Digital Commons Network^™

Parent And Teacher Perceptions Of Naplan In A Sample Of Independent Schools In Western Australia, Shane Rogers, Lennie Barblett, Ken Robinson

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Stories appear frequently in the Australian media regarding parent and teacher perceptions and attitudes towards the National Assessment Program—Literacy and Numeracy. However, thorough empirical investigations of parent perceptions are sparse. This study presents a survey of 345 parents across Years 3 and 5 from a sample of Independent schools in Western Australia. A representative sample of teachers from these schools were also surveyed in order to compare and contrast parent and teacher perspectives about the transparency and accountability associated with testing, the usefulness of results for helping individual students, and the perceived clarity of communication of results. Findings reveal mixed …

Changes In Knowledge And Attitudes Of Hospital Environmental Services Staff: The Researching Effective Approaches To Cleaning In Hospitals (Reach) Study, Brett Mitchell, Nicole White, Alison Farrington, Michelle Allen, Katie Page, Anne Gardner, Kate Halton, Thomas Riley, Christian Gericke, David Paterson, Nicholas Graves, Lisa Hall

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Background

The Researching Effective Approaches to Cleaning in Hospitals (REACH) study tested a multimodal cleaning intervention in Australian hospitals. This article reports findings from a pre/post questionnaire, embedded into the REACH study, that was administered prior to the implementation of the intervention and at the conclusion of the study.

Methods

A cross-sectional questionnaire, nested within a stepped-wedge trial, was administered. The REACH intervention was a cleaning bundle comprising 5 interdependent components. The questionnaire explored the knowledge, reported practice, attitudes, roles, and perceived organizational support of environmental services staff members in the hospitals participating in the REACH study.

Results

Environmental services …

Theoretical And Empirical Differences Between Diagonal And Full Bekk For Risk Management, David E. Allen, Michael Mcaleer

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

The purpose of the paper is to explore the relative biases in the estimation of the Full BEKK model as compared with the Diagonal BEKK model, which is used as a theoretical and empirical benchmark. Chang and McAleer et al., 2017 show that univariate GARCH is not a special case of multivariate GARCH, specifically, the Full BEKK model, and demonstrate that Full BEKK, which, in practice, is estimated almost exclusively, has no underlying stochastic process, regularity conditions, or asymptotic properties. Diagonal BEKK (DBEKK) does not suffer from these limitations, and hence provides a suitable benchmark. We use simulated financial returns …

Uv Light-Blocking Contact Lenses Protect Against Short-Term Uvb-Induced Limbal Stem Cell Niche Damage And Inflammation, M. Notara, S. Behboudifard, M. A. Kluth, C. Maßlo, C. Ganss, M. H. Frank, B. Schumacher, C. Cursiefen

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

UVB irradiation has been linked to pathogenesis of pterygium, a conjunctival tumor growing onto transparent cornea, the windscreen of the eye. Due to corneal anatomy, ambient UVB irradiation is amplified at the stem cell-containing nasal limbus. The aim of this study was to analyse the effect of a UV-blocking contact lens (UVBCL, senofilcon A, Class 1 UV blocker) on limbal epithelial cells and fibroblasts under UVB irradiation compared to a non-UVB-blocking contact lens. UVBCL prevented UVB-induced DNA damage (as assessed by cyclobutane pyrimidine dimer immunostaining) as well as a decrease in proliferation and scratch wound closure rate of both limbal …

The 12-Year Prevalence And Trends Of Childhood Disabilities In Australia: Findings From The Survey Of Disability, Aging And Carers, Diana Arabiat, Lisa Whitehead, Mohammad Al Jabery

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Aim: This paper contributes to knowledge on the prevalence and nature of disabilities in Australian children over a 12‐year period (2003–2015). Understanding the current state of childhood disability is imperative for predicting future needs for long‐term care and early intervention services for this population.

Methods: We used data on children 0–14 years from the 2003, 2009, 2012, and 2015 survey of Disability, Aging and Carers, which is an ongoing national survey covering both rural and urban areas of all States and Territories of Australia.

