Digital Commons Network^™

The Value Of Work For Doctors In Pakistan: Towards A Framework For Ensuring Decent Work, Abid Hussain, Esme Franken, Tim Bentley, Uma Jogulu

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

The critical frontline work of doctors in Pakistan was overlooked and undervalued by the government, hospitals, and the public during the COVID-19 pandemic. Media reports and studies highlight that public sector doctors in Pakistan facing new societal, professional, and organisational challenges, compunding to the inherent demands of workpotentially leading to its undervaluation. This study, explores how the work of doctors is (under)valued in Pakistan’s public sector hospitals, and how this aligns to the underpinnings of decent work. 27 semi structured in-depth interviews were conducted with doctors in Pakistan’s public sector hospitals. We found that serving others, recognition and appreciation, and …

Towards Blockchain-Based Secure Bgp Routing, Challenges And Future Research Directions, Qiong Yang, Li Ma, Shanshan Tu, Sami Ullah, Muhammad Waqas, Hisham Alasmary

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Border Gateway Protocol (BGP) is a standard inter-domain routing protocol for the Internet that conveys network layer reachability information and establishes routes to different destinations. The BGP protocol exhibits security design defects, such as an unconditional trust mechanism and the default acceptance of BGP route announcements from peers by BGP neighboring nodes, easily triggering prefix hijacking, path forgery, route leakage, and other BGP security threats. Meanwhile, the traditional BGP security mechanism, relying on a public key infrastructure, faces issues like a single point of failure and a single point of trust. The decentralization, anti-tampering, and traceability advantages of blockchain offer …

Vulnerable Reading Practices For Ecosocial Justice In Environmental Education, Karen Nociti, Mindy Blaise

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Environmental education has the potential to extend its transformative potential by reframing social and ecological justice as always interconnected. This paper introduces vulnerable reading as a method for unsettling anthropocentric and colonial influences on how educators conceptualise and respond to environmental precarity through a socio-ecological lens. It has emerged from a six-month walking project during which the authors developed vulnerable reading practices as they walked with young children, educators, and a weedy landscape in Boorloo (Perth), Western Australia. With a focus on reimagining pedagogies to be inclusive of multiple weedy ideas, bodies and voices, the paper uses empirical examples of …

Weathering The Storm: Diagnosis And Treatment Of A Life-Threatening Disseminated Nocardia Otitidiscaviarum Infection, Li Yan Zhang, Liang Wang, Zeeshan Umar, Yuan Hong Huang, Bing Gu

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Nocardiosis demonstrates a temporal categorization that includes acute, subacute, and chronic stages alongside distinct typical localizations such as pulmonary, cutaneous, and disseminated forms. Disseminated nocardiosis, commonly caused by Nocardia asteroides, N. brasiliensis, and N. farcinica, continues to result in substantial morbidity and mortality. Herein, we report a life-threatening disseminated nocardiosis caused by Nocardia otitidiscaviarum in a patient with minimal change disease. This study emphasizes the difficulty in the diagnosis and treatment of unknown infections in clinical settings and highlights the important role played by laboratories in solving infectious diseases caused by rare pathogens.

Achieving Covert Communication With A Probabilistic Jamming Strategy, Xun Chen, Fujun Gao, Min Qiu, Jia Zhang, Feng Shu, Shihao Yan

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

In this work, we consider a covert communication scenario, where a transmitter Alice communicates to a receiver Bob with the aid of a probabilistic and uninformed jammer against an adversary warden's detection. The transmission status and power of the jammer are random and follow some priori probabilities. We first analyze the warden's detection performance as a function of the jammer's transmission probability, transmit power distribution, and Alice's transmit power. We then maximize the covert throughput from Alice to Bob subject to a covertness constraint, by designing the covert communication strategies from three different perspectives: Alice's perspective, the jammer's perspective, and …

Accelerating The Exploration Of High-Entropy Alloys: Synergistic Effects Of Integrating Computational Simulation And Experiments, Deyu Jiang, Yuhua Li, Liqiang Wang, Lai Chang Zhang

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

High-entropy alloys (HEAs) are novel materials composed of multiple elements with nearly equal concentrations and they exhibit exceptional properties such as high strength, ductility, thermal stability, and corrosion resistance. However, the intricate and diverse structures of HEAs pose significant challenges to understanding and predicting their behavior at different length scales. This review summarizes recent advances in computational simulations and experiments of structure-property relationships in HEAs at the nano/micro scales. Various methods such as first-principles calculations, molecular dynamics simulations, phase diagram calculations, and finite element simulations are discussed for revealing atomic/chemical and crystal structures, defect formation and migration, diffusion and phase …

