Digital Commons Network^™

Managing The Permanent Temporariness Of Prolonged Migration: The Role Of Local And Transnational Care Circulation Among Argentine Temporary Migrants In Australia, Bernardo Dewey, Loretta Baldassar, Farida Fozdar

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

In the past two decades, Australia has shifted from being a settler nation that promoted state-supported permanent migration to one where the scale and relative importance of temporary migration schemes have grown significantly. In 2017, Australia was the second largest issuing country of temporary visa permits after the United States, with temporary migrants applying, on average, for 3.3 temporary visas and spending 6.4 years in this multi-step visa journey to achieve permanent residency. As part of a broader research project on the social implications of temporary migration programs, we examine how Argentine temporary migrants exchange care to navigate temporary visa …

Midwives’ Experiences Of The Consequences Of Navigating Barriers To Maternity Care, Yakubu Ismaila, Sara Bayes, Sadie Geraghty

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Midwives in Low- and middle-income countries, experience myriad barriers that have consequences for them and for maternity care. This article provides insight into the consequences of the barriers that Ghanaian midwives face in their workplaces. Glaserian Grounded Theory methodology using semi-structured interviews and non-participant observations was applied in this study. The study participants comprised of 29 midwives and a pharmacist, a social worker, a health services manager, and a National Insurance Scheme manager in Ghana. Data collection and analysis occurred concurrently while building on already analyzed data. In this study it was identified that barriers to Ghanaian midwives’ ability to …

Optimizing Technical And Economic Aspects Of Off-Grid Hybrid Renewable Systems: A Case Study Of Manoka Island, Cameroon, Reagan J. J. Molu, Serge R. D. Naoussi, Patrice Wira, Wulfran F. Mbasso, Saatong T. Kenfack, Barun K. Das, Enas Ali, Muhannad J. Alshareef, Sherif S. M. Ghoneim

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

The lack of accessible and reliable electrical energy in Cameroon has become a pervasive obstacle to the nation's progress, with energy availability, quality, and cost identified as key hindrances to development over the past 15 years. Conventional solutions that rely on combustion engines and electrochemical storage systems have proven to be cost-prohibitive, limited in power output, and constrained in capacity. The dependence on traditional diesel generators has perpetuated maintenance challenges and a continuous demand for fuel supply, while the accompanying noise and pollution have restricted their use in residential areas. Recognizing the imperative of reducing dependence on fossil fuels and …

Physical Activity And Brain Amyloid Beta: A Longitudinal Analysis Of Cognitively Unimpaired Older Adults, Michael G. Slee, Stephanie R. Rainey-Smith, Victor L. Villemagne, James D. Doecke, Hamid R. Sohrabi, Kevin Taddei, David Ames, Vincent Dore, Paul Maruff, Simon M. Laws, Colin L. Masters, Christopher C. Rowe, Ralph N. Martins, Kirk I. Erickson, Belinda M. Brown

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Introduction: The current study evaluated the relationship between habitual physical activity (PA) levels and brain amyloid beta (A ) over 15 years in a cohort of cognitively unimpaired older adults. Methods: PA and A measures were collected over multiple timepoints from 731 cognitively unimpaired older adults participating in the Australian Imaging, Biomarkers and Lifestyle (AIBL) Study of Aging. Regression modeling examined cross-sectional and longitudinal relationships between PA and brain A . Moderation analyses examined apolipoprotein E (APOE) 4 carriage impact on the PA-A relationship. Results: PA was not associated with brain A at baseline ( = –0.001, p = 0.72) …

Proteomic Exploration Reveals A Metabolic Rerouting Due To Low Oxygen During Controlled Germination Of Malting Barley (Hordeum Vulgare L.), Clare E. O'Lone, Angéla Juhász, Mitchell Nye-Wood, Hugh Dunn, David Moody, Jean-Philippe Ral, Michelle L. Colgrave

