Digital Commons Network^™

It Will Only Work If Everyone Is On Board: A Needs And Context Assessment To Inform Exercise Oncology Implementation Within A Public Healthcare Organisation, Georgia L. White, Mary A. Kennedy, Bryan A. Chan, Hattie Wright, Grace L. Rose

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Introduction: Exercise has well-established benefits across the cancer continuum for people living with and beyond cancer, yet the exercise oncology field faces a research-to-practice gap. Understanding the factors that influence implementation in any given context is essential to ensure implementation strategies have the greatest likelihood of success. The study mapped onsite exercise oncology services, staff-reported implementation barriers and facilitators, organisational readiness, and experiences reported by people living with or beyond cancer, across a large public healthcare organisation.

Methods: Staff and people living with and beyond cancer across cancer care centres within the public healthcare organisation completed an online survey. Data …

Living On Display: Reciprocal Gazes, Everyday Encounters, And The Politics Of Visibility In The Sunshine Coast Tourism Community, Madura Thiwanka Pathirana, Noel Scott

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

This community case study analyses the production, negotiation, and contestation of reciprocal gazes within everyday settings, particularly focusing on contemporary lifestyle tourism destinations, and the examination of the Sunshine Coast, Australia. Based on 48 in-depth interviews with tourists and locals, this case study looks at the politics of visibility that are part of host-guest relations in everyday encounters at the beach, cafe, marketplace, and online-mediated market. Intersecting with critical tourism studies, and tourism studies on the traveler, host, and reciprocal gaze, this study focuses on residents' experiences of being observed, judged, and photographed and the impacts of their experiences on …

Modifiable Risk Factors And Hearing Loss: The National Health And Nutrition Examination Survey 1999–2020, Yulu Zheng, Tingting Li, Zhiyuan Wu, Yahong Zhu, Zheng Guo, Xingang Li

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Objective: To explore the associations between major modifiable risk factors and hearing loss.

Methods: This serial cross-sectional study was conducted within the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 1999–2020 in the United States. Associations were assessed using modified Poisson regression and within-sample population attributable fraction (PAF).

Results: Eight thousand seven hundred and seventy adults aged 40–85 years were included in the analyses, the mean (SD) age was 58.0 (11.7) years, with 4002 men (45.6%). Hearing loss was associated with low educational attainment with prevalence ratio 1.23, 95% confidence interval (1.15, 1.31); low income 1.11 (1.04, 1.19); diabetes 1.10 (1.03, 1.18); …

Enhancing Monitoring In Protected Areas: Evaluating Mobile Apps As A Tourism Proxy, Jorge Costa, Alberto Gomes, Martin Stokes, Miguel Saraiva

School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences

Crowdsourced data, such as that from mobile fitness apps (MFAs), has the potential to transform tourism research. This opportunity is particularly valuable as tourism to protected areas (PAs) increases, making it more difficult to manage their environmental impacts. However, such data sources come with challenges. Therefore, their representativeness should be carefully evaluated, particularly as their use continues to grow. We use the Paiva Walkways (Portugal) to assess MFAs as a tourism proxy using Spearman’s rank correlation, to evaluate kernel density and fishnet methods for spatialising visitor movements, and to analyse the visitors’ spatiotemporal behaviour using GIS, kernel density estimation, and …

Assessing The Application Of Optical-Photothermal Infrared Spectroscopy For Single-Grain Chemical Palynology, Laura Scoble, Hao Meng, Simon J. Ussher, Mark F. Fitzsimons, Lauren Ansell, Mustafa Kansiz, Billy Simmonds, Nick Stone, Ralph M. Fyfe

School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences

Single-grain pollen analysis is essential for advancing chemical palynology, which classifies morphologically similar taxa based on taxon-specific pollen and sporopollenin chemistry. Fourier-Transform Infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy and microspectroscopy (μFT-IR) are widely used to differentiate morphologically similar grains but face limitations from Mie scattering and coarse spatial resolution. Here, we present the first application of Optical-PhotoThermal Infrared (O-PTIR) spectroscopy to chemically treated single pollen grains, using Molinia caerulea as a model taxon to fully test and evaluate the technical capabilities and limitations of this technique. O-PTIR achieves sub-micron “super-resolution” infrared spectroscopy through non-contact, non-destructive measurements by exploiting the photothermal effect. O-PTIR spectra …

