Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Developing A Tool To Measure 'Magnetism' In Australian Nursing Environments, Joanne T. Joyce-Mccoach, Patrick A. Crookes

Faculty of Health and Behavioural Sciences - Papers (Archive)

The magnet hospital concept, developed in the United States of America (USA) in the early eighties, identified characteristics successful in attracting and retaining nursing staff. The nursing profession in Australia is currently focused on issues of recruitment and retention; therefore it is relevant and timely to consider the significance of the magnet concept to Australian health facilities. The project was undertaken in two stages: one using focus groups to revise the tool for use in Australia; and a second, using a questionnaire to test the reliability, validity and usability, of this revised tool, in a sample of Australian hospitals. The …

An Application Of A Psychometric Personality Type Inventory To Improve Team Development And Performance, Terence J. Froggatt, Nathan J. Bibby

Faculty of Health and Behavioural Sciences - Papers (Archive)

The issue of individual type preferences and how they relate to learning and human resource management are explored. Team learning, knowledge transfer, characteristics of leadership and trust and trusting in the context of team development and performance, are analyzed through the use of the Myers Briggs Type Indicator. The research is conducted with a semi professional Australian Rules football team. The team consists of a culturally diverse group. Predominantly, Australian men between the ages of 18 and 35 years. The men are university educated, trades professionals or blue collar workers, who volunteered to complete the Myers Briggs Type Indicator with …

The Paradoxical Food Buying Behaviour Of Parents: Insights From The Uk And Australia, Gary I. Noble, Sandra C. Jones, Danielle Mcvie, Laura Mcdermott, Martine Stead

Faculty of Health and Behavioural Sciences - Papers (Archive)

AbstractPurpose - This article aims to explore the apparent paradox between the nutritional knowledge ofparents of pre-school children and their actual food purchase and preparation behaviour.Design/methodology/approach - Two separate qualitative data collection exercises wereconducted, an exploratory focus group study in the UK and a projective technique study in Australia.Findings - The UK study found that, despite believing that vegetables were good for children'shealth, mothers also perceived that it was extremely difficult to encourage children to eat them. Theresults of Australian study suggest that the purchase of unhealthy "treats" or "bribes" is explainedthrough the concept of "expediency" whereas what this study …

Non-Advertising Alcohol Promotions In Licensed Premises: Does The Code Of Practice Ensure Responsible Promotion Of Alcohol?, Sandra C. Jones, Melissa Lynch

Faculty of Health and Behavioural Sciences - Papers (Archive)

Introduction and Aims. Binge drinking is a major public health issue in Australia, particularly among young people. There has been a considerable focus on alcohol advertising, among both researchers and policy makers, resulting in efforts to bring about some level of regulation of unacceptable advertising practices. However - despite the existence of a Code of Practice for Responsible Promotion of Liquor Products which provides 'a framework of practices which are considered acceptable and reasonable' for licensed premises - there are few, if any, data on the nature and extent of promotions which could arguably fall under either 'acceptable' or 'unacceptable' …

Physically-Based Retrievals Of Norway Spruce Canopy Variables From Very High Spatial Resolution Hyperspectral Data, Zbynek Malenovsky, Lucie Homolova, Pavel Cudlin, Raul Zurita-Milla, Michael E. Schaepman, Jan G. Clevers, Emmanuel Martin, Jean-Philippe Gastellu-Etchegorry

Faculty of Science, Medicine and Health - Papers: part A

This study was conducted to answer two research questions: (1) what is the spatial variability of the leaf optical properties between 400-1600 nm (hemispherical-directional reflectance, transmittance, absorption) within young Norway spruce crowns, and (2) how to design a suitable physically-based approach retrieving the total chlorophyll content of a complex coniferous canopy from very high spatial resolution (0.4 m) hyperspectral data? It was proved that sun-exposed needles of current age-class statistically differ (alpha-level = 0.01) from rest of the needles in reflectance between 510-760 nm. Last four age-classes of sun-exposed needles were also found to be significantly different from almost all …

How Much Do Kangaroos Of Differing Age And Size Eat Relative To Domestic Stock?: Implications For The Arid Rangelands, Terence Dawson, Adam Munn

Faculty of Science, Medicine and Health - Papers: part A

Over more than a century there has been debate about the interactions of kangaroos and introduced domestic stock, especially sheep, in the semi-arid and arid rangelands. The potential for competition between the species is still controversial, with pastoralists generally assuming that exploitative competition is a continuing feature of the rangelands, with competition by kangaroos leading to reduced stock production and carrying capacity. The current scientific consensus is that in the arid rangelands such competition is not common and occurs largely during dry periods when pasture is sparse. Competition is probably most persistent in more degraded environments. There is still debate …