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) is used in malt production for brewing applications. Barley malting involves a process of controlled germination that modifies the grain by activating enzymes to solubilize starch and proteins for brewing. Initially, the grain is submerged in water to raise grain moisture, requiring large volumes of water. Achieving grain modification at reduced moisture levels can contribute to the sustainability of malting practices. This study combined proteomics, bioinformatics, and biochemical phenotypic analysis of two malting barley genotypes with observed differences in water uptake and modification efficiency. We sought to reveal the molecular mechanisms at play during controlled germination …

Improved Rate Of Secret Key Generation Using Passive Re-Configurable Intelligent Surfaces For Vehicular Networks, Hina Ayaz, Muhammad Waqas, Ghulam Abbas, Ziaul Haq Abbas, Muhammad Bilal, Kyung-Sup Kwak

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

The reconfigurable intelligent surfaces (RIS) is a new technology that can be utilized to provide security to vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) communications at the physical layer. In this paper, we achieve a higher key generation rate for V2V communications at lower cost and computational complexity. We investigate the use of a passive RIS as a relay, to introduce channel diversity and increase the key generation rate (KGR), accordingly. In this regard, we consider the subsets of consecutive reflecting elements instead of the RIS as a whole in a time slot, i.e., instead of a single reflector, the subsets of reflectors are utilized …

Plant Proteomic Research 5.0: From Data To Insights, Setsuko Komatsu, Michelle L. Colgrave

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Proteomics offers one of the best approaches for the functional analysis of the genome, generating detailed information that can be integrated with that obtained by other classic and omics approaches. It, thus, provides deep knowledge and an understanding of diverse proteoforms and different plant processes. Several different generations of proteomic platforms have appeared in the past 25 years. They have been exploited for describing protein profiles, post-translational modifications, and subcellular localization. Despite recent advancements, more emphasis needs to be given to the protein sample preparation protocols, especially for cases with very low abundance, hydrophobicity, and a large molecular weight. The …

Summary Of Alcohol And Drug Treatment For Aboriginal And Torres Strait Islander Peoples, Australian Indigenous Healthinfonet

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

This summary is based on the Review of alcohol and drug treatment for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. It provides an overview of the available evidence for treatment approaches to help a person reduce or stop substance use. These are treatments for when a person has evidence of either hazardous use or problem alcohol and other drug (AOD) use (see Box 1 for terms used). Some approaches to address substance use are not included in this summary (e.g. for tobacco cessation or volatile substance use). This summary presents information on:

• the available research and other evidence that underpins …

From Real Life To Story – And Back Again: Using Autobiographical Fiction Writing To Understand Self, Others And Family Generations, Alberta N. Adji

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Writing autobiographically includes complicated responsibilities to the subjects involved: to family members, friends, colleagues, and even cultural communities. This article explores creative developments occurring during the process of writing an autobiographical novel called ‘The longing’, which is drawn from a recollection of intergenerational lived experiences of a middle-class Chinese Indonesian family from 1956 to 2018. I reflect on my strategies and approaches on tackling challenges that arose while using autobiographical material and autofictional techniques to write fiction and communicating cultural complexities for it allows agreeable distance between the author and her writing subject. In the article, I also argue that …

A Systematic Review Of Literature On Occupational Health And Safety Interventions For Older Workers, Tim Bentley, Leigh-Ann Onnis, Alexis Vassiley, Ben Farr-Wharton, Carlo Caponecchia, Catherine Andrew, Sharron O’Neill, Abilio De Almeida Neto, Vanessa Huron, Nicola Green

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

As the global population ages there is an imperative to enhance labour participation of older workers in ways that support good physical and psychological health. However, there is limited guidance for organisations on how to do this effectively. This systematic review examined literature identified through four databases and a targeted web-search, yielding 39 PRISMA records (32 scholarly, seven grey literature) reporting workplace interventions aimed at improving the injury outcomes of older workers. The review revealed that organisational and composite interventions may be most effective, although an absence of robust research in this area and a scarcity of empirical evidence-based interventions …

