Digital Commons Network^™

Designing Call To Action: Users' Perception Of Different Charateristics, Thomas Mejtoft, Jonathan Hedlund, Helen Cripps, Ulrik Söderström, Ole Norberg

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

This paper aims to provide guidance when designing a call to action in a digital system with the purpose to create an intended feeling and user engagement. The paper is based on a test of four different simple call to action constructions. The users clearly prefer constructions that have a high explainability and feels intuitive. Hence, the design should have a high level of transparency and show the user straight away what it demands from the user and what the result of the action is. Furthermore, the design should have a high usability to make it clear how to use …

Into The Breech: A Multi-National E-Delphi Study Exploring Breech Presentation And Birth Care, Sara Morris

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Aim: To establish consensus regarding care of women with a breech presenting fetus through the exploration of participants’ knowledge, experiences and opinions regarding breech presentation and care.

Design: Three round Delphi e-survey

Setting: Multi-national

Participants: A panel of fifteen midwives, four obstetricians and one academic with an interest in breech care and birth.

Methods: The initial survey comprised of open-ended questions. Answers were coded and integrated to form statements presented to participants over 3 sections in the second round due to the abundance of information collected from first round responses. Consensus was deemed reached if 70% or more of participants …

Physicochemical Characterisation Of Zirconia Nanoparticles Based Sodium Alginate Polymer Suspension For Enhanced Oil Recovery, Udit S. Mohanty, Faisal Ur Rahman Awan, Muhammad Ali, Adnan Aftab, Alireza Keshavarz, Sefan Iglauer

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Biopolymers have been employed in enhanced oil recovery (EOR) due to their high viscosity and significant effects on waterflooding performance. Sodium alginate (NaAlg) is an excellent biopolymer that is extracted primarily from brown algae. It has been used in the biotechnology industry as a thickening agent, colloidal stabilizer, and oil recovery application. In the present study, a series of sodium alginate/zirconium oxide nanoparticle suspensions were prepared via solution mixing, and the effect of nanoparticle content, polymer concentration, temperature, salinity was investigated on the rheological behavior using a concentric cylinder dynamic rheometer. The rheology results revealed that the lower concentration of …

Climate Change, Activism, And Supporting The Mental Health Of Children And Young People: Perspectives From Western Australia, Naomi J. Godden, Brad M. Farrant, Jaime Yallup Farrant, Emma Heyink, Eva Carot Collins, Bella Burgemeister, Mena Tabeshfar, Jason Barrow, Mara West, Jasmine Kieft, Mason Rothwell, Zoe Leviston, Susan Bailey, Mindy Blaise, Trudi Cooper

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

The climate crisis has detrimental impacts on the mental health and wellbeing of children and young people. Psychological effects include feelings of fear, overwhelm, worry, distress, hopelessness and anger; PTSD; depression; anxiety; phobias; panic disorder; sleep disturbances; attachment disorders; learning difficulties; substance abuse; shock and trauma symptoms; adjustment problems; behavioural problems; and, suicidal thinking. First Nations' children and young people are particularly at risk due to loss of place, identity, culture, land and customs informed by kinship relationships with the Earth; while sustainable land use practices and connection to Country and community can enhance climate resilience. In Western Australia (WA), …

Association Of National Covid-19 Cases With Objectively And Subjectively Measured Mental Health Proxies In The Austrian Football League–An Epidemiological Study, Antje Van Der Zee-Neuen, Alexander Seymer, Dagmar Schaffler-Schaden, Jürgen Herfert, James Óbrien, Tim Johansson, Patrick Kutschar, Stephan Ludwig, Thomas Stöggl, David Keeley, Maria Flamm, Jürgen Osterbrink

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

We aimed to explore the association of national COVID-19 data with the objective and subjective mental health proxies (i.e. location variance, self-reported sleep quality, level of recovery, perceived risk of infection) in team and staff members of five professional Austrian Football clubs. Data were conveniently collected during the implementation of a novel monitoring concept. The concept was designed to enable safe continuation of professional Football during the COVID-19 pandemic. These data were matched with Austrian COVID-19 data and smartphone collected location data. Multivariable linear regression models explored the association of COVID-19, defined as daily novel or active Austrian cases of …

