deviation and percentages/number for quantitative and qualitative variables respectively, while Categorical variables were compared with Pearson’s Chi-square. Result: Of the one hundred patients studied, 35 (35%) were males and 65 (65%) were females with a mean age of 49.56 ±14. 68. The prevalence of Helicobacter pylori was 33% affecting more females than males. The most common symptoms in the patients at presentation were heartburn (51%), epigastric pain (47%) and dyspepsia (35%). There was an insignificant positive correlation between the detection of Helicobacter pylori and a prior exposure to proton pump inhibitors. Conclusion: There is a high prevalence of Helicobacter pylori among patients with upper gastrointestinal symptoms. This buttresses the need for testing and treatment among Nigerians who present with such symptoms.

Proportional of wheezing events in asthmatic children post-vaccination of annual flu vaccine

Background: The common childhood chronic disease asthma causes hospitalisation and exacerbations due to respiratory tract viral infections like influenza. Due to uncertainty about the benefits and role of influenza vaccines in preventing asthma exacerbations, many children with asthma do not receive them, despite recommendations from organisations like the Canadian National Advisory Committee on Immunisation. There are two main types of influenza vaccines: intramuscular trivalent inactivated and intranasal cold-adapted, live attenuated. Both vaccines are highly immunogenic and induce an adequate immune response, but their clinical efficacy varies by season and age. Aim: The aim of this study was to investigate the occurrence of increased wheeze rates in stable asthmatic children who received the annual flu vaccine, compared to a control group of asthmatic children who did not receive the vaccine. Methods: A retrospective study at the Queen Rania Abdullah for Children Hospital in Amman, Jordan, examined the vaccination status of 200 asthmatic children aged 3-14. The study focused on recurrent wheezing episodes and the minimum 12-month period between the last annual flu vaccination and asthmatic exacerbation. The study excluded uncontrolled or partially controlled patients for the past 12 months. Data was collected from demographic information, vaccination history, and past wheezing episodes. The children were divided into two groups, one without the flu vaccine and the other with the flu vaccine. A comprehensive questionnaire was used to assess sociodemographic and disease-related factors. If children received the vaccination as per the National Vaccination Schedule, their vaccination status was considered complete. Results: A study of 200 asthmatic children in Jordan found that 35% did not receive a flu vaccine, placing them in Group I. 65% had received a flu vaccine in the previous year. Males had higher distribution rates in both flu-based groups, with a statistically insignificant positive correlation. Age categories showed similar distribution rates, with 21.0% for 3-6 years, 34.0% for 6-9 years, 37.5% for 9-12 years, and 7.5% for 12-15 years. No significant correlation was found between receiving the flu vaccine and wheezing rates in the last seasonal year. Frequent wheezing episodes were higher in experienced groups than in naïve groups.

Correlation of Blood Urea and Creatinine Levels With Thiamin Levels in Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetic Patients.

Introduction Serum urea and creatinine levels are the most commonly recognized parameters for evaluating renal impairment in patients with diabetes mellitus (DM). Therefore, this study evaluated the correlation between urea and creatinine levels and thiamin levels in patients with type 1 DM (T1DM) and type 2 DM (T2DM). Methods This multi-center, cross-sectional study was conducted at diabetic outpatient clinics in Karachi. The duration of the study was six months, from 1st January 2023 to 30th June 2023. A total of 60 patients were enrolled and divided into two groups, i.e., T1DM and T2DM, each containing 30 patients of both genders between the ages of 24 and 42 years. Demographic data and biochemical variables, such as urea, creatinine, random blood sugar, fasting blood sugar, hemoglobin A1c, and serum thiamin levels, were assessed. The Mann-Whitney U test and independent t-test were used to associate the means between the two study groups. The chi-square test and Spearman's correlation coefficient were used to determine the associations between the variables and T1DM and T2DM. Results The study results revealed that patients with T2DM had a significantly higher frequency of hypertension (p = 0.039), neuropathy (p = 0.038), and coronary artery disease (p = 0.010) than those with T1DM, in both genders. The level of serum thiamin was found to be significantly higher (p < 0.001) in T2DM (14.8 ± 4.82) than in T1DM patients (7.34 ± 1.90). Similarly, serum creatinine was higher in T2DM than in T1DM patients (0.83 ± 0.12 vs. 0.76 ± 0.17, p = 0.025). Moreover, the correlation of urea and creatinine with thiamin levels in T1DM and T2DM patients revealed that in T1DM and T2DM patients, urea and creatinine showed an insignificant positive correlation with thiamin levels. Conclusion We found a significantly higher level of serum creatinine and thiamin levels in T2DM patients than in T1DM; however, there was no significant correlation between urea and creatinine levels and thiamin status in T1DM and T2DM patients. Therefore, we conclude that although serum urea, creatinine, and serum thiamin are important disease biomarkers in diabetic patients, there is no correlation between them.