Assessing The Impact Of Geochemical Mechanism And Interpolation Factor Selection On The Precision Of Low-Salinity Waterflooding Modelling: A Comparative Study, Malek Jalilian, Sedigheh Mahdavi, Peyman Pourafshary, Zheinjiang You, Amir H. Mohammadi

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

The efficacy of low salinity waterflooding (LSWF) as an enhanced oil recovery (EOR) method in carbonate formations has been well established; however, its geochemical modelling in such reservoirs remains insufficiently explored. This study aims to bridge this gap by conducting a comparative analysis of three well-recognised geochemical mechanisms including fines migration, rock dissolution/precipitation, and multi-ion exchange (MIE). Our research encompasses two parts: experimental and modelling. First, we conducted four coreflooding experiments to study the effect of LSWF on oil recovery in core scale as well as on rock wettability by measuring the contact angle of the crude oil-brine-rock system. In …

Cross-Sectional Survey Of Staff And Family Perspectives On The Use Of Cctv In Australian Residential Aged Care, Davina Porock, Caroline Vafeas, Mandy Towell-Barnard, Laura Emery, Gemma Doleman, Janine Alan

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Objective: To describe staff and family members' opinions about closed-circuit television (CCTV) in communal and private areas of residential aged care facilities (RACF), and to investigate how this relates to perceptions of care quality. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was developed to capture perceptions of CCTV's influence on care quality, and acceptable locations for CCTV placement. Data were recorded as ordinal-scale and open responses. Non-parametric tests of association were conducted. Results: The survey was completed by 81 staff and 74 family members. Both staff and family were satisfied with care quality and safety, irrespective of CCTV use. More family members were …

Deform 3d Simulation And Experimental Study In Machining Of Aisi 1020 Mild Steel, Aqib Hussain, Aamer Sharif, Muftooh Ur Rehman Siddiqi, Ghulam Hussain, Melkamu Tadesse Getachew, Riaz Muhammad

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

The drilling process plays a crucial role in the assembly process of modern-day manufactories. One of the major causes of component rejection during drilling operations is the incorrect selection of spindle speed and feed rate. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the impact of process factors such as spindle speed and feed rate on torque, thrust force, temperature surface roughness, and chip formation during the drilling of AISI 1020 mild steel. A combination of finite element modeling and experimental investigation was employed to achieve the process. Specifically, the commercially available finite element software, Deform 3D, was used for simulation. The …

Education For Profit In The Era Of Xi: Biopower, Resistance And China’S Double Reduction Policy, Wei Zhang, Le Wang, Christine Cunningham, Zhen Liu

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

This study aims to advance the understanding of for-profit Chinese education during the tenure of Chairman Xi Jinping. Notably, Xi has recently targeted the privately operated, for-profit before-and-after school supplementary tutoring industry, commonly referred to as “Shadow Education”. In 2021, the introduction of the Double Reduction policy abruptly prohibited most SE businesses. Our research seeks to elucidate the impacts of this sudden policy shift on Chinese parents’ perceptions and decision-making regarding their children’s education and supplementary learning opportunities. Conducted in 2022 across mainland China, our study engaged 195 parents through an online survey followed by two focus group interviews. The …

Estimating Cardiorespiratory Fitness In Older Adults Using The International Physical Activity Questionnaire, Kelsey R. Sewell, Jeremiah J. Peiffer, Shaun J. Markovic, Belinda M. Brown

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Introduction:

Non-exercise estimates of cardiorespiratory fitness hold great utility for epidemiological research and clinical practice. Older adults may yield the greatest benefit from fitness estimates due to limited capacity to undergo strenuous maximal exercise testing, however, few of the previously developed non-exercise equations are suitable for use in older adults. Thus, the current study developed a non-exercise equation for estimating cardiorespiratory fitness in older adults derived from the widely used International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ).

Methods:

This study was a secondary analysis of baseline data from a randomized controlled trial. Participants were community-dwelling, cognitively unimpaired older adults aged 60–80 years …

Impact On Help-Seeking Behaviours Of A Campaign Perceived To Decrease Stigma And Increase Openness Around Mental Health, Robert J. Donovan, Catherine F. Drane, Ziggi I. Santini, Geoffrey Jalleh

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Issue Addressed: There is considerable evidence that public stigma around mental illness inhibits help-seeking for mental health problems. Hence there have been many interventions and campaigns designed to reduce stigma around mental illness. However, as far as could be ascertained, none of these stigma reduction interventions has reported any substantial impact of reducing stigma on people's mental health help-seeking behaviours. The aim of this paper is to report on the impact of the Act-Belong-Commit positive mental health promotion Campaign on help-seeking via increasing perceived openness around mental health and reducing perceived stigma around mental illness. Methods: State-wide computer assisted telephone …

Insights From A National Database For Programs Supporting Neuropsychiatric Symptoms Of Dementia In Australia, Mustafa Atee, Thomas Morris, Daniel Whiting, Stephen Macfarlane, Marie Alford

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

No abstract provided.