Midwives’ Strategies For Coping With Barriers To Providing Quality Maternal And Neonatal Care: A Glaserian Grounded Theory Study, Yakubu Ismaila, Sara Bayes, Sadie Geraghty

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Background: Midwives face direct and indirect barriers in their workplaces that have negative consequences on their ability to provide quality care to women and neonates, however, they still carry on with their duties. This study aimed at investigating the coping strategies that Ghanaian midwives adopt to be able to complete their work. Methods: Glaserian Grounded theory was used in this study. Data were collected through non-participant observations and semi-structured interviews. The study participants included 29 midwives who worked in labour/birthing environments and a pharmacist, a social worker, a national Health Insurance Scheme manager and a health services manager. Findings: The …

High-Intensity Physical Activity Is Not Associated With Better Cognition In The Elder: Evidence From The China Health And Retirement Longitudinal Study, Zhiyuan Wu, Haiping Zhang, Xinlei Miao, Haibin Li, Huiying Pan, Di Zhou, Yue Liu, Zhiwei Li, Jinqi Wang, Xiangtong Liu, Deqiang Zheng, Xia Li, Wei Wang, Xiuhua Guo, Lixin Tao

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Background: To evaluate the association of physical activity (PA) intensity with cognitive performance at baseline and during follow-up. Methods: A total of 4039 participants aged 45 years or above from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study were enrolled in visit 1 (2011–2012) and followed for cognitive function in visit 2 (2013–2014), visit 3 (2015–2016), and visit 4 (2017–2018). We analyzed the association of PA intensity with global cognition, episodic memory, and mental intactness at baseline using adjusted regression methods and evaluated the long-term effect of PA intensity using multiple measures of cognition scores by mixed effect model. Results: In …

Pleural Fluid Investigations For Pleural Infections, Bapti Roy, Hui Juin Shak, Y. C.Gary Lee

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Over 1.5 million patients are admitted to hospital with pneumonia in the United States each year. Up to 50% of them can develop a parapneumonic effusion which is associated with higher mortality. The incidence of pleural infection continues to rise, particularly in the elderly and those with comorbidities. Parapneumonic effusions cover a spectrum of presentations from a free-flowing 'simple parapneumonic effusion' to a septated 'complicated parapneumonic effusion' (CPE) (usually from bacterial pleural invasion) and 'empyema' (presence of pleural pus). Pleural infection is defined as either CPE or empyema, and usually requires evacuation of the infected fluid. Laboratory investigations play an …

Led Illumination For High-Quality High-Yield Crop Growth In Protected Cropping Environments, Md Momtazur Rahman, David L. Field, Soyed M. Ahmed, Md Tanvir Hasan, Mohammad Khairul Basher, Kamal Alameh

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Vegetables and herbs play a central role in the human diet due to their low fat and calory content and essential antioxidant, phytochemicals, and fiber. It is well known that the manipulation of light wavelengths illuminating the crops can enhance their growth rate and nutrient contents. To date, it has not been easy to generalize the effects of LED illumination because of the differences in the plant species investigated, the measured traits, the way wavelengths have been manipulated, and the plants’ growing environments. In order to address this gap, we undertook a quantitative review of LED manipulation in relation to …

A Nonlinear Autoregressive Distributed Lag (Nardl) Analysis Of The Ftse And S&P500 Indexes, David E. Allen, Michael Mcaleer

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

The paper features an examination of the link between the behaviour of the FTSE 100 and S&P500 Indexes in both an autoregressive distributed lag ARDL, plus a nonlinear autoregressive distributed lag NARDL framework. The attraction of NARDL is that it represents the simplest method available of modelling combined short-and long-run asymmetries. The bounds testing framework adopted means that it can be applied to stationary and non-stationary time series vectors, or combinations of both. The data comprise a daily FTSE adjusted price series, commencing in April 2009 and terminating in March 2021, and a corresponding daily S&P500 Index adjusted-price series obtained …

