Digital Commons Network^™

Urinary Tract Infection And Associated Factors Among Pregnant Women Receiving Antenatal Care At A Primary Health Care Facility In The Northern Region Of Ghana, Ezekiel K. Vicar, Samuel E. K. Acquah, Williams Wallana, Eugene D. Kuugbee, Emmanuel K. Osbutey, Abigail Aidoo, Emmanuel Acheampong, Gloria I. Mensah

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Urinary tract infection (UTI) is frequently encountered during pregnancy and is associated with adverse maternal, fetal, and neonatal effects. However, very little information is available on the prevalence of UTI among pregnant women in the northern part of Ghana, a region with a high birth rate. This study employed a cross-sectional analysis of the prevalence, antimicrobial profile, and risk factors associated with UTI in 560 pregnant women attending primary care for antenatal check-ups. Sociodemographic obstetrical history and personal hygiene information were obtained using a well-structured questionnaire. Afterward, clean catch mid-stream urine samples were collected from all participants and subjected to …

Global Uncertainty And Economic Growth–Evidence From Pandemic Periods, Deepa Bannigidadmath, M. H. A. Ridhwan, Fiskara Indawan

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

This paper investigates whether global uncertainty predicts economic growth rates using a global sample of 136 countries. We use the panel regression model and find strong evidence that global uncertainty negatively predicts the economic growth rate. Further, the negative impact of global uncertainty on economic growth rates is amplified during pandemic periods versus non-pandemic periods. Our main findings hold after a range of robustness tests.

Habitual Dietary Nitrate Intake And Cognition In The Australian Imaging, Biomarkers And Lifestyle Study Of Ageing: A Prospective Cohort Study, Anjana Rajendra, Nicola P. Bondonno, Kevin Murray, Liezhou Zhong, Stephanie Rainey-Smith, Samantha Gardener, Lauren Blekkenhorst, David Ames, Paul Maruff, Ralph Martins, Jonathan M. Hodgson, Catherine P. Bondonno, Australian Imaging, Biomarkers And Lifestyle Group

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Background & aims

Dietary nitrate improves cardiovascular health via a nitric oxide (NO) pathway. NO is key to both cardiovascular and brain health. There is also a strong association between vascular risk factors and brain health. Dietary nitrate intake could therefore be associated with better cognitive function and reduced risk of cognitive decline. This is yet to be investigated. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between habitual intake of dietary nitrate from sources where nitrate is naturally present, and cognitive function, and cognitive decline, in the presence or absence of the apolipoprotein E (APOE) …

Consumer Intention To Use Service Robots: A Cognitive–Affective–Conative Framework, Dan Huang, Qiurong Chen, Songshan (Sam) Huang, Xinyi Liu

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Purpose: Drawing on the cognitive–affective–conative framework, this study aims to develop a model of service robot acceptance in the hospitality sector by incorporating both cognitive evaluations and affective responses.

Design/methodology/approach: A mixed-method approach combining qualitative and quantitative methods was used to develop measurement and test research hypotheses.

Findings: The results show that five cognitive evaluations (i.e. cuteness, coolness, courtesy, utility and autonomy) significantly influence consumers’ positive affect, leading to customer acceptance intention. Four cognitive evaluations (cuteness, interactivity, courtesy and utility) significantly influence consumers’ negative affect, which in turn positively affects consumer acceptance intention.

Practical implications: This study provides significant implications …

Breaking Boundaries And Creating Inclusion-Based Organization Through Critical Performativity And Dialogical Accountability: The Case Of Fc United Manchester, Daniel Torchia, Simone D. Scagnelli, Laura Corazza

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to extend research on boundary making and breaking through alternative football clubs. These entities have borne out of the disappointment caused by the neoliberal turn of the football industry, which excluded traditional fans from being active actors and therefore call for study and generalization of specific forms of alternative accountability. Design/methodology/approach: The study looks at emerging trends in the accounting and sport literature by drawing on two concepts that emerged in critical scholarship: critical performativity and critical dialogical accountability, with the aim of better understanding how these elements are developed and shaped within …

(Tn5-)Fish-Based Imaging In The Era Of 3d/Spatial Genomics, Liheng Yang, Yan Yan, Junlin Li, Cheng Zhou, Jinlan Jin, Tongmei Zhang, Haokaifeng Wu, Xingang Li, Wei Wang, Li Yuan, Xu Zhang, Juntao Gao

