Digital Commons Network^™

Colostrum As A Protective Factor Against Peanut Allergy: Evidence From A Birth Cohort, Maheshwar Bhasin, Matthew Cooper, Patricia Macchiaverni, Ravisha Srinivas Joys, Therese A. O'Sullivan, Jeffrey A. Keelan, Carina Venter, Debra J. Palmer, Adrian J. Lowe, Susan L. Prescott, Desiree Silva, Valerie Verhasselt

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Background: Food allergy affects families' quality of life, can be lifelong and life-threatening, urging the identification of early modifiable risk factors. Formula feeding in the first days of life may increase the risk of cow's milk allergy, a risk often attributed to cow's milk allergens exposure. Early formula feeding also reduces the colostrum intake, the first 3 days' milk, which is rich in bioactive compounds critical for immune and gut health. This study investigates whether partial colostrum feeding increases the risk of food allergy beyond cow's milk. Methods: Data from 666 mother-infant pairs in the Australian ORIGINS cohort categorised neonates …

Deep Reinforcement Learning–Driven Multi-Omics Integration For Constructing Gtage: A Novel Aging Clock From Igg N-Glycome And Blood Transcriptome, Yao Xia, Syed Mohammed Shamsul Islam, Xingang Li, Abdul Baten, Xuerui Tan, Wei Wang

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Previous studies have demonstrated that the immunoglobulin G (IgG) N-glycome and transcriptome are potential biochemical signatures of chronological and biological ages, and several aging clocks have been developed. By integrating the IgG N-glycome and transcriptome, we propose a novel aging clock, gtAge. We developed a deep reinforcement learning-based multiomics integration method called AlphaSnake. The results showed that AlphaSnake achieved a predicted coefficient of determination (R²) value of 0.853, outperforming the concatenation-based integration method (R² = 0.820). The gtAge estimated by AlphaSnake explained up to 85.3% of the variance in chronological age, which was higher than that in …

Determining The Carbon Footprint Of Australia’S Electricity, Gas, Water And Waste Services Sector, Soheil Kazemian, Rashid Zaman, Behzad Foroughi, Morteza Ghobakhloo

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Purpose – This study aims to address the global challenge of quantifying sectoral carbon emissions, offering a scalable methodology applicable across diverse national contexts. As one of the world’s leading greenhouse gas emitters, Australia has a critical role in achieving the Paris Climate Change Agreement’s net-zero emissions goal by 2050. The utility services sector – electricity, gas, water and waste services – has historically been Australia’s largest source of CO2-equivalent emissions. However, this also highlights its significant potential to contribute to national emission reductions through targeted mitigation strategies. This research analyses the total carbon footprint of Australia’s utility services sector …

Digital Provision, Educators’ Attitudes And Use In Early Learning Settings: Ready To Implement The Eylf V2.0?, Lennie Barblett, Maria Enriquez Watt, Patricia R. Collins, Fiona Boylan, Pauline Roberts, Leesa Costello

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

An update of the Early Years Learning Framework V2.0 emphasises the thoughtful, balanced and purposeful integration of digital technology in facilitating positive outcomes for children’s learning, development and wellbeing. In addition, educators are asked to support families with eSafety, yet it is unclear how educators are poised to respond to these changes. Within a post-positivist frame, 123 Australian early learning educators described their workplace digital provision, digital knowledge, skills, confidence and attitudes through a national online survey. Findings show that educators were confident about their own personal digital use, however their attitudes varied towards the use of digital technologies with …

Discrepancies In Combat Sports Injury Reporting: A Comparison Of Athlete Self-Reports And Ringside Physician Data, Colin S. Doherty, Oliver R. Barley, Lauren V. Fortington

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Objectives: The objective of this study is to describe and compare competition injuries in combat sports using two sources: (1) athletes' self-reported injury-related health problems (HPs) seven days after the competition, and (2) injury reports completed by ringside physicians immediately after each contest. Design: Cross-sectional study of 29 combat sport events in Western Australia between August 2022 and November 2023. Methods: Athletes reported injury-related HPs through an online questionnaire that included the Oslo Sports Trauma Research Centre Questionnaire on Health Problems 2 (OSTRC-H2). Ringside physicians-documented injuries/medical notes were provided by the Western Australia Combat Sports Commission. Results: Out of 250 …