The Intra-And Inter-Rater Reliability Of A Hip Rotation Range-Of-Motion Measurement Using A Smartphone Application In Academy Football (Soccer) Players, Paul Spork, James O’Brien, Morris Sepoetro, Maximilian Plachel, Thomas Stöggl

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

The clinical assessment of hip rotation range-of-motion (ROM) is important for managing hip and groin injuries in footballers. Previously published reliability studies on hip ROM have employed protocols that are difficult to replicate under everyday clinical conditions. This single trial, intra-and inter-rater reliability study included 41 male academy football (soccer) players, aged 14–15 years, from one European football academy. Passive hip internal rotation (IR) and external rotation (ER) ROM were measured in supine with hip and knee flexed to 90◦ . The ROM was determined using a smartphone application, with the smartphone attached to the lower leg. The tests were …

The Effect Of The Covid-19 Vaccine On Daily Cases And Deaths Based On Global Vaccine Data, Zhiwei Li, Xiangtong Liu, Mengyang Liu, Zhiyuan Wu, Yue Liu, Weiming Li, Mengmeng Liu, Xiaonan Wang, Bo Gao, Yanxia Luo, Xia Li, Lixin Tao, Wei Wang, Xiuhua Guo

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Background: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), a global pandemic, has caused over 216 million cases and 4.50 million deaths as of 30 August 2021. Vaccines can be regarded as one of the most powerful weapons to eliminate the pandemic, but the impact of vaccines on daily COVID-19 cases and deaths by country is unclear. This study aimed to investigate the correlation between vaccines and daily newly confirmed cases and deaths of COVID-19 in each country worldwide. Methods: Daily data on firstly vaccinated people, fully vaccinated people, new cases and new deaths of COVID-19 were collected from 187 countries. First, we used …

Isolated Joint Block Progression Training Improves Leaping Performance In Dancers, Paige E. Rice, Kiisa Nishikawa, Sophia Nimphius

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of a 12-week ankle-specific block progression training program on saut de chat leaping performance [leap height, peak power (PP), joint kinetics and kinematics], maximal voluntary isometric plantar flexion (MVIP) strength, and Achilles tendon (AT) stiffness. Dancers (training group n = 7, control group n = 7) performed MVIP at plantarflexed (10◦) and neutral ankle positions (0◦) followed by ramping isometric contractions equipped with ultrasound to assess strength and AT stiffness, respectively. Dancers also performed saut de chat leaps surrounded by 3-D motion capture atop force platforms to determine center of …

Entrepreneurial Orientation Among Arts Managers In Western Australia, Alistair J. Campbell, Helen Rusak

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

As a region, Western Australia is the largest and most isolated state in Australia, and supports a community of vibrant Arts Organisations. The Arts is widely recognised for its creativity and innovation, but what about the managers of these organisations, are they equally innovative, or entrepreneurial? Rusak (2016) explored this question and found that their Entrepreneurial Orientation (EO) matched the three core dimensions of Innovativeness, Pro-activeness, and Risk-taking, but the study did not include the other two EO dimensions of Autonomy and Competitive Aggressiveness. It did however observe that "arts companies don’t generally try to take offensive postures or aggressive …

Understanding The Barriers To Ghanaian Midwives’ Ability To Provide Quality Care: Using Classic Grounded Theory Methodology In A New Context, Yakubu Ismaila, Sara Bayes, Sadie Geraghty

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Background:

Interpretive-naturalist methodologies, including Grounded Theory are increasingly being used in health research in Ghana however, none of the studies that have used Grounded Theory in the setting has used the methodology in full.

Aim:

The main aim of this article is to describe the experiences, the strengths and limitations of using Glaserian Grounded Theory methodology to understand the barriers to Ghanaian midwives’ ability to provide quality maternal and neonatal care.