Preliminary Indications on an Atmospheric Particulate Matter and Rainwater Chemistry in Colombo, Sri Lanka: A Study During Southwestern Monsoon

The atmospheric cleansing nature of rainfall, specifically in the removal of particulate matter, is a determinant of rainwater quality. This study investigated the relationship between atmospheric particulate matter (PM10) concentration and rainwater quality in Colombo during the southwest monsoon period in 2023. The rainwater samples were collected using a manually prepared high- density polyethylene collector and analysed for pH, electrical conductivity (EC), water-soluble cations (Na+, K+, Ca2+, Mg2+, and NH4+), and anions (Cl-, NO3–, and SO42–). The concentration of atmospheric PM10 was obtained from the ambient air quality monitoring station (AQMS) at Battaramulla. The measured data were analysed using multivariate statistical techniques, including principal component analysis and Pearson correlation analysis, to identify relationships between the concentration of atmospheric PM10 and rainwater quality. The atmospheric PM10 showed an insignificant positive correlation with southwest monsoon rainfall (r=0.14, p&gt;0.05). The concentration of atmospheric PM10 increased the total concentration of water-soluble ions (r=0.30) and decreased the pH (r=-0.42) and electrical conductivity (r=0.07) of rainwater samples. The concentration of Na+, K+ and Ca2+ displayed moderate positive correlation, while Mg2+, NH4+, Cl-,&#x0D; NO3- and SO42- showed a weak positive correlation of rainwater samples in the atmospheric PM10.&#x0D; This study contributes valuable insights into the variations of PM10 in the atmosphere and its potential implications on rainwater quality in southwest monsoon, underscoring the importance of comprehensive analyses for a more nuanced understanding of the intricate relationships between atmospheric components and rainwater chemistry.&#x0D; &#x0D; Keywords: Atmospheric chemistry, Correlation analysis, Particulate matter, Rainwater quality, Southwest monsoon&#x0D;

Sustainability Reporting and Financial Performance of Oil and Gas Companies Listed in Nigeria

“Financial performance (FP) is a subjective measure of how well a firm can use assets from its primary mode of business and generate revenues. The term is also used as a general measure of a firm’s overall financial health over a given period.” A company’s financial performance refers to its health as a whole and the money it makes from its operations. Allocating resources effectively to meet objectives and boost profits is at the heart of this practice. The integrity of Nigeria’s oil and gas data relies on it completely. The sustainability of oil and gas in Nigeria is becoming questionable due to environmental factors that were not properly accounted for, and this prompted the researcher of this study to zero in on the effect of corporate social responsibility on the bottom lines of Nigeria’s publicly traded oil and gas firms. This study used an ex-post facto method for its research, using data from secondary sources such as annual reports and the Nigerian stock market. Inadequate CSR reporting and a failure to adequately reflect the financial performance of listed oil and gas firms have been noted in numerous works of literature. Using panel data analysis, the research correlated CSR reporting with the profitability indicators return on assets (ROA), return on equity (ROE), and return on capital employed (ROCE) of publicly traded oil and gas firms. This study looks at 10 Nigerian oil and gas firms that are traded on public markets. A filter was used with a census sampling strategy. Firms that (1) were permitted to trade before January 1, 2010, or (2) are still listed as of December 31, 2020 are eligible for review. In addition, the organization must publicly disclose yearly reports pertinent to the time under investigation. As a result of not meeting these criteria, four of the original eight firms were eliminated. Secondary sources were consulted to get the data needed. EViews 10, a statistical programme, was used to analyze the data for this research. The regression analysis showed that CSR reporting increases ROA by a small but favourable amount. The return on equity, however, was shown to be positively correlated with environmental sustainability. Finally, a statistically insignificant positive correlation was found between social sustainability and return on investment (ROI). Therefore, this study concludes, based on the data provided, that sustainability reporting significantly affects the company’s financial performance for listed oil and gas businesses in Nigeria. Based on the findings of this study, oil and gas companies in Nigeria should make public disclosure of their sustainability efforts a top priority if they want to improve their bottom lines. Compliance in the industry as a whole can be improved if policymakers and standard-setting organizations work together to make it easier for industries to design and execute sector-specific reporting regulations.