Exploring The Use Of Strategic Influencer Leadership (Sil) In Health Communication: A Cross-Cultural, Multi-Case Study, Katharina Wolf, Catherine Archer, Syafiq B. Assegaff, Joseph Nalloor

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Purpose This study challenges the social media-centric view of influencers, arguing that health communication benefits from diverse strategic influencers beyond commercial figures. Trust, credibility and cultural resonance are essential for effective public health messaging, yet contemporary approaches often prioritise engagement metrics over strategic influence. Design/methodology/approach This paper employs a multi-case study approach to examine the strategic use of influencers in health communication across Indonesia, the United Arab Emirates and Australia during the COVID-19 pandemic. It explores how health professionals, royal representatives and a politician shaped public health messaging within culturally specific contexts. A mixed-methods approach, incorporating ethnographic research and thematic …

Navigating Prediabetes In A Foreign Country: A Qualitative Study Of Self-Management Experiences Among Chinese-Speaking Immigrants In Australia, Min Zhang, Kirsten J. Coppell, Johnny Lo, Lisa Whitehead

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Aim: Chinese-speaking immigrants in Australia have a higher risk of type 2 diabetes and face more barriers to accessing quality healthcare compared to non-culturally and linguistically diverse populations. This study aimed to explore the self-management experiences of Chinese-speaking Australians with self-reported lived experience of prediabetes following immigration. Design: Qualitative study. Methods: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 10 purposively selected Australian Chinese-speaking immigrants aged over 40 years. Data collection was undertaken in Perth, Western Australia between April and August 2024. Data were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis. Results: Three themes are presented in this paper: (1) An acculturation journey: Reshaping cultural …

Neuromotor Function Following Lower-Limb Muscle Or Tendon Injury: Systematic Review And Meta-Analysis, Jack Andringa-Bate, Moath Almusallam, Molly Coventry, Myles C. Murphy, Ebonie Rio, Tania Pizzari

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Purpose: Alterations in neuromotor function occur following lower-limb injuries and might be a factor in recurrent injury. We evaluated if adults with previous lower-limb muscle or tendon injury demonstrate differences in neuromotor function compared with uninjured or control limbs. Methods: A systematic search of health databases MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, and SPORTDiscus was conducted from inception until the end of April 2024. Studies evaluating neuromotor function of adults with a history of lower-limb muscle or tendon injury compared to an uninjured contralateral or control limb were included. Inverse variance, random effects meta-analyses were used to generate effect estimates for neuromotor outcomes. …

Research Priorities For Nursing And Allied Health: A Priority-Setting Project Using A Partnership Approach, Marina Weckend, Lucy Gent, Erin Godecke, Linda Coventry, Gemma Doleman, Amanda Towell-Barnard, Lisa Whitehead

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Background: Research priorities guide research activities, funding and resources within health services. To ensure that research efforts are meaningful and impactful, it is vital that organisational research agendas reflect the priorities of both healthcare consumers and staff, alongside broader national and international research frameworks. This paper outlines a research priority-setting project conducted across two hospitals in Western Australia, aimed at identifying shared research priorities through a collaborative and inclusive approach. Aim: To identify the top ten nursing and allied health research priorities for two hospitals in Western Australia. Methods: A modified James Lind Alliance Priority Setting Partnership approach was used, …

Effects Of Resistance Vs High Intensity Interval Training On Myokines And Cancer Cell Suppression In Breast Cancer Survivors: A Randomized Trial, Francesco Bettariga, Dennis R. Taaffe, Cristina Crespo-Garcia, Timothy D. Clay, Mauro De Santi, Giulia Baldelli, Sanjeev Adhikari, Elin S. Gray, Daniel A. Galvão, Robert U. Newton