Design:

Glaserian Grounded Theory methodological principles were adhered to in this study in relation to the use of literature, participant recruitment, data collection and analysis, and theory development. Data …

A Species-Wide Genetic Atlas Of Antimicrobial Resistance In Clostridioides Difficile, Korakrit Imwattana, César Rodríguez, Thomas V. Riley, Daniel R. Knight

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) plays an important role in the pathogenesis and spread of Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI), the leading healthcare-related gastrointestinal infection in the world. An association between AMR and CDI outbreaks is well documented, however, data is limited to a few ‘epidemic’ strains in specific geographical regions. Here, through detailed analysis of 10330 publicly-available C. difficile genomes from strains isolated worldwide (spanning 270 multilocus sequence types (STs) across all known evolu-tionary clades), this study provides the first species-wide snapshot of AMR genomic epidemiology in C. difficile. Of the 10330 C. difficile genomes, 4532 (43.9%) in 89 STs across clades …

Shale Adhesion Force Measurements Via Atomic Force Microscopy, Nikolai Mitiurev, Michael Verrall, Svetlana Shilobreeva, Alireza Keshavarz, Stefan Iglauer

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Wettability of sedimentary rock surface is an essential parameter that defines oil recovery and production rates of a reservoir. The discovery of wettability alteration in reservoirs, as well as complications that occur in analysis of heterogeneous sample, such as shale, for instance, have prompted scientists to look for the methods of wettability assessment at nanoscale. At the same time, bulk techniques, which are commonly applied, such as USBM (United States Bureau of Mines) or Amott tests, are not sensitive enough in cases with mixed wettability of rocks as they provide average wettability values of a core plug. Atomic Force Microscopy …

Generation 1.5 Learners: Removing The Mask Of Student Invisibility And Recognising The Learning Disconnections That Marred Their Academic Journeys, Elizabeth Serventy, Bill Allen

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Distinctive cohorts of students revealing inherent problems in managing their learning are on-going concerns in all universities. Students identified as Generation 1.5 learners are an increasing phenomenon in Australian universities yet may be “invisible” or unknown to teaching staff. They are neither fully proficient in their first language nor in English which is typically their second language (L2). Characteristically possessing well-developed basic interpersonal communicative skills, they lack the cognitive academic learning proficiencies essential for tertiary success. This article reports on doctoral research into six Generation 1.5 undergraduates navigating one academic year in one Western Australian university. Key findings include their …

Transcranial Random Noise Stimulation Modulates Neural Processing Of Sensory And Motor Circuits – From Potential Cellular Mechanisms To Behaviour: A Scoping Review, Weronika Potok, Onno Van Der Groen, Marc Bächinger, Dylan Edwards, Nicole Wenderoth

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Noise introduced in the human nervous system from cellular to systems levels can have a major impact on signal processing. Using transcranial stimulation, electrical noise can be added to cortical circuits to modulate neuronal activity and enhance function in the healthy brain and in neurological patients. Transcranial random noise stimulation (tRNS) is a promising technique that is less well understood than other non-invasive neuromodulatory methods. The aim of the present scoping review is to collate published evidence on the effects of electrical noise at the cellular, systems, and behavioural levels, and discuss how this emerging method might be harnessed to …

An Evolutionary Approach To Balancing And Disrupting Real-Time Strategy Games, Jacob Snell, Martin Masek, Chiou Peng Lam

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

In most computer games, the level of challenge experienced by a player is dependent on a range of variable factors defined within the game environment. When the end goal of such games is entertainment, the variables are carefully tuned by the designers to achieve a sense of fair, balanced gameplay. For military force design and wargaming applications, where the purpose is to explore elements of a real scenario, the question turns to how the variables can be exploited so as to provide the maximum advantage, and to disrupt the balance in favour of a particular side. In this paper, an …

