Prevalence of Vestibular Dysfunction with Presbycusis among Elderly in Malaysia

Objectives: This study aims to determine the prevalence of vestibular dysfunction in the Malaysian elderly and its association with presbycusis, age and other associated risk factors. Methods: A cross-sectional study was undertaken in a tertiary otorhinolaryngology department and the community. Adults aged 60 years and above who attended the ORL CLINIC with or without presbycusis were invited to participate. The main outcome measures, including the Malay Version Vertigo Symptoms Scale, pure tone audiometry and vestibular assessment, were obtained using a Video Head Impulse Test (VHIT). Results: The prevalence of vestibular dysfunction with presbycusis in the study population of 135 participants was 46.7 per cent (95 per cent confidence interval, 24.0 to 36.2 per cent). The median age was 68 years (range, 60–86 years). The A chi-square test of independence showed that there was significant association between Presbycusis and Tinnitus, X2 (1, N = 135) = 97.37, p < .001. A chi-square test of independence was performed to examine the relation between presbycusis and dizziness. The relation between these variables was significant, X2 (2, N = 135) = 28.42, p < .001. A chi-square test of independence showed that there was no significant association between presbycusis and VHIT, X2 (1, N = 135) = .01, p = .938. Conclusion: Vestibular dysfunction is independently associated with ageing and presbycusis. More research investigating the advantages of additional screening for vestibular dysfunction in older presbycusis patients is needed. Key words: Elderly; Presbycusis; Vestibular dysfunction; Video Head Impulse Test (VHIT)

Circular behaviours undertaken by Polish households a preliminary analysis of research results

The main aim of the paper is to analyse and evaluate the possible relation between circular behaviours undertaken by the households and the socio-economic features describing them. The paper presents the results of the author’s research conducted among Polish households on the territory of two voivodeships: Podkarpackie and Małopolskie. In the article, the author presents the concept of circular behaviours (understood as an element of pro-ecological behaviours), as well as the result of the preliminary analysis of the frequency of exhibiting those behaviours in the households. This analysis is based on evidence regarding the possible differences between the households due to their distinct features. To indicate the possible differences the Chi2 Test of Independence was used. Obtained results indicate that some socio-economic features may have an influence on the frequency of conducting circular behaviours. It could be important due to the establishment of supporting activities aiming at increasing the overall level of circularity among households (as an economic sector). This article is the fourth one in the publication series devoted to circular economy and sustainable development matters.

USP: an independence test that improves on Pearson’s chi-squared and the G -test

We present the U -statistic permutation (USP) test of independence in the context of discrete data displayed in a contingency table. Either Pearson’s χ 2 -test of independence, or the G -test, are typically used for this task, but we argue that these tests have serious deficiencies, both in terms of their inability to control the size of the test, and their power properties. By contrast, the USP test is guaranteed to control the size of the test at the nominal level for all sample sizes, has no issues with small (or zero) cell counts, and is able to detect distributions that violate independence in only a minimal way. The test statistic is derived from a U -statistic estimator of a natural population measure of dependence, and we prove that this is the unique minimum variance unbiased estimator of this population quantity. The practical utility of the USP test is demonstrated on both simulated data, where its power can be dramatically greater than those of Pearson’s test, the G -test and Fisher’s exact test, and on real data. The USP test is implemented in the R package USP .

The factors that influence the reestablishment of Podocarpus totara (totara) and Dacrycarpus dacrydioides (kahikatea) in a freshwater New Zealand wetland