Intersectoral Collaboration For Supporting The Health And Wellbeing Of Aboriginal Families And Children In Out-Of-Home Care: Perspectives From Western Australian Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations, Sasha Moodie, Jocelyn Jones, Richard Chenhall, Robyn Williams, Cathy Garlett, Alison Gibberd, Melissa O’Donnell, Dan Mcaullay, Bridgette Mcnamara, Sandra Eades

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Introduction: Western Australia has one of the highest rates of Aboriginal children entering out-of-home care in Australia. Kinship care is the preferred culturally safe out-of-home care option for Aboriginal children, yet all jurisdictions, including Western Australia, are far from meeting best-practice national standards. Intersectoral collaboration is a key primary healthcare principle and internationally recognized for improving health systems and outcomes. This paper presents findings from a qualitative research project investigating Aboriginal primary healthcare workers’ experiences of intersectoral collaboration challenges and strengthening opportunities. Methods: Constructivist grounded theory guided this research involving 55 semi-structured interviews and four focus group discussions with Aboriginal …

It's Day To Day Problems: Experiences Of People With Aphasia Who Live Alone, Deborah Hersh, Clare Williamson, Emily Brogan, Mandy Stanley

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Purpose: Living alone is increasing and associated with health and social risks. Aphasia compounds these risks but there is little research on how living alone interacts with aphasia. This study is a preliminary exploration of this issue. Method: Five people with aphasia who lived alone participated in two supported semi-structured interviews, with the second interview including sharing an artefact that held significance for living alone with aphasia. Interviews were recorded, transcribed verbatim, and analysed through reflexive thematic analysis. Result: Four themes encompassed meaning-making about living alone with aphasia: relationships and reliance on others; risk, vulnerability, and uncertainty; loneliness and time …

Our Right To Play: How Afghan Women Navigate Constraints, Agency, And Aspirations On And Off The Soccer Field, Ramón Spaaij, Aish Ravi, Jonathan Magee, Ruth Jeanes, Dawn Penney, Justen O’Connor

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

In the wake of the Taliban’s return to power in Afghanistan and its ban on women’s sport, hundreds of Afghan athletes, including several Olympians, decided to flee the country rather than give up their sports and see their rights curtailed. This paper explores how Afghan women now living in Australia navigate agency and aspirations on and off the soccer field within the context of high levels of uncertainty, instability, and constraint. Drawing on qualitative interviews with 18 participants, the results demonstrate how soccer offers an insightful microcosm of settlement as a continuation of a fraught journey. The findings reveal both …

Psychedelic Trip Sitting, Dosages And Intensities: Supplementing Clinical Studies With Anecdotal Reports, Liam B. Engel, Sascha Thal, Stephen J. Bright, Mitchell Low

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Background and aims: Online communities provide insights into psychedelic consumption, assisting in identification of trends, informing both harm reduction provisions and clinical research. This study extracts forum data on psychedelic substances, dosages, and administration routes, categorising and analysing self-reported consumption to inform care services and guide clinical work with psychedelics. Methods: Posts (n = 660) from online psychedelic forums (The Shroomery and DMT Nexus) on 'trip sitting' were analysed. Using a Delphi-style expert panel review facilitated by LE, we created drug weight and intensity charts (threshold, light, common, strong and heavy dosages) for psychedelics discussed in these posts. The psychedelic …

Rationale, Design, And Baseline Characteristics Of Participants In The Health@Nus Mhealth Augmented Cohort Study Examining Student-To-Work Life Transition: Protocol For A Prospective Cohort Study, Xin Hui Chua, Sarah Martine Edney, Andre Matthias Müller, Nicholas A. Petrunoff, Clare Whitton, Zoey Tay, Claire Marie Jie Lin Goh, Bozhi Chen, Su Hyun Park, Salome A. Rebello, Alicia Low, Janelle Chia, Daphne Koek, Karen Cheong, Rob M. Van Dam, Falk Müller-Riemenschneider

