Digital Commons Network^™

Two Strategies To Improve Stability In A Precision-Based Task: Insights From The Badminton Short Serve, Yochi Iino, Jodie Cochrane Wilkie, Senshi Fukashiro, Shinsuke Yoshioka, Shayne Vial

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

The badminton short serve is a highly precise task requiring accurate control of racquet face orientation, which directly influences shuttlecock trajectory and limits an opponent's ability to attack. Previous studies on motor redundancy have emphasized covariation among elemental variables as the primary mechanism for stabilizing performance. However, when the sensitivities of elemental variables differ, performance can also be stabilized by unevenly distributing individual variances without altering correlation — an approach that has received limited attention. This study investigated whether elite players use both the correlation strategy and the uneven variance strategy to stabilize racquet face angles during the short serve. …

Australian University Websites As Colonialities Of Gender, Emily M. Gray, Ampersand Pasley, Emma Fishwick, Mindy Blaise, Jacqueline Ullman, Maria Delaney

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

This paper offers analysis of the first phase of a research project, Understanding and Addressing Everyday Sexisms in Australian Universities. This phase involved a critical content analysis of all 39 of Australia’s public university websites, focusing on how they represent gender, absences in relation to gender and the navigability of the websites in relation to gender equity policy. Drawing on Maria Lugones’s colonialities of gender, this paper demonstrates how university websites have the potential to reproduce or renegotiate inherited institutional everyday sexisms and broader gender inequities. Themes of reconfiguring acceptable gendering, conspicuous absences, and in-built obscurity that emerged from this …

Christianity As Coping Mechanisms For Migrants With Mental Health Challenges In Australia: Social Work Implications, Obed Adonteng-Kissi, Nnaemeka Meribe, Kathomi Gatwiri, Lillian Mwanri, Agness Tembo, Frank Darkwa Baffour, Edith N. Botchway-Commey, Aunty Kerrie Doyle, David Chisanga, Ahmed A. Moustafa, Uchechukwu Levi Osuagwu

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Christian religion may be a powerful resource that can serve as a coping mechanism to resolve challenges and provide comfort to African migrants confronted with mental health challenges. We aimed to explore the coping strategies among African migrants in Australia. We undertook semi-structured interviews online with 11 participants with African backgrounds, comprising six mental health clinicians and five migrant service users living in Australia for at least the past 12 months. Literature exploring religious coping mechanisms, social support and acculturation was drawn on. The interviews were undertaken online via Teams, WhatsApp call, and zoom with participants whom we recruited through …

Thermoregulation And Associated Disorders: 3pm-Guided Holistic Approach Bridging Innovative And Traditional Chinese Medicine, Zhuo Wang, Liu, Yueqiang Xu, Weijie Cao, Youxin Wang, Haifeng Hou, Xiuhua Guo, Olga Golubnitschaja, Wei Wang, Yuguang Du, Suboptimal Health Study Consortium, European Association For Predictive, Preventive, Personalised Medicine

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Accurately performed thermoregulation is life-important for the human body. Therefore, a relatively narrow temperature range of 36.5–37 °C, which all our biochemical reactions are adapted to, is rigorously kept by the body allowing for the most effective kinetics of all physiological processes. In contrast, feeling inappropriately cold or too hot in the environment with comfortable temperature ranges are symptoms of an altered or even disordered thermoregulation described for a number of syndromes as well as patient cohorts. The rationale of the paper is to contribute to the paradigm shift from reactive to proactive healthcare considering thermoregulation deficits as an important …

Methodological Considerations For Studies In Sport And Exercise Science With Women As Participants Part Ii: Guidance For Applied Studies In Elite Female Athletes, Kirsty J. Elliott-Sale, Richard J. Burden, Kathryn E. Ackerman, Louise M. Burke, Naama Constantini, Anthony C. Hackney, Rachel Harris, Franco M. Impellizzeri, Xanne A.K. Janse De Jonge, Constance M. Lebrun, Clare Minahan, Sophia Nimphius, Stuart M. Phillips, Sarianna Sipilä, Juliette A. Strauss, Paul Swinton, Craig Sale