Conjugated Linoleic Acid Versus High-Oleic Acid Sunflower Oil: Effects On Energy Metabolism, Glucose Tolerance, Blood Lipids, Appetite And Body Composition In Regularly Exercising Individuals, Estelle V. Lambert, Julia H. Goedecke, Kerrie Bluett, Kerry Heggie, Amanda Claassen, Dale E. Rae, Sacha West, Jonathan Dugas, Lara Dugas, Shelly Meltzer, Karen E. Charlton, Inge Mohede

Faculty of Science, Medicine and Health - Papers: part A

The aim of this study was to measure the effects of 12 weeks of conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) supplementation on body composition, RER, RMR, blood lipid profiles, insulin sensitivity and appetite in exercising, normal-weight persons. In this double-blind, randomised, controlled trial, sixty-two non-obese subjects (twenty-five men, thirty-seven women) received either 3.9 g/d CLA or 3.9 g high-oleic acid sunflower oil for 12 weeks. Prior to and after 12 weeks of supplementation, oral glucose tolerance, blood lipid concentrations, body composition (dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry and computerised tomography scans), RMR, resting and exercising RER and appetite were measured. There were no significant effects …

Shell Artefact Production At 32,000-28,000 Bp In Island Southeast Asia: Thinking Across Media?, Katherine Szabo, Adam Brumm, Peter Bellwood

Faculty of Science, Medicine and Health - Papers: part A

The evolution of anatomical and behavioural modernity in Homo sapiens has been one of the key focus areas in both archaeology and palaeoanthropology since their inception. Traditionally, interpretations have drawn mainly on evidence from the many large and well-known sites in Europe, but archaeological research in Africa and the Levant is increasingly altering and elaborating upon our understanding of later human evolution. Despite the presence of a number of important early modern human and other hominin sites in Southeast Asia, evidence from this region has not contributed to the global picture in any significant way. Indeed, the acknowledged simplicity of …

Maintaining Quality Feedback In The Face Of Increasing Student Numbers, Simon B. Bedford

Faculty of Science, Medicine and Health - Papers: part A

This study sought to use new and more effective methods of formative feedback to students within the context of Chemistry teaching in order to facilitate student learning. Emphasis was placed on the use of student directed assessment, and in particular, the use of student self- and peer-assessment. During semester 2 of the 2005-06 academic year, a cohort of some 100 Chemistry students and 33 Natural Sciences students attended a series of problem-based workshops designed to test self- and peer- assessment methods.

Awareness Of Alcohol Advertising Among Children Who Watch Televised Sports, Lyn Phillipson, Sandra C. Jones

Faculty of Health and Behavioural Sciences - Papers (Archive)

Are children being adversely affected by advertising directed at adult consumers? Is it socially responsible to advertise alcohol during programs with a young viewing audience? One potential area requiring consideration is the potential impact of alcohol advertising and promotion during sporting broadcasts on the alcohol beliefs of children in Australia. In this paper, the frequent alcohol advertising during the finals of the One Day Cricket Series broadcast during the summer of 2006 was found to contain features potentially appealing to young children. Qualitative data collected during friendship pair discussions with Grade five and six primary school students found that children …

The Effects Of Different Regulation Systems On Television Food Advertising To Children, Bridget P. Kelly, Lesley King, Adrian Bauman, Ben J. Smith, Victoria M. Flood

Faculty of Health and Behavioural Sciences - Papers (Archive)

Objective: The aim of this study was to model children’s potential exposure to television food advertisements under different regulatory scenarios to demonstrate the policy implications of regulatory change in Australia. Methods: Television advertising data was collected from Sydney commercial television channels from 14-20 May 2006. Extrapolating from these data, the patterns of food advertising under four regulatory scenarios were examined, including arrangements restricting the content, volume and timing of advertisements. Results: Each scenario resulted in a reduction of total and non-core food advertisements. The scenario to restrict non-core food advertisements during the major viewing period (7:00-20:30) led to the largest …

Children's Television Sub-Standards: A Call For Significant Amendments, Bridget P. Kelly, Josephine Chau

Faculty of Health and Behavioural Sciences - Papers (Archive)

Australia has one of the highest levels of food advertising on television in the developed world, with most advertisements being for foods that are high in fat, sugar, and/or salt. Evidence from international reviews suggests that television food advertising has an independent effect on children's food preferences and purchasing requests. While the size of this effect is indeterminate, and the evidence base is correlational and therefore inadequate for making causal inferences, there is a highly plausible link between television food advertising and overweight and obesity. It is important to examine whether current regulations protect Australian children from excessive exposure to …

A Taxonomy For Homework Used By Mental Health Case Managers When Working With Individuals Diagnosed With Severe Mental Illness, Peter Kelly, Frank P. Deane, Robert King, Nikolaos Kazantzis, Trevor P. Crowe

Faculty of Health and Behavioural Sciences - Papers (Archive)

A survey was completed by 122 case managers describing the types of homework assignments commonly used with individuals diagnosed with severe mental illness (SMI). Homework types were categorized using a 12-item homework description taxonomy and in relation to the 22 domains of the Camberwell Assessment of Need (CAN). Case managers predominately reported using behaviourally based homework tasks such as scheduling activities and the development of personal hygiene skills. Homework focused on CAN areas of need in relation to Company, Psychological Distress, Psychotic Symptoms and Daytime Activities. The applications of the taxonomy for both researchers and case managers are discussed.