Impact of acetabular roof's angle on precision of cup center of rotation reproduction and placement in total hip arthroplasty.

Total hip arthroplasty (THA) is nowadays considered as the most effective treatment option for end-stage hip osteoarthritis (OA) and one of the most successful orthopedic procedures. Precise reproduction of the center of rotation (COR) is among the most important aspects of recreating native hip biomechanics after THA as it is strictly related to muscle tension and force distribution within the hip joint. Both vertical and horizontal shift in cup positioning and COR restoration are commonly observed radiological signs corresponding with lesser functional outcome. The aim of this study was to assess whether the superior border of the native acetabulum morphology has an impact on cup positioning and COR restoration in patients undergoing THA as treatment of primary OA of the hip. A cohort of 150 consecutive patients with diagnosis of end-stage primary hip OA who underwent THA via an anterolateral approach with the same implant in 2021 was analyzed retrospectively. Standard standing pelvic X-rays were performed pre- and postoperatively and appropriate measurements were taken. Several radiological parameters on obtained X-rays were assessed. Statistical analysis of all the measurements was performed. There was a statistically significant positive weak correlation between cup offset and acetabular roof angle (rs = 0.25, p = 0.002). There were statistically insignificant positive correlations between acetabular roof angle and COR restoration (rs = 0.14, p = 0.097), acetabular roof angle and total offset (rs = 0.087, p = 0.29) and a negative correlation between acetabular roof angle and femoral offset (rs = 0.071, p = 0.39). The present study revealed that preoperative acetabular roof angle influences the positioning of the prosthetic cup in the transverse axis. There also seems to be a correlation between the acetabular roof angle and COR restoration, but its significance needs further evaluation. Surgeons could use this knowledge to preoperatively assess the risk of cup malposition and adjust their technique during the THA procedure with probable improvement of hip function.

Abdominal fat depots and their association with insulin resistance in patients with type 2 diabetes

Background Asian-Indians show thin fat phenotype, characterized by predominantly central deposition of excess fat. The roles of abdominal subcutaneous fat (SAT), intra-peritoneal adipose tissue, and fat depots surrounding the vital organs (IPAT-SV) and liver fat in insulin resistance (IR), type-2 diabetes (T2D) and metabolic syndrome (MetS) in this population are sparsely investigated. Aims and objectives Assessment of liver fat, SAT and IPAT-SV by MRI in subjects with T2D and MetS; and to investigate its correlation with IR, specifically according to different quartiles of HOMA-IR. Methods Eighty T2D and the equal number of age sex-matched normal glucose tolerant controls participated in this study. Abdominal SAT, IPAT-SV and liver fat were measured using MRI. IR was estimated by the Homeostatic Model Assessment for Insulin Resistance (HOMA-IR). Results T2D and MetS subjects have higher quantity liver fat and IPAT-SV fat than controls (P = 9 x 10−4 and 4 x 10−4 for T2D and 10−4 and 9 x 10−3 for MetS subjects respectively). MetS subjects also have higher SAT fat mass (P = 0.012), but not the BMI adjusted SAT fat mass (P = 0.48). Higher quartiles of HOMA-IR were associated with higher BMI, W:H ratio, waist circumference, and higher liver fat mass (ANOVA Test P = 0.020, 0.030, 2 x 10−6 and 3 x 10−3 respectively with F-values 3.35, 3.04, 8.82, 4.47 respectively). In T2D and MetS subjects, HOMA-IR showed a moderately strong correlation with liver fat (r = 0.467, P &lt; 3 x 10−5 and r = 0.493, P &lt; 10−7), but not with SAT fat and IPAT-SV. However, in MetS subjects IPAT-SV fat mass showed borderline correlation with IR (r = 0.241, P &lt; 0.05), but not with the BMI adjusted IPAT-SV fat mass (r = 0.13, P = 0.26). In non-T2D and non-MetS subjects, no such correlation was seen. On analyzing the correlation between the three abdominal adipose compartment fat masses and IR according to its severity, the correlation with liver fat mass becomes stronger with increasing quartiles of HOMA-IR, and the strongest correlation is seen in the highest quartile (r = 0.59, P &lt; 10−3). On the other hand, SAT fat mass tended to show an inverse relation with IR with borderline negative correlation in the highest quartile (r = -0.284, P &lt; 0.05). IPAT-SV fat mass did not show any statistically significant correlation with HOMA-IR, but in the highest quartile it showed borderline, but statistically insignificant positive correlation (P = 0.07). Conclusion In individuals suffering from T2D and MetS, IR shows a trend towards positive and borderline negative correlation with liver fat and SAT fat masses respectively. The positive trend with liver fat tends to become stronger with increasing quartile of IR. Therefore, these findings support the theory that possibly exhaustion of protective compartment’s capacity to store excess fat results in its pathological deposition in liver as ectopic fat.

