Digital Commons Network^™

Cause Of Death For Heart Transplant Patients, An Autopsy Study, Justin Burk, Cory T Bernadt, Jon Ritter, Chieh-Yu Lin

2020-Current year OA Pubs

INTRODUCTION: Heart transplantations are lifesaving for patients with end-stage heart failure. It is pertinent for the multidisciplinary care team to understand how heart transplant patients succumbed to death and the complications that occurred. In this study, we performed a comprehensive retrospective review of all the autopsies performed in our institute for heart transplant patients and report the trend of demographic data, cause of death, and autopsy findings.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Reports, photos, and slides of autopsies performed at our institute from 1990 to 2023 for heart transplant patients were reviewed. Pertinent demographic data (age, gender, pretransplant diagnosis), clinical data (clinical …

Australia’S Rare Earths Lie Between Economic Security And Liberal Markets, Naoise Mcdonagh

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

China’s dominance over the global supply of processed critical minerals and rare earth elements is well documented, as is its willingness to use such dominance for geopolitical leverage. Beijing has applied export controls to restrict supply on numerous occasions. Recent examples include new restrictions applied to gallium and germanium in 2023, antimony in 2024, and seven rare earths in 2025. This has constrained global supply and elevated spot prices of these metals that serve as critical inputs to advanced industry. The frequency of restrictions is growing, as geoeconomic competition heats up and Beijing turns its mineral dominance into a key …

Bouncing Back Or Forward? Two Approaches To Democratic Resilience After Extremist Attacks, Selen A. Ercan, Jordan Mcswiney, Emily Beausoleil, Claire Fitzpatrick, Andrea Felicetti

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Violent extremist attacks pose a serious threat to democracy, undermining its institutions, norms and practices. This article examines the disruptive impact of violent extremism on the public sphere and considers the role of political leaders in responding to these challenges. Leaders are widely recognised as the key actors shaping the public discourse after extremist attacks, by either reinforcing or resisting the division intended by these attacks. Yet, their role in building democratic resilience – that is, fostering the public sphere’s ability to respond to extremist attacks without compromising its democratic commitments – remains underexplored. Drawing on a range of case …

Data-Driven Insights For Optimizing Ev Charging Infrastructure: A Case Study On Efficiency And Utilization, Kazi Zehad Mostofa, Md Fokrul Islam, Mohammad Aminul Islam, Mohammad Khairul Basher, Tarek Abedin, Boon Kar Yap, Mohammad Nur-E-Alam

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

The increasing global adoption of electric vehicles (EVs) has led to a growing demand for a cost-effective and reliable charging infrastructure. This study presents a novel data-driven approach to assessing EV station performance by analyzing power consumption efficiency, station utilization rates, no-power session occurrences, and CO2 reduction metrics. A dataset of 17,500 charging sessions from 305 stations across a regional network was analyzed to identify operational inefficiencies and opportunities for infrastructure optimization. Results indicate a strong correlation between station utilization and energy efficiency, highlighting the importance of strategic station placement. The findings also emphasize the impact of no-power sessions on …

Do Students’ Attitudes Toward Required Readings And Service-Learning For A Medical Humanities Course Predict Their Perception Of Whether The Course Fosters Their Personal And Professional Development?, Shane L. Rogers, Lon J. Van Winkle

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Purpose: To determine whether prospective medical students’ attitudes toward readings and service-learning for a Medical Humanities course predict their perceived impact of the course on their critical reflection and empathy for their peers. Methods: Following a Medical Humanities course, students completed surveys concerning their attitudes toward team-based service-learning and readings required for the course. And they completed surveys designed to measure their empathy for one another and thoughts and feelings about the course (e.g., “owing to this course, I have changed the way I look at myself” = critical reflection). Results: Students’ positive attitudes toward service-learning and readings for the …