Rock On Technology: Perspectives Of People With Neurological Conditions On Robot-Assisted Lower Limb And Gait Neurorehabilitation, Rachel G. Buckingham, Saran Chamberlain, Amanda Timler, Matthew K. Bagg, Nikki E. Bakhtazad, Taya Hamilton, Patricia Martinet, Bianca Haagman, Stuart I. Hodgetts, Barbara Singer, Ann Maree Vallence, Jodie Marquez, Eric Gaitho, Emma Gee, Jessica Nolan

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Purpose: Explore perspectives of people living with neurological conditions in Western Australia (WA) on robot-assisted lower limb neurorehabilitation (RALLR), and implementation requirements. Materials and methods: This co-designed, qualitative descriptive study included people living with neurological conditions. In-person semi-structured focus groups (FGs) were facilitated by a person with lived experience of stroke. FGs were recorded, data were transcribed, and thematically analysed using a reflexive approach. Results: Five FGs included 24 participants (54.2% women, median age 50 years). Of these, thirteen participants had RALLR experience. Primary neurological conditions represented among participants comprised spinal cord injury (n = 11), stroke (n = 3), …

Nutrient Legacy And Cycling In The Somerset Levels And Moors, Oscar Kemble, Paul Lunt

School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences

1. Executive summaryThe Somerset Levels and Moors (SLMs) are one of the UK’s most extensive and ecologically significant lowland wetland systems, supporting internationally important bird populations and nationally important assemblages of wetland plants and invertebrates. However, the ecological condition of the SLMs Ramsar and underpinning SSSIs has deteriorated in recent decades, driven primarily by phosphorus (P) enrichment. In 2021, Natural England downgraded the SLMs to “unfavourable declining”, citing persistent eutrophication, floating plant dominance, and loss of submerged macrophytes as key symptoms.This review synthesises current evidence and provides critical overviews for the following themes: (1) The Somerset Levels and Moors (SLMs) …

Exploring The Views Of Children With Cerebral Palsy, Their Parents And Physiotherapists On Participating In A Feasibility Randomised Controlled Trial Testing An Exergaming Device: A Qualitative Study, Rachel Rapson, Jos M. Latour, Jonathan Marsden, Bernie Carter

School of Nursing and Midwifery

Background: This study aimed to understand the experiences and views of children with cerebral palsy, their parents and physiotherapists participating in the ACCEPT feasibility randomised controlled trial, which explored a 10-week physiotherapy intervention using an interactive gaming training device. Design: Qualitative methods included semi-structured interviews, e-diary and photographs. Nine parent–child dyads and three physiotherapists participated. Children were aged between 7 and 16 years; four had co-existing additional needs. Interviews were transcribed. Reflexive thematic analysis was used. Results: Five themes covered the breadth of participants’ experiences: (1) Fitting in therapy; (2) Motivation; (3) New opportunities; (4) Physiotherapists out of their comfort …

Humanizing The Base Of The Pyramid: Exploring The Influence Of Resource (Dis)Advantages On Value Creation, Ted London, Lisa Jones Christensen, Tyson Mackey, Alison Mackey, Heather Esper, Andrew Grogan-Kaylor

Faculty Publications

Base of the pyramid (BoP) scholarship emphasizes the potential for enterprises to generate profits by enhancing the wellbeing of the impoverished, often by selling socially-beneficial products (SBPs). Yet, many such BoP enterprises have experienced mixed results. We argue that this may stem from insufficient attention to how BoP consumers value SBPs and other products. We frame SBPs as a type of human capital investment and thus use human capital theory to study how the consumption of SBPs does or does not create value for consumers. Specifically, we use a novel data set from rural India to measure value creation in …

Developmental Themes Associated With Religious Activity After Early Return From A Latter-Day Saint Mission, Samuel E. Hancock, Sam A. Hardy, Michael Goodman, Camron Angell, Jenae M. Nelson

Faculty Publications

In the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, qualified young men are expected (and young women are given the option) to complete extended missionary service during the transition to adulthood. Some youth end their missionary service short of the anticipated duration, which is associated with markedly lower rates of religious activity post-return. This study is a qualitative inquiry into the developmental themes associated with early returned missionaries from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints who chose to remain active (be consistently involved with the church), sampling from areas with high rates of Latter-day Saint activity, where stigmatization …

The Transformational Possibilities Of Liberal Vocationalism: A Case Study Of Post-Year 10 Outdoor Education In Western Australia, David Aldous, Dawn Penney

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

This paper discusses the transformative potential that liberal vocationalism, aligned with contemporary visions of lifelong and lifewide learning, presents for outdoor learning across institutional and industry settings. Utilising Bernstein’s sociological theory, the paper explores this transformation through an illustrative case study of the relations, knowledges and identities of post-Year10 Outdoor Education in Western Australia (WA). The case study highlights how Outdoor Education in WA has been organised through distinct classificatory relations that exist between government, regulatory bodies and individual industry providers that serve to distinguish Outdoor Education from outdoor learning that is ongoing and able to be pursued by people …

