Digital Commons Network^™

Monitoring Children’S Learner Engagement: The Early Years. A Practical Guide To In School And Learning High Impact Strategies That Build Strong Learner Engagement, Amelia Ruscoe, Leanne Lavina

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

This practical guide presents a high‑impact approach to understanding and monitoring young children’s learner engagement through the integrated use of Dialogic Drawing, LIVE Threads, the Children’s Learner Engagement Monitor, and the Children’s Learner Engagement Planner. These tools were developed using evidence from research with early childhood teachers in response to calls from school leaders and educators for practical, evidence‑informed strategies that strengthen learner engagement. The research underpinning the Children’s Learner Engagement Monitor, funded by AISWA as part of the Preschool Reform Agreement (Australian Government, Department of Education, 2022), addresses four key goals: enabling teachers to gain critical knowledge about children’s …

Can The Ability To Infer Relevance Account For Dimensional Psychoticism? An Exploration Of A Representative Community Sample, Adam Schwarz, Frank D. Baughman, Evan Dauer, Ruby Koyllor Alarcon Gleeson, Jennifer Haywood, Bo Huei Huang, Karen H. Heslop, Barbara A. Mullan, Susan L. Rossell, Nicolas H. Hart, Darren Haywood

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Purpose: Psychoticism is a common feature of psychological disorders. Deficits in perceptual inference have been associated with the development of psychotic symptoms. Traditional testing of perceptual inference has had low ecological validity, limiting the ability to infer functional relationships. The aims of this study were to investigate the relationship between the capacity to infer relevance in dynamic environments and dimensional psychoticism, as well as to investigate the association between inferring relevance and dimensional psychoticism. Method: Four hundred participants, representative of the general population of the USA, completed an online questionnaire consisting of the Brief Symptom Inventory, as well as demographic …

Drawing Sound In Space: Digital Spatial Notation As Constitutive Audiovisuality, Cat Hope

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

This paper examines how the design and realisation of a concert presentation entitled Drawing Sound in Space led to the concept of digital spatial notation. Seven Australian composers were commissioned to create digital scores for an electroacoustic chamber music ensemble, and scores were shared with the audience. The author argues that contemporary digital notation practices enhance live performances of new music by expanding concepts of the audiovisual to include alternative notational approaches engaging with space, creating a ‘spatial notation’. Further, Drawing Sound in Space aimed to transform musicianship and audience experience by offering a more immersive encounter with music notation …

Surviving And Thriving In Educational Leadership: Challenges And Coping Strategies Of High School Principals In Nepal, Shankar Dhakal

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

School leadership in Nepal is shaped by sociocultural, institutional, and resource-related challenges. This study fills a gap in the literature by examining leadership dynamics within this unique and diverse educational context. Guided by resilient leadership theory as a referent, this qualitative case study, grounded in a constructivist paradigm, involved semi-structured interviews with public high school principals to investigate their workplace challenges and coping strategies. The findings reveal challenges including sociocultural and gender biases, teachers’ resistance to modern pedagogical practices, and resource limitations. They navigate these challenges through strategies of humility, intrinsic motivation, and collaborative partnerships. The findings highlight the need …

Entrepreneurship: A Practical Guide For Business Success, Jalleh Sharafizad, Violetta Wilk, Kerry Brown, Aglae Hernandez Grande, Fleur Sharafizad, Dorothy Wardale

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

This book is tailored for entrepreneurs in their startups or moving to the next stage of their businesses, micro and small business owners, as well as individuals who are considering starting their own ventures. It brings together essential insights, practical tools, and valuable resources developed through two Western Australian government initiatives focused on entrepreneurial training and support. In addition, it draws on a range of business concepts from other sources, refining and simplifying them to suit the specific needs of emerging and growing enterprises.