Ecological Resources Of A Heavily Modified And Utilised Temperate Coastal Embayment: Cockburn Sound, Peter J. Mitchell, Daniel E. Yeoh, Kurt N. Krispyn, Claire N. Greenwell, Sorcha Cronin-O’Reilly, Delphine B.H. Chabanne, Glenn A. Hyndes, Danielle Johnston, David V. Fairclough, Claire Wellington, Alan Cottingham, Gary Jackson, Jeffrey V. Norriss, Matias Braccini, Hector Lozano-Montes, Chandra P. Salgado Kent, Erin Clitheroe, Alissa Tate, James W. Penn, Marion Massam, Neil R. Loneragan, James R. Tweedley

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Coastal environments and their associated biota provide numerous environmental, economic and societal services. Cockburn Sound, a temperate embayment on the lower west coast of Western Australia, is immensely important for the State and adjacent capital city of Perth. However, urbanisation and associated terrestrial and marine development has the potential to threaten this important ecosystem. This study collated published and unpublished data to review the current state of the ecological resources of Cockburn Sound and describe how they have changed over the past century. Post-WWII, the embayment began undergoing pronounced anthropogenic changes that limited oceanic water exchange, increased nutrient load, modified …

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 …

Investigating The Environmental Awareness And Attitudes Among Fisher Folks In Ghana: A Sustainability Threat, Nana Akua Okyerewa Djandoh, Enock Swanzy-Impraim

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Environmental concerns, such as human alteration, pollution, and the effects of climate change, have had a significant impact on the survival of beaches worldwide. In Ghana, beaches face numerous threats stemming from human activities, such as deforestation, construction, sand mining, open defecation, and disposal of waste into the sea. Moreover, other factors such as strong winds, high waves, and the effects of climate change contribute to beach vulnerability. This paper is part of a broader study that investigated the environmental attitude and behavior of the Fisher Folks along coastal beaches in the Winneba Municipality in Ghana. Although the broader study …

Lessons From Australasian Principals’ Experiences With Crises: Adapting, Learning And Transforming, Michelle Striepe, Christine Cunningham, Mohini Devi, David Gurr, Fiona Longmuir, Sylvia Robertson, Adam Taylor, Pauline Thompson

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

This paper offers a comparative analysis of how Australasian principals navigated a period of compounding crises. Building on our previous research, this study examines the longer-term impacts and lessons learned from crises experiences. Analysis of interviews with principals from Australia, Fiji and New Zealand revealed a balance of directive and collaborative approaches as they adapted to meet changing community needs. A common theme was a focus on wellbeing and relationship-building although context-specific differences emerged. These differences related to the type of crisis, school characteristics, and location. As the crises subsided, the principals’ experiences transformed their perspectives on their role and …

Modulation Techniques For Underwater Acoustic Communication: A Comprehensive Survey, Muhammad Haziq, Quoc Viet Phung, Stefan Lachowicz, Daryoush Habibi, Iftekhar Ahmad

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

The underwater acoustic channel poses a significant challenge among communication mediums due to its time-varying dynamics, long multipath propagation, and severe Doppler shifts. Ensuring reliable data transmission under these conditions demands advanced modulation techniques, sophisticated signal processing algorithms, and high energy consumption. Moreover, underwater communication nodes typically have limited battery reserves, making them difficult and costly to replace or recharge. Additionally, as underwater communication networks expand, the risk of security threats that could compromise the system has increased, necessitating robust security measures that add further computational overhead. This comprehensive survey reviews the state-of-the-art modulation techniques for underwater acoustic communication, concentrating …

Natural Hydrogen Soil Gas Emissions Near Harvey, Perth Basin: A Comparative Study Of Survey Methods, Krista Davies, Peter W. Haines, Charmaine Thomas, Leon Normore

