Digital Commons Network^™

The Fourth Industrial Revolution: The Implications Of Technological Disruption For Australian Vet, Pi-Shen Seet, Janice Jones, John Spoehr, Ann-Louise Hordacre

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Much discussion has occurred about the impact that technological disruption will have on the Australian workforce. A recent paper by the National Centre for Vocational Education Research (NCVER), Skilling for tomorrow (Payton 2017), examines the various ways by which the growth in technological advance is reshaping the labour market, workforce and jobs. Despite uncertainty about the scale and nature of the effect, there is a growing consensus that Australia’s tertiary education system needs to change to meet the requirements of a future labour force focused on innovation and creativity. This research examines the relationship between emerging ─ or disruptive ─ …

A Security Review Of Local Government Using Nist Csf: A Case Study, Ahmed Ibrahim, Craig Valli, Ian Mcateer, Junaid Chaudhry

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Evaluating cyber security risk is a challenging task regardless of an organisation’s nature of business or size, however, an essential activity. This paper uses the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) cyber security framework (CSF) to assess the cyber security posture of a local government organisation in Western Australia. Our approach enabled the quantification of risks for specific NIST CSF core functions and respective categories and allowed making recommendations to address the gaps discovered to attain the desired level of compliance. This has led the organisation to strategically target areas related to their people, processes, and technologies, thus mitigating …

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 …

Socio-Economic Predictors And Distribution Of Tuberculosis Incidence In Beijing, China: A Studyusing A Combination Of Spatial Statistics And Gis Technology, Gehendra Mahara, Kun Yang, Sipeng Chen, Wei Wang, Xiuhua Guo

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Evidence shows that multiple factors, such as socio-economic status and access to health care facilities, affect tuberculosis (TB) incidence. However, there is limited literature available with respect to the correlation between socio-economic/health facility factors and tuberculosis incidence. This study aimed to explore the relationship between TB incidence and socio-economic/health service predictors in the study settings. A retrospective spatial regression analysis was carried out based on new sputum smear-positive pulmonary TB cases in Beijing districts. Global Moran’s I analysis was adopted to detect the spatial dependency followed by spatial regression models (spatial lag model, and spatial error model) along with 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 …

A Survey Of Distributed Certificate Authorities In Manets, Junaid Chaudhry, Kashif Saleem, Paul Haskell-Dowland Dr, Mahdi H. Miraz

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

A Certificate Authority (CA) provides the critical authentication and security services for Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) which are used for the Internet and wired networks. In MANETs (wireless and ad hoc) there is an inability to offer a centralized CA to provide these security services. Recent research has looked to facilitate the use of CAs within MANETs through the use of a Distributed Certificate Authority (DCA) for wireless and ad hoc networks. This paper presents a number of different types of DCA protocols and categorizes them into groups based on their factors and specifications. The paper concludes by proposing the …

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 …

Hepatic Iron Concentration Correlates With Insulin Sensitivity In Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease, Laurence Britton, Kim Bridle, Janske Reiling, Nishreen Santrampurwala, Leesa Wockner, Helena Ching, Katherine Stuart, V. Nathan Subramaniam, Gary Jeffrey, Tim St. Pierre, Michael House, Joel Gummer, Robert Trengove, John K. Olynyk, Darrell Crawford, Leon Adams

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Rodent and cell‐culture models support a role for iron‐related adipokine dysregulation and insulin resistance in the pathogenesis of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD); however, substantial human data are lacking. We examined the relationship between measures of iron status, adipokines, and insulin resistance in patients with NAFLD in the presence and absence of venesection. This study forms part of the Impact of Iron on Insulin Resistance and Liver Histology in Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis (IIRON2) study, a prospective randomized controlled trial of venesection for adults with NAFLD. Paired serum samples at baseline and 6 months (end of treatment) in controls (n = 28) …

Impact Of Positive Education Psychology On The First-Year Student Experience, Anna Golab, Denise Gengatharen, Ferry Jie, Reza Kiani Mavi, Catherine Moore, Magdalena Korecki