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

3D genomics mainly focuses on the 3D position of single genes at the cell level, while spatial genomics focuses more on the tissue level. In this exciting new era of 3D/spatial genomics, half-century old FISH and its derivative methods, including Tn5-FISH, play important roles. In this review, we introduce the Tn5-FISH we developed recently, and present six different applications published by our collaborators and us, based on (Tn5-)FISH, which can be either general BAC clone-based FISH or Tn5-FISH. In these interesting cases, (Tn5-)FISH demonstrated its vigorous ability of targeting sub-chromosomal structures across different diseases and cell lines (leukemia, mESCs (mouse …

A Comprehensive Examination Of The Evidence For Whole Of Diet Patterns In Parkinson's Disease: A Scoping Review, Joanna Rees, Jillian Ryan, Manja Laws, Amanda Devine

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Both motor and non-motor symptoms of Parkinson’s disease (PD), a progressive neurological condition, have broad-ranging impacts on nutritional intake and dietary behaviour. Historically studies focused on individual dietary components, but evidence demonstrating ameliorative outcomes with whole-of-diet patterns such as Mediterranean and Mediterranean-DASH Intervention for Neurodegenerative Delay (MIND) is emerging. These diets provide plenty of antioxidant rich fruits, vegetables, nuts, wholegrains and healthy fats. Paradoxically, the ketogenic diet, high fat and very low carbohydrate, is also proving to be beneficial. Within the PD community, it is well advertised that nutritional intake is associated with disease progression and symptom severity but understandably, …

A Provable Secure And Efficient Authentication Framework For Smart Manufacturing Industry, Muhammad Hammad, Akhtar Badshah, Ghulam Abbas, Hisham Alasmary, Muhammad Waqas, Wasim A. Khan

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Smart manufacturing is transforming the manufacturing industry by enhancing productivity and quality, driving growth in the global economy. The Internet of Things (IoT) has played a crucial role in realizing Industry 4.0, where machines can communicate and interact in real-time. Despite these advancements, security remains a major challenge in developing and deploying smart manufacturing. As cyber-attacks become more prevalent, researchers are making security a top priority. Although IoT and Industrial IoT (IIoT) are used to establish smart industries, these systems remain vulnerable to various types of attacks. To address these security issues, numerous authentication methods have been proposed. However, many …

Ageing Reduces Persistent Inward Current Contribution To Motor Neurone Firing: Potential Mechanisms And The Role Of Exercise, Lucas B. R. Orssatto, Anthony J. Blazevich, Gabriel S. Trajano

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Nervous system deterioration is a primary driver of age-related motor impairment. The motor neurones, which act as the interface between the central nervous system and the muscles, play a crucial role in amplifying excitatory synaptic input to produce the desired motor neuronal firing output. For this, they utilise their ability to generate persistent (long-lasting) depolarising currents that increase cell excitability, and both amplify and prolong the output activity of motor neurones for a given synaptic input. Modulation of these persistent inward currents (PICs) contributes to the motor neurones’ capacities to attain the required firing frequencies and rapidly modulate them to …

An Integrative Review Of Project Portfolio Management Literature: Thematic Findings On Sustainability Mindset, Assessment, And Integration, Masoud Aghajani, Gesa Ruge, Kam Jugdev

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Sustainability integration in project portfolio management helps shape strategic, organizational, and project-based contexts. The authors conducted a structured literature review from 2000 to 2021 and developed a novel integrative framework presenting a holistic view highlighting three substantive research themes: sustainability mindset, sustainability assessment, and sustainability integration in project portfolio processes. Noteworthy progress has been made at the strategic and portfolio levels toward framing a sustainability mindset (definition, values, and principles) and developing frameworks/tools for sustainability assessment and project portfolio selection. However, areas for more research include integrating sustainability into project portfolio processes, reporting, and organizational learning for portfolio improvement.