Designed to be both flexible and supportive, the book serves multiple roles throughout your entrepreneurial journey. …

Early Outcomes Of A Structured Literacy Implementation Across A School System: The Archdiocese Of Canberra And Goulburn Catalyst Program, Tanya Serry, Jennifer Buckingham, Pamela Snow, Lorraine S. Hammond, Kym Simoncini, Tina Daniel

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Although professional learning is the main approach for improving teacher knowledge, little evidence exists for its effectiveness in changing practice and improving student outcomes. One possible explanation is poor alignment between professional learning and classroom practice. In this paper, we describe a system-wide approach to changing teacher knowledge and reading pedagogy. Classroom teachers (n = 199) across 43 schools engaged in professional learning on contemporary science of learning and training in the use of published systematic and explicit reading instruction programs. Following the intervention, students’ word reading data revealed that the percentage of students requiring support post intervention had significantly …

Exploration On Mechanical Response Mechanism Of Laser Melting Deposited Tibw/Ti–6al–4v Via In Situ Characterisation Technology, Yaya Wu, Anan Guo, Jianqiang Yuan, Lin Zhang, Yan Wen, Lin Hua, Lai Chang Zhang, Lechun Xie

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

The processing parameters of laser melting deposition (LMD) can significantly influence the microstructure and properties of LMD components. Herein, we manufactured TiBw/Ti–6Al–4V titanium matrix composite (TMC) using LMD, aiming to obtain the optimal preparation parameters. The electrical resistivity of the TMC first decreased and then increased, which was related to the microstructural evolution. TiBw network was formed in the matrix during LMD, indicating the in situ reaction of TiB2 during LMD. The reinforcement TiBw was tended to precipitate preferentially during solidification. In situ tensile experiments indicated that LMD TiBw/Ti–6Al–4V exhibited an ultimate strength of 1314 MPa and a plastic strain …

Improved Strength And Corrosion Resistance Of Ti–50zr Alloy Through Heat Treatment, Yuhua Li, Qian Zhang, Rong Zhao, Haojie Wang, Yujing Liu, Zibo Zhao, Chengliang Yang, Lai Chang Zhang

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

This work systematically analyzes the effects of heat treatment on the mechanical properties and corrosion behavior of Ti-50Zr alloy produced via vacuum arc melting. Microstructural characterization demonstrates that the microstructure of Ti–50Zr transforms from coarse lamellar α phase in as-cast condition to fine and uniformly distributes acicular α′ phase in heat-treatment state. The tensile strength, yield strength, and microhardness are significantly improved. This strengthening effect can be attributed to grain refinement and increase in dislocation density induced by heat treatment. Furthermore, the heat-treated Ti–50Zr exhibits lower corrosion current density and higher passive film resistance, suggesting a notable improvement in corrosion …

Students As Designers Of Digital Games, Damian Maher, David A. Martin, Natalie Mcmaster, Stefan Schutt, Ben Zunica

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Designing, programming, and using digital games are highly engaging activities and can be effective instructional approaches for supporting student learning. Often, students are users of the games rather than taking on the role of designers and developers, the latter of which requires computational and design thinking skills. This chapter presents a background on digital game design, the rationale for teaching and learning using digital game design, design tools, and examples of students as designers of digital games with links to curriculum outcomes. Drawing on research, the benefits, topics for inclusion, and pedagogical considerations involved in digital game design are investigated. …

Determining Space Requirements For Small And Sick Newborns And Their Mothers In Health Facilities: A Systematic Review, Natalie Strobel, Georgia Whisson, Derek Swe, Rajesh Mehta, Amy Budrikis, Karen Edmond

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Background There are currently no World Health Organization and United Nations Children Fund benchmarks or ‘norms’ for scaling up small and sick newborn (SSN) service delivery in health facilities in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Specifically, there is limited evidence on optimal bed space requirements in SSN units such as special care nurseries and neonatal intensive care units (NICUs). Through this systematic review, we aimed to gather evidence on the optimal space requirements needed for SSNs and their mothers in health facilities, particularly at level 2 district hospitals. Methods We included simulation, experimental, and observational studies, as well as guidelines …

Family And Community Role In The Provision Of Informal Care For Older People Living With Chronic Life-Limiting Illnesses In Rural Ghana, Barbara Adonteng-Kissi, Obed Adonteng-Kissi