<p>Wetlands are productive transitional lands between terrestrial and aquatic systems. They provide social, economic and cultural values, while providing valuable services such as carbon storage, water purification, flood abatement and biodiversity support. While wetlands only cover ~3% of the globe, they contribute up to 40% of these global renewable ecosystem services. Worldwide degradation of wetlands through urbanisation, conversion to agriculture and flood management schemes has resulted in a 50% loss of the worlds original wetlands, with New Zealand being one of the most extreme examples of this with >90% of the original extent of wetlands being lost. Wetlands unique hydrology results in distinct plant zonation and community composition and seedling survival is the primary factor that influences stand structure and community composition. However, restoring degraded wetlands is challenging because the alterations to the hydrology through filling or diverting water will impact the effect of physical, chemical and biotic environmental variables on native plant establishment. The use of facilitation in restoration through successional planting using nurse trees, and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) is common in restoration, however research into the effectiveness of these techniques in wetland systems is lacking. This thesis is comprised of two studies with aims to determine the factors that had the biggest impact on the survival and growth of kahikatea and totara in Wairio wetland and inform future restoration. Wairio wetland has large isolated remnant kahikatea trees, so my first study focused on how these established trees and a connection to fungal hyphae networks influenced the survival and growth of newly planted saplings. One sapling of each species was planted at the dripline of the remnant tree, and another sapling of each species was planted 2 metres from that point. Out of the 16 remnant kahikatea trees used, 8 were ‘disturbance’ plots where saplings were planted in 35μm mesh bags that excluded roots but fungal hyphae could penetrate, in slotted pots which were turned every 3 months. In the 8 remaining ‘undisturbed’ plots, saplings were planted into the ground. I assessed the influence of distance and disturbance on sapling survival and growth using a chi-square test of independence and general linear models. Results showed that kahikatea trees survived better than totara overall. The survival of totara was significantly reliant on a close proximity to the remnant kahikatea, and a connection with mycorrhizal networks. Kahikatea had greater biomass than totara, however they suffered strong conspecific competition with the remnant trees, with kahikatea saplings planted at the dripline having 51.28g greater biomass with regular disturbance of AMF mycelium. Kahikatea trees are light demanding species, and therefore growing under the canopy of a parent tree has a negative impact on kahikatea saplings growth. Knowing that kahikatea and totara trees respond differently to nurse trees and AMF, my second study focused on how nurse effects and AMF association changes with chemical, physical and environmental stressors. The survival and growth of 5-year-old kahikatea and totara trees, with or without a nurse across 10 blocks in Wairio wetland were analysed. At each tree, soil moisture and root available nutrients were measured and soil cores were taken to determine gravimetric soil moisture, reduction-oxidation reaction (redox), pH, soil carbon content and I counted the presence of AMF spores in two size classes. I assessed tree survival and growth against these variables using a chi-squared test of independence and general linear models. The results of this study showed that kahikatea survived better than totara trees in the very wet blocks, where no other species survived. Totara trees survived in the upland sites of the wetland and had better growth than kahikatea trees. Moreover, totara trees grew 24cm taller in the presence of a nurse tree, and were strongly positively associated with spore number. Nurse trees further benefitted totara trees by increasing plant available soil nitrate and potassium by almost double.</p>

The factors that influence the reestablishment of Podocarpus totara (totara) and Dacrycarpus dacrydioides (kahikatea) in a freshwater New Zealand wetland