Case Report: Sex-Specific Characteristics Of Epilepsy Phenotypes Associated With Xp22.31 Deletion: A Case Report And Review, Yi Wu, Dan Wu, Yulong Lan, Shaocong Lan, Duo Li, Zexin Zheng, Hongwu Wang, Lian Ma

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Deletion in the Xp22.31 region is increasingly suggested to be involved in the etiology of epilepsy. Little is known regarding the genomic and clinical delineations of X-linked epilepsy in the Chinese population or the sex-stratified difference in epilepsy characteristics associated with deletions in the Xp22.31 region. In this study, we reported two siblings with a 1.69 Mb maternally inherited microdeletion at Xp22.31 involving the genes VCX3A, HDHD1, STS, VCX, VCX2, and PNPLA4 presenting with easily controlled focal epilepsy and language delay with mild ichthyosis in a Chinese family with a traceable 4-generation history of skin ichthyosis. Both brain magnetic resonance …

Catalytic Pollutant Upgrading To Dual-Asymmetric Mno2@Polymer Nanotubes As Self-Propelled And Controlled Micromotors For H2o2 Decomposition, Yangyang Yang, Kunsheng Hu, Zhong-Shuai Zhu, Yu Yao, Panpan Zhang, Peng Zhou, Pengwei Huo, Xiaoguang Duan, Hongqi Sun, Shaobin Wang

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Industrial and disinfection wastewater typically contains high levels of organic pollutants and residue hydrogen peroxide, which have caused environmental concerns. In this work, dual-asymmetric MnO2@polymer microreactors are synthesized via pollutant polymerization for self-driven and controlled H2O2 decomposition. A hollow and asymmetric MnO2 nanotube is derived from MnO2 nanorods by selective acid etching and then coated by a polymeric layer from an aqueous phenolic pollutant via catalytic peroxymonosulfate (PMS)-induced polymerization. The evolution of particle-like polymers is controlled by solution pH, molar ratios of PMS/phenol, and reaction duration. The polymer-covered MnO2 tubing-structured micromotors presented a controlled motion velocity, due to the reverse …

Challenges To Delivering University Health-Based Work-Integrated Learning To Students With A Disability: A Scoping Review, Tanya Lawlis, Tamieka Mawer, Lesley Andrew, Thomas Bevitt

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Students with disability experience numerous challenges when engaging in Work-Integrated Learning (WIL). Successful WIL requires stakeholder collaboration to provide an equitable and relevant WIL experience. Stakeholder disparity around disclosure, accommodations, poor attitudes, and behaviours result in negative WIL experiences for students with disability. Understanding stakeholder preparedness and capabilities, in particular host organisations, is key to providing equitable WIL opportunities. Searches of five electronic databases (CINAHL, PubMed, Embase/Scopus, A + Education Informit and Web of Science) were conducted. Twenty-one peer-reviewed articles published between 2005 and 2022 were included in the review. Four themes were identified: Disclosure of the disability; University staff …

Covid-19 In Western Australia: ‘The Last Straw’ And Hopes For A ‘New Normal’ For Parents Of Children With Long-Term Conditions, Stephanie Smith, Mary Tallon, James Smith, Lauren Jones, Evalotte Mörelius

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Background: Children with long-term conditions are vulnerable due to the treatments required for their conditions. Since the start of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, Western Australians experienced restrictions that changed daily life activities but were able to return to some of their previous routines due to the restrictions. Aim: The study explored the stress experiences of parents caring for children with long-term conditions during COVID-19 in Western Australia. Design and Participants: The study was codesigned with a parent representative caring for children with long-term conditions to ensure essential questions were targeted. Twelve parents of children with various long-term conditions …

Covid-19 Lessons To Protect Populations Against Future Pandemics By Implementing Pppm Principles In Healthcare, Cuihong Tian, Lois Balmer, Xuerui Tan

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has continued for more than 3 years, placing a huge burden on society worldwide. Although the World Health Organization (WHO) has declared an end to COVID-19 as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC), it is still considered a global threat. Previously, there has been a long debate as to whether the COVID-19 emergency will eventually end or transform into a more common infectious disease from a PHEIC, and how should countries respond to similar pandemics in the future more time-efficiently and cost-effectively. We reviewed the past, middle and current situation of COVID-19 …

Decline Of Seagrass (Posidonia Oceanica) Production Over Two Decades In The Face Of Warming Of The Eastern Mediterranean Sea, Victoria Litsi-Mizan, Pavlos T. Efthymiadis, Vasilis Gerakaris, Oscar Serrano, Manolis Tsapakis, Eugenia T. Apostolaki