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Positive Psychological Interventions (Positive Education) uses a multidimensional approach that includes fostering beliefs and developing a growth mindset to reduce anxiety and psychological distress and improve well-being. Positive education has been shown to improve secondary students’ engagement, well-being and self-efficacy, impacting achievement. Seligman’s (2011) PERMA framework with its elements of positive emotions, engagement, relationship, meaning and accomplishment has been successfully used to assess positive education strategies in schools. However, the model has not been tested at the tertiary level. We used the PERMA model framework to create a survey that was suitable for the tertiary level and implemented positive education …

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 …

Print Versus Digital Preferences Of University Students In Australia, Nicole Johnston, A.M. Salaz

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

This paper presents findings of a survey that investigated the reading preferences of university students at Edith Cowan University (ECU) in Perth, Australia. This survey is being undertaken as part of the Academic Reading Format International Study (ARFIS), which is investigating print versus digital reading preferences in 31 countries. A total of 582 students completed the survey. Results from the survey indicate a strong preference for reading in print because of issues such as eyestrain, tactile features, better focus, and ability to highlight and take notes. Issues such as cost, usability and accessibility also impacted on students’ reading decisions.

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 …

Impact Of Feature Proportion On Matching Performance Of Multi-Biometric Systems, Wencheng Yang, Song Wang, Guanglou Zheng, Craig Valli

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Biometrics as a tool for information security has been used in various applications. Feature-level fusion is widely used in the design of multi-biometric systems due to its advantages in increasing recognition accuracy and security. However, most existing multi-biometric systems that use feature-level fusion assign each biometric trait an equal proportion when combining features from multiple sources. For example, multi-biometric systems with two biometric traits commonly adopt a 50–50 feature proportion setting, which means that fused feature data contains half elements from each biometric modality. In this paper, we investigate the impact of feature proportion on the matching performance of multi-biometric …

Understanding The Structure And Processes Of Primary Health Care For Young Indigenous Children, Natalie Strobel, Kimberley Mcauley, Veronica Matthews, Alice Richardson, Jason Agostino, Ross Bailie, Karen Edmond, Dan Mcaullay

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

INTRODUCTION: Primary health care organisations need to continuously reform to more effectively address current health challenges, particularly for vulnerable populations. There is growing evidence that optimal health service structures are essential for producing positive outcomes.

AIM: To determine if there is an association between process of care indicators (PoCIs) for important young indigenous child health and social issues and: (i) primary health-care service and child characteristics; and (ii) organisational health service structures.

METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study of 1554 clinical child health audits and associated system assessments from 74 primary care services from 2012 to 2014. Composite PoCIs were …

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 …

Muslim And Non-Muslim Perceptions On Halal Meat Logistics (Hml), I. Masudin, F. W. Fernanda, Ferry Jie, H. Djajadikerta, Widayat

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

The study explores customer preferences of willingness to pay halal meat products based on logistics activities for Indonesian consumers in muslim and non-muslim areas. Two different Indonesian places were chosen to explore and compare the difference preferences about halal meat products. This paper investigates the factors influencing muslim consumers to pay halal meat products especially in term of logistics activity factors. The respondents of East Java and Bali provinces are collected to be compared to explore consumers' preferences in purchasing halal meat products in term logistics activities. Statistics descriptive is used to answer the research question using Cut off Point …

Issues And Mitigations Of Wind Energy Penetrated Network: Australian Network Case Study, Asma Aziz, Aman M. Than Oo, Alex Stojcevski

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Longest geographically connected Australian power system is undergoing an unprecedented transition, under the effect of increased integration of renewable energy systems. This change in generation mix has implications for the whole interconnected system designs, its operational strategies and the regulatory framework. Frequency control policies about real-time balancing of demand and supply is one of the prominent and priority operational challenge requiring urgent attention. This paper reviews the Australian electricity market structure in presence of wind energy and its governance. Various issues related to increased wind generation systems integration are discussed in detail. Currently applied mitigations along with prospective mitigation methods …

Teaching About Prejudice With A Bogardus Social Distance Scale Activity: Replication And Extension, Trent W. Maurer, Cassidy Keim

Human Ecology: Faculty Publications

This study presents a three-year replication and extension of Maurer’s (2013) evaluation of a classroom activity to reduce prejudice and discrimination. Students in six sections of an introductory family science course were assigned to one of three conditions and one of two target marginalized groups for a 3x2 design. Results differed significantly from those reported by Maurer (2013), and suggested that all three methods tested were equally effective in reducing prejudice and discrimination and that such changes were lasting. Additionally, a student participant served as a co-inquirer on this project, and her reflections on the process are included.