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Purpose: Reducing recurrence and mortality is crucial for breast cancer survivors. We investigated the effects of a 12-week resistance training (RT) vs high-intensity interval training (HIIT) program on myokines, cytokines secreted by skeletal muscle cells at rest in response to muscle contraction, and cancer cell inhibition. Methods: Twenty-eight survivors of breast cancer (age 55.5 ± 8.8 yr, body mass index 27.9 ± 5.1 kg/m², time since diagnosis 31 ± 12.3 months) were randomly allocated to a 12-week supervised moderate to high intensity RT (n = 14) or HIIT (n = 14) program 3 days per week. Resting blood …

Reflections From A Community Capacity Building Forum To Support People Bereaved By Suicide, Colleen Carlon, Jacquie Tarrant, Marie Eckersley, Priscilla Vindin

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

An estimated half the population may be impacted by suicide loss. The combination of grief and trauma makes the experience particularly complex. Recognised as the most stigmatised of all sudden losses people bereaved by suicide are in sociocultural contexts that disrupt constructive grief processes and create barriers for help seeking and supportive responses. Effecting change in this context poses a significant health promotion challenge. Social workers in the South West Region of Western Australia sought to develop and deliver a unique postvention approach aimed at strengthening the self-support capacity of people bereaved by suicide while building broader community capacity for …

I Am Still Concerned About Them: Grandmother Kinship Caregivers And The Challenge Of Abuse By Children In Their Care, Hajara Bentum, Vicki Banham, Kwadwo Adusei-Asante

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Research evidence has shown that adverse occurrences within the kinship caregiving environment, such as the grandparents' experiences of violence and abuse, may introduce new stressors or exacerbate existing aged-related challenges, leading to adverse impacts on grandparent kinship carers. Yet no research has explored the impact of abuse and violence experienced by grandparent kinship caregivers from children in their care. This study involved narrative interviews with 31 grandmother kinship caregivers in Ghana to explore the adverse effects of the abuse they have experienced from children in their care. The study findings revealed the following impacts on grandmothers: (1) high blood pressure, …

Towards A Person-Centred Holistic Consultation Framework For Paramedics Attending Non-Acute Presentations: A Multidisciplinary Commentary, Robbie King, Angela Martin, Alan M. Batt, Sonia Louise Martin, Nigel Barr, Caroline Hwang, Bill Lord, Peter O’Meara, Louise Reynolds, Staffan Hammarbäck, Shaun Hosein, Julie Kempton, Brendan Shannon

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Introduction: Traditional rapid-assessment models may not be fully suited for the complex non-acute presentations that paramedics commonly encounter. As paramedicine evolves to meet non-acute patient needs, extended practice community paramedic roles are emerging to deliver holistic and collaborative community-based healthcare. Purpose: This commentary outlines the need for a person-centred holistic clinical consultation framework for paramedics attending complex non-acute presentations. A framework that provides a structured and systematic process for paramedics, particularly those who are transitioning into extended practice community paramedic roles, to guide them in conducting holistic person-centred assessments. This commentary highlights the importance of understanding the biopsychosocial factors influencing …

Where’S My Tweed Jacket With Leather Elbow Patches? The Challenges Of Aging Gracefully In Higher Education, John A. O’Rourke, Christina Gray

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

This paper presents an examination of one veteran academics’ experience in higher education. Via an autoethnographic reflection of a two-decade career, the work-related situations that impact on job enjoyment and challenge motivation to bring enthusiasm year-after-year are discussed. Veteran academics have seen higher education transform dramatically during their tenure and the pressure points that impact on wellbeing are discussed and aligned to contemporary research. In response to the challenges associated with aging in higher education, this paper examines how veteran academics need to prioritize self-care and explores ways that universities can maximize the accumulated knowledge and pedagogical skillset of these …

Emancipatory Research In Social Work: What Does Critical Realism Offer?, Shajimon Peter, Lynne Soon Chean Park, Liz Beddoe