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

* The response of Posidonia oceanica meadows to global warming of the Eastern Mediterranean Sea, where the increase in sea surface temperature (SST) is particularly severe, is poorly investigated. * Here, we reconstructed the long-term P. oceanica production in 60 meadows along the Greek Seas over two decades (1997–2018), using lepidochronology. We determined the effect of warming on production by reconstructing the annual and maximum (i.e. August) SST, considering the role of other production drivers related to water quality (i.e. Chla, suspended particulate matter, Secchi depth). * Grand mean (±SE) production across all sites and the study period was 48 …

Editorial: Rock Physics Modeling And Well-Log Practice For Unconventional Reservoirs, Qiaomu Qi, Lidong Dai, Maxim Lebedev, Tobias Müller, Junfang Zhang

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Unconventional resources with commercial interest in the world mainly include heavy oils, shales, coalbed methane and tight gas sands. The production and development of these resources have changed the supply pattern of global energy. Quantitative interpretation of geophysical data in the exploration, well logging and engineering development of the unconventional resources requires a comprehensive understanding of the physical properties of rocks and their relationships. The research of rock physics provides an interdisciplinary treatment of physical properties, whether it is highly related to geological, geophysical and geomechanical methodologies. The development of new rock physics methods is essential when integrating core, well-log, …

Effects Of Submaximal And Supramaximal Accentuated Eccentric Loading On Mass And Function, Sergio Maroto-Izquierdo, Fernando Martín-Rivera, Kazunori Nosaka, Marco Beato, Javier González-Gallego, José A. De Paz

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Introduction: Eccentric-overload (EO) resistance training emerges as an alternative to more optimally prescribe intensity relative to the force generation capabilities of the eccentric muscle contraction. Given the difficulties to individually prescribe absolute eccentric loads relative to each person’s eccentric ability, setting the load relative to the concentric one-repetition maximum (1-RM) is the most used EO training approach. Therefore, we investigated the effects of submaximal and supramaximal (i.e., eccentric loads above 100% of 1-RM) accentuated eccentric training on changes in lean mass, anabolic hormonal responses and muscle function. Methods: Physically active university students (n = 27) were randomly assigned to two …

Gaze Behaviour, Body Image In Women And Online Apparel Shopping, Ross C. Hollett, Peta M. Panaia, Aimee H. Smart

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Online apparel shopping is popular among women, with possible negative body image consequences, particularly when the website imagery is body-focused. We investigated both correlational and experimental effects of online apparel shopping on women's (N = 113) explicitly and implicitly measured self-worth, appearance attitudes and body gaze behaviour. Self-reported online apparel shopping behaviour positively correlated with self-objectification and a tendency to value and compare one's appearance. Following a simulated online shopping activity, women who browsed a body-focused activewear website felt worse about their looks, when compared with women who browsed a non-body-focused casualwear website. The activewear condition also primed lower subsequent …

In The Search For Greener Buildings: The Role Of Green Human Resource Management, Subhadarsini Parida, Christopher Chan, Subramaniam Ananthram, Kerry Brown

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

The environmental performance of green buildings is receiving attention from built environment stakeholders. We introduce the concept of green human resource management (GHRM) to analyze how the performance gap in green buildings can be minimized using a human-focused design perspective. We utilize signaling theory and abilities–motivation–opportunity (AMO) theory to explain the interactions between environmental proactivity, GHRM, pro-environmental behaviors, job performance, and environmental performance. Survey data were collected from 460 employees working in Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED)-certified green buildings in India and analyzed using structural equation modeling (SEM). Findings highlight that GHRM is likely to motivate employees to …

It's Quite Good Fun: A Qualitative Study Of A Singing/Songwriting Programme For People With Parkinson's Disease And Their Spouses, Deborah Hersh, Shi J. Kong, Jessica Smith

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Background: : Group singing for people with Parkinson's disease (PD) is an established intervention not only to improve voice and speech difficulties but also for emotional and social benefit. Less is known about the experiences of group singing on the couple—the person with PD and their spouse or partner together—and studies have not specifically tracked impact through time or in combination with songwriting. Aims: : To understand the impact of group singing/songwriting on couples (participants with PD and their spouses) to unpack whether this broader view might help explain why such interventions are reported as beneficial. Using a trajectory approach, …

