Digital Commons Network^™

Reduced Achilles Tendinopathy Symptoms (E.G. Stiffness), But Not Pain, Relate To Patient-Perceived Resolution Of Achilles Tendinopathy: A Cross-Sectional Study, Myles C. Murphy, Fletcher Bright, George White, Ruth L. Chimenti, Andrea B. Mosler, Ebonie K. Rio

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

We aimed to determine whether pain, symptoms and/or physical function are associated with perceived recovery in people with current or resolved Achilles tendinopathy. We performed a cross-sectional cohort study, including people who reported having either “current” or “resolved” Achilles tendinopathy. Participants completed an online survey, including the Tendinopathy Severity Assessment- Achilles (TENDINS-A). We used multivariable binary logistic regression and reported odds ratio (OR) to quantify the strength of the association. We included 100 cases (n = 63 current, n = 37 resolved). There were no associations of age, sex, BMI, TENDINS-A (Pain) or TENDINS-A (Physical Function) with whether participants reported …

The Impact Of Solvent Extraction And Enzyme-Assisted Extraction On The Yield And Quality Of Black Soldier Fly Larvae (Hermetia Illucens) Oil, Achini Madushani Mannawa Arachchige, Mark Williams, W. M.A.D.Binosha Fernando, Weeraya Karnpanit, Jane Lumanlan, Vijay Jayasena

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

The increased interest in black soldier fly larvae (BSFL) oil is driven by its beneficial fatty acid composition, leading to the development of effective extraction methods. This study evaluated the impact of solvent extraction (SE) and enzyme-assisted extraction (EAE) on the yield and quality of BSFL oil. SE using hexane, petroleum ether, isopropanol, and ethanol after 6 hr of extraction resulted in higher yields compared to EAE using alcalase, papain, and trypsin after 24 hr, with the highest yield recorded for petroleum ether (33%), followed by isopropanol (30%). Isopropanol extraction demonstrated the highest antioxidant activity (77%). The results indicated a …

The Use Of K-Means Clustering For The Organisation Of Training Groups In Australian Football, Christopher Wing, Nicolas H. Hart, Shih Ching Fu, Kazunori Nosaka, Fadi Ma’Ayah

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

This study investigated the potential use of k-means clustering for organising training groups in Australian Football (AF) based upon match performance data. Global positioning system (e.g., distance per minute) and technical action (e.g., kicks) data were collected on 38 AF players from 22 matches during the 2021 season. Each player was assigned their season average for all metrics, as well as their primary playing position (the position they occupied the most during the season). Following the application of the elbow method, the data was grouped into four clusters; cluster one could be defined as the low technical action players, cluster …

Local Development Councils: Baseline And Recommendations For Optimizing Participatory Processes, Czarina Medina-Guce, Lawrence G. Velasco, Anne Marie T. Rey

Development Studies Faculty Publications

The Local Development Council (LDC) plays a critical role in local governance through its integrative and participatory planning and budget policymaking functions mandated by the 1991 Local Government Code. The LDC’s participatory governance goal, stemming from the Code’s requirement for civil society organization (CSO) membership, has been gradually problematized over the years to extend beyond the operational functionality of formalized activities and mechanisms toward participation that empowers citizen influence in policymaking in local government units (LGUs). Drawing from a national baseline survey of LDCs, this study examines CSO participation through the lens of compliance with mandated mechanisms and practices that …

Philippines, Maria Sabrina Erica M. Carlos, Leslie V. Advincula-Lopez

Development Studies Faculty Publications

Philippine civil-military relations (CMR) have long tipped towards the military despite established constitutional and legislative frameworks ensuring civilian supremacy. The Philippines’ COVID-19 pandemic response, characterized by war metaphors, strong police and military presence, and the appointment of retired military generals in key posts, highlighted the need to revisit the country’s unique CMR dynamics. This chapter explores the military’s expanded role in the COVID19 pandemic response and its implications for an already tenuous Philippine CMR. The military’s expanded role put it in a prominent position to further redefine and recalibrate its position with broader civil society. It breached the traditional institutional …

