Oil and grease, nutrient and fecal coliform contents in port dickson coastal waters improved during the year of COVID-19 pandemic

Anthropogenic activities are among major contributors to the deterioration of coastal environmental quality. Reduction of these activities could improve the status. Hence, this study was carried out to investigate temporal variations of water quality parameters of Lukut and Port Dickson coastal waters during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic. Three sampling events were carried out between February to March 2020 (Before COVID-19 pandemic movement control order - MCO), followed by September 2020 and from March to April 2021 (After one year of the first MCO). The parameters monitored were oil and grease (OG), nitrate (NO3-N), ammoniacal nitrogen (NH3-N), unionized ammonia (NH3), phosphate (PO4-P), and fecal coliform (Escherichia coli). The OG content was reduced to more than 99%, followed by ammonia, E. coli, ammoniacal nitrogen, and nitrates which decreased by 94.65%, 91.87%, 83.64%, and 80.58%, respectively, in the third sampling. Phosphate was the only element found to increase at specific sites during the third sampling, and this was expected to be influenced by other water parameters. The improvement of water quality, especially OG, ammonia, ammoniacal nitrogen, nitrates, and E. coli concentrations in the study area, was related to the restrictive human movement associated with the COVID-19 pandemic. © 2023 Author(s).

Lawful Instruction of Using Cali for Higher Secondary Level Students in Pakistan: The Post Covid-19 Context

Post-Covid-19 pandemic situation has created a dire need to use computer in the instructional methodology synchronising with other online resources in the classrooms. The present study was conducted to examine the effects of using computer synchronised by Penzu software as online source for teaching English to the higher secondary school students in Punjab, Pakistan. The study used experimental design and conducted a classroom experiment of 40 higher secondary school students (20 experimental & 20 in control group) through pre/post-tests over different period of time to examine development in students' writing skills. On post-test-I, it was observed that students in the control group showed sudden rise in the development of writing skills compared to experimental group. But, on post-test-II and III, students in the experimental group showed consistency in the development in writing skills while control group could not maintain their consistency of development in writings. Hence, findings of the study revealed that using computer as a tool for instructions and Penzu as online resource to conduct writing activities proved more useful in improving students' writing skills compared to the students in the control group. Finally, findings also revealed that students became more independent in self-corrections in the experimental group and continued to expand their learning outside the classroom while control group was dependent on teacher and could only find time in the classroom for corrective feedback which limited students' learning to their classroom. In addition to this, the study recommends that further computer applications and other online resources can be more useful in language instructions apart from teaching writing skills. Besides, findings of this study have significant theoretical and practical implications pertaining to EFL teachers' professional development, teaching skills and students' learning environment.

A Case Series of Kodamaea Ohmeri Infection: The Hidden Threat Unleashed

Intro: Kodamaea ohmeri, previously known as Pichia ohmeri, is an ascomycetous yeast that has emerged as an important cause of fungemia in immunocompromised patients. During the anamorphic stage this organism is also known as Candida guillermondii var. membranaefaciens. Method(s): We report five cases of Kodamaea ohmeri encountered from multicenter in Malaysia. Antifungal agent of choice will be discussed based on literature review. Finding(s): The cases were: (1) a contaminated peritoneal fluid in an adult patient on peritoneal dialysis;(2) a 60-year-old man with infected diabetic foot isolated K. ohmeri from a bone sample. Both cases discharged well without active antifungal fungal therapy. We observed fatality cases involving (3) an old man with underlying gastric adenocarcinoma who complicated with catheter- related bloodstream infection caused by K. ohmeri;(4) a patient with ventilator- associated pneumonia and septicaemic shock secondary to perforated terminal ileum;(5) and a severely ill COVID-19 stage 5b patient who passed away due to systemic fungaemia caused by K. ohmeri. Discussion(s): All three fatal cases received either amphotericin B or caspofungin as active antifungal agent. Literature evidence has shown that 40% of patient met demise despite on active antifungal agent, suggesting that currently no definitive antifungal agent proven to be a superior treatment option for K. ohmeri infection. Removal of indwelling medical device combined with antifungal therapy has favorable clinical outcome. Conclusion(s): Therefore, K. ohmeri infection in severely ill patients should be considered as a critical condition. Potential of alternative antifungal combinations need to be explored for an effective treatment option.Copyright © 2023