Redox-Mediator Enhanced Electrochemiluminescence Under Non-Aqueous Conditions, Steven J. Blom, Fazeleh Mesgari, El M.S. Martin, Egan H. Doeven, David J. Hayne, Timothy U. Connell, Peter J. Barnard, Narges Saeedizadeh, Seyed Mohammad Jafar Jalali, Paul S. Francis

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

The introduction of small-molecule redox mediators into aqueous co-reactant electrochemiluminescence (ECL) systems has emerged as an effective strategy to increase signal intensity. Herein, we investigate the influence of a series of neutral iridium(iii) complexes (Ir(pmi)3, Ir(ppy)3, Ir(ppz)3 and Ir(ppy)2(acac)) as redox mediators for co-reactant ECL in acetonitrile. Using [Ru(bpy)3]²⁺ as a benchmark luminophore and tri-n-propylamine (TPrA) as a co-reactant, the redox mediators elicit similar effects in this solvent to those of their sulfonated [Ir(sppy)3]³⁻ and [Ir(sppz)3]³⁻ analogues under aqueous conditions. The Ir(ppz)3 complex was most effective; at a concentration of 100 µM it produced an 11-fold increase …

Making Room For ‘Feelings’: What's At Stake For The Theory Of Practice Architectures?, George Variyan, Brad Gobby

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

This paper responds to Thelin, K. [2024. What about feelings? Elaboration on and consideration of the theoretical construct of emotions in practice and practice architectures. International Journal of Leadership in Education, 1–14] intriguing proposal that the theory of practice architectures (hereafter TPA) would benefit from an augmentation to its oft-repeated analytical mantra of ‘sayings, doings and relatings’ by adding the notion of feelings. Thelin's work is motivated by the increasing realisation amongst adherents that TPA has thus far been relatively silent on how emotions mediate practice. As such, there are ongoing efforts to think through the place of emotions in …

Comparative Bioassay-Guided Fractionation Of Citrus Species: Phytochemical Characterization And Nanoformulation Of A Polyphenol-Rich Leaf Fraction From Citrus Aurantifolia For Skin Anti-Aging Applications, Noha Swilam, Khaled Nematallah, Amgad Albohy, Noha Badawi, Sameh S. Gad, Maha M. Shouman, Saeed S. Al-Ghamdi, Nahla Ayoub

Pharmacy

Background: Skin aging is driven by oxidative stress and ultraviolet (UV) exposure, leading to extracellular matrix degradation and loss of skin elasticity. This study aimed to identify the most biologically active Citrus species using a bioassay-guided approach and evaluate its potential for dermal applications. Methods: Hydroalcohol extracts and ethyl acetate fractions of Citrus sinensis, Citrus aurantifolia, and Citrus reticulata leaves were screened for antioxidant, enzyme-inhibitory, and polyphenol content. The most active fraction was characterized by UPLC-PDA and LC–MS/MS, formulated into Span-based nanovesicles, and evaluated for physicochemical properties and drug release. Biological activity was assessed using an in vitro scratch wound-healing …

Bovine Colostrum And Late-Onset Sepsis In Premature Infants: A Multicenter Randomized Controlled Trial (Bcsp Study), Hany Wifky Gendy Michael, Hassan Mohamed Hassan Mohamed, Dalia Abu Elmaaref Mohamed Ibrahim

Journal of Medicine in Scientific Research

Aim: Neonatal sepsis and necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) have a great impact on morbidity and mortality in immature newborns. We performed our trial to examine the impact of enteral bovine colostrum administration upon late neonatal sepsis in premature newborns. Patients &Procedures: The study included neonates who had a birth weight (BW) of 1-1.8 kg, a gestational age (GA) of full 28-34 weeks, and a postnatal age of ≤ 96 hours. A blinded, randomized, placebo-controlled study was done using two groups; one of them received bovine colostrum daily within the first 96 hours starting from the 2nd day of feeding and for …

A Comparison Of Haemodialysis And Renal Transplantation On Male Sexual Function And Hormonal Abnormalities, Hala Ibrahim Mohamed, Ahmad Mohamad Abbas Elseasi