Scalable Fabrication Of High-Payload Dendrimer-Based Nanoparticles For Targeted Atherosclerosis Therapy, Huari Kou, Lin Qi, Da Huang, Jiandong Wu, Honglan Shi, Hu Yang

Chemistry Faculty Research & Creative Works

Nanoparticle-based therapeutics hold promise for the treatment of atherosclerosis, but challenges such as low drug-loading capacity and a lack of scalable, controllable production hinder their clinical translation. Flash nanoprecipitation, a continuous synthesis method, offers a potential solution for scalable and reproducible nanoparticle production. In this study, we employed a custom-designed multi-inlet vortex mixer to perform cross-linking reaction-enabled flash nanoprecipitation, facilitating controlled and scalable synthesis of cross-linked Poly amidoamine (PAMAM) dendrimer nanoparticles. Notably, this approach allows simultaneous nanoparticle cross-linking and drug loading in a single step. The mannose moiety enabled specific targeting of macrophages via mannose receptors, enhancing the localization of …

Unlocking The Potential Of Ethiopia’S Apiculture Sector: A Diagnostic And Baseline Study, International Centre Of Insect Physiology And Ecology (Icipe)

icipe Manuals

icipe, ORDA Ethiopia and IIRR jointly implement Mass Youth Employment in Apiculture (MaYEA) Program in partnership with the Mastercard Foundation. The program aims to enable 1 million young women secure dignified and fulfilling jobs by addressing key constraints and unlock the apiculture sector’s and allied value chains employment generation potential building on experiences from previous programs such as the More Young Entrepreneurs in Silk and Honey (MOYESH) Program. MaYEA program aims to enhance honey and beeswax production, improve quality standards, promote value addition, and create an enabling environment for youth engagement in the sector. To guide this effort, this study …

Assessment Of Honeybee Colony Carrying Capacity In Sidama, South And Southwest Ethiopia, International Centre Of Insect Physiology And Ecology (Icipe)

icipe Manuals

Apiculture remains the primary economic activity for Mass Youth Employment in Apiculture (MaYEA)’s youth partners in Ethiopia, and estimating the honey flow period is essential for effective beekeeping operations. Identifying and understanding the distribution and flowering patterns of bee forage plants enables beekeepers to synchronize colony management practices with the peak availability of nectar and pollen to achieve increased honey yields and improved quality of honey. Thus, optimizing floral resource use and ensuring sustainable honey production require a clear understanding of vegetation-based honey production potential and an area's honeybee colony carrying capacity. In response to this need, the International Centre …

Every Publication Needs An Author Verified Tl;Dr Statement, Sarah Oerther, Daniel B. Oerther

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

No abstract provided.

Natural Capital Credit Risk Assessment In Agricultural Lending: An Approach Based On The Natural Capital Protocol, Francisco Ascui, Theodor Florian Cojoianu

Research Collection College of Integrative Studies

It is increasingly recognised that financial institutions have significant impacts and dependencies on natural capital – defined as the stock of the world’s renewable and non-renewable natural resources and ecosystems that yield flows of environmental goods and services, which directly and indirectly underpin the global economy and human wellbeing. Historically, many of these impacts and dependencies have been overlooked. The value of goods and services that nature provides ‘for free’ has often been ignored, and resources have typically been priced at their cost of extraction, rather than the cost of their replacement or substitution, which would promote more sustainable long-term …

Mapping The End Of Coal: How Policy Strength, Ownership, Finance Shape Global Plant Retirements, Jiwon Kim, Theodor Florian Cojoianu, Theodor F. Cojoianu, Maretno Agus Harjoto, Dariusz Wojcik

Research Collection College of Integrative Studies

This study examines how national environmental performance, institutional investor divestment from fossil fuels, investment in renewable energy, and ownership type influence the global phase-out of coal power plants, and whether these effects are constrained by geographical boundaries. Using data on coal plant retirements across 90 countries, we test whether domestic and cross-border factors shape the timing and likelihood of asset closure. We find that companies headquartered in countries with stronger environmental performance are more likely to retire domestic but not foreign plants. While institutional investors divestment is often assumed to exert cross-border influence, our findings show that divestment pressure by …