Differential Dna Methylation Of Steatosis And Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease In Adolescence, Phillip E. Melton, M. A. Burton, K. A. Lillycrop, K. M. Godfrey, S. Rauschert, D. Anderson, G. C. Burdge, T. A. Mori, L. J. Beilin, O. T. Ayonrinde, J. M. Craig, John K. Olynyk, J. D. Holbrook, C. E. Pennell, W. H. Oddy, E. K. Moses, L. A. Adams, R. C. Huang

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Background and aims:

Epigenetic modifications are associated with hepatic fat accumulation and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). However, few epigenetic modifications directly implicated in such processes have been identified during adolescence, a critical developmental window where physiological changes could influence future disease trajectory. To investigate the association between DNA methylation and NAFLD in adolescence, we undertook discovery and validation of novel methylation marks, alongside replication of previously reported marks.

Approach and results:

We performed a DNA methylation epigenome-wide association study (EWAS) on DNA from whole blood from 707 Raine Study adolescents phenotyped for steatosis score and NAFLD by ultrasound at …

Exploring The Use Of Photovoice In Understanding The Lived Experience Of Neurological Conditions: A Scoping Review And Reflexive Thematic Analysis, James Smith, Andre Nels, Laura Emery, Mandy Stanley

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

People living with neurological conditions such as multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease and dementia may experience physical impairment, social disengagement, cognitive issues, and emotional disturbances. While qualitative research utilising in-depth interviews can access lived experience perspectives, the use of photovoice has the potential to obtain rich insights that include images and raise community awareness. The purpose of this scoping review was to document salient themes relating to the lived experience of neurological conditions as reported in photovoice studies. Following established scoping review methods of the Joanna Briggs Institute, a comprehensive search of five electronic databases, including MEDLINE, EMBASE, PSYCHINFO, CINAHL, and …

Neuromuscular Fatigue And Muscle Damage Following A Simulated Singles Badminton Match, Zengyuan Lin, Anthony J. Blazevich, Chris R. Abbiss, Jodie Cochrane Wilkie, Kazunori Nosaka

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Purpose:

To understand muscle damage in badminton, changes in neuromuscular function were investigated after simulated badminton singles matches performed by ten state-level male players.

Methods:

Each participant played eight matches and measurements were taken before, immediately after, and 1 and 24 h after each match. Maximal voluntary isometric contraction (MVC) torque of the knee extensors and flexors, voluntary activation (VA) during MVC and torques generated by doublet (T_Doublet), 20 (T₂₀) and 80 Hz (T₈₀) electrical stimulations of the knee extensors were measured from the dominant leg (the racket-hold arm side). Muscle soreness was assessed …

Spore-Forming Clostridium (Clostridioides) Difficile In Wastewater Treatment Plants In Western Australia, Jessica M. Chisholm, Papanin Putsathit, Thomas V. Riley, Su-Chen Lim

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

There is growing evidence that shows Clostridium (Clostridioides) difficile is a pathogen of One Health importance with a complex dissemination pathway involving animals, humans, and the environment. Thus, environmental discharge and agricultural recycling of human and animal waste have been suspected as factors behind the dissemination of Clostridium difficile in the community. Here, the presence of C. difficile in 12 wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) in Western Australia was investigated. Overall, C. difficile was found in 90.5 % (114/126) of raw sewage influent, 48.1 % (50/104) of treated effluent, 40 % (2/5) of reclaimed irrigation water, 100 % (38/38) of untreated …

Improving Accuracy And Efficiency In Seagrass Detection Using State-Of-The-Art Ai Techniques, Md Kislu Noman, Syed M. S. Islam, Jumana Abu-Khalaf, Seyed M. J. Jalali, Paul Lavery

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Seagrasses provide a wide range of ecosystem services in coastal marine environments. Despite their ecological and economic importance, these species are declining because of human impact. This decline has driven the need for monitoring and mapping to estimate the overall health and dynamics of seagrasses in coastal environments, often based on underwater images. However, seagrass detection from underwater digital images is not a trivial task; it requires taxonomic expertise and is time-consuming and expensive. Recently automatic approaches based on deep learning have revolutionised object detection performance in many computer vision applications, and there has been interest in applying this to …