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Informal care for older people living with chronic life-limiting illnesses is associated with difficulties. The informal care system built around generational values and cultural norms is steadily weakening in rural Ghana because of economic challenges, migration, urbanisation, and changing family structure. In responding to this knowledge gap, we aimed to ascertain how the immediate family, extended family and community support impact on mechanisms underlying provision of informal care for older people living with chronic life-limiting illnesses. Ethnographic interviews were conducted amongst fifteen older people; fifteen informal caregivers; ten health care professionals, after participatory observations during six months of fieldwork utilised …

Guiding Principles For Stakeholder Engagement In Supporting Children’S Digital Citizenship: The 4a Model, Kylie J. Stevenson, Harrison W. See, Emma Jayakumar

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

This article outlines an evidence-based model of children’s digital citizenship stakeholder engagement, reporting the final outcome of a project conducted in the Asia Pacific region, titled Digital Safety and Citizenship Roundtables: Using Consultation and Creativity to Engage Stakeholders (Children, Policy Influencers, Industry) in Best Practice in India, South Korea, and Australia. This qualitative research positioned young children aged 3 to 13 years as key stakeholders in their digital citizenship development. Their views were communicated to adult stakeholders with an interest in digital citizenship policy and practice. The authors outline the 4A model, based on evidence collected from child and adult …

Laissez-Faire Leadership, Red Tape And The Meaningful Work Paradox, Abid Hussain, Esme Franken

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

While meaningful work is widely recognised as a driver of job satisfaction, the role of leadership style and bureaucratic constraints in shaping this relationship remains underexplored. This study addresses this gap by investigating how laissez-faire leadership and red tape moderate the meaningful work–job satisfaction relationship among Australian public sector employees (N = 277). The findings reveal that laissez-faire leadership strengthens this relationship, suggesting that the autonomy it provides enhances the benefits of meaningful work, contrary to its traditionally negative portrayal. In contrast, red tape significantly weakens the relationship, highlighting the adverse effects of bureaucratic inefficiencies. These results confirm that meaningful …

Prognostic Value Of Neutrophil-To-Lymphocyte Ratio, Platelet-To-Lymphocyte Ratio, And Lactate Dehydrogenase Level In Melanoma Patients Treated With Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors, Wynne Wijaya, Muhammad Adnan Khattak, Afaf Abed, Tarek Meniawy, Michael Millward, Elin Gray, Oliver Oey

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Introduction: Metastatic melanoma carries a poor prognosis. Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have improved outcomes, but responses remain variable, highlighting the need for simple prognostic biomarkers. Inflammatory markers such as neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) reflect tumour burden and inflammation, though their clinical utility is unstandardised. Methods: We retrospectively analysed 103 metastatic melanoma patients treated with anti-PD-1 monotherapy at two centres in Western Australia (2014–2020). Baseline NLR, PLR, and LDH were assessed within 30 days pre-treatment. Outcomes included clinical benefit, progression-free survival (PFS), and overall survival (OS). Results: Poor ECOG performance status (PS ≥2) (RR 2.39, …

Behavioral Responses To Underwater Noise, Christine Erbe, Capri Jolliffe, Renee Schoeman, Valeria Senigaglia, Cristina Tollefsen, Rebecca Wellard, Ann Bowles, Dorian Houser, Shyam Madhusudhana, Sarah A. Marley, Angela Recalde Salas, Chandra Salgado-Kent, Leah Trigg

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

This chapter presents an overview of physical and acoustic behavioral responses of marine mammals to underwater sounds. A literature review was undertaken, and data on received levels at the animal when certain types of responses were observed were compiled in an online supplementary spreadsheet. Based on this, an overview of responses was written, organized first by species and then by sound type. In-air and underwater sound sources were considered. The most studied sound types were mid-frequency sonar and acoustic deterrent devices and then impact pile driving and vessels. The most frequently reported response was avoidance, followed by changes in swim …