Detection of Leptospira DNA among Post-Mortem Specimens during Covid-19 Pandemic

Intro: Leptospirosis is an emerging zoonosis with a global health concern. In Malaysia, leptospirosis incidence remains significant, since its first gazettement as a compulsorily notifiable disease in 2010. However, the prevalence of this disease among local forensic cases is unknown. Therefore, the present study aimed to determine the frequency of human leptospirosis among post-mortem specimens. Method(s): Archived forensic specimens referred to the Institute for Medical Research (IMR), Malaysia between January 2020 and December 2021 were retrieved. DNA from the specimens were extracted using an automated MagNA Pure 96 instrument and subjected to in-house qPCR targeting LipL32 gene and 16S rRNA gene of the pathogenic group of Leptospira spp. Amplification of RNaseP gene was included as internal amplification control (IAC). Finding(s): A total of 408 forensic specimens from 365 patients were received during the study period. Majority of the specimens were blood (n = 195, 47.8%), followed by tissue (n = 136, 33.3%) and liver (n = 59, 14.5%). Of the tested specimens, 2.2% (n = 9) were positive for leptospiral DNA. These positive specimens belonged to 9 different patients, of which the vast majority were male (n = 8, 88.9%), with an average age of 37.5 years. Conclusion(s): Albeit low detection of leptospiral DNA among forensic specimens in Malaysia, this study highlighted that majority of the positive patients were males of productive age.Copyright © 2023

CLINICAL MEMORY OF COVID-19 PANDEMIC: A COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF CLINICAL AND ANGIOGRAPHIC CHARACTERISTICS OF PATIENTS WITH ACUTE CORONARY SYNDROME

Objectives: To describe the clinical characteristics and angiographic features of COVID-19 patients presenting with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) and to compare with non-COVID-19 ACS patients presenting simultaneously. Methodology: In a case control design, data were extracted from a prospectively collected COVID-19 and NCDR registry. All ACS patients who underwent cardiac catheterization from April 2020 to May 2021 were included. All of the patients were taken to the Cath lab for diagnostic coronary angiography and possible percutaneous intervention. Demographic and clinical characteristics, angiographic features, and in-hospital outcomes were compared between ACS patients with and without COVID-19. Results: A total of 4027 COVID-19 negative patients, and 80 COVID-19 positive were included. Total of 83% in COVID-19 and 88% in non-COVID-19 group had ST elevation myocardial infarction. Majority of the COVID-19 positive patients had sub-optimal TIMI flow grade (<III) post procedure and had a high thrombus burden (11.2% vs. 2.9%;p<0.001). Majority of the patients who had COVID-19 and ACS required mechanical circulatory support (48.8% vs. 0.3%;p<0.001). The mortality rates were also higher in COVID-19 positive group (38.8% vs. 1.3%;p<0.001). Among the COVID-19 positive patients 66.3% (53) had high thrombus burden (≥4 grade), intervention was performed in 73.7% (59). Post-intervention myocardial blush grade ≤2 was observed in 57.6% (34), slow flow in 85.3% (29), and phasic flow possibly due to elevated LVEDP in 41.2% (14) patients. Conclusion: COVID-19 patients with ACS had a higher severity of illness at presentation and worse outcomes as compared to simultaneously presenting non-COVID patients. © 2023 The authors.

Introduction to Islamic Fintech: A Challenge or an Opportunity?

Islamic finance offers an alternative financial system that prohibits the use of interest and other economic exploitations and intends to establish a just and fair economic system. The industry has seen some extraordinary growth, primarily in systemically important Islamic finance countries in the Middle East, North Africa, Southeast Asia, South Asia, and Central Asia. Fintech has evolved fast as a massive change-maker in the financial sector globally, with a focus to deregulate/personalize financial transactions at a lower cost for the customers and stable income for the financial institutions. While COVID-19 has pushed the Fintech agenda quickly forward, the use of Fintech has received momentum since the introduction of mobile payments. Islamic as well as traditional financial institutions are making an increasing amount of investment to offer services that are embedded into mobile applications. While Fintech adoption is a major barrier in countries with larger share of Islamic finance users, there are other challenges, and opportunities, awaiting Islamic financial institutions. This chapter provides a brief introduction to principles of Islamic finance and Fintech, and offers a description of potential benefits and drawbacks that influence Fintech engagement among Islamic financial institutions. © The Editor(s) (if applicable) and The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2022.