The Climate-Biodiversity-Pollution Nexus: The Pricing Of Environmental Credit Risks For European Industrial Polluters, Dominik Hirschbühl, Andrej Ceglar, Theodor Cojoianu, Tina Emambakhsh, Yifan Qi, Caterina Rho, Elsie Hu, Marco Petracco, Fabrizio Biganzoli, Alfred De Jager, Laura Garcia Herrero, Andrea Mandrici, Carlo Pasqua

Research Collection College of Integrative Studies

This study examines how euro area banks factor pollution-induced biodiversity risks into lending decisions, using data from 832 banks and 5,000 major polluters. Our results show that banks are increasingly pricing these risks by adjusting loan-to-value ratios and interest rates. Banks adjust lending conditions in line with EU pollution and biodiversity protection legislation, particularly for companies with large pollution footprints near biodiversity-protected areas or those contributing to Environmental Quality Standards failures of downstream surface waters. The former is driven primarily by banks’ adoption of biodiversity policies and public commitments to the Equator Principles, while the latter is a result of …

Landscapes Of State Capitalism: Reconciling The Vernacular, National Development Imaginaries, And Green Capital Accumulation, Sol Andrew Stokols

Research Collection College of Integrative Studies

This article theorizes ‘state capitalist landscapes’ as a unique spatial form shaped by state-owned developers that reconcile economic goals with national development imperatives and symbolic national imaginaries. State capitalist landscapes, I argue, integrate economically productive spaces with natural spaces to symbolize imaginaries of the nation. Through an inductive case study methodology, this article surveys three industrial zones developed and/or under development by state owned developers: Singapore's Jurong, China's Xiong’an New Area, and Thailand's Wangchan Valley. In each of these cases, natural landscapes are integrated into new economic zones in order to construct specific symbolic and/or political imaginaries of the nation: …

Investigating The Acceptability Of Modified Constraint-Induced Movement Therapy Among Stroke Survivors And Carers: A Qualitative Study, Ashan Weerakkody, Erin Godecke, Barby Singer

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Purpose: To investigate the acceptability of modified constraint-induced movement therapy (mCIMT) among stroke survivors and carers within an early-supported discharge (ESD) service, and to inform further adaptations of the program to enhance acceptability. Methods: Qualitative study within a mixed methods process evaluation of mCIMT implementation. Semi-structured interviews were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis and mapped to the Capability, Opportunity, Motivation- Behaviour (COM-B) model. Results: Fifteen stroke survivors and ten carers participated. Five themes were generated and mapped to the COM-B. Participants attributed functional improvements to the program whilst also encountering several challenges with returning home after stroke (Capability- physical); the …

Nurse By Numbers: The Impact Of Early Warning Systems On Nurses' Higher-Order Thinking, A Quantitative Study, Marie Danielle Le Lagadec, Deb Massey, Amy Louise Byrne, Justine Connor, Tracy Flenady

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Aim: To evaluate registered nurses' perceptions of whether the mandated use of the early warning system vital signs tool impacts the development of nurses' higher-order thinking skills. Design: A concurrent mixed methods study design. Method: Using an online survey, registered nurses' perceptions were elucidated on whether early warning system algorithmic tools affected the development of their higher-order thinking. Likert-type matrix questions with additional qualitative fields were used to obtain information on nurse's perceptions of the tool's usefulness, clinical confidence in using the tool, compliance with escalation protocols, work environment and perceived compliance barriers. Results: Most of the 305 (91%) participants …

The Anatomy Of Body Shaming In Sports Coaching, Valeria Varea, Robert S. Primus, Natalie Barker-Ruchti, Mikael Quennerstedt