Geomorphic And Sedimentary Impact On Beaches Of Eastern Visayas (Philippines) After Typhoon Haiyan In 2013 – Short-Term Recovery And Post-Depositional Changes, Eva Quix, Max Engel, Fabian Boesl, Lia A.L. Gonzalo, Francesca V. Llanes, Mark A.C Bahala, Rodrigo C. Eco, Jan A.M. Galang, Dominik Brill, S. Matthias May, Helmut Brückner

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Tropical cyclones and storm surges are a major threat to coastal communities of the Philippines. On 08th November 2013, category 5 Typhoon Haiyan (local name: Yolanda) made landfall on the islands of Eastern Visayas and caused more than 6000 casualties and severe damage to infrastructure and habitats. To assess the geomorphic impact of one of the strongest tropical cyclones on record, three post-typhoon surveys were conducted in 2014, 2015 and 2016 at two severely affected sites on the islands of Leyte and Samar. They aimed at documenting Haiyan-related erosional features and sand deposits. The sites have different geomorphic and geological …

Who Cares For The Carers: A Poetic Inquiry Of Initial Teacher Educators Of Professional Experience, Narelle Lemon, Carli Sanbrook, Rikki James, Marnie Harris, Tammy Green, Rozita Dass, Bev Adkin, Gail Berman

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

In this paper, we suggest that poetic inquiry offers a pathway for capturing the deeply felt, personal dimensions of ongoing identity growth of initial teacher educators of professional experience. We propose that poetic inquiry provides an avenue for authentically sharing experiences and insights into caring and being cared for, diverging from conventional academic narratives. Through poetic self-reflection and collective poetic representation, we can uncover and navigate the subtle tensions shaping our identity journey, fostering a communal understanding of the teacher educator’s role within the contexts of Australian higher education and initial teacher education.

Design Of A Robust Adaptive Cascade Fractional-Order Nonlinear-Based Controller Enhanced Using Grey Wolf Optimization For High-Power Dc/Dc Dual Active Bridge Converter In Electric Vehicles, Seyyed Morteza Ghamari, Daryoush Habibi, Mehrdad Ghahramani, Asma Aziz

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

The dual active bridge (DAB) converter is a key technology in electric vehicles (EVs), offering efficient, bidirectional DC–DC power conversion with galvanic isolation. This paper presents a novel cascade control strategy incorporating a fractional-order PID (FOPID) controller in the outer loop for precise voltage regulation and an adaptive backstepping controller (ABSC) in the inner loop for robust current control. The ABSC is designed using Lyapunov stability theory, ensuring systematic stabilization of nonlinear dynamics and robust performance under disturbances. The FOPID controller introduces superior filtering characteristics, effectively mitigating high-frequency measurement noise and transient disturbances, making it highly suitable for high-frequency power …

A Comparative Study Of Aluminium Properties Manufactured Using Additive Friction Stir Deposition (Afsd) And Wire Arc Additive Manufacturing (Waam), Numan Habib, Ana Vafadar, Ferdinando Guzzomi

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Wire arc additive manufacturing (WAAM) has recently gained considerable attention due to its capability to manufacture large-size metal with a length of one meter or above, with good microstructural and mechanical properties. However, the manufacture of critical components exposed to extreme environmental conditions, such as high stresses, remains the focus of most research studies. The applications of WAAM in high-tech industries, such as aerospace and marine modes, remain limited due to metallurgical challenges such as oxidation, porosity, cracking, and deformation, especially for high-strength aluminium alloys, including 6XXX and 7XXX series. The aforementioned metallurgical challenges in WAAM are minimized to some …

A Swirling Offering: Climate Change Impacts On Incense And Other Useful Alpine Plants Of Bhutan, Nidup Gyeltshen, Choki Gyeltshen, Sangay Dema, Suresh K. Ghimire, Natalie Konig, Robbie Hart

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Climate change impacts on social-ecological systems —such as useful plant harvest— can be elucidated through local perceptions and ecological monitoring. To better understand how these two approaches may show convergent or divergent perspectives on a shared system, we conducted semi-structured interviews on climate change impacts on useful plants in the alpine region of Central Bhutan, contextualized with results from ecological monitoring at the same site. Participants reported 42 useful alpine plant species. Incense plants were the most frequently cited and prioritized in free-lists (three times more likely to be mentioned first), ahead of other common uses (food, medicine). Most participants …

