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[In Press] Psychosocial difficulties profiles among youth with intellectual disabilities
No full textThis study sought to identify the various configurations, or profiles, of internalizing and externalizing behaviors found among a sample of youth with intellectual disabilities (ID). These behaviors were assessed twice over one year, using self, parental, and teacher reports. Six variables were hypothesized to predict profile membership: Parent–child relationship (i.e., warmth and conflict), student–teacher relationship (i.e., warmth and conflict), peer acceptance, and peer victimization. To this end, we conducted Latent Profile Analysis among a sample of 393 youth with ID (aged 11–22 years old) recruited in Canada (Frenchspeaking; n = 142; 49.30% boys) and Australia (English-speaking; n = 251; 67.30% boys). Our results revealed five profiles: (1) Adjusted (13.48%), (2) Mild School-related Difficulties (34.38%), (3) Underestimation of Mild Difficulties (12.40%), (4) High Difficulties (19.45%), and (5) Internalizing Difficulties Unobserved at School (20.19%). These profiles, as well as profile membership, remained stable over time. Lower levels of student–teacher warmth, lower levels of peer acceptance, and higher levels of peer victimization were associated with a higher likelihood of membership into profiles characterized by above-average levels of psychosocial difficulties, especially self-reported. Based on these findings, future interventions addressing internalizing and externalizing behaviors could benefit from focusing on the school environment, notably peer acceptance and student–teacher warmth
Use of health care services and its associated factors among people with type 2 diabetes in Nepal
No full textThis study aims to assess the utilization of health care services and its associated factors among people with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in Nepal. Data on the utilization of health care services were assessed in 481 adults aged 30 to 70 years with T2DM in Nepal. Multiple logistic regression analysis was performed to determine the factors associated with the utilization of health care services. Over 6 months, 66.1% of participants visited health care facilities or health service providers, followed by specialist visits (3.5%), hospitalization (2.1%), and emergency department visits (1.9%). Visit to health care facilities was significantly higher among those aged 50 to 59 (ORA: 1.64, CI: [1.01, 2.67]), practicing Hinduism (ORA: 2.4, CI: [1.20, 4.81]), and earning NRs ≥30 000 (≥USD 226.10) (ORA: 1.82, CI: [1.05, 3.15]) as compared to those aged ≥60, practicing other religions, and with monthly family income NRs ≤10 000 (≤USD 75.37), respectively. The utilization of health care services among people with T2DM in Nepal was reasonably low. Identifying the underlying causes of low use of health care services is of great importance to bridge the gap in using health care services for management of diabetes
Effects of plant diversity on productivity strengthen over time due to trait-dependent shifts in species overyielding
No full textPlant diversity effects on community productivity often increase over time. Whether the strengthening of diversity effects is caused by temporal shifts in species-level overyielding (i.e., higher species-level productivity in diverse communities compared with monocultures) remains unclear. Here, using data from 65 grassland and forest biodiversity experiments, we show that the temporal strength of diversity effects at the community scale is underpinned by temporal changes in the species that yield. These temporal trends of species-level overyielding are shaped by plant ecological strategies, which can be quantitatively delimited by functional traits. In grasslands, the temporal strengthening of biodiversity effects on community productivity was associated with increasing biomass overyielding of resource-conservative species increasing over time, and with overyielding of species characterized by fast resource acquisition either decreasing or increasing. In forests, temporal trends in species overyielding differ when considering above- versus belowground resource acquisition strategies. Overyielding in stem growth decreased for species with high light capture capacity but increased for those with high soil resource acquisition capacity. Our results imply that a diversity of species with different, and potentially complementary, ecological strategies is beneficial for maintaining community productivity over time in both grassland and forest ecosystems
[In Press] Development of a convolutional neural network based regional flood frequency analysis model for south‑east Australia
No full textFlood is one of the worst natural disasters, which causes significant damage to economy and society. Flood risk assessment helps to reduce flood damage by managing flood risk in flood affected areas. For ungauged catchments, regional flood frequency analysis (RFFA) is generally used for design flood estimation. This study develops a Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) based RFFA technique using data from 201 catchments in south-east Australia. The CNN based RFFA technique is compared with multiple linear regression (MLR), support vector machine (SVM), and decision tree (DT) based RFFA models. Based on a split-sample validation using several statistical indices such as relative error, bias and root mean squared error, it is found that the CNN model performs best for annual exceedance probabilities (AEPs) in the range of 1 in 5 to 1 in 100, with median relative error values in the range of 29–44%. The DT model shows the best performance for 1 in 2 AEP, with a median relative error of 24%. The CNN model outperforms the currently recommended RFFA technique in Australian Rainfall and Runoff (ARR) guideline. The findings of this study will assist to upgrade RFFA techniques in ARR guideline in near future