Results: Using the test for trends in population, no significant increases were noted in the prevalence …

The Impact Of Coping Strategies On Occupational Stress And Turnover Intentions Among Hotel Employees, Songshan (Sam) Huang, Robert Van Der Veen, Zhenchun Song

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

This study examined the impact of problem solving, social support and avoidance as coping strategies on occupational stress and turnover intentions among hotel employees. Using a sample of 455 employees from seven hotels in Shandong Province, China, the study found that problem solving as a coping strategy predicts lower levels of occupational stress. Both social support and avoidance strategies were found to increase occupational stress instead. Occupational stress was positively correlated with hotel employees’ intentions to leave and the study furthermore clarified the role of occupational stress as an important mediator in the relationship between coping strategies and turnover intentions. …

Netnographic Slog: Creative Elicitation Strategies To Encourage Participation In An Online Community Of Practice For Early Education And Care, Ruth Wallace

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Active, participatory netnography, in contrast to passive netnography, is essential if researchers are to gain rich rewards from the rigorous collection of qualitative data. However, researchers should be aware of the ‘netnographic slog’; “the blood, sweat and tears” associated with eliciting quality data and encouraging active participation in online communities.

This article examines the – Supporting Nutrition for Australian Childcare (SNAC) – online community of practice, established to support healthy eating practices in early childhood education and care settings. To ensure research rigour, Kozinets’ netnographic steps were employed. Garnering member participation in this online community was a slog; most community …

Vegetable Diversity, Injurious Falls, And Fracture Risk In Older Women: A Prospective Cohort Study, Marc Sim, Lauren C. Blekkenhorst, Joshua Lewis, Catherine P. Bondonno, Amanda Devine, Kun Zhu, Richard J. Woodman, Richard L. Price, Jonathan M. Hodgson

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

The importance of vegetable diversity for the risk of falling and fractures is unclear. Our objective was to examine the relationship between vegetable diversity with injurious falling and fractures leading to hospitalization in a prospective cohort of older Australian women (n = 1429, ≥70 years). Vegetable diversity was quantified by assessing the number of different vegetables consumed daily. Vegetable intake (75 g servings/day) was estimated using a validated food frequency questionnaire at baseline (1998). Over 14.5 years, injurious falls (events = 568, 39.7%), and fractures (events = 404, 28.3%) were captured using linked health records. In multivariable-adjusted Cox regression models, …

Weight Loss Strategies In Combat Sports And Concerning Habits In Mixed Martial Arts, Oliver R. Barley, Dale W. Chapman, Chris Abbiss

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Context:

Combat sports are typically divided into weight classes, and body-mass manipulation to reach a weight class is commonplace. Previous research suggests that weight loss practices in mixed martial arts (MMA) may be more extreme than in other combat sports.

Purpose:

To investigate the magnitude of weight loss and the prevalence of weight loss strategies in different combat sports.

Methods:

Competitors (N = 637) from Brazilian jiu-jitsu, boxing, judo, MMA, Muay Thai/kickboxing, taekwondo, and wrestling completed an online questionnaire seeking information regarding their weight loss practices.

Results:

Body-mass manipulation was commonly undertaken by all combat-sport athletes, …

Distributions Of Total And Size-Fractionated Particulate 210po And 210pb Activities Along The North Atlantic Geotraces Ga01 Transect: Geovide Cruise, Yi Tang, Maxi Castrillejo, Montserrat Roca-Marti, Pere Masque´, Nolwenn Lemaitre, Gillian Stewart

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Vertical distributions of total and particulate polonium-210 (²¹⁰Po) and lead-210 (²¹⁰Pb) activities in the water column were measured at 11 stations in the North Atlantic during the GEOTRACES GA01 transect: GEOVIDE cruise in May–June 2014. Total ²¹⁰Po activity was on average 24% lower than ²¹⁰Pb activity in the upper 100m, and it was closer to unity in the mesopelagic (100–1000m). The partitioning coefficients (K_d) along the transect suggest the preferential association of ²¹⁰Po relative to ²¹⁰Pb onto particles. The prominent role of small particles in sorption was confirmed by …