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Quantifying natural hydrogen soil gas emissions and their controlling factors is critical for assessing hydrogen storage viability and improving exploration strategies. This study provides the first detailed comparison of hydrogen emissions near the DMP Harvey-2 well in the Perth Basin and compares the effectiveness of repeated point surveys and autonomous monitoring in capturing emission variability. Hydrogen concentrations ranged from 0 to >1000 ppm in point surveys, with transient pulses up to 598 ppm detected through continuous monitoring, indicating episodic release. Repeated point surveys successfully captured the overall range of emissions but failed to resolve dynamic processes, such as abrupt flux …

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 …

Pre-Storage Application Of Oxalic Acid And Modified Atmosphere Packaging Delays Degradation Of Cell Wall Polysaccharides In Persimmon Fruit, Mahmood Ul Hasan, Zora Singh, Hafiz Muhammad Shoaib Shah, Eben Afrifa-Yamoah, Andrew Woodward, Jashanpreet Kaur

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Persimmon is a climacteric fruit that is highly prone to chilling injury (CI) and softening, which limits its long-term marketability. This study investigated the effectiveness of treatments on persimmon fruit: a 5 mM oxalic acid (OA) dip treatment for 2 min, modified atmosphere packaging (MAP), their combination (OA + MAP), and untreated fruits were considered as control, followed by storage at 0 ± 1 °C for up to 60 days with subsequent 1 day at shelf conditions. The combined OA + MAP treatment alleviated CI incidence, followed by MAP alone and OA treatment in persimmon fruit. Additionally, the OA + …

Speculative Documentary As World-Building: Contaminated Knowledge And Future-Making, Cassandra Tytler

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

In the context of climate emergency and growing mistrust in knowledge institutions, both science and documentary practice have often been positioned as neutral authorities. Yet the knowledge they produce is shaped by political, social, and material conditions. This paper presents a creative practice research project that uses speculative documentary to trouble dominant narratives of truth and objectivity. Rather than rejecting science, it critiques the authority of singular truth claims in both scientific and documentary domains, asking how knowledge is constructed and maintained. The analysis centres on It Will Not Be Pure, a multi-channel video installation created as a form of …

Location And Extent Of Disease Predicts Outcome Of Neurofibromatosis Type 1-Related Pediatric Low-Grade Gliomas, Sneha M Chaturvedi, Arohi Saxena, Ahmad Hassan, Ali Mian, Chelsea Kotch, Nicole M Brossier

2020-Current year OA Pubs

No abstract provided.

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. …

A Deep Dive Into Taught Postgraduates’ Participation In Work-Integrated Learning, Denise Jackson

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

This study draws on national data to explore postgraduate participation in different types of work-integrated learning (WIL) in Australia. Despite considerable interest in WIL engagement in higher education, research is primarily focused on undergraduates with relatively little known about participation in postgraduate cohorts and how this varies across disciplines. Consequently, this study analyses how 119,000 graduates of Australian postgraduate coursework degrees engaged in work-based WIL (e.g., internships/placements); non-workplace WIL (e.g., projects/consultancies) and global WIL experiences between 2020 and 2023. In addition to breakdowns by discipline and international/domestic student status, the study examines relationships between WIL engagement and personal, study and …

Association Between Hypertension And Dementia Risk In Low- And Middle-Income Countries: A Systematic Review, Josephine E. Lindhout, Marieke P. Hoevenaar-Blom, Jan Willem Van Dalen, Manshu Song, Dong Lin, Wei Wang, Edo Richard, Eric P. Moll Van Charante, Tessa Van Middelaar

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Background: Dementia prevalence is rising most rapidly in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), yet most evidence on risk factors such as hypertension stems from high-income settings. In LMICs, hypertension may have a greater impact due to its high prevalence and poor control. We systematically reviewed evidence on the association between blood pressure and dementia and cognition in LMICs, and compared findings across regions. Methods: We searched PubMed, Embase, PsycINFO, and Global Index Medicus and reviewed reference lists for relevant studies. We included longitudinal studies (follow-up ≥6 months) from LMICs on the association between systolic blood pressure or hypertension and incident …