A Fintech-Based Zakat Model Using Artificial Intelligence

The COVID-19 pandemic and its associated lockdown have created a mammoth economic cost to the economies around the globe. The policy response to the crisis must be fast, secure, and sustainable. It has also created astonishing solidarity among the people with every element of society irrespective of race, caste, creed, or religion working together to save humanity. To overcome the financial and economic disruption caused by the pandemic, it needs immediate attention from the economists and policymakers. Islamic finance has many financial instruments for helping the poor by alleviating poverty, distributing income fairly, and improving social welfare, they comprise, Zakat, Sadaqat, Awqaf, etc. Zakat is the compulsory contribution from the Muslims to the poor and needy every year. Zakat is the compulsory donation from the rich and able Muslims which must be given to the poor and needy within a year. This immediate benefit of Zakat is well suited to tackle an economic crisis such as the one caused by COVID-19. Islamic finance in combination with the Fintech-based technologies like AI, Blockchain, machine learning, and natural language processing can work wonders in achieving Islamic finance objectives. The present study proposes an AI-based Islamic Fintech model to helping the needy and poor affected due to COVID-19. The model uses AI and NLP-based Fintech model for collection and dissemination of Zakat money to needy, poor, COVID-affected, and vulnerable sections of the society. © The Editor(s) (if applicable) and The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2022.

Fintech and the Art of Disruption

This chapter attempts to provide a comprehensive overview of the ongoing technological disruption in the finance world. There is no denying that technology has already brought disruption of unprecedented scale and type in terms of bringing innovative solutions like never seen before in the financial sector. The disruptive innovation like P2P lending, Crowdfunding, Cryptocurrency, Regtech, Insurtech mobile payment, etc. has changed the way traditional financial institutions used to operate. Against such a backdrop, this chapter attempts to provide an overview of this disruption. The chapter also explores how these innovations have brought changes in the working cultures among financial institutions. The study suggests, based on the analysis of facts and figures that the disruptive technology has brought positive changes in the society in terms of delivering valuable stimulus and financial aid to the vulnerable and affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. The findings of the study further suggest that the Fintech disruption has been a blessing in disguise for the overall growth and development of the finance community. © The Editor(s) (if applicable) and The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2022.

The Future of Finance and Fintech: Visualizing the Opportunities for Fintech in the MENA Region

The study tries to provide visualization of the Fintech ecosystem in the MENA region. The global financial market is undergoing unprecedented change with the COVID-19 pandemic and the evolution of disruptive technology called Fintech. Fintech has completely changed the landscape of the financial sphere across the globe. One of the key outcomes of the MENA region is establishing a friendly, permissible, and governing atmosphere for Fintech startups and matured development proposals through progress-thinking programs. An essential part of this approach is establishing a facilitating environment adept of inviting and encouraging foreign firms contained by their corresponding countries. The study concludes that the information transfer likely to result from this will push the advancement of a lively, regional Fintech ecosystem. Most noticeably, counties like Bahrain and the UAE are initially on in their attempts to build into the Fintech hub in the area. Most of the countries in the MENA region are adopting and considering the outcome of Fintech and putting their efforts to establish a sustainable Fintech ecosystem. The study is expected to help the financial institutions, investors, and regulators in formulating the right strategy in embracing this disruption to get the maximum benefit out of it. © The Editor(s) (if applicable) and The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2022.

Islamic Fintech, Blockchain and Crowdfunding: Current Landscape and Path Forward

The new age Fintech-driven innovative financial services started with the fourth industrial revolution and COVID-19 has stimulated supreme innovation in the global financial services industry. It is the young and millennial population driving these innovations and startups are responding, as there are more than 15, 000 startups and global Fintech-based transaction crossed $6.308 Billion by the year 2020. Islamic finance industry has experienced an unprecedented growth, partly due to incremental investment in Fintech-based financial intermediation. Two most commonly cited high growth areas for Islamic finance lie within blockchain and crowdfunding. This study provides an advanced overview of the Islamic Fintech, blockchain and crowdfunding;their current landscape;and path forward. We discuss opportunities for Islamic financial institutions and a clear roadmap to capitalize on those opportunities. © The Editor(s) (if applicable) and The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2022.

Fintech, Pandemic, and the Islamic Financial System: Innovative Financial Services and Its Shariah Compliance

The present study aims to examine the role of Islamic financial system in the recovery of post-COVID-19 pandemic and possible role to be played by the disruptive innovation called Islamic Fintech. The study takes a discourse analysis route to examine the disruptions created by the pandemic on the overall global Islamic economy. Islamic financial system has long established its credentials as the most resilient and sustainable financial system during the global financial crisis of 2008 and the current pandemic provides another opportunity to reestablish its position in the financial sphere and emerge as the main contender to the conventional financial system. The disruptions created by the pandemic have spared no one and created havoc in every sector of the global economy. Islamic financial system has certain ethical and social financial services such as Zakat, Qardh-Al-Hasan, Awaqaf, sadaqa, and Islamic microfinance with wide-ranging social reach aimed at the poor and vulnerable sections of the society. The study provides an overview of the Fintech-based Islamic financial services that can be used to provide efficient, reliable, cost-effective, and innovative financial services to its customers during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. The findings of the study are expected to help the Islamic financial institutions, governments, regulators, and policymakers efficient use of Fintech in solving the problems created by the pandemic. The study is also expected to contribute to creating a more sustainable and resilient alternative to the conventional financial system. © The Editor(s) (if applicable) and The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2022.