Subcontinental Heat Wave Triggers Terrestrial And Marine, Multi-Taxa Responses, Katinka X. Ruthrof, David D. Breshears, Joseph B. Fontaine, Ray H. Froend, George Matusick, Jatin Kala, Ben P. Miller, Patrick J. Mitchell, Shaun K. Wilson, Mike Van Keulen, Neal J. Enright, Darin J. Law, Thomas Wernberg, Giles E. St. J. Hardy

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Heat waves have profoundly impacted biota globally over the past decade, especially where their ecological impacts are rapid, diverse, and broad-scale. Although usually considered in isolation for either terrestrial or marine ecosystems, heat waves can straddle ecosystems of both types at subcontinental scales, potentially impacting larger areas and taxonomic breadth than previously envisioned. Using climatic and multi-species demographic data collected in Western Australia, we show that a massive heat wave event straddling terrestrial and maritime ecosystems triggered abrupt, synchronous, and multi-trophic ecological disruptions, including mortality, demographic shifts and altered species distributions. Tree die-off and coral bleaching occurred concurrently in response …

Expanding Greenland Seagrass Meadows Contribute New Sediment Carbon Sinks, Núria Marbà, Dorte Krause-Jensen, Pere Masque´, Carlos M. Duarte

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

The loss of natural carbon sinks, such as seagrass meadows, contributes to grenhouse gas emissions and, thus, global warming. Whereas seagrass meadows are declining in temperate and tropical regions, they are expected to expand into the Arctic with future warming. Using paleoreconstruction of carbon burial and sources of organic carbon to shallow coastal sediments of three Greenland seagrass (Zostera marina) meadows of contrasting density and age, we test the hypothesis that Arctic seagrass meadows are expanding along with the associated sediment carbon sinks. We show that sediments accreted before 1900 were highly 13C depleted, indicative of low inputs of seagrass …

Empowering Parents To Encourage Children To Read Beyond The Early Years, Margaret K. Merga, Saiyidi Mat Roni

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Enjoyment of reading books is related to reading proficiency, and fostering students’ enjoyment of reading is imperative to support continued reading engagement. However, not all students understand that reading is important, and not all students are regularly engaged in recreational reading. Children typically read for pleasure less often as they age, leading researchers to seek effective ways that social influences can support them to be lifelong readers beyond the early years. Parents can play an important role in communicating the continued importance of reading and fostering positive attitudes toward reading. However, after independent reading skill acquisition, parents may become a …

The Changes Of Immunoglobulin G N-Glycosylation In Blood Lipids And Dyslipidaemia, Di Liu, Xi Chu, Hao Wang, Jing Dong, Si-Qi Ge, Zhong-Yao Zhao, Hong-Li Peng, Ming Sun, Li-Juan Wu, Man-Shu Song, Xiu-Hua Guo, Qun Meng, You-Xin Wang, Gordan Lauc, Wei Wang

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Background

Alternative N-glycosylation has significant structural and functional consequences on immunoglobulin G (IgG) and can affect immune responses, acting as a switch between pro- and anti-inflammatory IgG functionality. Studies have demonstrated that IgG N-glycosylation is associated with ageing, body mass index, type 2 diabetes and hypertension.

Methods

Herein, we have demonstrated patterns of IgG glycosylation that are associated with blood lipids in a cross-sectional study including 598 Han Chinese aged 20–68 years. The IgG glycome composition was analysed by ultra-performance liquid chromatography.