Machine vision based plant height estimation for protected crop facilities
No full textThe increasing demand for quality, year-round food production in limited space has led to the widespread adoption of protected cropping. Effectively monitoring and maintaining crops within these facilities requires substantial labour and expertise. Traditional manual monitoring is labour intensive and time consuming. Therefore, non-destructive image-based techniques, particularly those utilising 3D structural data, have gained attention. We developed a stereo vision-based system to estimate the height of vertically supported tall plants in protected facilities, given plant height serves as a vital measure of crop growth. Our system uses a mobile platform with a top-angle view of a stereo vision depth camera for data acquisition and machine learning in its core for data analysis. First, we collected weekly RGB and depth (RGBD) streams from plant gutters in three glasshouse compartments with different light treatments. We used part of the RGB data collected to train and validate a deep learning segmentation model to detect plant tops and bases. Detected tops and bases of an image were then mapped to the generated 3D scene using the depth image of the same frame. Thresholds and 3D clustering are used respectively to remove background and eliminate outliers in top and base detection mapped to 3D space. Finally, the height of each plant was calculated using the cluster centres of the tops and bases of the plants. Manually measured heights of ten selected plants per environment were used to validate the height estimations. Similar growing patterns were observed between imaged and manually measured plant heights, which showed strong correlations of 0.87, 0.96, and 0.79 R2 scores, respectively, under unfiltered ambient light, Smart Glass film, and shifted light. These promising results demonstrate the feasibility of our proposed method for a vertically supported capsicum crop in a commercial-scale protected crop facility
Outcomes of intravesical Bacillus Calmette-Guerin in patients with non-muscle invasive bladder cancer : a retrospective study in Australia
No full textIntroduction: Induction intravesical Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) followed by maintenance after transurethral resection of bladder tumor, is the standard adjuvant therapy for high-risk non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC). There is sparse evidence on the practice of intravesical BCG in Australia. Our aim was to determine the outcomes of intravesical BCG therapy in NMIBC in Southwestern Sydney. Methods: This was a multi-center retrospective audit of NMIBC patients who received intravesical BCG between January 2008 and June 2020. Data was collected across six tertiary hospitals in South Western Sydney. Primary outcome was disease-free survival (DFS). Secondary outcomes were overall survival (OS), BCG induction and maintenance rates. Results: Of the 200 eligible patients over 12.5 years, median age was 77 years and 83% were male. Of these, 55%, 4.5%, 35% and 5% were Tis, Ta, T1 and unknown stage, respectively. All patients received induction BCG and 56% received maintenance BCG (range 3-36 months). Completion rate of induction BCG was 91%. Only 9% ceased treatment due to intolerance. The median duration of cystoscopy follow-up was 17 months. After a median follow-up time of 37 months, 55% developed recurrence (29% non-muscle invasive, 32% muscle-invasive disease, 8% distant metastasis). The 1-year and 5-year DFS rates were 72% and 41% (median DFS: 39 months). The 1-year and 5-year OS rates were 98% and 87% (median OS: not reached). Conclusion: The DFS and OS rates were comparable to previous literature. This provides real-world data to assist future clinical trials in NMIBC
Fluid handling by foam wound dressings : from engineering theory to advanced laboratory performance evaluations
No full textThis article describes the contemporary bioengineering theory and practice of evaluating the fluid handling performance of foam-based dressings, with focus on the important and clinically relevant engineering structure–function relationships and on advanced laboratory testing methods for pre-clinical quantitative assessments of this common type of wound dressings. The effects of key wound dressing material-related and treatment-related physical factors on the absorbency and overall fluid handling of foam-based dressings are thoroughly and quantitively analysed. Discussions include exudate viscosity and temperature, action of mechanical forces and the dressing microstructure and associated interactions. Based on this comprehensive review, we propose a newly developed testing method, experimental metrics and clinical benchmarks that are clinically relevant and can set the standard for robust fluid handling performance evaluations. The purpose of this evaluative framework is to translate the physical characteristics and performance determinants of a foam dressing into achievable best clinical outcomes. These guiding principles are key to distinguishing desirable properties of a dressing that contribute to optimal performance in clinical settings
'Why can’t I wear a dress?' : what schools can learn from preschools about supporting trans children
No full textSummarises research exploring what schools can learn from preschools and other early learning settings about how to support trans students. Schools should take the lead from early learning environments, by being more child-centred, and stop “sorting” students based on gender. Teachers also need access to resources and information so they can confidently have conversations about gender. This needs to be part of a whole-of-school approach to supporting trans students and their families