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Stories of body shaming in sports coaching are becoming widespread, and can intentionally, unintentionally, or inadvertently be used in different sports coaching practices. These practices do not necessarily intend to harm athletes. The aim of this paper is to explore body critical and body sensitive sport coaching practices that have the potential to be shaming, or as we call it in the title, the ‘anatomy’ of body shaming. The study used photo elicitation interviews including vignettes for data generation with 12 coaches from nine different sports. The results demonstrate that body criticality and body sensitivity function in different subtle ways …

Enhancing Nutrition Information Utilisation, Confidence, And Role Legitimacy And Adequacy Among Early Childhood Education Professionals Through Evidence-Based Online Training, Ruth Wallace, Ros Sambell, Shih Ching Fu, Johnny Lo, Elizabeth J. Cook, Amanda Devine

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

This study evaluated the effectiveness of an online short course based on the Health Promoting Schools Framework and specifically designed for Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) professionals. The short course aimed to enhance ECEC professionals’ nutrition knowledge, confidence, role legitimacy and adequacy to model healthy behaviours, teach healthy food habits and create health-promoting environments. Participants (n = 116) working at Australian ECEC services were assigned to control (n = 62) or intervention (n = 54) groups. Both groups completed a pre-intervention survey. The intervention group accessed the four-week course and completed the post-intervention survey. The control group completed a …

Exercise In Cancer Care For People With Lung Cancer: A Narrative Synthesis, Kellie Toohey, David Mizrahi, Nicolas H. Hart, Ben Singh, Pedro Lopez, Maddison Hunter, Robert U. Newton, Kathryn H. Schmitz, Diana Adams, Lara Edbrooke, Sandi Hayes

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Objectives: Lung cancer is the second most common cancer diagnosed worldwide, resulting in significant physical and psychological consequences. In this narrative review, we explore the role of exercise as an adjunct therapy to counteract health issues experienced by people before, during and after treatment for lung cancer, and offer recommendations for exercise prescription and future research. Design: Narrative cornerstone review. Methods: A narrative review was conducted to explore the role of exercise in cancer care for people diagnosed with lung cancer. Results: Improvements in fitness, strength and quality of life have been demonstrated in people with lung cancer following participation …

The Development Of A Family-Led Novel Intervention For Delirium Prevention And Management In The Adult Intensive Care Unit: A Co-Design Qualitative Study, Gideon U. Johnson, Amanda Towell-Barnard, Christopher Mclean, Beverley Ewens

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Aim: The aim of this study was to codesign a Family Members’ Voice Reorientation Intervention (FAMVR) for delirium prevention and management in critically ill adult patients through collaborative process with previous patients, families, and clinical staff. Background: Delirium is a common consequence of intensive care admission, and there is limited evidence to support family-led interventions to prevent or minimise delirium in intensive care. People with lived experience of intensive care are seldom involved in codesigning delirium prevention and management interventions despite the identified benefits of their involvement in delirium care. Design: Codesign qualitative study. Methods: The process of co-designing was …

Methylene Blue Adsorption On Y-Zeolite As A Nano-Porous Adsorbent: Equilibrium And Kinetic Studies, Mehdi Narimani, Maryam Gonbadi, Mohammad Mahdi Zerafat

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

The elimination of dye pollutants from industrial wastewaters, notably from sectors such as textiles and dyeing, remains a pivotal aspect of pollution mitigation endeavours. This research introduces an innovative strategy employing Y zeolite as a nano-porous adsorbent for eliminating methylene blue (MB), a prevalent cationic dye. Y zeolite was synthesised via hydrothermal technique. Through methodical experimentation, the impact of temperature, contact time, concentration, pH and adsorbent quantity on removal efficiency were examined with optimal conditions achieving 93.83% MB removal. The synthesised Y zeolite underwent characterisation utilising diverse techniques, including SEM, TEM, XRD, BET, and FTIR, which elucidated the structural and …

Analysing The Behaviour Change Techniques In An Effective Food Literacy Program To Inform Future Program Design, Lucy M. Butcher, Caylah Batt, Sophie Royce, Eamon Barron, Roslyn Giglia, Andrea Begley