Results

Blood lipids were positively correlated with glycan peak GP6, whereas they were negatively correlated with …

Experiences Of Australian Men Diagnosed With Advanced Prostate Cancer: A Qualitative Study, Suzanne K. Chambers, Melissa K. Hyde, Kirstyn Laurie, Melissa Legg, Mark Frydenberg, Ian D. Davis, Anthony P. Lowe, Jeff Dunn

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Objective To explore men's lived experience of advanced prostate cancer (PCa) and preferences for support. Design Cross-sectional qualitative study applying open-ended surveys and interviews conducted between June and November 2016. Interviews audio-recorded and transcribed verbatim and analysed from an interpretive phenomenological perspective. Setting Australia, nation-wide. Participants 39 men diagnosed with advanced PCa (metastatic or castration-resistant biochemical progression) were surveyed with 28 men subsequently completing a semistructured in depth telephone interview. Results Thematic analysis of interviews identified two organising themes: lived experience and supportive care. Lived experience included six superordinate themes: regret about late diagnosis and treatment decisions, being discounted in …

Tracing Water Masses With 129i And 236u In The Subpolar North Atlantic Along The Geotraces Ga01 Section, Maxi Castrillijo, Núria Casacuberta, Marcus Christl, Christoph Vockenhuber, Hans A. Synall, Maribel I. García-Ibáñez, Pascale Lherminier, Géraldine Sarthou, Jordi García-Orellana, Pere Masqué

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Pathways and timescales of water mass transport in the subpolar North Atlantic Ocean (SPNA) have been investigated by many studies due to their importance for the meridional overturning circulation and thus for the global ocean. In this sense, observational data on geochemical tracers provide complementary information to improve the current understanding of the circulation in the SPNA. To this end, we present the first simultaneous distribution of artificial 129I and 236U in 14 depth profiles and in surface waters along the GEOVIDE section covering a zonal transect through the SPNA in spring 2014. Our results show that the two tracers …

Predictors Of Noncompliance To Antihypertensive Therapy Among Hypertensive Patients Ghana: Application Of Health Belief Model, Yaa Obirikorang, Christian Obirikorang, Emmanuel Acheampong, Enoch Odame Anto, Daniel Gyamfi, Selorm Philip Segbefia, Michael Opoku Boateng, Dari Pascal Dapilla, Peter Kojo Brenya, Bright Amankwaa, Evans Asamoah Adu, Emmanuel Nsenbah Batu, Adjei Gyimah Akwasi, Beatrice Amoah

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

This study determined noncompliance to antihypertensive therapy (AHT) and its associated factors in a Ghanaian population by using the health belief model (HBM). This descriptive cross-sectional study conducted at Kintampo Municipality in Ghana recruited a total of 678 hypertensive patients. The questionnaire constituted information regarding sociodemographics, a five-Likert type HBM questionnaire, and lifestyle-related factors. The rate of noncompliance to AHT in this study was 58.6%. The mean age (SD) of the participants was 43.5 (±5.2) years and median duration of hypertension was 2 years. Overall, the five HBM constructs explained 31.7% of the variance in noncompliance to AHT with a …

Developing Reflection Through An Eportfolio-Based Learning Environment: Design Principles For Further Implementation, Pauline Roberts

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

This article discusses the implementation of an ePortfolio-based learning environment with Bachelor of Education students. The intention was for the platform to be an agency for the development of reflection. The environment scaffolded reflection through (1) exemplars of good practice, (2) the opportunity for discussions and (3) activities to support the development of reflection. There were issues within the research around the introduction of the platform at the particular stage of the students’ degrees but the environment was successful in the provision of a teaching and learning platform. The findings provided design principles for a model to guide the development …

Muscle Activity-Driven Green-Oriented Random Number Generation Mechanism To Secure Wbsn Wearable Device Communications, Yuanlong Cao, Guanghe Zhang, Fanghua Liu, Ilsun You, Guanglou Zheng, Oluwarotimi W. Samuel, Shixiong Chen

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Wireless body sensor networks (WBSNs) mostly consist of low-cost sensor nodes and implanted devices which generally have extremely limited capability of computations and energy capabilities. Hence, traditional security protocols and privacy enhancing technologies are not applicable to the WBSNs since their computations and cryptographic primitives are normally exceedingly complicated. Nowadays, mobile wearable and wireless muscle-computer interfaces have been integrated with the WBSN sensors for various applications such as rehabilitation, sports, entertainment, and healthcare. In this paper, we propose MGRNG, a novel muscle activity-driven green-oriented random number generation mechanism which uses the human muscle activity as green energy resource to generate …