<p>Wetlands are productive transitional lands between terrestrial and aquatic systems. They provide social, economic and cultural values, while providing valuable services such as carbon storage, water purification, flood abatement and biodiversity support. While wetlands only cover ~3% of the globe, they contribute up to 40% of these global renewable ecosystem services. Worldwide degradation of wetlands through urbanisation, conversion to agriculture and flood management schemes has resulted in a 50% loss of the worlds original wetlands, with New Zealand being one of the most extreme examples of this with >90% of the original extent of wetlands being lost. Wetlands unique hydrology results in distinct plant zonation and community composition and seedling survival is the primary factor that influences stand structure and community composition. However, restoring degraded wetlands is challenging because the alterations to the hydrology through filling or diverting water will impact the effect of physical, chemical and biotic environmental variables on native plant establishment. The use of facilitation in restoration through successional planting using nurse trees, and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) is common in restoration, however research into the effectiveness of these techniques in wetland systems is lacking. This thesis is comprised of two studies with aims to determine the factors that had the biggest impact on the survival and growth of kahikatea and totara in Wairio wetland and inform future restoration. Wairio wetland has large isolated remnant kahikatea trees, so my first study focused on how these established trees and a connection to fungal hyphae networks influenced the survival and growth of newly planted saplings. One sapling of each species was planted at the dripline of the remnant tree, and another sapling of each species was planted 2 metres from that point. Out of the 16 remnant kahikatea trees used, 8 were ‘disturbance’ plots where saplings were planted in 35μm mesh bags that excluded roots but fungal hyphae could penetrate, in slotted pots which were turned every 3 months. In the 8 remaining ‘undisturbed’ plots, saplings were planted into the ground. I assessed the influence of distance and disturbance on sapling survival and growth using a chi-square test of independence and general linear models. Results showed that kahikatea trees survived better than totara overall. The survival of totara was significantly reliant on a close proximity to the remnant kahikatea, and a connection with mycorrhizal networks. Kahikatea had greater biomass than totara, however they suffered strong conspecific competition with the remnant trees, with kahikatea saplings planted at the dripline having 51.28g greater biomass with regular disturbance of AMF mycelium. Kahikatea trees are light demanding species, and therefore growing under the canopy of a parent tree has a negative impact on kahikatea saplings growth. Knowing that kahikatea and totara trees respond differently to nurse trees and AMF, my second study focused on how nurse effects and AMF association changes with chemical, physical and environmental stressors. The survival and growth of 5-year-old kahikatea and totara trees, with or without a nurse across 10 blocks in Wairio wetland were analysed. At each tree, soil moisture and root available nutrients were measured and soil cores were taken to determine gravimetric soil moisture, reduction-oxidation reaction (redox), pH, soil carbon content and I counted the presence of AMF spores in two size classes. I assessed tree survival and growth against these variables using a chi-squared test of independence and general linear models. The results of this study showed that kahikatea survived better than totara trees in the very wet blocks, where no other species survived. Totara trees survived in the upland sites of the wetland and had better growth than kahikatea trees. Moreover, totara trees grew 24cm taller in the presence of a nurse tree, and were strongly positively associated with spore number. Nurse trees further benefitted totara trees by increasing plant available soil nitrate and potassium by almost double.</p>

The Association between Heavy Menstrual Bleeding and Depressive Symptoms in Adolescents

Introduction: Heavy menstrual bleeding (HMB) is a type of abnormal uterine bleeding (AUB) that affects 30% of women of reproductive age and up to 40% of adolescents. Furthermore, 10-40% of adolescents with HMB have an underlying inherited bleeding disorder like von Willebrand disease or platelet dysfunction, requiring management by pediatric hematologists. HMB has been described as more than 80 ml of blood loss during one cycle and clinically, it is defined by several parameters such as the length of each cycle, severity of soaking through pads or tampons, size of clots passed and pictorial blood loss assessment chart (PBAC) score. Studies in adult women show a significant impact of HMB on their psychosocial and financial health. However, little is known about the psychological effects of HMB in adolescent females. In the adolescent population, depression is twice as common in females as it is in males, likely due to a combination of biological and social differences. In this study, we examine the association between heavy menstrual bleeding and depressive symptoms in adolescent girls. Methods: We conducted a retrospective records review of adolescent females aged 10-21 years that were seen as new patients at the Adolescent Medicine and Young Women's Bleeding Disorders clinics at our institution between January 1, 2018 and March 31, 2020. Patients were included in the study if they had started menses, and had a doumented menstrual history as well as a completed Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9), a validated screening tool for depression.Patients with a severe underlying chronic medical disorder (Including but not limited to end stage renal disease, Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis, Systemic Lupus Erythematosis, severe eating disorder, previously diagnosed bipolar disorder or psychotic disorders) were excluded. HMB was determined by either a PBAC score of &gt;100 or the presence of two or more of the following criteria: Menses lasting &gt;7days Soaking through pad or tampon &lt;1hr Soaking through bed clothes or changing pads at night Passing large clots Low ferritin &lt; 15ng/ml (indicative of low iron stores) Anemia with Hemoglobin &lt; 12g/dl not due to any other cause (e.g. dietary, immunosuppression, medication induced) Depression was determined by a PHQ-9 score of 9 or greater. The two variables were dichotomized, and a chi-square test of independence was performed to test the association with a significance level of p &lt; 0.05. Results: A total of 203 records were reviewed after meeting inclusion and exclusion criteria. The mean age was 15.94 years (median 16, mode 16) with a range of 12-20years. 42 girls (20.7%) had a PHQ-9 score of &gt;9 and 52 (25.6%) had HMB. Eighteen of the 42 patients (42.8%) with elevated PHQ-9 score had HMB and 34/52 patients (65.3%) with HMB had an elevated PHQ-9 score. Pearson's chi-square test of independence showed a significant relation between HMB and PHQ-9 score of 9 or more with χ 2 (1, n=203) = 8.2618, p = 0.004. After the application of Yates correction, the result was still significant with χ 2 = 7.1603 and p = 0.007. Discussion and Conclusions: This study shows a significant association in the adolescent population between heavy menstrual bleeding and moderate or severe depression as defined by the presence of a PHQ-9 score of 9 or more. This retrospective analysis does not establish causation, but demonstrates a clinically noteworthy finding that has not been described before. The PHQ-9 is used widely across this population to screen for depression, but it is also important to screen young women aged 10-21years for HMB as a contributing factor to depression followed by timely and appropriate management of both problems. Additionally, it may be worthwhile to evaluate all young women with HMB through additional methods to diagnose depression as this patient population appears to be at higher risk. Future prospective studies are needed to better characterize this association. Disclosures No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