Journal of Medicine in Scientific Research

Background Sexual dysfunction and hormonal imbalance are common in males with end-stage renal disease (ESRD), particularly among those on chronic hemodialysis. Kidney transplantation may restore endocrine homeostasis and improve sexual function. This study aimed to compare the effects of hemodialysis and renal transplantation on male sexual function and related hormonal profiles. Methods This cross-sectional study was conducted on 40 married men (≥18 years) with ESRD at National Institute of Urology and Nephrology from October 2024 to October 2025. Participants were divided into two groups: Group I (hemodialysis) and Group II (renal transplantation). Clinical evaluation, laboratory tests, and hormonal assays (Folliclestimulating …

The Impact And Prevalence Of Pain In Adolescents And Children Living With Type-One Diabetes Mellitus, Randa Mohamed Darwish, Ayat Ibrahim Ghanem, Lamis Safwat Mubarak

Journal of Medicine in Scientific Research

Background: Pain is frequent but often underrated and even overlooked in adolescents and children living with type-one diabetes mellitus and can negatively impact their quality of life(QoL) and their cooperation within the management plan. Objective: To discern the common types , severity and prevalence of pain in pediatrics living with type-one-diabetes;compared to the group of diabetes-free control, and to probe associations with glycemic control, fatigue, and (QoL). Methods: This cross-sectional study incorporated 102 adolescents and children withtype -one- diabetesmellitus; and 99 age- and sex-matched healthy peers aged 8- 16 years. Pain intensity was evaluated using the (body-pain) domain in the …

The Postoperative Analgesic Effect Of Lumbar Erector Spinae Plane Block Versus Pericapsular Nerve Group Block In Patients Undergoing Hip Surgeries, Islam M. El-Desoky, Mohamed Elshafey, Amal Ismail Abdelrahman

Journal of Medicine in Scientific Research

Background: Hip surgery requires effective pain control for proper recovery and decreasing the length of hospital stay. Aims: We aimed to assess the analgesic effect of Erector spinae plane block (ESPB) and pericapsular nerve group (PENG) blocks in pain control after hip operations. Methods: This randomized clinical trial included 69 ASA I–II patients scheduled for hip surgery were randomly allocated into three groups: PENG block, ESPB, and control groups (23 each). The primary outcome was postoperative pain assessed via the Numeric Rating Scale (NRS) at rest and during movement. Secondary outcomes included intraoperative and 48-hour morphine consumption, time to first …

Are The Risks Of Asthma And Allergic Diseases In Children Born By Cesareansection (Cs) Influenced By Maternal Factors (E.G., Maternal Asthma, Diet, Antibiotic Use During Pregnancy)?, Rehab Fawzy Abdel Mohsen Soliman, Samar Mahmoud Ahmed, Yasmen Ahmed Said, Shaimaa Mohamed Hassan, Dalia Hassanin Hussin, Dina Gaber Soliman, Zeinab Abdalla Ali

Journal of Medicine in Scientific Research

Background and Aim The increase in the number of Cesarean Section deliveries (CS) in the world has triggered questions about the possible long-term health consequences for the children being delivered, particularly the chances of being affected by asthma and other allergic ailments. Some prior studies suggested that CS deliveries may negatively influence immune system development due to altered microbial colonization and an increased risk of respiratory morbidities. However, trying to separate the impact of delivery methods and the maternal as well as the surroundings is a hard nut to crack. The present study aims to establish whether maternal asthma, diet, …

Effect Of Lateral And Backward Walking Training On Balance In Children With Hemiparesis: A Comparative Randomized Controlled Trial, Seham M. Abd El-Moghny, Mohamed I. Elsepaee

Journal of Medicine in Scientific Research

Background: Hemiparesis, a common consequence of cerebral palsy (CP), significantly impairs motor function, leading to asymmetrical gait, poor balance, and reduced mobility in affected children. The resulting functional limitations can negatively impact a child's participation in daily activities, social interactions, and overall quality of life. Purpose: To investigate and compare the effectiveness of lateral and backward walking training with mirror visual feedback on standing balance in children with hemiparesis. Methods: Ninety children with hemiparesis, ages five to seven, of both sexes who met the following inclusion criteria were included in the study: They have spasticity at grades 1+ to 2 …

Heart-Type Fatty Acid Binding Protein In Early Diagnosis Of Acute Myocardial Infarction, Reem Safwat Mohamad, Asmaa Younis Elsary, Mohamed M. Elbably

Journal of Medicine in Scientific Research

Background: Timely identification of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) plays a vital role in ensuring prompt treatment and better clinical outcomes. Traditional cardiac indicators involving creatine kinase-myocardial band (CK-MB) and cardiac troponin I (cTnI) demonstrate reduced diagnostic accuracy through the initial hours after symptom presentation.