Molecular dynamics study on friction of high-entropy alloy FeNiCrCoCu

High-entropy alloy (HEA) is composed of five or more metal elements. It has excellent mechanical properties, tribological properties, corrosion resistance, high temperature resistance and other properties. The friction behavior of FeNiCrCoCu High-entropy alloy was studied using molecular dynamics (MD) simulation method at the nanometer level. The influence of friction depth, temperature, sliding speed and cobalt content on the frictional properties of FeNiCrCoCu High-entropy alloy was studied with the help of LAMMPS and OVITO software. The main research results are as follows: (1) The change in friction force will first go through a growth period, and then gradually stabilize. The fluctuation of its value is due to the release of stress energy caused by dislocations and the accumulation of wear debris. (2) As the friction depth increases, the plowing phenomenon and the accumulation of debris become more obvious and plastic deformation increases. (3) Temperature has no significant effect on the magnitude of friction force and the morphology of the alloy substrate surface. (4) There is an insignificant positive correlation between sliding speed and friction force and sliding speed does not have a significant impact on the amount of debris. (5) With the increase of the content of cobalt, the hardness and friction force of FeNiCrCoCu High-entropy alloy increase significantly at 600 K while the amount of wear debris decreases.

Variation of b-Value of Normal, Reverse and Strike-Slip Faulting Earthquakes with Focal Depth

A crucial factor in evaluating seismic activity, seismotectonics, and seismic hazard assessment is the distribution of earthquake sizes (b-value). The goal of this research is to explore the relation between depth and the b-constant values of normal, inverse, and strike-slip faulting earthquakes. The earthquake catalog used in this work was extracted from the Global Centroid Moment Tensor Catalog (GCMTC) and covers the period from 2008 to 2017. The focal depth of the selected tremors ranges from zero to 700 km. The magnitude of completeness for normal and reverse faulting events is 5.2 and 5.1 for strike-slip faulting events. The value of the b- constant was estimated using the maximum likelihood technique. The findings of regression analysis showed that there is an insignificant negative poor correlation relation between the b- value of the normal and strike-slip faulting events and depth, while that relation is an insignificant positive poor correlation for reverse faulting. The depth of the turning point for the b-constant value of normal and reverse faulting earthquakes is near the mantle seismic discontinuities 410 and 520 km. The depth of inflection points of b-constant value strike-slip faulting earthquakes is near to lithosphere-asthenosphere boundary (LAB) at depth of 250km and the mantle seismic discontinuity of 520km.