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Summary: Critical realism offers a promising philosophical framework for emancipatory research in social work. Emancipatory research recognizes that people experience multiple realities and necessitates an inclusive participatory approach. However, these experiences are shaped by powers inherent in objectively existing structures, systems, and processes that must be identified and addressed for true emancipation. This theoretical article suggests a critical realism-informed methodology for emancipatory social work research. Findings: The critical realist framework acknowledges a stratified ontology and relativist epistemology that recognizes both subjective experiences and objective structures, bridging the subject–object binary created by objectivist and constructivist approaches. This allows for a radical …

It Makes Me Feel Dysphoric: Transgender And Non-Binary Students’ Perspectives Of Gendered Grouping Practices And Curriculum Provision In Secondary School Physical Education In England, Shaun D. Wilkinson, Dawn Penney

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

This study foregrounds the voices of transgender (trans) and non-binary students in a large-scale mixed-methods investigation of gendered grouping practices and curriculum provision in secondary school physical education (PE) in England. Theoretically, the research brought together an interdisciplinary framework for educational inclusion and the trans inclusion staged model to pursue conceptualisations and expressions of inclusion that disrupt cisnormative policies and structures. A survey of 14 co-educational secondary schools generated data from 36 students who identified as trans (n = 18) or non-binary (n = 18). The findings revealed that most trans (n = 16) and all non-binary students expressed preferences …

Holistic Review In Graduate Admissions: Admissions Professionals’ Evaluation Of Non-Cognitive Traits, Joshua L. Olson

Graduate Studies Theses and Dissertations 2026

This basic qualitative study examines how graduate admissions professionals conceptualize, operationalize, and interpret holistic review within graduate admissions processes. Guided by Social Cognitive Theory and Expectancy-Value Theory, the study explores how non-cognitive traits such as motivation, resilience, self-efficacy, and professionalism are evaluated alongside traditional academic indicators in admissions decision-making. Using semi-structured interviews with graduate admissions professionals directly involved in admissions decisions, the study identifies how holistic review is defined and implemented across institutional contexts, which non-cognitive traits are most valued, and the tools and procedures used to assess applicant potential beyond academic metrics. Findings suggest that, for participants in this …

Come And See: Exploring Complex Dynamics And Abjection Through A Southern Gothic Family Portrait, Lenee N. Peterson

Graduate Studies Theses and Dissertations 2026

“COME AND SEE: Exploring Abject Theory Through a Southern Gothic Family Portrait” examines the artist’s complex familial upbringing through the visual and narrative traditions of Southern Gothic art. Drawing upon abject theory and the cultural references of folk horror and Southern Gothicism, this thesis positions the family portrait where intimacy, trauma, and cultural inheritance collide. The project argues that direct confrontation with abjection can foster recognition, shared experience, and the possibility of collective healing. Grounded in practice-based research, this work functions as a critical and creative response to familial strain shaped by scarcity, social oppression, and emotional precarity. Through a …

Monitoring Shifts In Estuarine Microbial Communities: A Dna-Metabarcoding Approach, Ashley M. Reaume

Graduate Studies Theses and Dissertations 2026

Estuarine microbial communities, including plankton, algae, and bacteria, play important roles in nutrient cycling and food web structure. They are sensitive to changes in abiotic conditions, and shifts in community composition can provide insight into estuarine ecosystem functioning in the face of various physiochemical and anthropogenic stressors. Therefore, monitoring these communities is essential for understanding and maintaining estuarine health. DNA metabarcoding is an emerging technique for enhancing biological monitoring, allowing for the detection of multiple species within a single sample. This dissertation first focuses on how methodological decisions impact DNA metabarcoding results and then implements these optimized methods to perform …

Black Mothers' Experiences Of Birth Trauma: A Conceptual Analysis And Mixed-Methods Study To Advance Perinatal Mental Health Counseling, Lisa Rickman

Graduate Studies Theses and Dissertations 2026

This dissertation study follows the manuscript model and consists of two manuscripts, one conceptual manuscript and one empirical study, both focusing on the experiences of Black mothers following psychologically and physically traumatic childbirth. The conceptual manuscript centers birth trauma within the social, historical, and cultural contexts of perinatal mental health disparities and obstetric racism. This framework guides clinicians in centering Black mothers’ needs utilizing Relational Cultural Theory to promote equitable perinatal mental health practice. The empirical study employs a phenomenological sequential mixed methods approach prioritizing interview data collected from Black mothers who experienced birth trauma. This study also explores their …