Causal Relationship Between Lung Function And Atrial Fibrillation: A Two Sample Univariable And Multivariable, Bidirectional Mendelian Randomization Study, Qiaoyun Zhang, Xiaoyu Zhang, Jie Zhang, Biyan Wang, Xiaoni Meng, Qiuyue Tian, Jinxia Zhang, Mengyang Jiang, Yiqiang Zhang, Deqiang Zheng, Lijuan Wu, Wei Wang, Baoguo Wang, Youxin Wang

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Background: Observational studies have identified impaired lung function accessed by forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1), forced vital capacity (FVC) or the ratio of FEV1 over FVC (FEV1/FVC) as an independent risk factor for atrial fibrillation (AF). However, the result may be affected by confounders or reverse causality. Methods: We performed univariable MR (uvMR), multivariable MR (mvMR) and bidirectional two-sample MR to jointly estimate the causality of lung function with AF. Apart from the inverse variance weighted (IVW) approach as the main MR analysis, three complementary sensitive analyses approaches including MR-Egger regression, weighted median (WM) MR and Pleiotropy Residual …

Common Worlding Pedagogies: Opening Up To Learning With Worlds, Affrica Taylor, Tatiana Zakharova, Maureen Cullen

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Common worlding is a collective pedagogical approach. It is also a deliberate move to open up education to worlds beyond narrow human preoccupations and concerns and beyond its standard framing as an exclusively social practice. In this article, we identify some of the guiding principles that underpin this approach and explain how they work out in practice. We do so by offering a selection of illustrative vignettes drawn from the Walking with Wildlife in Wild Weather Times early childhood research project in Canberra, Australia, and from the Witnessing the Ruins of Progress early childhood research collaboratory in Ontario, Canada.

Customer Value Creation For The Emerging Market Middle Class: Perspectives From Case Studies In India, Rifat Sharmelly, Anton Klarin

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

This paper examines the customer value creation framework and discusses the design of the key elements for product development in emerging markets. A scientometric/bibliometric scoping literature review identifies a clear gap in the current research in studying prerequisites for customer value creation in emerging market contexts. Observing experiences of Daikin and Renault in the context of India, the purpose of this paper is to identify value creation strategic choices following which comprehensive customer value offerings in products and services can be successfully created by firms across the four facets of the framework in emerging markets. Value creation strategies include having …

Does Warfarin Or Rivaroxaban At Low Anticoagulation Intensity Provide A Survival Benefit To Asian Patients With Atrial Fibrillation?, Dong Lin, Yequn Chen, Jian Yong, Shiwan Wu, Yan Zhou, Weiping Li, Xuerui Tan, Ruisheng Liu

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Background: Low-dose rivaroxaban and low-intensity warfarin are widely used in Asia for patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). However, in Asians, it is unclear whether low-dose rivaroxaban and low-intensity warfarin can improve the prognosis of AF. In this study, we investigate the survival benefits of low-dose rivaroxaban and low-intensity warfarin in Asian patients with AF in clinical practice. Methods: This cohort study used medical records in a single tertiary hospital in China, between 2019 and 2020, to identify patients with AF who used rivaroxaban or warfarin, or had no anticoagulant therapy. Follow-ups were performed through telephone contact or medical record review. …

Impact Of Covid-19 On Cryptocurrencies: Evidence On Information Transmission Through Economic And Financial Market Sentiments, Irfan Haider Shakri, Jaime Yong, Erwei Xiang

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

This paper investigates the relationship between the COVID-19 crisis and the two leading cryptocurrencies, Bitcoin and Ethereum, from 31 December 2019 to 18 August 2020. We also use an economic news sentiment index and financial market sentiment index to explore the possible mechanisms through which COVID-19 impacts cryptocurrency. We employ a VAR Granger Causality framework and Wavelet Coherence Analysis and find the cryptocurrency market was impacted in the early phase of the sample period through economic news and financial market sentiments, but this effect diminished after June 2020.