Effect of fsh on lipid profile in postmenopausal women

The World Health Organization (WHO) and Stages of Reproductive Aging Workshop (STRAW) define menopause as a permanent endpoint of the menstrual cycle for one year that occurs naturally or by induction of surgical procedure, chemotherapy or radiation .The etiology of menopause is classified into physiological and non-physiological. Pathophysiology of menopause includes the decline of ovary function in menopause, response to a loss of ovarian feedback mechanism, and the decline of the hypothalamus and pituitary function. Endocrine changes in menopause lead to alteration of gonadotropin secretion cycle patterns, changes in steroid and peptide hormones through monophasic patterns to increase gonadotropin, and decreased estrogen .Aim: This study aims to investigate the effect of FSH on lipid profile in postmenopausal women. Study design: A cross-section observational study. Method: The study is a cross-sectional study done on 90 women. These women aged more than 50 years had cessation of menstrual cycle for over a year. The blood samples were taken from 90 postmenopausal women, and interviews were conducted using a questionnaire. FSH measure, by ElectroChemiLuminescence (ECL) technology for immunoassay analysis done by Cobas e411 device. Lipid profile measure, by manual techniques done by use of spectrophotometer device. Result: We observed increase in Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) during postmenopause has a positive significant correlation with body mass index (BMI) (r 0.350, p 0.001), total cholesterol (TC) (r 0.397, p 0.001) and Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) ( r 0.421, p 0.001) FSH also correlated positively but insignificant correlation with triglyceride (TG) (r 0.175, p 0.098) and very low-density lipoproteins (VLDL) ( r 0.055, p 0.604). FHS has a negative significant correlation with Estradiol ( r -0.509, p 0.001) and Vit.D( r-0.220, p 0.037) as well as FSH correlated negative but insignificant with age ( r -0.142, p 0.183) and High-density lipoprotein (HDL) (r -0.048, p 0.656). Conclusion: The current study showed a significant positive correlation of FSH with TC and LDL, an insignificant positive correlation with TG, and an insignificant negative correlation with HDL. Keywords: Postmenopause, FSH, Lituenizing Hormone, HDL

Evaluation of the Effect of Dapagliflozin on CRP Levels in Type 2 Diabetes Patients

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is an increasingly prevalent chronic disease that associates with an increased risk of micro-and macrovascular complications. There is persuasive evidence that dapagliflozin may reduce chronic inflammation besides its glucose-lowering effect, which in term prevents the development of the disease and its complications. Therefore, this study aims to evaluate the effects of dapagliflozin on the inflammatory marker C-reactive protein (CRP) levels in T2DM patients. Patients with T2DM were randomly assigned into two groups, group 1 (n=52) receiving a daily dose of dapagliflozin as an add-on therapy with oral antihyperglycemic agents, and group 2 (control, n=60) who received oral antihyperglycemic agents (Metformin, Sulfonylureas, Thiazolidinediones, and Gliptins). After six months, our results showed a significant change in CRP levels from baseline after receiving dapagliflozin compared to the control. Although the reduction level of CRP was statically significant with both 5 mg and 10 mg doses, it was higher with the latter one. In addition, the reduction in CRP levels was statistically significant in both controlled and uncontrolled, but more important in uncontrolled disease. An insignificant positive correlation was seen between HbA1c and CRP on admission (r: 0.21, p: 0.1) and during the follow-up period, at 3 months (r: 0.10, p: 0.4) and 6 months (r: 0.08, p: 0.5). Our study showed that dapagliflozin has a beneficial effect on inflammation by reducing CRP levels CRP in patients with T2DM.

APAKAH INDEKS PEMBANGUNAN MANUSIA DAN TINGKAT PENGANGGURAN BERDAMPAK TERHADAP PEREKONOMIAN DI KERESIDENAN BANYUMAS?

One of the indicators of economic growth is quality human development, which is measured in three aspects: a decent standard of living, health, and education. Inequality in human development persists in the Banyumas Residency area, impacting the regional economy. The aim of the study is to examine the correlation between mean years of schooling, human development index, and unemployment rate to GRDP per capita (proxy of economic growth) in Banyumas Residency, Central Java. Secondary research data comes from the Statistics Indonesia website. The research method uses panel data regression, consisting of time series data for 2017–2022 and cross-sectional data from 4 areas in Banyumas Residency, namely Banyumas Regency, Purbalingga Regency, Cilacap Regency, and Banjarnegara Regency. The Fixed Effect Model is the chosen estimation model in answering the research hypothesis. The research findings state that the human development index has a significant positive correlation with GRDP per capita. The unemployment rate has a significant negative correlation with GRDP per capita. Meanwhile, the mean years of schooling has an insignificant positive correlation with GRDP per capita. The conclusion of the study is that there is a relationship between the Human Development Index and the unemployment rate on the economy in the Banyumas Residency.