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

The purpose of this statement is to guide the design and conduct of high-quality sport and exercise science studies investigating the effects of varied ovarian hormone profiles on the health and athletic performance of elite female athletes. Beyond the menstrual cycle, these athletes present with a wide range of ovarian hormone profiles, including those associated with puberty and menarche, menstrual dysfunction, hormonal contraceptive use, pregnancy and postpartum, perimenopause, menopause and post-menopause. To effectively integrate knowledge of ovarian hormone profiles into high-performance sport and address the diverse needs of female athletes, future research and educational initiatives must encompass this broader spectrum …

Barriers And Facilitators To Providing Women Postpartum Care By Health Care Providers In The First 12 Months After Childbirth: A Systematic Qualitative Meta-Aggregation Review, Maryam Rouhi, Silvana Bettiol, Sarah Prior, Narges Rouhi, Theodora Dedo Azu, Christine Stirling, Lynne Staff, Linda Jones, Antigoni Leftherioti, Patricia Nicholson

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Introduction: Postpartum care is crucial for maternal and infant health but remains inconsistently administered. This systematic qualitative review aimed to synthesize health care providers’ perspectives by exploring the barriers and facilitators experienced by health care providers in administering optimal maternal care during the first 12 months after childbirth. Methods: A systematic qualitative meta-aggregation review was conducted using the Joanna Briggs Institute methodology. Peer-reviewed qualitative studies from January 2010 to April 2024 were retrieved from MEDLINE, CINAHL, Embase, and Web of Science. Findings were mapped onto the Behavioral Model of Health Services Use. Results: Twenty-three studies were included. Four key themes …

Does Class Ability Grouping In Secondary Schools Improve Students’ Literacy Scores On Australia’S Naplan Tests?, Olivia Johnston, Christa Norris, Peter Palamara

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Many schools choose to use ability grouping, despite longstanding evidence that it is inequitable and does not improve overall academic outcomes. One reason that the practice of grouping students by ‘ability’ continues is because of pressure to perform on standardised tests. Educators hold beliefs that grouping students for English classes, for example, will improve their literacy scores. This paper presents findings from a study about class ability grouping for English in Australia and how different class grouping practices relate with students’ achievement on Australia’s standardised literacy test. The findings draw on data from our Class Ability Grouping Survey, where participant …

Effects Of Eccentric Cycling Training On Aerobic And Functional Capacity In Patients With Heart Failure: A Randomised Controlled Trial, Lucy M. Stauborg, Andrew Haynes, Andrew J. Maiorana, Lawrence G. Dembo, David Lloyd, Kazunori Nosaka, Graham S. Hillis, Daniel J. Green, Louise H. Naylor

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Objectives: To evaluate the effects of eccentric and conventional concentric cycle training on aerobic and functional capacity and health-related quality of life in patients with heart failure. Design: Seventy participants (45 after attrition) with heart failure were randomised 1:1 to eccentric (n = 34) or concentric (n = 36) cycling and 45 completed the intervention (eccentric n = 25; concentric n = 20). Each intervention involved 2-weeks familiarisation and 12-weeks of training, performed at matched relative intensity (40–70% of heart rate reserve), twice weekly. Methods: The primary outcome was peak oxygen consumption (V̇O2peak); secondary outcomes included 6-minute walk distance, 30 …

Exploring A Potential Link Between Personality Traits, Sexual Assault Attitudes And The Propensity To Create Deepfake Pornography, Lorna Marns, Ross Hollett