Characterization And Antibacterial Assessment Of An Isoborneol-Loaded Nanoemulsion, Sharon M. Rodriguez Villacis

Graduate Studies Theses and Dissertations 2026

In the United States, about 35,000 fatalities occur annually due to antibiotic resistant infections. It is progressively becoming one of the largest challenges when treating hospital-acquired infections. This decline in effectiveness of commonly used antibiotics makes it essential to identify, synthesize, and formulate compounds that possess antimicrobial activity against these common pathogens. Isoborneol, a compound that is naturally occurring terpene that can be derived from the Camphor tree, Cinnamomum camphora, is known for its antimicrobial properties in traditional medicine and in prior literature. To assess this hypothesis, an oil-in-water (OW) nanoemulsion of isoborneol was synthesized, characterized, and assessed for …

Examining Relationships Between Pre-Arrival Information, Perceived Preparedness, And Distressing Call Outcomes Among Firefighters, Victoria L. Steigerwald

Graduate Studies Theses and Dissertations 2026

Responding to distressing emergency calls increases firefighters’ risk for negative mental health outcomes, including posttraumatic stress disorder, warranting investigation into factors that can be targeted to reduce their risk for call-related distress. The present study examined whether the completeness of pre-arrival information about a distressing call reduced firefighters’ peri- and post-call distress via their perceived preparedness for the call and whether general self-efficacy moderated the relationship between pre-arrival information completeness and perceived preparedness. Data were analyzed from 173 active firefighters in the United States (89.0% male, mean age=37.98 years) who completed an online survey asking them to report on levels …

Exercise-Induced Muscle Swelling And Impedance Changes Of The Elbow Flexor, Sofea Smith

Graduate Studies Theses and Dissertations 2026

Electrical impedance myography (EIM) is a non-invasive method that assesses body fluid distribution using impedance (Z), resistance (R), reactance (Xc), and phase angle (PhA). These values have previously been used to interpret cellular health and fluid shifts. Acute muscle edema known as a “pump,” has been reported during and after resistance training exercise and the extent to which bioelectrical properties of the muscle tissue are affected during this process remains relatively unexplored. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to assess changes in EIM during exercise-induced muscle swelling via resistance training. Thirty-one resistance-trained adults (male=21, female=10; age=23.4±6.5 years, BMI=26.17±3.04 kg/m2) …

The Reliability, Validity, And Sensitivity Of Physical Working Capacity At The Pain Intensity Threshold, Danielle A. Sterner

Graduate Studies Theses and Dissertations 2026

The purpose of this dissertation was to evaluate the reliability, validity, and responsiveness to training intervention of a pain-anchored capacity threshold, the Physical Working Capacity at the Pain Intensity Threshold (PWC_PIT), as a practical submaximal marker of endurance-related exercise tolerance. Study one examined the test-retest reliability of pain-based, perceptual, and physiological physical working capacity measures in recreationally active men using a standardized multi-bout cycling protocol, with pain intensity responses demonstrating strong reproducibility and low measurement error, supporting the stability of pain-anchored thresholds when standardized procedures are applied. Study two evaluated the validity of PWC_PIT by examining pain …

Federated Learning In The Era Of Foundation Models, Guangyu Sun

Graduate Studies Theses and Dissertations 2026

The emergence of large-scale foundation models has reshaped computer vision and multi-modal learning, but their substantial computational and communication demands pose significant challenges for deployment in federated learning (FL) systems. Federated learning enables collaborative model training across decentralized clients without sharing raw data, offering strong privacy guarantees. However, adapting foundation models in FL remains difficult due to communication bottlenecks, heterogeneous data distributions, limited device resources, and scarce labeled data. This dissertation presents a unified line of research that addresses these challenges through four complementary frameworks, progressively advancing the efficiency, personalization, and practicality of foundation model adaptation in federated settings.