Direct and indirect effects of salinisation on riverine biota: a case study from river Wipper, Germany

Salinisation has direct and detrimental physiological effects on freshwater organisms, yet little is known about its indirect effects. Here, we present a study that investigated the primary and secondary effects of salinisation on aquatic macroinvertebrates. We analysed macroinvertebrate samples from nine sites in river Wipper, Germany against nine stressor variables (water quality, salinisation, hydromorphological degradation). A Principal Component Analysis showed water quality deterioration and physical habitat degradation to constitute the main stressor gradients. Two macroinvertebrate community metrics (index of general degradation and percent Ephemeroptera-Plecoptera-Trichoptera specimens) revealed strong and significant positive correlations with water quality, but only weak and insignificant positive correlations with hydromorphological quality. High-resolution temporal measurements revealed notable oxygen deficits at a salinised and macrophyte-rich site that was dominated by the salt-tolerant macrophyte species Stuckenia [Potamogeton] pectinata (L.) Börner. At the site, oxygen levels frequently dropped below 6 mg/L during nighttime, suggesting an interaction of osmoregulatory stress (through salinisation) and respiratory stress (through plant mitochondrial respiration) that is caused by the mass development of a salt-tolerant macrophyte species. This biologically driven interaction of direct and indirect salinisation effects adds another level of complexity to the influence of multiple stressors in lotic systems and requires consideration in river management and restoration.

Massive corals record deforestation in Malaysian Borneo through sediments in river discharge

Abstract. Logging of tropical primary forests is a widely acknowledged global issue threatening biodiversity hotspots and indigenous communities leading to significant land erosion and decreased soil stability. The downstream effects of logging on human coastal communities include poor water quality and increased sedimentation. Quantifying the impacts of historical deforestation within a watershed requires accurate data from river discharge or satellite images, which are rarely available prior to the 1980s. In the absence of these in situ measurements, proxies have successfully produced accurate, long-range, historical records of temperature, hydrological balance, and sediment discharge in coastal and oceanic environments. We present a 30-year, monthly resolved Ba/Ca proxy record of sediment in river discharge as measured from the skeletal remains of massive corals Porites sp. from northern Malaysian Borneo. We make the comparison with local instrumental hydrology data, river discharge and rainfall, to test the reliability of the Ba/Cacoral proxy. Our results show that averaging five records into two composites results in significant positive annual correlations with river discharge (r = 0.5 and r = 0.59) as well as a difference in correlation strength coherent with distance from the river mouth, with the composite closer to the river mouth displaying a higher correlation. More importantly, Ba/Cacoral records from this region showed a very similar upward trend to that of river discharge on multi-decennial timescales. The lack of similar increase and overall stability in the precipitation record suggests that the river discharge's trend recorded by corals is linked to the increasing land use associated with ever-growing deforestation. We argue that massive corals in this region are therefore valuable archives of past hydrological conditions and accurately reflect changes in land use patterns.

The Effect of Role-Modeled Professional Ethics Instruction on the Nursing and Midwifery Students' Moral Performance: A Semi-Experimental Study

Background and Objective: Professional ethics instruction could guarantee the ethical performance of nurses and midwives. This study aimed to investigate the effect of role-modeled professional ethics instruction on the moral performance of nursing and midwifery students. Materials and Methods: This semi-experimental single-group before-after study was conducted on two separate groups of nursing and midwifery students who were selected using the census method. The intervention was role-modeled professional ethics instruction in six sessions for each group (5 cases per group) in different wards. The required data were collected using the nurses' moral performance questionnaire and midwifery codes of ethics questionnaire (online version) administered before and one month after the intervention. Data were analyzed in SPSS software (version 16). Results: A total of 59 students were included in the study. There was a positive and significant correlation before and after role-modeled instruction as an intervention in terms of moral performance scores in the nursing students' group (P=0.000 r=0.554) and an insignificant positive correlation in the midwifery students' group (P=0.23 r=0.324). Furthermore, there was an insignificant poor correlation between the final scores of the ethics course and moral performance scores before and after role-modeled instruction in both groups. Male nursing students had better moral performance after the intervention, and age did not affect moral performance. Conclusion: The moral performance of nursing students increased significantly after role-modeled instruction. Further studies are recommended to investigate the effectiveness of different instructional methods on strengthening the moral performance of nursing and midwifery students.

Remuneration, Job Satisfaction, and Performance of Health Workers During the COVID-19 Pandemic Period at the Dr. Soetomo Hospital Surabaya, Indonesia.