The COVID-19 Pandemic Impact on Away and Home Victories in Soccer and Rugby Union

Objective: To measure the impact of restrictions due to COVID on the proportion of matches won at home, away and draw in professional soccer and rugby union.Materials and Methods: Two samples of professional soccer and rugby union matches were collected from 2012–13 to 2020–21 seasons. For soccer, data involved first and second division matches of the England, Spain, Germany, Italy, France, Belgium, Scotland, Greece, Portugal, and Turkey championships. For rugby union, championships concerned are Premiership Rugby, Celtic League, Top 14, and Pro D2. The proportions of home, away wins and draw were calculated and compared. A chi-square test of independence between years and types of result was realized to identify an overall inhomogeneity.Results: The proportion of away matches won between the 2012–13 and 2020–21 seasons increased significantly from 28.5 ± 1.2% to 32.5 ± 1.5% in soccer and from 38.0 ± 3.6% to 42.8 ± 5.0% in rugby union. In Premiership Rugby championship, the victory percentage at home dropped from 55.8 ± 3.1% when tifosi were present to 45.8 ± 12.8% when they were not.Conclusion: The home advantage was drastically reduced in empty stadiums for several European soccer and rugby union professional championships. It vanished in the Premiership Rugby and Celtic League during the 2020–21 season.

Scientists’ attitudes towards academic entrepreneurship: the results of an empirical study

In recent years, there has been growing pressure on both universities and enterprises to intensify cooperation. The subject of this article here is academic entrepreneurship at the researcher level. The aim is to identify attitudes towards such entrepreneurship and define the diversity of attitudes. Moreover, it has been established how such attitudes towards entrepreneurship differentiate the intention and commitment to start cooperation with industry in reality. Achieving this aim required an empirical study involving primary sources. The study subjects were university researchers working on tourism issues, and a total of 73 participated. Methods from descriptive statistics and the chi-square test of independence were used to analyse the results. According to the study, researchers are much more likely to perceive the benefits than the disadvantages of cooperation, and the benefits perceived most are chances to obtain information and the inspiration to conduct academic and didactic work. The work also found that researchers who see academic entrepreneurship as an opportunity for financial benefit and see cooperation as an opportunity to increase enterprises’ competitive advantage significantly more often declare their intention to engage in it.

The BDS test of independence

In this article, we describe and implement the Brock, Dechert, and Scheinkman (1987, Working paper) test of independence of the elements of a time series.