The Vietnam War And The Regional Context, Wen-Qing Ngoei

Research Collection School of Social Sciences

This chapter traces Southeast Asia’s overall pro-U.S. trajectory from before and through the American war in Vietnam, a process in which the region’s anticommunist nationalists collaborated with the United States and Britain to gain, and remain in, power. Between the late 1940s through the early 1960s, indigenous anticommunist elites in Thailand and the Philippines rose to political dominance with U.S. assistance; in Malaya and Singapore they did so with British support. The United States and Britain, with their Malayan and Singaporean allies, would influence developments within Indonesia that precipitated the Indonesian Army’s rightwing coup of 1965, a transformative event that …

Cui-Derived Cuxo Thin Films Development Via Thermal Oxidation For Lead-Free Perovskite Solar Cells, Md Jakir Hossen, Md Shahinuzzaman, M. S. Jamal, Suhana Mohd Said, S. F.W.M. Hatta, Md Helal Miah, Mayeen Uddin Khandaker, Mohammad Nur-E-Alam, Mohammad Aminul Islam

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

The development of low-cost, stable, and efficient hole transport layers (HTLs) is crucial to the advancement of lead-free perovskite solar cells. In this work, a solution-based oxidation process is employed to convert spin-coated copper iodide (CuI) films into mixed-phase copper oxide (CuxO) thin films comprising Cu₂O and CuO. Oxidation occurs under moderate temperatures (200–300°C), leading to uniform, compact, and highly conductive p-type films with tunable bandgaps. Structural, morphological, and optical analysis confirms successful phase transformation, and measurements of Hall effect reveal maximum mobility of holes of 26.7 cm² V⁻¹ s⁻¹ for double-coated films annealed at 300°C. Device …

Desiring Education, Exhibiting Agency, Experiencing Systemic Obstacles: Re-Examining The Perceptions And Experiences Of Education Among Indigenous And Non-Indigenous Students In Australia, Mary Anne Macdonald, Eyal Gringart, Terry Kessaris, Renae Isaacs-Guthridge

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

We present new findings from a Western Australian mixed-methods study exploring a sample of Indigenous and non-Indigenous secondary school students’ (N = 536) experiences and perceptions of school. Respondents hailed largely from remote or regional Western Australia, although approximately half attended boarding school. This article presents findings of multivariate analysis of responses to the Multi-Dimensional Student Perceptions of School Questionnaire (MSPSQ) and identifies that Indigenous and non-Indigenous students in this study were found to be equally likely to report a positive perception of the benefit of education and the importance of attending and completing year 12, and equally likely to …

Determinants Of Customers’ Variety Seeking Intentions On Mobile Food Ordering Applications, Chandrasekaran Padmavathy, Seon Jeong Ally Lee, Murugan Pattusamy, Sanjit K. Roy

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Mobile Food Ordering Applications (MFOAs) have gained prominence in the hospitality sector, particularly post-COVID-19, reflecting customers’ preference for digital food ordering. Despite this, there remains ample opportunity for substantial research in this evolving domain. This study examines the impact of technological, psychological, and economic factors on customers’ variety seeking intentions, by utilising the Elaboration Likelihood Model (ELM). Drawing on a sample of 979 customers from India, results show that deal proneness, personalised product recommendations, online ratings, and delivery timeliness show mixed effects on variety seeking intentions. The results also show that perceived convenience acts as a mediator between central and …

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 …

Energy-Efficient Resource Allocation For Mission-Critical Applications In Underwater Acoustic Networks, Walid K. Hasan, Iftekhar Ahmad, Quoc Viet Phung, Yue Rong, Haitham Khaled, Daryoush Habibi

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

The Internet of Underwater Things (IoUT) has emerged as a vital technological domain, significantly advancing underwater exploration and communication capabilities. At the core of this paradigm is Underwater Acoustic Communication (UAC), which acts as the primary medium for data transmission in underwater environments, including environmental monitoring, security and surveillance, and underwater exploration. Despite its significance, UAC systems face inherent challenges such as limited bandwidth, high signal attenuation, and long propagation delays. These limitations become particularly significant in mission-critical maritime operations, such as warning systems, underwater navigation and control, and diver safety or emergency communications, where timely and reliable data transmission …