Depression And Quality Of Life In Cancer Survivors: Is There A Relationship With Physical Activity?, Nancy Humpel, Donald Iverson

Faculty of Health and Behavioural Sciences - Papers (Archive)

Background Evidence is growing on the benefit of physical activity to improve well-being following a cancer diagnosis. This study examined changes in physical activity from pre to post diagnosis and explored this relationship with quality of life and depression. Methods Participants were recruited by posters and by letter of invitation. The questionnaire was completed by 59 prostate and 32 breast cancer survivors. Results Physical activity decreased by 72 minutes per week from pre to post diagnosis, although 20.9% reported having increased activity post diagnosis. Over 30% were considered depressed. Breast cancer participants who increased physical activity post diagnosis reported higher …

Testing The Validity Of The Recovery Assessment Scale Using An Australian Sample, Mandy Mcnaught, Peter Caputi, Lindsay G. Oades, Frank P. Deane

Faculty of Health and Behavioural Sciences - Papers (Archive)

Objective: Mental health services in Australia are increasingly becoming recovery orientated. However, there are varying meanings for recovery and few measures that specifically target recovery outcomes. The current study aimed to assess the construct and concurrent validity of a patient self-report measure, the Recovery Assessment Scale (RAS).

Method: Participants were 168 individuals with severe and persistent psychiatric disability who were participants in the Australian Integrated Mental Health Initiative (AIMhi) project. They completed self-report recovery and other mental health measures and their case workers completed the Health of the Nation Outcome Scales. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses were carried out to …

A Structural Basis For Differential Cell Signalling By Pai-1 And Pai-2 In Breast Cancer Cells, Marie Ranson, David Croucher, Darren Saunders, Gillian E. Stillfried

Faculty of Health and Behavioural Sciences - Papers (Archive)

PAI-1 and PAI-2 (plasminogen-activator inibitor types 1 and 2) are inhibitors of cell surface uPA (urokinase plasminogen activator). However, tumour expression of PAI-1 and PAI-2 correlates with poor compared with good patient prognosis in breast cancer respectively. This biological divergence may be related to additional functional roles of PAI-1. For example, the inhibition of uPA by PAI-1 reveals a cryptic high-affinity site within the PAI-1 moiety for the VLDLr (very-low-density-lipoprotein receptor), which sustains cell signalling events initiated by binding of uPA to its receptor. These interactions and subsequent signalling events promote proliferation of breast cancer cells. Biochemical and structural analyses …

Educational Acculturation And Academic Integrity: Outcomes Of An Intervention Subject For International Post-Graduate Students In Public Health, Julie M. Shaw, Paul J. Moore, Senthilkumar Gandhidasan

Faculty of Health and Behavioural Sciences - Papers (Archive)

This paper discusses a case study of a subject developed and implemented in a post-graduate public health program at the University of Wollongong that aims to foster the development of student academic integrity and related skills as students are introduced to a new educational culture. The subject adopts a formative, task-based approach where written and oral pedagogic tasks focus on various components of a final written assessment task. The subject was collaboratively developed by faculty and learning development staff and, in addition to the subject co-ordinator, its implementation is supported by library and learning development staff, as well as a …

Things Are Looking Up: Differential Decline In Face Recognition Following Pitch And Yaw Rotation, Simone K. Favelle, Stephen A. Palmisano, Ryan T. Maloney

Faculty of Health and Behavioural Sciences - Papers (Archive)

Previous research into the effects of viewpoint change on face recognition has typically dealt with rotations around the heads vertical axis (yaw). Another common, although less studied, source of viewpoint variation in faces is rotation around the heads horizontal pitch axis (pitch). In the current study we used both a sequential matching task and an old/new recognition task to examine the effect of viewpoint change following rotation about both pitch and yaw axes on human face recognition. The results of both tasks showed that recognition performance was better for faces rotated about yaw compared to pitch. Further, recognition performance for …

The Cultural Context Of Youth Suicide In Australia: Unemployment, Identity And Gender, Heidi E. Gilchrist, Glennys Howarth, Gerard Sullivan

Faculty of Health and Behavioural Sciences - Papers (Archive)