Fintech in the Islamic Banking Sector and Its Impact on the Stakeholders in the Wake of COVID-19

The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has wreaked havoc on the financial system, and it now becomes a new challenge to Islamic banking. This pandemic demands the use of a distinct set of financial services, strategies, and technologies among which is the Islamic Fintech. The main objective of this study is to explore the use of Islamic Fintech in the Islamic banking sector and its impact on the stakeholders in the wake of COVID-19 pandemic. This study shows that Islamic Fintech has performed a critical role in assisting Islamic banks and other Islamic financial institutions to continue operating effectively during this difficult time. Although the impact of the pandemic has been very harsh on the users of Fintech, the financial institutions have benefited due to the wider acceptance rate of the Fintech-based financial services. The study also shows that during the COVID-19 pandemic, everyone has been impacted, including governments, customers, Fintech developers, Fintech startups, and Islamic financial institutions. However, Islamic Fintech has emerged as a critical tool for mitigating the negative impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on the economy and society during and after this difficult time. © The Editor(s) (if applicable) and The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2022.

Prophylactic Inferior Vena Cava Filters for Venous Thromboembolism in Adults With Trauma: An Updated Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Background: Trauma is an independent risk factor for venous thromboembolism (VTE). Due to contraindications or delay in starting pharmacological prophylaxis among trauma patients with a high risk of bleeding, the inferior vena cava (IVC) filter has been utilized as alternative prevention for pulmonary embolism (PE). Albeit, its clinical efficacy has remained uncertain. Therefore, we performed an updated systematic review and meta-analysis on the effectiveness and safety of prophylactic IVC filters in severely injured patients. Methods: Three databases (MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Cochrane) were searched from August 1, 2012, to October 27, 2021. Independent reviewers performed data extraction and quality assessment. Relative risk (RR) at 95% confidence interval (CI) pooled in a randomized meta-analysis. A parallel clinical practice guideline committee assessed the certainty of evidence using the GRADE approach. The outcomes of interest included VTE, PE, deep venous thrombosis, mortality, and IVC filter complications. Results: We included 10 controlled studies (47 140 patients), of which 3 studies (310 patients) were randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and 7 were observational studies (46 830 patients). IVC filters demonstrated no significant reduction in PE and fatal PE (RR, 0.27; 95% CI, 0.06-1.28 and RR, 0.32; 95% CI, 0.01-7.84, respectively) by pooling RCTs with low certainty. However, it demonstrated a significant reduction in the risk of PE and fatal PE (RR, 0.25; 95% CI, 0.12-0.55 and RR, 0.09; 95% CI, 0.011-0.81, respectively) by pooling observational studies with very low certainty. IVC filter did not improve mortality in both RCTs and observational studies (RR, 1.44; 95% CI, 0.86-2.43 and RR, 0.63; 95% CI, 0.3-1.31, respectively). Conclusion: In trauma patients, moderate risk reduction of PE and fatal PE was demonstrated among observational data but not RCTs. The desirable effect is not robust to outweigh the undesirable effects associated with IVC filter complications. Current evidence suggests against routinely using prophylactic IVC filters.

The risk of venous thromboembolism and blood hyperlactatemia is associated with increased mortality among critically ill patients with Covid-19.