Enhancing Lithium Leaching By Mechanical Activation, Nader Setoudeh, Ataollah Nosrati, Nicholas J. Welham

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

The lithium (Li) bearing minerals lepidolite and spodumene were mixed with different mass ratios of Na2SO4 and mechanically activated by milling in a planetary ball mill for 5 h. The milled samples were studied using thermogravimetry under an air atmosphere up to 950 ºC. Isothermal heating of the milled samples was undertaken in a furnace at temperatures of 700 ºC and 800 ºC for 1 h. Hot water leaching of the calcines indicated that increasing the calcination temperature had a significant effect on the dissolution of lithium. The leaching of lithium from lepidolite was notably higher than that from spodumene.

Terrestrial Lidar Raw Dataset For: Stemflow Dynamics In Relation To Individual Tree Canopy Structure, Neighborhood Conditions, And Meteorological Factors, Sandra A. Yankine, John T. Van Stan Ii, Jean-Francois Cote, Anke Hildebrandt, Dylan C. Mesta, Gustavo O. Maldonado, Jan Friesen

Datasets

These are raw 3-D (x,y,z) point files of a forest plot. Scans were collected at Herty Pines in Statesboro, Georgia, USA. Scans were collected using a Leica ScanStation C-10. Files were co-registered using Leica Cyclone II. Although file extension is ".pts" these are in ASCII format.

A Multicultural Education Praxis: Integrating Past And Present, Living Theories, And Practice, Peggy A. Shannon-Baker

Curriculum, Foundations & Reading: Faculty Publications

In our current climate of heightened conservatism and criticism, multicultural education is as important as ever. This article argues for the need to reframe multicultural education as a praxis based on its social justice- oriented principles, values, and practices. Using practitioner action research, I examine my implementation of such a praxis in a college course. I discuss critical reflections on demonstrating the interconnections between current and historical social movements, theory and lived experiences, and the students’ and my learning. I conclude by arguing that reframing multicultural education as a praxis could encourage more coalitions within and beyond schools.

Minimally Actuated Walking: Identifying Core Challenges To Economical Legged Locomotion Reveals Novel Solutions, Ryan T. Schroeder, John Ea Bertram

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Terrestrial organisms adept at locomotion employ strut-like legs for economical and robust movement across the substrate. Although it is relatively easy to observe and analyze details of the solutions these organic systems have arrived at, it is not as easy to identify the problems these movement strategies have solved. As such, it is useful to investigate fundamental challenges that effective legged locomotion overcomes in order to understand why the mechanisms employed by biological systems provide viable solutions to these challenges. Such insight can inform the design and development of legged robots that may eventually match or exceed animal performance. In …

Bridging The Gap Between Clinicians And Fitness Professionals, Rachele Pojednic, Amy Bantham, Fred Arnstein, Mary A. Kennedy, Edward Phillips

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Objective Health clubs (HC) and personal trainers (PT) are traditional outlets for the promotion of physical activity (PA) and exercise programming. As physicians are increasingly being called on to write exercise prescriptions for their patients, this study sought to investigate the level of integration between the healthcare and fitness systems.

Design An internet study was designed with five domains to understand physicians’: (1) overall perception of HC, (2) appropriateness and recommendation of HC and PT to their patients, (3) attitude regarding specific aspects of HC, (4) support of patient participation in HC sponsored exercise and (5) elements of HC that …

Forest Type Influences Population Densities Of Nocturnal Lemurs In Manompana, Northeastern Madagascar, Alex Miller, Harriet R. Mills, Tantely Ralantoharijaona, Nicole A. Volasoa, Chantal Misandeau, Lounès Chikhi, Roberta Bencini, Jordi Salmona

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Forest loss, fragmentation, and anthropization threaten the survival of forest species all over the world. Shifting agriculture is one of these threatening processes in Madagascar. However, when its cycle is halted and the land is left to regenerate, the resulting growth of secondary forest may provide a viable habitat for folivorous and omnivorous lemur species. We aimed to identify the response of nocturnal lemurs to different successional stages of regenerating secondary, degraded mature, and mature forest across a mosaic-type landscape. We surveyed four nocturnal lemur species (Avahi laniger, Microcebus cf. simmonsi, Allocebus trichotis, and Daubentonia madagascariensis) in four forest types …