Elizabeth Usher Memorial Lecture 2024: Speech-Language Pathology Practice In Aboriginal Spaces: A Journey Of Learning And Unlearning, Elizabeth Armstrong

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

In this paper I describe learnings gained from 15 years collaboration with Aboriginal colleagues in Australia, in endeavours to improve rehabilitation services for Aboriginal people with brain injury and their families. Colleagues include Aboriginal researchers, clinicians, and people with communication and other disorders associated with brain injury and their families. My research journey in this field has been made possible through the work, mentoring, and support of these colleagues who introduced me to Aboriginal ways of knowing, being, and doing. My journey has involved challenging and un-learning some widely accepted Western tenets of speech-language pathology practice in order to explore …

High Diversity Of Dietary Flavonoid Intake Is Associated With A Lower Risk Of All-Cause Mortality And Major Chronic Diseases, Benjamin H. Parmenter, Alysha S. Thompson, Nicola P. Bondonno, Amy Jennings, Kevin Murray, Aurora Perez-Cornago, Jonathan M. Hodgson, Anna Tresserra-Rimbau, Tilman Kühn, Aedín Cassidy

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Higher habitual intakes of dietary flavonoids have been linked with a lower risk of all-cause mortality and major chronic disease. Yet, the contribution of diversity of flavonoid intake to health outcomes remains to be investigated. Here, using a cohort of 124,805 UK Biobank participants, we show that participants who consumed the widest diversity of dietary flavonoids, flavonoid-rich foods and/or specific flavonoid subclasses had a 6–20% significantly lower risk of all-cause mortality and incidence of cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, cancer, respiratory disease and neurodegenerative disease. Furthermore, we report that both quantity and diversity of flavonoids are independent predictors of mortality …

Place In Young Adults’ Alcohol Journeys, Lauren J. Gellatly, Cynthia M. Webster, Leanne Carter, Steve D’ Alessandro

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Drinking alcohol is highly situational and depends in part on place. This research takes an interpretivist approach to explore different social and physical aspects of place that enable or inhibit young adults’ alcohol consumption journeys. In 14 asynchronous online forums, 47 Australian consumers aged 15–24 recalled a time when they drank too much and another when they chose to drink less. Starting with an inductive approach and moving to abductive reasoning, established qualitative techniques of categorisation, abstraction, dimensionalisation and comparison were used to interrogate the data. Results link moderate drinking to ‘smooth’ journeys typically occurring in single locations with more …

Contextualising Hotel Career Behaviour: Testing A Sociocultural And Organizational Career Model, Franklin Akosa, Songshan (Sam) Huang, Hossein Ali Abadi, Jun Wen

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

This study applies Social Cognitive Career Theory (SCCT) to develop and empirically test a contextual model of hotel career outcomes in Ghana, focusing on how social and organizational factors shape employees' career attitudes and intentions. Drawing on survey data from 769 frontline hotel employees, Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) was employed to assess both the measurement and structural models. The results reveal that subjective norms significantly and positively influence career attitudes. Transformational leadership not only strengthens employees' career attitudes and intentions but also moderates the relationship between subjective norms and career attitudes, amplifying their positive effect. Additionally, favourable …

Improving Diet Quality Of People Living With Obesity By Building Effective Dietetic Service Delivery Using Technology In A Primary Health Care Setting: Protocol For A Randomized Controlled Trial, Deborah A. Kerr, Clare E. Collins, Andrea Begley, Barbara Mullan, Satvinder S. Dhaliwal, Claire E. Pulker, Fengqing Zhu, Marie Fialkowski, Richard L. Prince, Richard Norman, Anthony P. James, Paul Aveyard, Helen Mitchell, Jacquie Garton-Smith, Megan E. Rollo, Chloe Maxwell-Smith, Amira Hassan, Hayley Breare, Lucy M. Butcher, Christina M. Pollard