Enhanced potency of a chloro-substituted polyaromatic platinum(II) complex and its platinum(IV) prodrug against lung cancer
No full textThe present study investigates the anti-neoplastic activity of a platinum (II) complex, Pt(II)5ClSS, and its platinum (IV) di-hydroxido analogue, Pt(IV)5ClSS, against mesenchymal cells (MCs), lung (A549), melanoma (A375) and breast (MDA-MB-231) cancer cells. Both complexes exhibited up to 14-fold improved cytotoxicity compared to cisplatin. NMR was used to determine that ∼25 % of Pt(IV)5ClSS was reduced to Pt(II)5ClSS in the presence of GSH (Glutathione) after 72 h. The complex 1H NMR spectra acquired for Pt(II)5ClSS with GSH shows evidence of degradation and environmental effects (∼30 %). The prominence of the 195Pt peak at ∼ -2800 ppm suggests that a significant amount of Pt(II)5ClSS remained in the mixture. Pt(II)5ClSS and Pt(IV)5ClSS have shown exceptional selectivity to cancer cells in comparison to MCs (IC50 > 150 μM). Western blot analysis of Pt(II)5ClSS and Pt(IV)5ClSS on A549 cells revealed significant upregulation of cleaved PARP-1, BAX/Bcl2 ratio, cleaved caspase 3 and cytochrome thus suggesting apoptosis was induced through the intrinsic pathway. Flow cytometry also revealed significant cell death by apoptosis. Treatment with Pt(II)5ClSS and Pt(IV)5ClSS also showed significant amounts of free radical production while the COMET assay showed that both complexes cause minimal DNA damage. Cellular uptake results via ICP-MS suggest a time-dependent active mode of transport for both complexes with Pt(II)5ClSS being transported at a higher rate compared to Pt(IV)5ClSS. A Dose Escalation Study carried out on BALB/c mice showed that Pt(II)5ClSS and Pt(IV)5ClSS were approximately 8- folds and 12.5-folds, respectively, more tolerated than cisplatin. The present study provides evidence that both complexes may have the characteristics of an efficient and potentially safe anti-tumor drug that could support NSCLC treatment
Decoding 22q11.2 : prenatal profiling and first-trimester risk assessment in Danish nationwide cohort
No full textObjectives: To examine the distribution of nuchal translucency thickness (NT), free β-human chorionic gonadotropin (β-hCG) and pregnancy-associated plasma protein-A (PAPP-A) in pregnancies with a fetal 22q11.2 aberration. Furthermore, the performance of combined first-trimester screening (cFTS) and a new risk algorithm targeting 22q11.2 deletions in detecting affected pregnancies was evaluated. Finally, prenatal malformations and pregnancy outcome were assessed. Methods: This was a nationwide registry-based cohort study of all pregnancies that underwent prenatal screening with a due date between January 2008 and December 2018 in Denmark. All cases with a fetal 22q11.2 deletion or duplication (hg19 chr22:18.9mio-25.0mio) diagnosed pre- or postnatally or following pregnancy loss or termination of pregnancy were retrieved from the Danish Cytogenetic Central Register and linked with pregnancy data from the Danish Fetal Medicine Database. Fetal and maternal characteristics, including cFTS results and pregnancy outcome, of pregnancies with any 22q11.2 deletion or duplication (LCR22-A to -H) and pregnancies with a classic deletion or duplication (LCR22-A to -D) diagnosed by chromosomal microarray were compared with those of a chromosomally normal reference group. A risk algorithm was developed for assessing patient-specific risks for classic 22q11.2 deletions based on NT, PAPP-A and β-hCG. Detection rates and false-positive rates at different risk cut-offs were calculated. Results: We included data on 143 pregnancies with a fetal 22q11.2 aberration, of which 97 were deletions (54 classic) and 46 were duplications (32 classic). NT was significantly increased in fetuses with a classic deletion (mean, 1.89 mm), those with any deletion (mean, 1.78 mm) and those with any duplication (mean, 1.86 mm) compared to the reference group (mean, 1.65 mm). β-hCG multiples of the median (MoM) was decreased in all 22q11.2 subgroups compared with the reference group (mean, 1.02) and reached significance in pregnancies with a classic deletion and those with any deletion (mean, 0.77 and 0.71, respectively). PAPP-A MoM was significantly decreased in pregnancies with a classic duplication and those with any duplication (mean, 0.57 and 0.63, respectively), and was significantly increased in pregnancies with a classic deletion and those with any deletion (mean, 1.34 and 1.16, respectively), compared to reference pregnancies (mean, 1.01). The screen-positive rate by cFTS was significantly increased in pregnancies with a classic deletion (13.7%), any deletion (12.5%), a classic duplication (46.9%) or any duplication (37.8%) compared to the reference group (4.5%). A risk algorithm targeting classic 22q11.2 deletions more than doubled the prenatal detection rate of classic 22q11.2 deletions, but with a substantial increase in the false-positive rate. Structural malformations were detected in 41%, 35%, 17% and 25% of the pregnancies with a classic deletion, any deletion, classic duplication or any duplication, respectively. Pregnancy loss occurred in 40% of pregnancies with a classic deletion and 5% of those with a classic duplication diagnosed prenatally or following pregnancy loss. Conclusions: The distribution of cFTS markers in pregnancies with a classic 22q11.2 duplication resembles that of the common trisomies, with decreased levels of PAPP-A. However, classic 22q11.2 deletions are associated with increased levels of PAPP-A, which likely limits early prenatal detection using the current cFTS risk algorithm. The scope for improving early detection of classic 22q11.2 deletions using targeted risk algorithms based on NT, PAPP-A and β-hCG is limited. This demonstrates the capability, but also the limitations, of cFTS markers in detecting atypical chromosomal anomalies, which is important knowledge when designing new prenatal screening programs