Homogenization And Growth Behavior Of Second-Phase Particles In A Deformed Zr-Sn-Nb-Fe-Cu-Si-O Alloy, Liang-Yu Chen, Peng Sang, Lina Zhang, Dongpo Song, Yanqiu Chu, Linjiang Chai, Laichang Zhang

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Homogeneous distribution of fine second-phase particles (SPPs) fabricated by cycles of deformation and annealing in zirconium alloys is a critical consideration for the corrosion resistance of fuel claddings. Different deformation degrees of zirconium alloys would result in distinctive microstructures, leading to a distinct growth of SPPs during subsequent annealing. Unfortunately, the homogenization and growth behavior of SPPs in deformed zirconium alloys have not been well studied. In this work, a β-quenched Zr–Sn–Nb–Fe–Cu–Si–O alloy was rolled and annealed at 580◦C or 680◦C. The morphologies, distributions, and sizes of SPPs resulting from the different processing procedures were investigated. A linear distribution of …

Early Childhood Teachers’ Perspectives Of Growth Mindset: Developing Agency In Children, Fiona Boylan, Lennie Barblett, Marianne J. Knaus

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

The integration of mindset theory into classrooms can assist children in optimizing academic achievement, increasing their agency for learning. The development of a growth mindset allows children to exercise autonomy over their learning, helping them to develop positive lifelong learning habits for the twenty-first century. This paper explores early childhood teachers’ perspectives of mindset and the role of a growth mindset in developing children’s agency for learning. Despite increasing research in this field, little is known about the perspectives that early childhood teachers have of mindset. This paper reports on the data from a study that describes teachers’ perspectives towards …

Rare Single Gene Disorders: Estimating Baseline Prevalence And Outcomes Worldwide, Hannah Blencowe, Sowmiya Moorthie, Mary Petrou, Hanan Hamamy, Alan Bittles, Stephen Gibbons, Matthew Darlison, Bernadette Modell, Congenital Disorders Expert Group .

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

As child mortality rates overall are decreasing, non-communicable conditions, such as genetic disorders, constitute an increasing proportion of child mortality, morbidity and disability. To date, policy and public health programmes have focused on common genetic disorders. Rare single gene disorders are an important source of morbidity and premature mortality for affected families. When considered collectively, they account for an important public health burden, which is frequently under-recognised. To document the collective frequency and health burden of rare single gene disorders, it is necessary to aggregate them into large manageable groupings and take account of their family implications, effective interventions and …

Suicidal Ideation In The Perinatal Period: A Systematic Review, Avril O'Connor, Sadie Geraghty, Gemma Doleman, Annemarie De Leo

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Objective: To examine literature surrounding suicidal ideation and suicidality in the perinatal period. Design: Systematic Literature Review of published 15 research studies. Findings: There is a scarcity of prospective studies conducted in suicidal ideation during the perinatal period. More research is needed to ensure childbearing women at risk of suicidal ideation during pregnancy receive the appropriate care and maternity services required to support them throughout this period. Key conclusions: Midwives play an important role in screening women for possible emotional distress and mood disorders during pregnancy. Therefore, midwives need to have knowledge of risk factors so vulnerable women are monitored …

Robotic Telescopes And Student Research In The School Curriculum Around The Oecd Countries, Saeed Salimpour, Sophie Bartlett, Michael Fitzgerald, Ross Cutts, C. Renee James, Scott Miller, Lena Danaia, Sergio Cabezon, Michel Faye, Cyrille Baudouin, Diana Birkenbauma, Sara Anjos, Qixuan Wu, Hye-Eun Chu, Eileen Slater

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

The aim of this paper is to explore the presence and possible incorporation of inquiry-based learning approaches using Robotic Telescopes and Student Research in the regular science curriculum. This study uses preliminary findings from an extensive ongoing study, which is currently reviewing the extent of astronomy content in the school curriculum of the 35 member countries from the OECD in addition to two emerging nations in modern astronomy – China and South Africa, which are not part of the OECD. Analysis of curriculum documents from 28 OECD countries, including China and South Africa, reveals that although there is a prevalence …