Major Outcomes Of An Authentic Astronomy Research Experience Professional Development Program: An Analysis Of 8 Years Of Data From A Teacher Research Program, L. M. Rebull, D. A. French, W. Laurence, T. Roberts, M. T. Fitzgerald, V. Gorjian, G. K. Squires

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

The NASA/IPAC Teacher Archive Research Program (NITARP) provides a year-long authentic astronomy research project by partnering a research astronomer with small groups of educators. NITARP has worked with a total of 103 educators since 2005. In this paper, surveys are explored that were obtained from 74 different educators, at up to four waypoints during the course of 13 months, from the class of 2010 through the class of 2017; those surveys reveal how educator participants describe the major changes and outcomes in themselves fostered by NITARP. Three-quarters of the educators self-report some or major changes in their understanding of the …

Evaluating An Analytical Model To Predict Subsurface Lnapl Distributions And Transmissivity From Current And Historic Fluid Levels In Groundwater Wells: Comparing Results To Numerical Simulations, Robert J. Lenhard, Kaveh Sookhak Lari, John L. Rayner, Greg B. Davis

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

A recent analytical model predicts free, entrapped, and residual LNAPL saturations and the LNAPL transmissivity in the subsurface from current and historic fluid levels in groundwater wells. As such, the model accounts for effects of fluid level fluctuations in a well. The model was developed to predict LNAPL specific volumes and transmissivities from current fluid level measurements in wells and either recorded historic fluid level fluctuations in wells or estimates. An assumption is made in the model that the predictions are not dependent on whether the historic highest or lowest fluid level elevations in a well occur first. To test …

An Overview Of Psychology And Law And Forensic Psychology In Australia, Alfred Allan, Anthony D. Cole, Donald M. Thomson, Cate L. Parry

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Psychology’s roots in Australia go back to 1881, but the first documented evidence of psychology-and-law (psycholegal) research and psychologists working in court and correctional settings only emerged in 1949. The activities of psycholegal researchers and psychologists providing services to the correction, investigative and justice systems are not well-documented. Our aim in this paper is to start recording the histories of these people and the development of the psycholegal and forensic psychology fields. We do this primarily by examining publications and conference papers and recording our and other people’s personal recollections. We specifically record psychologists’ interaction with lawyers, their concerns about …

Wnt/B-Catenin Signalling During Liver Metabolism, Chronic Liver Disease And Hepatocarcinogenesis, Gayatri D. Shirolkar, Sara Pasic, Jully Gogoi-Tiwari, Manoj K. Bhat, John K. Olynyk, Dharmarajan Dharmarajan, Janina E.E. Tirnitz-Parker

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Chronic liver diseases (CLDs) are increasing in prevalence and their end-stage complications, namely, cirrhosis, liver failure and hepatocellular carcinoma represent major global challenges. The most common initiators of progressive CLD are viral hepatitis and long-term alcohol abuse as well as steatosis and steatohepatitis. Irrespective of the underlying aetiology, a common feature of CLD is the formation of hepatic ductular reactions, involving the proliferation of liver progenitor cells (LPCs) and their sig­nalling to fibrosis-driving hepatic stellate cells. The Wnt/β-catenin pathway has been found to regulate development, stemness and differentiation, and alterations in its activity have been associated with tumour development. Recent …

Do Same-Demography Mentoring Programmes Make Any Difference To Mentees’ Learning Outcomes? Reflections On The Top Up Programme, Kwadwo Adusei-Asante

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Peer mentoring is considered an effective vehicle for addressing anti-social behaviours and improving students’ academic achievement and retention. Consequently, discussions on the subject have received considerable traction in the education literature in recent times, most of which depicts its usefulness as well as factors that contribute to successful design and implementation. One issue that has not received adequate attention in the peer mentoring literature, which this reflection paper seeks to address, relates to whether demographic attributes such as gender, race and ethnicity influence mentoring outcomes for mentors and mentees. Drawing on the Top Up mentoring programme at Edith Cowan University, …