Creativity And Initial Teacher Education: Reflections Of Secondary Visual Arts Teachers In Ghana, Enock Swanzy-Impraim, Julia E. Morris, Geoffrey W. Lummis, Andrew Jones

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

The development of creativity through learning is a significant part of Ghana's pre-tertiary education system framework. Achieving the successful implementation of creativity from policy to practice in schools relies on teachers in the local school system, who are shaped by their past teaching experiences and the training they have received during initial teacher education (ITE). Using interviews and observation data, this case study explored 16 secondary visual arts teachers' experiences and reflections on their training in relation to creativity and its impact on their current practice. Five themes emerged from an inductive analysis: containment, free expression, self-directed learning, replication of …

Exercise Medicine Considerations For Pregnancy-Associated Breast Cancer: Characteristics, Prognosis And Treatment, Brianna Fleay, Favil Singh, Christobel Saunders, Dennis R. Taaffe, Daniel A. Galvao, Robert Newton, Caitlin Fox-Harding

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Breast cancer is the most prevalent cancer in women worldwide and is the most common cancer diagnosis made during pregnancy or in the postpartum period. When breast cancer is diagnosed either during pregnancy or in the first-year postpartum, it is referred to as pregnancy-associated breast cancer. The aim of this review is to assess existing literature regarding the recommendations and outcomes of participating in exercise for people with pregnancy-associated breast cancer. The occurrence of pregnancy-associated breast cancer is increasing as a growing number of women delay first pregnancies. Women undergoing treatment for pregnancy-associated breast cancer are dealing with both cancer …

Artificial Intelligence And Precision Health Through Lenses Of Ethics And Social Determinants Of Health: Protocol For A State-Of-The-Art Literature Review, Sarah Wamala-Andersson, Matt X. Richardson, Sara Landerdahl Stridsberg, Jillian Ryan, Felix Sukums, Yong-Shian Goh

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Background: Precision health is a rapidly developing field, largely driven by the development of artificial intelligence (AI)–related solutions. AI facilitates complex analysis of numerous health data risk assessment, early detection of disease, and initiation of timely preventative health interventions that can be highly tailored to the individual. Despite such promise, ethical concerns arising from the rapid development and use of AI-related technologies have led to development of national and international frameworks to address responsible use of AI. Objective: We aimed to address research gaps and provide new knowledge regarding (1) examples of existing AI applications and what role they play …

Australian Highlevel Public Policy Preparedness For Population-Based Triage During The Pandemic, Zachary Horn, Lily Gapp Duckett, Kaitlin Webber

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

The COVID-19 pandemic brought attention to scarce clinical resource allocation via secondary population-based triage (S-PBT) throughout the international healthcare community. Experiences overseas highlighted the importance of coordinated and consistent approaches to allocating resources when facing overwhelming demand, particularly for critical care. Noting the importance of consistency and the system of devolved governance deployed in Australia, this study aimed to identify and analyse sources of high-level policy that affect Australia’s health system preparedness for the operationalisation of S-PBT. Of the 39 documents reviewed, 17 contained potential references to S-PBT. There was a lack of clear recommendations and guidance to inform S-PBT …

Development Of A Tool To Identify Barriers And Enablers To Practice Innovation In Midwifery: A Participatory Action Research Study, Sara D. Davis, Sara Bayes, Sadie Geraghty

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Introduction: Transferring research evidence into midwifery practice is fraught with challenges and obstacles. Implementation tools can streamline the process and are most effective when they are discipline-specific; however, there are currently no midwifery specific implementation tools. The aim of this study was to develop a midwifery specific tool to identify barriers and enablers to evidence-informed practice change within the clinical setting. Methods: Participatory action research methodology was employed to ensure potential end-users contributed to content and format of the tool. Purposeful sampling ensured participants were selected from a range of midwifery practice settings in Western Australia and the United Kingdom. …