Opportunities To Identify And Develop People Skills: What University Students Need Early In Their Degree Journey, Ros Sambell, Lesley Andrew, Amanda Devine, Jill Darby, Shelley Beatty, Stephanie Godrich

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Employability skills can be categorised as ‘people’ or ‘soft skills’ and ‘technical’ or ‘industry specific’ skills. Australian employers are increasingly seeking to employ university graduates with well-developed people skills. Evidence from industry suggests these skills, in particular communication skills are lacking in today’s graduates. The aim of this study was to raise student awareness of the importance of people skills, assess their perception of personal competence across a range of these skills and support them to develop plans that will help them strengthen these skills in preparation for graduation. An online survey was emailed to 222 first year undergraduate students; …

Psychological Distress And Quality Of Life Following Provision Of Vascular Imaging Results Of The Coronary And Carotid Arteries To Asymptomatic Adults: A Scoping Review Protocol, Reindolf Anokye, Ben Jackson, James Dimmock, Joanne M. Dickson, Lauren C. Blekkenhorst, Jonathan M. Hodgson, Joshua R. Lewis, Mandy Stanley

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Background: Non-invasive screening for atherosclerosis or asymptomatic cardiovascular disease of the coronary and carotid arteries is commonly undertaken, and research has been focussed on how results from these screenings lead to behaviour change. However, no review has focused on the effects of these results on psychological distress and health-related quality of life (HRQoL). This protocol will outline how a scoping review will be conducted to map all available evidence on psychological distress and/or HRQoL outcomes following the provision of vascular imaging results of the coronary and carotid arteries. Methods: Arksey and O’Malley’s (2005) framework subsequently enhanced by Levac et al. …

The Open Maritime Traffic Analysis Dataset, Martin Masek, Chiou Peng Lam, Travis Rybicki, Jacob Snell, Daniel Wheat, Luke Kelly, Damion Glassborow, Cheryl Smith-Gander

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Ships traverse the world’s oceans for a diverse range of reasons, including the bulk transportation of goods and resources, carriage of people, exploration and fishing. The size of the oceans and the fact that they connect a multitude of different countries provide challenges in ensuring the safety of vessels at sea and the prevention of illegal activities. To assist with the tracking of ships at sea, the International Maritime Organisation stipulates the use of the Automatic Identification System (AIS) on board ships. The AIS system periodically broadcasts details of a ship’s position, speed and heading, along with other parameters corresponding …

Co-Design Of A Digital Dietary Intervention For Adults At Risk Of Type 2 Diabetes, Brenda S. J. Tay, Sarah M. Edney, Grant D. Brinkworth, David N. Cox, Bonnie Wiggins, Aaron Davis, Ian Gwilt, Annemien Haveman-Nies, Jillian C. Ryan

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Background Co-design has the potential to create interventions that lead to sustainable health behaviour change. Evidence suggests application of co-design in various health domains has been growing; however, few public-facing digital interventions have been co-designed to specifically address the needs of adults at risk of Type 2 diabetes (T2D). This study aims to: (1) co-design, with key stakeholders, a digital dietary intervention to promote health behaviour change among adults at risk of T2D, and (2) evaluate the co-design process involved in developing the intervention prototype. Methods The co-design study was based on a partnership between nutrition researchers and designers experienced …

Examining Social-Cognitive Theory Constructs As Mediators Of Behaviour Change In The Active Team Smartphone Physical Activity Program: A Mediation Analysis, Amelia V. Romeo, Sarah M. Edney, Ronald C. Plotnikoff, Tim Olds, Corneel Vandelanotte, Jillian Ryan, Rachel Curtis, Carol A. Maher

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Regular engagement in physical activity has well-established physical and psychological health benefits. Despite this, over a quarter of the global adult population is insufficiently physically active. Physical activity interventions grounded in behaviour change theory, such as the social-cognitive theory, are widely considered to be more effective than non-theoretical approaches. Such interventions set out to intervene on the ultimate outcome (physical activity), but also influence intermediate factors (social-cognitive theory constructs) which in turn, are believed to influence physical activity behaviour. The primary aim of the study was to use mediation analysis to examine whether changes in the social-cognitive theory and related …