Educational Partnership In Action: Insights From Western Australia, Kwadwo Adusei-Asante, Daniel Doh, Isaiah Awidi

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Governments and educational institutions are increasingly recognising the importance of collaboration and partnerships with stakeholders in achieving good educational outcomes for students and communities. In Australia, the need for such partnerships influenced the establishment of the Higher Education Participation and Partnerships Program in 2003 to ensure that Australians from low socio-economic status backgrounds who can study at university can access the opportunity. In this paper, we discuss the positive outcomes of a partnership arrangement between Edith Cowan University and the Organisation of African Communities of Western Australia on an educational outreach programme to inspire African communities in Perth to pursue …

Deliberate Communication With Pictures: A Science Fiction?, Stuart Medley

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

There are assumptions about images and how these compare with words, in terms of what is afforded us in communicating with each other. These assumptions have been limited by religion and economic imperatives in the past, and by education systems that grew out of those vested interests. One way to push past these assumptions might be to imagine a world without writing. Some science fiction examples are examined for their feasibility. In addition, the reader is reminded of humanity’s pre-writing past, and that pictures that survived from then are viewed through our present contextual lenses as containing a child-like view …

‘Team Australia?’: Understanding Acculturation From Multiple Perspectives, Justine Dandy, Tehereh Zianian, Carolyn Moylan

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

In this paper we explore mutual acculturation among Australians from Indigenous, majority, immigrant and refugee backgrounds. Our aims were: to develop Berry’s acculturation scales for use in Australia and from multiple perspectives and to explore acculturation expectations and strategies from these multiple perspectives. We conducted in-depth interviews (n = 38) in Perth, Western Australia. We investigated participants’ views, guided by the two dimensions underlying Berry’s model of acculturation: cultural maintenance and intercultural contact, and models of culture learning. We found that participants had different acculturation expectations for different groups, as well as different preferred strategies for themselves, although most …

"I Felt That I Could Be Whatever I Wanted": Pre-Service Drama Teachers' Prior Experiences And Beliefs About Teaching Drama, Christina C. Gray, Robin Pascoe, Peter Wright

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Pre-service drama teachers enter teacher training with established ideas and beliefs about teaching. These beliefs, based on experience, are informed by many hours spent in schools, and the pedagogies – both effective and ineffective – utilised by their teachers. This research explores the influence of some of these prior experiences on pre-service drama teachers’ beliefs about teaching drama, this being important in the way that not only shapes their practicum experiences, but also what will then influence their own teaching of drama. Individual interviews with four pre-service drama teachers revealed the complexity and dynamics of these participants’ lived experience with …

A Comparison Of Displacement And Energetic Variables Between Three Team Sport Gps Devices, Paolo Terziotti, Marc Sim, Ted Polglaze

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

This study compared the outputs of three different commercially-available GPS player-tracking devices for a range of commonly used displacement and energetic variables in activities replicating team sport movements. Professional male soccer players (n = 7), simultaneously wore three GPS devices (Catapult OptimEye S5, GPExe Pro 1, StatSport ViperPod) whilst completing four separate drills, comprising progressively more complex changes in speed and direction. Displacement (distance, speed) and energetic (energy cost, metabolic power, energy expenditure) variables were compared for each device. All three devices tended to under-estimate distance compared to the known value for each drill, with only minor and inconsistent …

A Comprehensive Review Of Fruit And Vegetable Classification Techniques, Khurram Hameed, Douglas Chai, Alexander Rassau

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Recent advancements in computer vision have enabled wide-ranging applications in every field of life. One such application area is fresh produce classification, but the classification of fruit and vegetable has proven to be a complex problem and needs to be further developed. Fruit and vegetable classification presents significant challenges due to interclass similarities and irregular intraclass characteristics. Selection of appropriate data acquisition sensors and feature representation approach is also crucial due to the huge diversity of the field. Fruit and vegetable classification methods have been developed for quality assessment and robotic harvesting but the current state-of-the-art has been developed for …