Heterogeneous Microstructure And Mechanical Behaviour Of Al-8.3fe-1.3v-1.8si Alloy Produced By Laser Powder Bed Fusion, S. J. Yu, P. Wang, H. C. Li, R. Setchi, M. W. Wu, Z. Y. Liu, Z. W. Chen, S. Waqar, Lai-Chang Zhang

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

The relationship between processing parameters, microstructure, and mechanical properties of Al-8.3Fe-1.3V-1.8Si alloy processed by laser powder bed fusion is seldom studied. Therefore, fully dense alloys with two parameters were selected to investigate this key issue. The results show that the alloy with low power and scanning speed (S200) shows fan-shell-shaped melt pools and laser tracks while another (S350) shows a deeper and wider melt pool. Both alloys obtain a heterogeneous microstructure without a secondary phase in melt pool (MP) and a nano-sized phase in melt pool boundary (MPB). The difference between solid-solution strengthening and Orowan strengthening in MP and MPB …

Impact Of Particle Flux On The Vertical Distribution And Diversity Of Size-Fractionated Prokaryotic Communities In Two East Antarctic Polynyas, Viena Puigcorbé, Clara Ruiz-González, Pere Masqué, Josep M. Gasol

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Antarctic polynyas are highly productive open water areas surrounded by ice where extensive phytoplankton blooms occur, but little is known about how these surface blooms influence carbon fluxes and prokaryotic communities from deeper waters. By sequencing the 16S rRNA gene, we explored the vertical connectivity of the prokaryotic assemblages associated with particles of three different sizes in two polynyas with different surface productivity, and we linked it to the magnitude of the particle export fluxes measured using thorium-234 (²³⁴Th) as particle tracer. Between the sunlit and the mesopelagic layers (700 m depth), we observed compositional changes in the …

Muscle Strength And Activity In Men And Women Performing Maximal Effort Biceps Curl Exercise On A New Machine That Automates Eccentric Overload And Drop Setting, James L. Nuzzo, Matheus D. Pinto, Kazunori Nosaka

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Purpose:

Connected adaptive resistance exercise (CARE) machines are new equipment purported to adjust resistances within and between repetitions to make eccentric (ECC) overload and drop sets more feasible. Here, we examined muscle strength, endurance, electromyographic activity (EMG), and perceptions of fatigue during unilateral bicep curl exercise with a CARE machine and dumbbells. We also tested for sex differences in muscle fatigability.

Methods:

Twelve men and nine women attempted 25 consecutive coupled maximal ECC – concentric (CON) repetitions (ECCmax – CONmax) on a CARE machine. Participants also completed a CON one repetition maximum (1RM) and repetitions-to-failure tests with 60 and 80 …

Preference For Male Risk Takers Varies With Relationship Context And Health Status But Not Covid Risk, Cyril C. Grueter, Hannah Goodman, Nicolas Fay, Bradley Walker, David Coall

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Risk taking is more commonly shown by males than females and has a signalling function, serving to advertise one’s intrinsic quality to prospective mates. Previous research has established that male risk takers are judged as more attractive for short-term flings than long-term relationships, but the environmental and socioeconomic context surrounding female preferences for male risk takers has been overlooked. Using a survey instrument, we examined female preferences for male risk takers across 1304 females from 47 countries. We found preferences for physical risk takers to be more pronounced in females with a bisexual orientation and females who scored high on …

Raising Primary School Boys' And Girls' Awareness And Interest In Stem-Related Activities, Subjects, And Careers: An Exploratory Case Study, Natalie Mcmaster, Michael David Carey, David Allen Martin, Janet Martin

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Internationally, there is an under-supply of intellectual capital to provide for STEM-related employment. One contributing factor is the low number of female students selecting STEM school subjects and careers. Despite the literature recommending students engage in STEM activities earlier, many initiatives are not implemented until high school. This paper reports on an Australian project named MindSET-do which provided students with early positive STEM experiences prior to high school to raise awareness of, interest in, and aspirations for STEM-related subjects and careers. The case study surveyed n = 107 Year 6 boys’ and girls’ interests, ability beliefs and expectations in STEM …