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Background: Integration of mobile health data collection methods into cohort studies enables the collection of intensive longitudinal information, which gives deeper insights into individuals’ health and lifestyle behavioral patterns over time, as compared to traditional cohort methods with less frequent data collection. These findings can then fill the gaps that remain in understanding how various lifestyle behaviors interact as students graduate from university and seek employment (student-to-work life transition), where the inability to adapt quickly to a changing environment greatly affects the mental well-being of young adults. Objective: This paper aims to provide an overview of the study methodology and …

Recovery From Sport-Induced Muscle Damage In Relation To Match-Intervals In Major Events, Kazunori Nosaka, Trevor C. Chen

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Muscle damage could affect the next match performance in sports when the time to recover from a previous match is shorter. We examined the interval between matches in nine team sports (e.g., soccer, rugby, field hockey, basketball, volleyball, baseball) and two racket sports (badminton, tennis) in World Cups held in 2022-2023, 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games and Gland Slam in 2023. We then performed narrative review using three electronic databases (PubMed, Scopus, Google Scholar) to get information about muscle damage and recovery in the 11 sports, and discussed whether the intervals in the events would be enough for athletes. We found …

Relational Processes For Transformative Climate Justice Policymaking: Insights From A Western Australian Community Of Practice, Kylie Wrigley, Jaime Yallup Farrant, Brad Farrant, Emma Leigh Synnott, Jason Barrow, Naomi Joy Godden, Lucie O’Sullivan

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

This article explores how relational approaches to policymaking across multiple levels and sectors of society might enable transformative climate justice. It draws on a unique case study from the state of Western Australia (WA), where climate justice is thwarted by the coloniality of climate politics and the hegemony of the fossil fuel industry. It examines the relational processes of a climate and health community of practice (CoP) in WA that involves people across the health sector, public service, non-government, and community. The CoP had an important role in enabling the WA Government’s public inquiry into climate change and health in …

Role Of Supply Chain Management In Improving Competitive Advantage Of Indonesian Small And Medium Enterprises, Hotlan Siagian, Sautma Ronni Basana, Zeplin Jiwa Husada Tarigan, Maya Novitasari, Ferry Jie

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Global competition has forced companies, including small and medium enterprises (SMEs), to improve their competitive advantage. Supply chain management practices are the ways to improve the competitive advantage, particularly in the global competition context. However, there is still doubt SMEs can compete globally, considering they face limited resources, skilled workforce, and business networks. Therefore, this study aims to examine the influence of supply chain management practices, covering cross-functional integration, partnership, responsiveness, and resilience. Moreover, this study has examined which practices dominate in improving competitive advantage. The quantitative study involved 445 SMEs located in East Java, Indonesia. The respondents are supervisors …

Seven-Day Dietary Nitrate Supplementation Clinically Significantly Improves Basal Macrovascular Function In Postmenopausal Women: A Randomized, Placebo-Controlled, Double-Blind, Crossover Clinical Trial, Jocelyn M. Delgado Spicuzza, Jigar Gosalia, Liezhou Zhong, Catherine Bondonno, Kristina S. Petersen, Mary Jane De Souza, Elmira Alipour, Daniel B. Kim-Shapiro, Yasina B. Somani, David N. Proctor

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Introduction: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death in women, with increased risk following menopause. Dietary intake of beetroot juice and other plant-based nitrate-rich foods is a promising non-pharmacological strategy for increasing systemic nitric oxide and improving endothelial function in elderly populations. The purpose of this randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind, crossover clinical trial was to determine the effects of short-term dietary nitrate (NO3−) supplementation, in the form of beetroot juice, on resting macrovascular endothelial function and endothelial resistance to whole-arm ischemia–reperfusion (IR) injury in postmenopausal women at two distinct stages of menopause. Methods: Early-postmenopausal [1–6 years following their final …

Students' Preferences For Setting And/Or Mixed-Ability Grouping In Secondary School Physical Education In England, Shaun D. Wilkinson, Dawn Penney

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

There is an extensive international literature on different forms of ability grouping in schools, much of which describes their impact on students' academic achievement, motivation, self-concept and/or attitudes towards learning. Comparatively little research has focused on students' perspectives of these practices, while the research that has been conducted has primarily focused on mathematics, English and science. There is a conspicuous and arguably significant absence of research that explores students' perspectives on different forms of ability grouping in other areas of the school curriculum, including physical education (PE). In contrast to the relative privacy of classroom-based subjects, students' bodies, physical competencies …