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 …

Parallel Ethnic Identity Development Of Mexican-Origin Adolescents And Mothers Under The Influence Of Neighborhood Latinx Concentration And Ethnic-Racial Diversity, Hin Wing Tse, Jinjin Yan, Lester Sim, Minyu Zhang, Wen Wen, Jiaxiu Song, Su Yeong Kim

Research Collection School of Social Sciences

Co-ethnic or ethnically-racially diverse neighborhoods can serve as safe and supportive places for U.S. immigrant families to explore and develop clarity about their ethnic identity. Although parents undergo concurrent changes in the adaptation process with their children, existing research has predominantly focused on adolescents, with fewer examination on adult parents’ continued ethnic identity development; additionally, researchers also overlook the impact of neighborhood context on ethnic identity in parents. To fill this gap, this registered study used a three-wave longitudinal dataset of 595 Mexican-origin adolescents and their mothers in central Texas. Latent growth models were used to estimate how ethnic identity …

Perception-Based Methods And Beyond: A Current Opinion On How To Assess Static Stretching Intensity, Konstantin Warneke, Anthony J. Blazevich, Daniel Jochum, David G. Behm, Ewan Thomas, Masatoshi Nakamura, José Afonso

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Muscle stretching is widely used in clinical, athletic, and otherwise healthy populations, yet a consensual definition of stretch intensity—a key component of stretch load—does not exist. This is important because the effects of stretch intensity on range of motion and strength are controversial but suggested to affect clinical practice and scientific research. Most commonly, stretch intensity is defined in relation to an individual’s perceived level of discomfort or pain; however, these definitions are problematic for several reasons, including that consensual and objective quantifiable definitions of ‘pain’ and ‘discomfort’ do not exist, perceptions vary widely (and may not be sensed in …

Predator Exposure And Gene Flow As Tools To Preserve Antipredator Traits In Havened Populations: Behavioural Observations Of Quenda, Natasha D. Harrison, Nicola J. Mitchell, Harriet Mills, Anna J.M. Hopkins, Ben L. Phillips

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

When predation pressure is relaxed, for example, in predator-free conservation havens, populations can rapidly lose antipredator traits. Such trait loss is thought to be accelerated when resource competition becomes the dominant selection pressure in the absence of predation risk. Under these circumstances, antipredator traits may be retained by reducing resource competition through predator exposure (both of which reduce selection against antipredator traits) or by maintaining gene flow with predator-savvy populations. Here, we examine differences in antipredator traits in quenda, Isoodon fusciventer, inside and outside of a conservation haven in which low levels of gene flow and predator exposure have been …

Psychology's Questionable Research Fundamentals (Qrfs): Key Problems In Quantitative Psychology And Psychological Measurement Beyond Questionable Research Practices (Qrps), Jana Uher, Jan Ketil Arnulf, Paul T. Barrett, Moritz Heene, Jörg Henrik Heine, Jack Martin, Lucas B. Mazur, Marek Mcgann, Robert J. Mislevy, Craig Speelman, Aaro Toomela, Ron Weber

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Psychology's crises (e.g., replicability, generalisability) are currently believed to derive from Questionable Research Practices (QRPs), thus scientific misconduct. Just improving the same practices, however, cannot tackle the root causes of psychology's problems—the Questionable Research Fundamentals (QRFs) of many of its theories, concepts, approaches and methods (e.g., psychometrics), which are grounded in their insufficiently elaborated underlying philosophies of science. Key problems of psychological measurement are critically explored from independent perspectives involving various fields of expertise and lines of research that are well established but still hardly known in mainstream psychology. This comprehensive multi-perspectival review presents diverse philosophies of science that are …