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Identifying factors influencing trace metal concentrations in urban residential soil using an optimal parameter-based geographical detector model
No full textAustralia's national citizen science program VegeSafe has collected and analysed over 26,000 residential garden soil samples for their trace metal concentrations, enabling a more comprehensive understanding of the factors influencing contamination. Here we analysed spatial data from 8221 soil samples collected from 1828 homes across Greater Sydney, Australia's largest city, using an optimal parameter-based geographical detector (OPGD) model to quantify anthropogenic and natural factors influencing urban residential soil trace metal concentrations. The OPGD model identifies optimal spatial scales and discretization parameters, enhancing spatial stratified heterogeneity analysis. Results demonstrate anthropogenic factors, such as aged/painted home density, road density, and industrial trace metal emissions, primarily contribute to soil concentrations of arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr), copper (Cu), lead (Pb), and zinc (Zn). By contrast, natural factors including soil pH, regolith stability, and soil type dominate soil manganese (Mn) and nickel (Ni) concentrations. Strongest interactive effects typically involve an anthropogenic and a natural factor. Notably, 42.7 % of homes within the study area had at least one soil sample with Pb concentrations exceeding the Australian residential guideline of 300 mg/kg. Locations with potential risk of harm are identified to inform targeted mitigation strategies. Compared to machine learning methods, the OPGD model offers a more reliable and comprehensive assessment of urban residential soil trace metal contamination
The silent struggle of Japan’s ‘young carers’
No full textThe rise of ‘young carers’ — children under 18 who take on adult caregiving roles — in Japan reflects the lingering influence of a patriarchal family system and growing care demands amid an aging population. Insufficient support systems and a lack of self- and public awareness about the issue make it difficult to identify and assist these children. Without stronger measures, young carers face risks to their education, wellbeing and rights, underscoring the urgent need for recognition and comprehensive support
Japan’s senior employment challenge
No full textFaced with an aging population and acute labour shortages, Japan has boosted senior employment through policy. Yet many seniors are working out of financial necessity, not choice. As demographic decline makes longer working lives more common, Japan must ensure that they are voluntary and dignified. Fair wage structures and inclusive employment systems are essential to making extended employment sustainable and equitable
Enhancing IoT Resilience: Machine Learning Techniques for Autonomous Anomaly Detection and Threat Mitigation
No full textThe explosive growth of the Internet of Things (IoT) has had a substantial impact on daily life and businesses, allowing for realtime monitoring and decision-making. However, increased connectivity also brings higher security risks, such as botnet attacks
and the need for stronger user authentication. This research explores how machine learning can enhance Internet of Things security
by identifying abnormal activity, utilizing behavioral biometrics to secure cloud-based dashboards, and detecting botnet threats
early. Researchers tested numerous machine learning methods, including K-Nearest Neighbors (KNN), Decision Trees, Logistic
Regression, and XGBoost on publicly available datasets. The Decision Tree model earned an impressive accuracy rate of 0.73 for
anomaly identification, proving its supremacy in dealing with complex security risks, while the XGBoost model demonstrated
strong performance with a 92% accuracy rate for detecting TCP SYN flood attacks. Research findings show the effectiveness of
these strategies in enhancing the security and reliability of IoT devices. This study provides significant insights into the use of
machine learning to protect IoT devices while also addressing crucial concerns such as power consumption and privacy
Assessing genetic overlap of Alzheimer’s disease with type 2 diabetes
No full textBackground
Whilst numerous studies have explored the relationship between Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and diabetes, there remains significant conflicting evidence as to their relationship. Some studies suggest an increased likelihood of developing AD in individuals with diabetes, especially type 2 diabetes (T2D) and that both diseases share pathological features. In contrast, other studies indicate that T2D is more aligned with vascular cognitive impairment and dementia and associated cerebrovascular/white matter pathology. Moreover, there is evidence showing no significant genetic correlation between the two disorders. Understanding the genetic relationship between these potentially comorbid conditions could offer insights into AD’s poorly understood biological mechanisms. This study used two complementary methods to evaluate the genetic relationship between AD and T2D. We hypothesise that both disorders are, to an extent, genetically correlated.