Aim: This research aimed to assess the diagnostic accuracy of heart-type fatty acid-binding protein (H-FABP) in comparison with cTnI, CK-MB, and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) among cases presenting with acute chest pain, with particular focus on its role in early AMI detection.

Methods: A case-control investigation was conducted involving 60 AMI patients from the National Heart Institute …

Comparison Of Suture Materials In Pfannensteil Incision Closure, Ali Elsayed Khayal, Ahmed Alsayed Kassab

Journal of Medicine in Scientific Research

Background: Surgeons worldwide perform C-sections more often than almost any other procedure, a trend that shows a steady and ongoing increase. Despite its safety profile, postoperative wound complications remain a significant source of maternal morbidity, prolonged hospitalization, and increased healthcare costs. Optimal skin closure technique following Pfannenstiel incision remains controversial, particularly regarding the choice between absorbable braided and non-absorbable monofilament sutures.

Objective: To compare wound morbidity and surgical outcomes following Pfannenstiel skin closure using polyglactin 910 (Vicryl) versus polypropylene (Prolene) in women undergoing cesarean delivery.

Methods: This prospective randomized controlled trial included 200 women undergoing elective or emergency cesarean section …

Patient Pathways And Outcomes Following Referral To A Dedicated Clinic For Tavi Program: Insights From The Egyptian National Heart Institute, Ramy Mohamed Omar, Ahmad Hassanen Gaber, Tarek M Abdel Aziz Elkholy

Journal of Medicine in Scientific Research

Background

The most common valvular heart disease in elderly populations and with a dismal prognosis in the case of its development is degenerative aortic stenosis. The use of transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) has transformed the treatment of the entire surgical risk spectrum, but there is limited real-world data that define the patterns of treatment and post-treatment results in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region.

Objectives

To characterize the pattern of treatment allocation, clinical and procedural outcome, and predictors at the baselines of six months mortality in patients in a row who were referred to a specialist assessment …

Role Of Complete Blood Cells Indices In Predicting Neonatal Sepsis Mortality, Sohaila Ali Abd El-Halim, Marwa Taha, Fifi Helmy Aboualy, Raghda Samir Abdellatif, Mai Mohammed Mostafa

Journal of Medicine in Scientific Research

Background: Neonatal sepsis remains a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in newborns. Identifying reliable prognostic markers is crucial for early diagnosis and treatment. Elevated levels of C-reactive protein (CRP) and increased platelet distribution width (PDW) have been associated with adverse outcomes in septic neonates. Objective: This study was performed in an attempt to assess the predictive value of Complete Blood Count (CBC) indices, including red cell distribution width (RDW), mean platelet volume (MPV), and PDW for mortality in septic neonates. Patients and Methods: This cohort study was conducted in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) of Mataria Teaching Hospital …

Identification Of The Seventh Cervical Vertebra By Palpation With Neck Rotation And Side Bending In Patients With Neck Pain., Eslam Elsayed Ali Shohda, Malaka Abdelmoniem Ibrahim El Khawaga, Amr Abdelaziz Hanafi Mohamed

Journal of Medicine in Scientific Research

Background: Precise localization of vertebral levels through clinical examination represents an essential competency for healthcare professionals across multiple disciplines. The present study sought to assess the reliability of identifying the seventh cervical vertebra (C7) via palpation during cervical rotation and side bending in individuals experiencing neck pain.

Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out in the physiotherapy outpatient department of Al-Ahrar Teaching Hospital, located in Zagazig, Egypt. Thirty individuals with complaints of neck pain were recruited for participation. The seventh cervical vertebra (C7) was determined by palpating the most mobile vertebra among the three most prominent cervical segments …

Effectiveness Of Interferential Stimulation And Anorectal Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation On Secondary Encopresis In Children: A Comparative Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial, Seham M. Abd El-Moghny, Mohamed I. Elsepaee, Abdelaty Alghonimy, Rabab S. Mohamed

Journal of Medicine in Scientific Research

Background Encopresis, fecal soiling is often secondary to functional constipation and retention. It is significantly impact a child's psychological health as it can result in feelings of shame, social isolation, and low self-esteem and negatively affect their quality of life and their families. Objective To evaluate and compare the efficacy and safety of interferential stimulation (IF) applied on sigmoid colon and anorectal neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES), in combination with behavioral therapy and pelvic floor muscle training (PFMT), in improving continence outcomes in children with secondary encopresis refractory to laxatives. Methods In this comparative randomized controlled clinical trial, 30 children (5–10 …