Lepidium Meyenii Walp (Maca)-Derived Extracellular Vesicles Ameliorate Depression By Promoting 5-Ht Synthesis Via The Modulation Of Gut–Brain Axis, Rui Hong, Lan Luo, Liang Wang, Zhao-Li Hu, Qi-Rong Yin, Ming Li, Bin Gu, Bin Wang, Tao Zhuang, Xin-Yue Zhang, Yuan Zhou, Wan Wang, Lin-Yan Huang, Bing Gu, Su-Hua Qi

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Depression is a common and debilitating condition for which effective treatments are needed. Lepidium meyenii Walp (Maca) is a plant with potential medicinal effects in treating depression. Recently, there has been growing interest in plant-derived extracellular vesicles (EVs) due to their low toxicity and ability to transport to human cells. Targeting the gut–brain axis, a novel strategy for depression management, may be achieved through the use of Maca-derived EVs (Maca-EVs). In this study, we successfully isolated Maca-EVs using gradient ultracentrifugation and characterized their shape, size, and markers (CD63 and TSG101). The in vivo imaging showed that the Dil-labeled Maca-EVs crossed …

Lipidomic Features Of Honey Bee And Colony Health During Limited Supplementary Feeding, Clara E. Castaños, Mary C. Boyce, Tiffane Bates, A. Harvey Millar, Gavin Flematti, Nathan G. Lawler, Julia Grassl

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Honey bee nutritional health depends on nectar and pollen, which provide the main source of carbohydrates, proteins and lipids to individual bees. During malnutrition, insect metabolism accesses fat body reserves. However, this process in bees and its repercussions at the colony level are poorly understood. Using untargeted lipidomics and gene expression analysis, we examined the effects of different feeding treatments (starvation, sugar feeding and sugar + pollen feeding) on bees and correlated them with colony health indicators. We found that nutritional stress led to an increase in unsaturated triacylglycerols and diacylglycerols, as well as a decrease in free fatty acids …

Mapping The Leap: Differences In Quality Improvement In Relation To Assessment Rating Outcomes, Belinda Davis, Rosemary Dunn, Linda J. Harrison, Manjula Waniganayake, Fay Hadley, Rebecca Andrews, Hui Li, Susan Irvine, Lennie Barblett, Maria Hatzigianni

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Introduction: Australia’s National Quality Standard (NQS) outlines the criteria to assess the quality of early childhood services. A four-point rating scale: (i) Exceeding NQS; (ii) Meeting NQS; (iii) Working Toward NQS; and (iv) Significant Improvement Required is applied to services following a regular assessment and rating process. Settings rated as Working Toward are reassessed within 12 months. Most settings achieved a one-step improvement in this Time 2 reassessment, moving to a Meeting rating but some settings made a two-step improvement, moving to an Exceeding rating. The QIP is a key document used by authorities to assess the quality of a …

Location Of Pathogenic Variants In Psen1 Impacts Progression Of Cognitive, Clinical, And Neurodegenerative Measures In Autosomal-Dominant Alzheimer's Disease, Stephanie A. Schultz, Zahra Shirzadi, Aaron P. Schultz, Lei Liu, Colleen D. Fitzpatrick, Eric Mcdade, Nicolas R. Barthelemy, Alan Renton, Bianca Esposito, Nelly Joseph-Mathurin, Carlos Cruchaga, Charles D. Chen, Alison Goate, Ricardo F. Allegri, Tammie L. S. Benzinger, Sarah Berman, Helena C. Chui, Anne M. Fagan, Martin R. Farlow, Nick C. Fox, Brian A. Gordon, Gregory S. Day, Neill R. Graff-Radford, Jason J. Hassenstab, Bernard J. Hanseeuw, Anna Hofmann, Clifford R. Jack Jr, Mathias Jucker, Celeste M. Karch, Robert A. Koeppe, Jae-Hong Lee, Allan I. Levey, Johannes Levin, Ralph Martins, Hiroshi Mori, John C. Morris, James Noble, Richard J. Perrin, Pedro Rosa-Neto, Stephen P. Salloway, Raquel Sanchez-Valle, Peter R. Schofield, Chengjie Xiong, Keith A. Johnson, Randall J. Bateman, Reisa A. Sperling, Jasmeer P. Chhatwal, Dominantly Inherited Alzheimer Network Investigators