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Background: Almost a third of Australian adults are living with obesity, yet most cannot access medical nutrition therapy from dietitians, that is, the health professionals trained in dietary weight management services. Across the health system, primary care doctors readily identify people who may benefit from weight management services, but there are limited referral options in the community. Dietitians are trained to provide evidence-informed dietary treatment of overweight and obesity but are underutilized and underresourced. The chat2 (Connecting Health and Technology 2) trial will test combining new technologies for dietary assessment with behavior change techniques to improve outcomes for people living …

Rhetorics Or Business As Usual? A Systematic Review Of The Realities Of Australian Aid Localisation Efforts In The Pacific Region, Mark Opoku Amankwa, Clement Amponsah, Kwadwo Adusei-Asante, Vicki Frances Banham, Portia Nana Ama Brempong

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

While Australia increasingly references aid localisation in its programming, implementation remains donor-driven and structurally resistant to local agency. Comprehensive reviews capturing these realities remain scarce. This study synthesises insights from 150 articles obtained from the Web of Science Database to address this gap. Findings reveal persistent donor-driven, hierarchical approaches that marginalise local voices and hinder locally led development. Skill deficits, inadequate information sharing, and underutilisation of local knowledge further undermine effectiveness. Political agendas, market-led narratives, and funding systems prioritising external contractors exacerbate dependency and power imbalances. Antithetically, meaningful local leadership and culturally tailored programs have aligned aid initiatives with community …

Faculty Of Radiation Oncology 2022 Workforce Census, Hon Trinh, Nathan Stevens, Gerard Adams, Raphael Chee, Tuan Ha, Marcel Knesl, Jack Mitchell, Sakshi Nagpal, Edward Sia, Daniel Xing

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Introduction: This paper reports the key findings of the Faculty of Radiation Oncology 2022 workforce census. This is the first census since the COVID-19 pandemic and questions have been updated to assess the impact on RANZCR trainees and fellows. This report focuses on the analysis of respondents from Australia, New Zealand and overseas members, with a separate paper to follow focusing exclusively on New Zealand respondents. Method: The census was conducted in mid-late 2022 with many questions repeated from previous censuses. New questions were asked about theranostics, working remotely, hypofractionation and the impact of COVID-19 on work practices. Results: The …

Nuclear Destabilisation – A Possible Genesis Of Cancer?, Daniel D. Scott, Francesco Bettariga, Marco Ventin, Chris Bishop, Britta Stordal

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

This review examines the increasingly prominent role of mechanics within cancer formation and progression. The extremely varied and contradictory genetic landscape of cancer is in stark contrast to the seemingly universal mechanical characteristics of cancer cells and their tumour microenvironment, and mechanics may be a principal unifying trait of this disease. The tight regulation of innate cell mechanical properties raises the possibility that destabilisation of the cell drives tumour formation in an attempt to restore cell mechanical homeostasis. With losses in cell stiffness more pronounced at the cell nucleus, we hypothesise that destabilisation occurs within the nucleus, likely within the …

Prevalence And Relationship Of Poor Sleep Quality And Suicidality Risk Among Patients With Schizophrenia, Inu Arya, Nanda Kumar Paniyadi, Debadatta Mahapatra, Jaison Jacob, Rakesh Vr

Manipal Journal of Nursing and Health Sciences

No abstract provided.

Soothing Little Feet: Exploring Warm Water Foot Baths As A Gentle Fever-Reduction Therapy For Children", Alphy Philip, Manjusha A P, Jaison Jacob

Manipal Journal of Nursing and Health Sciences

Introduction: Footbath therapy has been traditionally used as a non-pharmacological approach to promote relaxation, improve circulation, and regulate body temperature. Warm water footbath therapy, in particular, is believed to aid in reducing fever by enhancing peripheral vasodilation, which facilitates heat dissipation.

Aim: To evaluate the effectiveness of warm water footbath therapy in reducing body temperature in children with fever.

Method: A quasi-experimental design with pre-and post-test control groups was used, involving 40 children aged 6-12 years. Participants were split into an experimental group (n=20) receiving warm water footbath therapy for 15-20 minutes and a control group (n=20) receiving standard care. …