INTRODUCTION: Coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) following venous thromboembolism (VTE) and blood hyperlactatemia are associated with higher mortality. However, reliable biomarkers for this association remain to be elucidated. This study investigated the associations of VTE risk and blood hyperlactatemia with mortality among critically ill Covid-19 patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU). METHODS: In this single-centre retrospective study, we included 171 patients aged ≥18 years with confirmed Covid-19 admitted to the ICU at a tertiary healthcare clinic in the Eastern region of Saudi Arabia between 1 March 2020 and 31 January 2021. Patients were divided into two groups: survivor and non-survivor. The survivors have been identified as the patients discharged from the ICU alive. The VTE risk was defined using a Padua prediction score (PPS) >4. The blood lactate concentration (BLC) cut-off value >2 mmol/L was used to determine the blood hyperlactatemia. RESULTS: Multi-factor Cox analysis showed that PPS >4 and BLC >2 mmol/L were more likely to be significantly associated with higher odds of ICU mortality in critically ill Covid-19 patients (hazard ratio [HR] = 2.80, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.00-8.08, p = 0.050; HR = 3.87, 95% CI = 1.12-13.45, p = 0.033, respectively). The Area under the Curve for VTE and blood hyperlactatemia were 0.62 and 0.85, respectively. CONCLUSION: VTE risk and blood hyperlactatemia have been associated with a higher mortality risk in critically ill Covid-19 patients who are hospitalized in the ICU in Saudi Arabia. According to our findings, these people needed more effective VTE prevention strategies based on a personalized assessment of their risk of bleeding. Moreover, persons without diabetes and other groups with a high risk of dying from COVID-19 may be recognized by measuring glucose as having elevated glucose and lactate jointly.

Safe havens in Islamic financial markets: COVID-19 versus GFC

Using a bivariate dynamic conditional correlation (DCC) generalized autoregressive conditional heteroskedasticity (GARCH) model, this study compares the safe-haven properties of various assets against the major Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) stock indexes during two periods of financial turmoil, the COVID-19 pandemic and the 2008 Global Financial Crisis (GFC). Sovereign bonds offered the highest hedging benefits under both crises. The traditional safe assets, gold and silver, which were reasonably productive under the GFC, have been less so during the pandemic. The Japanese yen emerged as a very safe choice for investors holding GCC stock indexes. Both sector indexes and stock indexes failed to safeguard investors most of the time during each crisis.

Russia-Ukraine conflict: 2030 Agenda for SDGs hangs in the balance

Purpose - While the world is yet to fully recuperate from the social and economic repercussions of COVID-19, the Russia-Ukraine conflict poses another major threat causing a humanitarian crisis and economic shock. Although the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and its pledge to "leave no one behind" is a universal commitment to protect the livelihoods of vulnerable groups, the Russia-Ukraine ongoing conflict is causing immense suffering and a gloomy future for the 2030 Agenda. The purpose of this study is to provide a holistic understanding of the ramifications of the Russia-Ukraine war in SDGs progress around the world. Further, the authors shed light on how stakeholders can help engage in support of SDGs in such a challenging time. Design/methodology/approach - This study is qualitative in nature and relies on secondary sources. The motive behind this study is to allow social and economic policy researchers and practitioners to learn from the Russia-Ukraine dispute. The authors conduct a preliminary factual analysis to determine patterns of how the conflict affects the SDGs Agenda. On this basis, the authors propose some recommendations. Findings - While it is still early to measure the full impact of the war on crises worldwide, it is clear that the repercussions will be multi-dimensional. The authors argue that the conflict in Ukraine is severely threatening the achievement of the SDGs. As such, the authors identify patterns of this crisis that have halted progress on SDGs worldwide. Of all SDGs, the authors argue that SDG16 (i.e. peace and justice) is an absolute pre-requisite to sustaining other goals. Further, refugees should be economically empowered, resilient and sustainable food systems need to be put in place and renewable energy transition is required. Research limitations/implications - This study serves as a springboard for future research by identifying patterns of war crises that have halted progress in achieving sustainable development worldwide. Empirical evidence needs to be conducted on the impact of this ongoing conflict on sustainable development and the 2030 Agenda. Practical implications - This study could provide guidance to leaders and stakeholders across the globe on patterns for the impact of the Ukraine Russia conflict on undermining global sustainable development while highlighting the need for major additional efforts to achieve the relevant SDGs. Originality/value - To the best of the authors' knowledge, this study is the first to analyse the threats the Russia-Ukraine dispute presents to the achievement of the 2030 Agenda for SDGs.

Application of big data analytics in the COVID-19 pandemic: Selected problems

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic enabled many governments around the globe to test and apply big data-based tracing technologies and various big data-driven tools to curb and monitor the spread of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) virus. The regular procedures of data and privacy protection were partially sacrificed to fight the pandemic. For the public health safety, all incidents of COVID-19 are considered of being hazardous, uncertain, and sudden. If a government can continuously and efficiently collect big data from various sources and apply suitable and efficient analytical methods, it might instantly respond to the public health threats by executing optimal decisions to slow the spread of the pandemic and for a fast return to normality. A specific framework is presented as a multidimensional recommendation for the efficient utilization of big data analytical technologies to control and prevent pandemics and epidemics. The recommendations and challenges with regard to employing big data for combatting COVID-19 are being discussed along with the background information. © 2023 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.