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Although pathogenic variants in PSEN1 leading to autosomal-dominant Alzheimer disease (ADAD) are highly penetrant, substantial interindividual variability in the rates of cognitive decline and biomarker change are observed in ADAD. We hypothesized that this interindividual variability may be associated with the location of the pathogenic variant within PSEN1. PSEN1 pathogenic variant carriers participating in the Dominantly Inherited Alzheimer Network (DIAN) observational study were grouped based on whether the underlying variant affects a transmembrane (TM) or cytoplasmic (CY) protein domain within PSEN1. CY and TM carriers and variant non-carriers (NC) who completed clinical evaluation, multimodal neuroimaging, and lumbar puncture for collection …

Men And Women Differ In Their Interest And Willingness To Participate In Exercise And Sports Science Research, James L. Nuzzo, Robert O. Deaner

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Unequal proportions of male and female participants in exercise research might be attributed, in part, to differences in interest and willingness to participate. We tested if men and women are equally interested and willing to undergo exercise research procedures and if they consider different factors when deciding to participate. Two samples completed an online survey. Sample 1 (129 men, 227 women) responded to advertisements on social media and survey-sharing websites. Sample 2 (155 men, 504 women) was comprised of undergraduate psychology students. In both samples, men were significantly more interested to learn their muscle mass amount, running speed, jump height, …

Modification Of Cellulose Ether With Organic Carbonate For Enhanced Thermal And Rheological Properties: Characterization And Analysis, Ghulam Abbas, Abdul H. Tunio, Khalil R. Memon, Aftab A. Mahesar, Faisal H. Memon, Ghazanfer R. Abbasi

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Reduction in viscosity at higher temperatures is the main limitation of utilizing cellulose ethers in high thermal reservoir conditions for petroleum industry applications. In this study, cellulose ether (hydroxyethyl methyl cellulose (HEMC)) is modified using organic carbonates, i.e., propylene carbonate (PC) and diethyl carbonate (DEC), to overcome the limitation of reduced viscosity at high temperatures. The polymer composites were characterized through various analytical techniques, including Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR), H-NMR, X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscope (SEM), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), -potential measurement, molecular weight determination, and rheology measurements. The experimental results of structural and morphological characterization confirm …

No Time For Silence, Just Repeat After Me: A Three Study Perspective On Teacher And Child Interactions Over Time, Gillian Kirk, Marianne June Knaus, Beverley Adkin

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

This paper examines data from three separate studies on teacher-child interactions for evidence of verbal and non-verbal semiotic resources across different times and contexts. Each study utilised qualitative methodologies, employing observations guided by the Classroom Assessment Scoring System manual and teacher semi-structured interviews. Sociocultural perspectives frame the examination of teacher-child mediations of socially and culturally derived semiotic notions and are used to conceptualise findings. Critical Discourse Analysis highlighted how language and silences in interactions contribute to power structures. The study found that while time and context cannot be causal to change, they do correlate with an increasing focus on literacy …

Performance Analysis Of Two Typical Greenhouse Lettuce Production Systems: Commercial Hydroponic Production And Traditional Soil Cultivation, Lichun Wang, Songrui Ning, Wengang Zheng, Jingyu Guo, Youli Li, Yinkun Li, Xiaoli Chen, Alon Ben-Gal, Xiaoming Wei

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Introduction: Due to the shortage of land and water resource, optimization of systems for production in commercial greenhouses is essential for sustainable vegetable supply. The performance of lettuce productivity and the economic benefit in greenhouses using a soil-based system (SBS) and a hydroponic production system (HPS) were compared in this study. Methods: Experiments were conducted in two identical greenhouses over two growth cycles (G1 and G2). Three treatments of irrigation volumes (S1, S2, and S3) were evaluated for SBS while three treatments of nutrient solution concentration (H1, H2, and H3) were evaluated for HPS; the optimal levels from each system …

Rethinking Adolescent School Nutrition Education Through A Food Systems Lens, Margaret Miller, Donna Barwood, Amanda Devine, Julie Boston, Sandra Smith, Martin Masek

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

BACKGROUND: Obesity-driven nutrition education in schools does not appear to result in healthier adolescent food choices. This study explored food systems as an alternative pedagogical approach to engage students in nutrition education. METHODS: After playing a food systems computer game, 250 13- to 16-year-old students in 5 Western Australian secondary schools, participated in group discussions to distinguish learning and interests in food systems. Discussion records were thematically coded using constant comparative analysis. RESULTS: Students reported crop growth, food production and food waste, healthier food choices, and food systems as knowledge outcomes of game play. They requested additional content on food …