This article considers the impact, in terms of life and death choices, of the economicexclusion of young people in Australia, where suicide is the leading cause of deathby injury. In the two decades from 1980 there was a dramatic increase in suiciderates for young males. Research demonstrates a correlation between youth suicideand unemployment but the complex relationship between the two has not been fullyinvestigated. This article explores the perceptions of young people, parents and serviceproviders of the cultural context of suicide and how it comes to be constructed as anoption for young people experiencing economic marginalisation.I n

The Role Of Achievement Goal Orientation In The Development Of Self Efficacy During Computer Training, Anura Rohan Jayasuriya, Peter Caputi, Parri Gregory, Joseph A. Meloche

Faculty of Health and Behavioural Sciences - Papers (Archive)

Computer self-efficacy (CSE) is a key factor that is related to performance in computer training. A study was conducted to understand the effects of achievement goal orientation on computer self efficacy development with 166 trainees using a database application. Results show that trainees with different achievement motivation dispositions have affects on CSE development through different paths. Individuals with high mastery approach and performance approach dispositions have positive effects on pre training CSE. Mastery avoidance disposition increases Computer Anxiety (CA), this is not seen with performance avoidance. Performance approach affects CSE development by increasing effort. The study provides initial evidence for …

Differences In Membrane Acyl Phospholipid Composition Between An Endothermic Mammal And An Ectothermic Reptile Are Not Limited To Any Phospholipid Class, Stephen J. Blanksby, Todd W. Mitchell, Anthony J. Hulbert, Paul Else, K Ekroos

Faculty of Health and Behavioural Sciences - Papers (Archive)

This study examined questions concerning differences in the acyl composition of membrane phospholipids that have been linked to the faster rates of metabolic processes in endotherms versus ectotherms. In liver, kidney, heart and brain of the ectothermic reptile, Trachydosaurus rugosus, and the endothermic mammal, Rattus norvegicus, previous findings of fewer unsaturates but a greater unsaturation index (UI) in membranes of the mammal versus those of the reptile were confirmed. Moreover, the study showed that the distribution of phospholipid head-group classes was similar in the same tissues of the reptile and mammal and that the differences in acyl composition …

Geant4 Physics Processes For Microdosimetry Simulation: Design Foundation And Implementation Of The First Set Of Models, S. Chauvie, Z. Francis, S. Guatelli, S. Incerti, B. Mascialino, P. Moretto, P. Nieminen, Maria G. Pia

Faculty of Health and Behavioural Sciences - Papers (Archive)

New physical processes specific for microdosimetry simulation are under development in the Geant4 Low Energy Electromagnetic package. The first set of models implemented for this purpose cover the interactions of electrons, protons and light ions in liquid water; they address a physics domain relevant to the simulation of radiation effects in biological systems, where water represents an important component. The design developed for effectively handling particle interactions down to a low energy scale and the physics models implemented in the first public release of the software are described.

Interference Control In Children With Ad/Hd: An Erp And Behavioural Analysis, Sarah Opychane, Stuart J. Johnstone

Faculty of Health and Behavioural Sciences - Papers (Archive)

No abstract provided.

Impact Of Foods Enriched With Omega-3 Long Chain Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids On Erythrocyte Omega-3 Levels And Cardiovascular Risk Factors, Karen J. Murphy, Barbara J. Meyer, Trevor A. Mori, Valerie Burke, Jackie Mansour, Craig S. Patch, L. C. Tapsell, Manny Noakes, Peter A. Clifton, Anne Barden, Ian B. Puddey, Lawrence J. Beilin, Peter R. C. Howe

Faculty of Health and Behavioural Sciences - Papers (Archive)

Consumption of fish or fish oils rich in the n-3 long chain PUFA EPA and DHA may improve multiple risk factors for CVD. The objective of this study was to determine whether regular consumption of foods enriched with n-3 long-chain PUFA can improve n-3 long-chain PUFA status (erythrocytes) and cardiovascular health. Overweight volunteers with high levels of triacylglycerols (TG; >1·6 mmol/l) were enrolled in a 6-month dietary intervention trial conducted in Adelaide (n 47) and Perth (n 39), and randomised to consume control foods or n-3-enriched foods to achieve an EPA + DHA intake …

Evidence For Differentiation Of Arousal And Activation In Normal Adults, Mohammad Vaezmousavi, R. J. Barry, Jacqueline Rushby, Adam Clarke

Faculty of Health and Behavioural Sciences - Papers (Archive)

"Arousal" at a particular time has been defined as the energetic stateat that moment, reflected in electrodermal activity and measured by skin conductance level. In contrast, task related "activation" has been defined as the change in arousal from a resting baseline to the task situation. The present study, replicating some aspects of a previous investigation of these ideas in children, aimed to further explore whether the separation of "arousal" and "activation" was useful in describing state effects on the phasic Orienting Response (OR) and behavioral performance. A continuous performance task (CPT) was used with normal adults. It was found that …