One of the hospital management issues that has not been studied much during the COVID-19 Pandemic is the relationship between health workers' performance, job satisfaction and remuneration. This study aims to examine the relationship between remuneration, job satisfaction and the employee performance during 2019-2021. This study applied an employee satisfaction survey at a General Academic Hospital between 2019-2021. The population and samples were 716 employees. The data collection were based on the personnel database, remuneration database, and the annual Employee Satisfaction Survey Database for the period 2019-2021 at General Academic Hospital of Dr. Soetomo, Surabaya, Indonesia. The results of the correlation test between Employee Satisfaction, Remuneration, and Performance based on employee performance objectives showed an insignificant positive correlation between the remuneration variable and satisfaction based on The Job Itself; very weak significant positive correlation between remuneration variable and Satisfaction based on Pay; a very weak significant positive correlation between the remuneration variable and Satisfaction based on Promotion; very weak significant positive correlation between remuneration variable and satisfaction based on supervision; significant positive correlation between remuneration variable and satisfaction based on coworkers; There is a significant positive correlation between remuneration and performance variables. The correlation between remuneration and employee satisfaction based on the Job Description Index shows that the components of the job itself, and coworkers have a positive but not significant relationship, while the components of pay, promotion, and supervision have a positive and significant relationship. Employees satisfaction with performance achievement have a positive and significant relationship, especially job satisfaction based on pay and supervision, but there is also a positive and insignificant relationship related to job satisfaction based on the job itself, promotion, and co-workers.

Production and perception of English consonants by Yemeni EFL learners

Many previous studies on the perception-production correlation focused mainly on transcriptions and native English speaker evaluations for production accuracy assessments; only a few included acoustic measurements. The purpose of this study is to examine the production and perception of six English consonants by Yemeni EFL learners of English using an acoustic measurement of L2 production in order to better understand the link between production and perception. It has three objectives: (1) To investigate the extent to which word position influences the accuracy of Yemeni EFL learners’ production of the target consonants, (2) to examine the extent to which word position affects their perception, and (3) to examine the relationship between the overall production and perception of the investigated sounds. A quantitative research method was employed to collect data from six Yemeni EFL postgraduate students from Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM). In the production tasks, the speakers were asked to produce seventy-two words with the target consonants three times in isolation (Experiment 1) and the other three times in a carrier sentence (Experiment 2). The researchers recorded the speakers’ productions with an iPhone and later evaluated them acoustically via Praat. In the perception test, an AXB experiment was conducted. The stimuli were read by a native male speaker of Australian English. The findings showed that word position significantly affected the production, yet not the perception of the target sounds. Moreover, an insignificant positive moderate correlation was revealed between the overall production and perception of the target consonants. Results have implications for L2 speech and pronunciation instruction and learning. Teachers may focus more on specific sound environments that lead learners to struggle while producing/perceiving particular English sounds.

Circadian Rhythm Types in Individuals with Diabetic Macular Edema

Background and Hypothesis:Diabetic Retinopathy (DR) is the leading cause of vision loss in patients with diabetes. Diabeticmacular edema (DME) can be associated with any stage of DR, causing thickening and swelling of the macula, leading to vision impairment. Circadian rhythm, the body’s natural clock thatgoverns physiological processes and dictates our sleep-wake cycle, is known to be affected by DR and DME. This study hypothesizes that DME will be associated with a more extreme circadian rhythm type.&#x0D; Methods:Individuals 18 years or older with a diagnosis of type I or type II diabetes complicated by DMEwere given a 19-item Morningness-Eveningness Questionnaire (MEQ) to determine their circadian rhythm and sleep patterns. Information regarding demographics, metabolic parameters, diabetes, visual acuity and DME severity was collected.&#x0D; Results:In this ongoing study, we compiled data from 54 individuals out of a targeted enrollment of 160. Overall, the MEQ scores characterized more individuals as morning types, followed by intermediate and evening types. The preliminary analysis shows a weak, insignificant positive correlation with retinal thickness in the right eye and a weak, insignificant negative in the left eye. In addition, a weak, insignificant negative correlation was also observed between MEQ and right eye visual acuity, with the opposite trend occurring in the left eye. DME variables such as mean central foveal thickness decreased insignificantly in right eyes from morning to evening groups but increased in the left eye.&#x0D; Conclusion and Potential Impact: Our study suggests DME individuals are mostly morning type instead of evening type. However, there is no strong relationship between MEQ scores and DME parameters. As we recruit more individuals in the future, we hope to establish a more significant relationship that could improve our understanding of how circadian rhythms and DME are interconnected and could lead to new treatments.