First, …

Driving Factors And Spatio-Temporal Evolution Of Tourist Accident Clusters In Chinese Outbound Tourism, Chaowu Xie, Kun Zhang, Jiangchi Zhang, Songshan Huang

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

The clustering of tourist accidents is a critical yet underexplored area of research. This study employs cluster theory and safety system theory to develop a comprehensive measurement tool for analysing tourist accident clusters, examining their spatiotemporal evolution patterns, and identifying the driving mechanisms from a holistic destination perspective. By analysing accident records of Chinese outbound tourists across 48 countries from 2011 to 2019, the findings reveal a reduction in disparities among tourist accident clusters (α-convergence effect) and a fluctuating trend over time. Spatial autocorrelation analysis identifies four distinct spatial distribution patterns: low-low (L-L), high-low (H-L), high-high (H-H), and low-high (L-H). …

Gaining Voice, Creating Opportunity: An Exploration Of Non-Native English-Speaking Students’ Sources Of Self-Efficacy In U.S. College Public Speaking Classrooms, Desiree M M Flores-Molina

Graduate Studies Theses and Dissertations 2026

This qualitative dissertation explores the sources of public speaking self-efficacy among non-native English-speaking international students enrolled in U.S. college public speaking courses. The study applies Bandura's social cognitive theory to examine how students describe the experiences that shape their confidence and perceived ability to succeed, with attention to mastery experiences, vicarious experiences, verbal persuasion, and physiological and affective states. It also considers how classroom practices and instructor support contribute to or constrain students' confidence.

Data were collected through semi-structured student interviews, guided reflection artifacts connected to major speech assignments, and key-informant interviews with public speaking instructors. Thematic analysis was used …

Evaluating Novel Targeted Combination Therapies For Gastrointestinal Cancers, Joseph A. Goode

Graduate Studies Theses and Dissertations 2026

Gastrointestinal (GI) cancers remain among the leading causes of cancer-related mortality worldwide, with therapeutic resistance continuing to limit the effectiveness of current treatments. Three complementary studies were conducted to identify therapeutic vulnerabilities and evaluate novel combination strategies in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) and colorectal cancer (CRC).  First, dual inhibition of fibroblast growth factor receptor 4 (FGFR4) and phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)/mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling was investigated in PDAC models. A combination of targeted drug treatments reduced viability, clonogenic survival, migration, and suppressed signaling pathways involved in translational control. This supported a functional interaction between FGFR4 and PI3K-mTOR co-activation in …

The Impact Of Criminal Justice System Contact On Adolescents In The U.S.: Prescription Drug Misuse, Marijuana Use, Health Outcomes, And Demographic Characteristics, Fadime Gokce Karaaslan

Graduate Studies Theses and Dissertations 2026

Criminal justice system (CJS) contact remains a pervasive feature of social life in the United States, with both direct and indirect consequences for adolescents and their families. Although previous research has explored the consequences of direct CJS contact, less is known about how indirect or vicarious contact affects adolescents’ well-being and substance use. Drawing on data from the Future of Families and Child Wellbeing Study (FFCWS), this study investigates the association between parental incarceration and vicarious police stops, defined as police stops involving parents, siblings, friends, neighbors, or other social ties, and adolescent well-being. Findings indicate that CJS contact is …

Coordinated Whole-Body Dynamic Pressing And Reaction Inhibition — Impact Of High-Intensity Intermittent Exercise And Dehydration, Modesto A. Lebron

Graduate Studies Theses and Dissertations 2026

Dynamic whole-body pressing movements are an imperative aspect of various sport and occupational settings, requiring motor coordination to kinetically sequence from lower- to upper-extremities. Recently, exercises such as the jammer arm punch press (JPP) have increased in popularity, promoted as an exercise to improve strength and force transfer. While the JPP has observed increased practical utility, its use in research is limited potentially due to difficulties with quantifying exercise intensity. One method to quantify exercise intensity is the assessment of velocity, serving as the basis for velocity-based training. For optimization, this strategy requires an understanding of velocity ranges and their …