Method
We performed an extensive analysis of large-scale genome-wide association summary data using the ‘linkage disequilibrium score regression’ analysis (for global correlation) and ‘single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) effect concordance analysis’ (SECA, for genetic overlap) methods. We performed several analyses testing our findings’ potential (partial) replications, using several GWAS data for AD (with and without the APOE region) and T2D.
Result
We found a highly significant positive genome-wide (global) genetic correlation between AD (clinically diagnosed with proxy cases) and all T2D GWAS assessed, with or without the APOE region. We largely replicated the positive and significant results using clinically diagnosed AD GWAS. Utilising SECA, we found robust SNP overlap and strong effect concordance with low permutation p-value and significant Fisher’s exact test—underscoring the strong association between SNP sets (and association in effect direction) for both disorders. Our SECA results were consistently significant irrespective of whether AD or T2D was dataset 1 or dataset 2. We replicated SECA’s results across clinically diagnosed AD and other T2D GWAS data (with or without the APOE region included).
Conclusion
Our analyses reveal a notable genetic correlation and overlap between AD and T2D, indicating shared genetic factors (shared genetic foundation) and biological pathways influencing the risk or susceptibility to both conditions
Inquiry into housing policy and disaster: better coordinating actors, responses and data
No full textAn Investigation into High School Students’ Vocabulary Uptake as a Result of the Interventionist Versus the Non-Interventionist Approach
No full textClinical pharmacology studies of benzathine benzylpenicillin and benzylpenicillin
Get PDFThis thesis investigates the clinical use of benzathine penicillin G (BPG) in rheumatic heart disease and syphilis management, focusing on delivery constraints, safety concerns, and pharmacokinetics. Through qualitative research, systematic review, and population pharmacokinetic modeling, it examines provider apprehensions, logistical challenges, adverse reactions, and maternal pharmacokinetics. Despite BPG’s efficacy and favorable pharmacologic profile, findings underscore the need for optimized formulations, robust supply chains, and enhanced pharmacovigilance to ensure safer, more effective utilization, particularly in resource-limited settings
Volunteering and Essential Service Delivery in Rural Communities: An Investigation into the Sustainability of Volunteer Bushfire Brigades in Western Australia
Get PDFThis thesis examines the effects of economic, environmental, and social changes on the operations and structures of volunteer bushfire brigades in Western Australia. It also explores the perceptions and experiences of stress and fatigue among volunteer bushfire brigade members. Using the findings from multiple case studies, a conceptual framework was developed which incorporates aspects of Institutional Theory and Oppenheimer’s (2008) three elements of volunteering to aide in the understanding of volunteer fire brigades
Solitude to Spending: Conceptualizing the Link between Loneliness, Impulse Buying and Consumer Well-being
Get PDFThe feeling of loneliness is increasing worldwide, and many individuals turn to consumption to cope with or escape from it. Loneliness depletes self-regulatory resources leading to an increase in impulsivity and impulse buying. Impulse buying can be seen as a compensatory consumption helping a lonely consumer fulfil their unmet social needs through consumption. Such compensatory consumption decisions are made impulsively but they may have major implications on consumer well-being. Given the importance of consumer loneliness in the current era, it becomes essential to understand the intrinsic drivers that play a role in inducing impulse buying during times of loneliness. Considering the lack of research in the consumer loneliness domain, the current research employs theoretical underpinnings of self-regulatory failure and compensatory consumption to present a conceptual framework that explains the interplay between loneliness, impulse buying, and consumer well-being. A qualitative study using laddering interviews (n=25) further explores this conceptual model. Data was analyzed using a three-phase process including coding followed by developing a Summary Intersection Matrix and creating the Hierarchical Value Map. Current research contributes to the literature on consumer loneliness, self-regulation, and impulse buying by establishing a conceptual understanding causing consumer well-being-related consequences. Findings align with the presented conceptual understanding, and all five propositions are supported indicating that state loneliness influences an individual to make impulse buying to the underlying theory of selfregulatory failure. Overall, the present research provides new insights into the scarce literature on consumer loneliness and provides managerial and policy implications for mindful marketing that safeguards vulnerable consumers