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Deepfake pornography represents a rapidly expanding form of image-based sexual abuse (IBSA), yet little is known about the psychological factors that predict individuals’ willingness to create such material. This study examined whether rape myth acceptance (RMA) and Dark Tetrad traits (Machiavellianism, narcissism, psychopathy, and sadism) predicted heterosexual men’s proclivity to create deepfake pornography. Using an online self-report survey of 213 heterosexual men recruited from an Australian university and the surrounding community, participants completed measures of RMA, dark personality traits, and hypothetical scenarios assessing the likelihood of creating deepfake pornography. Hierarchical regression models showed that RMA attitudes that minimise or excuse …

Implementation Of Risk Prediction And Stratification Approaches For Ageing Populations In Australian Healthcare: A Systematic Review, Leanne Greene, Jacob Brain, Belinda Brown, Claire V. Burley, Elissa Burton, Zhongyang Guan, Bronwyn Myers, Katherine Ride, Serena Sabatini, Mario Siervo, Abay Woday Tadesse, Eugene Yee Hing Tang, Blossom C.L. Stephan, Jennifer Dunne

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Despite widespread development of prognostic risk stratification tools, their implementation in Australian healthcare remains poorly characterised. This review identified tools implemented for adults aged ≥40 years and examined their real-world use. Following PRISMA and SWiM guidelines, MEDLINE, EMBASE, Web of Science, PsycINFO, and CINAHL Plus were searched from inception to 20th February 2026. Eligible studies reported implementation of a risk stratification tool in Australian healthcare and health, functional, or implementation outcomes. The Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool assessed study quality. Of 7115 records screened, 21 studies were included across primary care, hospitals, residential aged care, and community services. Interventions included electronic …

Kinship Care And Aboriginal Children With Disabilities In Out-Of-Home Care: “My Boy, I Was His Voice”, Jocelyn Jones, Juliet Brook, Sasha Moodie, Richard Chenhall, Robyn Williams, Cathy Garlett, Katiska Davis, Alison Gibberd, Ben Harrap, Bridgette Mcnamara, Melissa O'Donnell, Sandra Eades

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Background: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children with a disability are over-represented in child welfare systems worldwide. Despite this, little is known about their involvement with the Australian child protection system or their lived experiences. Method: Led by Indigenous researchers and methodologies, qualitative findings from yarning sessions with 46 kinship carers across Western Australia informed this research. This research is part of the Indigenous Child Removals WA (I-CaRe WA) project. Results: Difficulty accessing disability assessments and diagnoses for children resulted in a lack of access to disability support services and missed opportunities for early intervention. Priority areas for improvement included …

The Challenges Of International Travel Insurance For Leisure Travellers With Pre-Existing Mental Health Conditions, Alison Mcintosh, Gregory Willson, Dhananjana Madushani Morayes Gajaweera Marthinna Moraslage

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

International leisure travel is deemed therapeutic for reducing stress and improving mental health and wellbeing, although unfamiliar environments can exacerbate pre-existing mental health conditions. Travel insurance plays a crucial role in mitigating risks for travellers. There is a lack of critical evaluation regarding how insurers assess risk, determine coverage eligibility and communicate exclusions. International travel insurance policies may contain restrictive clauses, ambiguous wording and outright exclusions that may disproportionately disadvantage travellers with pre-existing conditions, including mental health conditions. This paper evaluates whether New Zealand’s international travel insurance policies adequately accommodate travellers with pre-existing mental health conditions. Analysis of 23 international …

Development And Application Of A Frailty Index Derived From Patient-Reported Outcome Measures And Comorbidities In Oncology Patients, Divya Mathew, Heather Lane, David Ward, Rosemary Saunders, Lesley Millar, Christopher Etherton-Beer

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Background: Emerging evidence supports the use of a frailty index as an objective measure of frailty. We constructed a frailty index from patient-derived outcome measures, as well as self-reported comorbidity data, and tested its correlation with survival.