Social Studies And History Curriculum Assessment In Colleges Of Education In Ghana: Reflective Practices Of Teacher Educators, Bernice Oteng, Ronald Osei Mensah, Pearl Adiza Babah, Enock Swanzy-Impraim

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Assessment is a crucial and essential component of successful instruction and learning. As a result, teachers must examine their actions in the classroom through a process of reflective practices (self-observation and self-evaluation) and think about why they do it and if it works. This essay examines the reflective practices of Ghanaian teacher educators regarding the evaluation of social studies and history curricula. It made use of the sequential explanatory mixed method as a methodology drawn from questionnaires, interviews and document reviews. The findings disclosed that teacher educators in Ghana’s colleges of education have low efficacy and poor reflective practices when …

The Effect Of Regular Consumption Of Reformulated Breads On Glycemic Control: A Systematic Review And Meta-Analysis Of Randomized Clinical Trials, Alena M. Schadow, Ingrid Revheim, Ulrike Spielau, Jutta Dierkes, Lukas Schwingshackl, Jan Frank, Jonathan M. Hodgson, André Moreira-Rosário, Chris J. Seal, Anette E. Buyken, Hanne Rosendahl-Riise

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Bread is a major source of grain-derived carbohydrates worldwide. High intakes of refined grains, low in dietary fiber and high in glycemic index, are linked with increased risk for type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and other chronic diseases. Hence, improvements in the composition of bread could influence population health. This systematic review evaluated the effect of regular consumption of reformulated breads on glycemic control among healthy adults, adults at cardiometabolic risk or with manifest T2DM. A literature search was performed using MEDLINE, Embase, Web of Science and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials. Eligible studies employed a bread intervention …

Transition Of Transnational Social Workers: A Critical Realist Perspective On The Need For A Response From The Profession, Shajimon Peter, Allen Bartley, Liz Beddoe, Lynne Soon-Chean Park, Liyun Wendy Choo

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

This article examines the absence of a profession-wide response for facilitating the transition of transnational social workers (TSWs) into the host country. TSWs work with various racial, ethnic, and cultural groups and often in unfamiliar socio-political, policy and practice contexts. A qualitative study was undertaken in New Zealand, which involved six focus groups, three with managers of TSWs and three with TSWs themselves and a face-to-face semi-structured interview with a manager who was also a TSW. Coding and analysis of data were informed by critical realism (CR). We found that TSWs’ transitions are framed within an employer-employee relationship in the …

Vitamin K1 Intake And Incident Diabetes In The Danish Diet Cancer And Health Study: Supplemental Information, Pratik Pokharel, Jamie W. Bellinge, Frederik Dalgaard, Kevin Murray, Marc Sim, Bu B. Yeap, Emma Connolly, Lauren C. Blekkenhorst, Catherine P. Bondonno, Joshua Lewis, Gunnar Gislason, Anne Tjønneland, Kim Overvad, Jonathan M. Hodgson, Carl Schulz, Nicola P. Bondonno

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

No abstract provided.

Predictive Models For Concrete Cone Capacity Of Cast-In Headed Anchors In Geopolymer Concrete, Trijon Karmokar, Alireza Mohyeddin, Jessey Lee

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

The scope of current state-of-the-art prediction models for concrete cone capacity of cast-in headed anchors is limited to normal concrete. In this study, the difference in the tensile performance of cast-in headed anchors embedded in ambient-temperature cured fly ash-based geopolymer concrete and normal concrete is investigated using both experimental and numerical analysis. The concrete cone capacity obtained for anchors investigated in this study is compared with current prediction models namely: Concrete Capacity Design (CCD) model, which overestimated the results by a maximum of 41%, and Linear Fracture Mechanics (LFM), which underestimated the results by a maximum of 53%. Anchors of …