The Caregiving Role Influences Suboptimal Health Status And Psychological Symptoms In Unpaid Carers, Monique Garcia, Zheng Guo, Yulu Zheng, Zhiyuan Wu, Ethan Visser, Lois Balmer, Wei Wang

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Background: Suboptimal Health Status (SHS) is the physical state between health and disease. This study aimed to fill in the knowledge gap by investigating the prevalence of SHS and psychological symptoms among unpaid carers and to identify SHS-risk factors from the perspective of predictive, preventive and personalised medicine (PPPM). Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 368 participants who were enrolled from Australia, including 203 unpaid carers as cases and 165 individuals from the general population as controls. SHS scores were measured using SHSQ-25 (Suboptimal Health Status Questionnaire-25), whilst psychological symptoms were measured by DASS-21 (Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale-21). …

The Influence Of Culture On The Health Beliefs And Health Behaviours Of Older Vietnam-Born Australians Living With Chronic Disease, Thi Ngoc Minh Nguyen, Rosemary Saunders, Gordana Dermody, Lisa Whitehead

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Aim: To explore the health beliefs and health behaviours of older Vietnam-born people living with chronic disease in Western Australia. Design: This study was designed as a focused ethnography guided by the interpretative research paradigm and Leininger's Theory of Culture Care. Methods: Data were collected through participant observation and interviews undertaken at participants' homes in Western Australia over 7 months in 2019. Data were analysed using Wolcott's approach for transferring qualitative data, comprising three phases: description, thematic analysis and interpretation. Results: This study included 12 participants. The health perspectives and practices of older Vietnam-born Australians significantly reflected the traditional Vietnamese …

Will Return-To-Office Mandates Prevent Proximity Bias For Employees Working From Home?, Sue Williamson, Uma Jogulu, Judy Lundy, Helen Taylor

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

This Practice and Policy article examines return-to-office mandates, the latest human resource controversy. These mandates are an organisational directive for employees who have been working from home to return to working in their employer's premise. Drawing on the literature and our research on working from home and hybrid working, we consider whether mandates may prevent proximity bias. We conclude that mandates requiring employees to return to the office or caps which limit working from home are not only unnecessary, but may have negative consequences. In particular, mandates may cause employee resentment, while caps limit flexibility and autonomy. We therefore do …

Where Are The Diverse Families In Australian Children’S Literature? Impacts And Consideration For Language And Literacy In The Early Years, Helen Adam, Sally Murphy, Yvonne Urquhart, Katira Ahmed

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

A lack of representation of diverse families in children’s books can affirm insecurities and contribute to a sense of “otherness”. This study reports on the representation of family diversity in award-listed Australian children’s picture books. A critical theoretical framework was employed to analyse both texts and images. This study found a lack of diverse family structures in children’s books, especially LGBTIQA+, foster, step and blended families. This paper argues that to ensure inclusive and equitable literacy learning opportunities for all, educators need to go beyond award-listed books when selecting books for early literacy environments.

Using Image-Reflections To Support Undergraduate Students’ Relational Employability: A Practitioner Reflection, Ruth M. Wallace, Sally-Anne Doherty, Elizabeth Cook

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

This practitioner reflection explores our integration of the Relational Employability Framework within the Health Research Project capstone unit of a Bachelor of Health Science degree. To address the historically low quality of student reflections, we incorporated image-based reflective activities to improve engagement and depth. These activities encouraged students to use visual media to examine their developing relational employability. We developed and implemented a series of tutorial activities designed to scaffold this process, aiming to foster deeper reflective practice and highlight its importance for career development and employability. Our reflections indicate that, while grades did not significantly increase, students showed enhanced …

National Cyber Security Licence Consultation Report: Stakeholder Consultation Workshops Consolidated Feedback Held Oct – Nov 2023, Nicola F. Johnson, Leslie F. Sikos, Ahmed Ibrahim, Marnie Mckee

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

The consultation workshops invited stakeholders to join a roundtable environment to comment on and discuss the Consultation Paper, shared by Project Lead Associate Professor Nicola Johnson, Edith Cowan University (ECU) in October 2023. The purpose of the Consultation Paper was to identify whether stakeholders agreed that the national cyber security licence the Research Team had developed to date was a best solution towards addressing K-12 students’ cyber security education needs, which was found to not presently be sufficient (see Johnson et al., 2022). Eight workshops were conducted over a month-long period held October to November 2023. 250 invitations were sent …

A Lack Of Tourism-Based Health Services Amid Global Aging: How Tourism And Health Practices Can Combine To Benefit The Aging Population, Jun Wen

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

No abstract provided.