Method: Data from 464 patients with lung, breast and colorectal cancer were obtained from the Continuous Improvement in Care – Cancer Project database, and a 42-variable frailty index was generated by dividing the total number of deficits present by the total number assessed and expressed as a ratio between 0 and 1. Frailty was defined as a frailty index of >0.2. Its association …

Evaluating Training Effectiveness For A Technology-Driven Pain Assessment Application: A Cross-Sectional Study, Rosemary Saunders, Peter Palamara, Seng Giap Marcus Ang, Olivia Gallagher, Michelle Gay, Irene Ngune, Lauren Jenner, Amineh Rashidi, Christopher Etherton-Beer, Jeff Hughes

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Purpose: Appropriate pain assessment of adults is critical for effective pain management. Technology-driven tools can contribute to improved pain assessments. Training is vital when integrating new clinical digital tools. Minimal studies have evaluated post-training outcomes. The aim of this study was to evaluate the training provided to clinical staff on the use of a pain assessment application for hospitalized adult patients. Design A cross-sectional study utilizing The Kirkpatrick Model of Training Evaluation.

Methods: Clinical staff (nurses and physiotherapists) on an acute metropolitan hospital orthopedic ward in Western Australia were invited to face-to-face training of PainChek Universal, a pain assessment application …

The Ecology Of Hope: Building Rainbows In Education Systems, Jennifer Achari

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Hope is frequently invoked in education, yet rarely theorised. Where it has been theorised, it has been understood in two largely separate ways: as an individual psychological capacity, in the positive-psychology tradition and as a critical-emancipatory stance, in the pedagogy of hope. This article proposes a third: a theory, the ecology of hope, that locates hope not in the individual alone but in the relationship between a person and the systems that surround them. Bringing the cognitive psychology of hope into dialogue with ecological systems theory, the social-ecological account of resilience, and utopian methodology, in which a better society is …

The Role Of Physical Therapy Across The Transplant Trajectory In Allogeneic Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation, A Systematic Review And Clinical Framework, Houssem Ben Jemia, Rebecca Catterina, Marialaura Calonghi, Maria Anna Dossena, Stefano Giuseppe Lazzarini, Francesco Bettariga, Michele Malagola, Enrico Morello

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) increasingly involves older and medically complex patients, in whom impaired pulmonary function and high comorbidity burden adversely affect survival and long-term outcomes. Rehabilitation and exercise interventions are biologically plausible strategies to mitigate deconditioning along the transplant trajectory, but their role in allo-HSCT has not been systematically organized within a phase-specific clinical framework. A systematic review of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) was conducted according to Cochrane guidance and PRISMA 2020, with prospective registration in PROSPERO. PubMed, Embase, PEDro, Web of Science, CENTRAL and Scopus were searched from inception to early 2025, with an updated PubMed …

Multi-Omics Integration Reveals Vaccine-Specific Molecular Signatures And Temporal Dynamics Of Covid-19 Immune Responses, Anne H. Klein, David J. Beale, Thao V. Nquyen, Jian-Wei Liu, Petrus Jansen Van Vuren, Nagendrakumar B. Singanallur, Carol Lee, Andrew C. Boomer, Jennifer A. Juno, Stephen J. Kent, Adam K. Wheatley, Gough G. Au, Seshadri S. Vasan, Laurence Wilson, Alexander J. Mcauley

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Vaccination elicits systemic immune responses that extend beyond antibody and lymphocyte activation, engaging coordinated metabolic and lipid pathways that modulate immune function. Nevertheless, how systemic molecular responses differ across COVID-19 vaccine platforms, including closely related mRNA platforms, remains poorly understood. Here, we performed integrated plasma proteomic, lipidomic, and metabolomic profiling of 53 SARS-CoV-2–naïve adults vaccinated with Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna, or AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccines. Samples were analysed across multiple timepoints using differential analysis and DIABLO-based multi-omics integration. Our findings reveal distinct platform-associated multi-omic molecular signatures not captured by unsupervised analyses alone. Pfizer-BioNTech vaccination was associated with widespread increases in immunoglobulin and complement …