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Aim: Food literacy programs aim to improve food related skills and knowledge and are selected Governments as a strategy to address dietary intakes at a community level. The purpose of this research is to identify behaviour change techniques in a food literacy program, which were assessed by the achievement of participant goals related to food literacy and dietary behaviour changes. Methods: Consensus methods were applied to map behaviour change techniques to an adult food literacy program. A second phase investigation applied content analysis of participant process evaluation data (collected between 2016 and June 2021) to align target behaviours and behaviour …

Clinical Is The Pinnacle: Nurse Academics' Perspectives And Opinions Of Their Students Undertaking Mental Health Clinical Placements, Lorna Moxham, Kim Foster, Brenda Happell, Richard Lakeman, Michael Hazelton, John Hurley

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Clinical placements form an integral and important part of preregistration nursing student learning. The theory–practice gap has been identified as problematic, with clinical experience being a key strategy to address this. Despite this, the perceptions of nurse academics teaching preregistration mental health nursing regarding clinical placements have not been widely explored. To garner perspectives and experiences of mental health clinical placements from nurse academics teaching mental health nursing to preregistration nursing students. A descriptive qualitative study involving 19 nurse academics from 13 metropolitan and regional Australian universities, who were involved in the design and delivery of preregistration mental health nursing …

Four Overlooked Errors In Roc Analysis: How To Prevent And Avoid, Zhuoqiao He, Qingying Zhang, Manshu Song, Xuerui Tan, Wei Wang

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Diagnostic tests are frequently applied within clinical practice to assist with disease diagnosis, differential diagnosis, disease grading and prognosis evaluation. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis is one common approach for analysing discriminative performance of a diagnostic test, where it can determine the optimal cut-off value with the best diagnostic performance.1 However, as a majority of clinicians are non-statisticians, several errors have been observed in clinical research when applying ROC curves. These errors may be misleading in the selection of diagnostic tests and disease diagnosis, thus adding to patient burden. To address these errors, clinicians do not need a …

Impact Of Rurality On Health Care Utilization Among Australian Residents From 2009 To 2021, Engida Yisma, Martin Jones, Lee San Pauh, Sandra Walsh, Sara Jones, Esther May, Marianne Gillam

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Purpose: In Australia, there is limited research regarding the effect of rurality on health care utilization using longitudinal data.

Methods: We analyzed data from four annual waves (2009, 2013, 2017, and 2021) of the longitudinal Household, Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia (HILDA) Survey to examine changes in the health care utilization over time among urban and rural residents. Poisson regression models estimated adjusted incidence rate ratios (aIRR) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for rural versus urban residents, accounting for a range of health-related and sociodemographic characteristics. Health care utilization was measured using four key indicators: visits to family doctor …

Translating Acceptability To Sustained Delivery: Clinician And Manager Perspectives On Implementing Modified Constraint-Induced Movement Therapy In An Early-Supported Discharge Rehabilitation Service, Ashan Weerakkody, Erin Godecke, Barby Singer

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Background: Modified constraint-induced movement therapy (mCIMT) improves upper limb (UL) function after stroke. Despite up to one-third of stroke survivors being eligible, clinical uptake remains poor. To address this, a multi-modal behaviour change intervention was implemented across a large seven-site early-supported discharge (ESD) rehabilitation service. This study investigated the acceptability of mCIMT implementation within this ESD service and identified adaptations required for sustained delivery.

Methods: This qualitative study was nested within a mixed-methods process evaluation of mCIMT implementation. Four focus groups (n = 24) comprising therapists (two groups), therapy assistants (one group), and allied health managers (one group) were conducted. …

A Brief History Of Antenatal Colostrum Expression, And Where To From Here, Therese A. O’Sullivan, Connie N. Ihlein

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

The practice of antenatal colostrum expression (ACE), or the extraction of colostrum from the breasts during pregnancy, has an interesting history and continues to evolve. This narrative review aims to describe how perception and practices of ACE have changed over time, summarise the evidence on ACE in maternal and infant care, and highlight areas for future research. The literature demonstrates that ACE is safe for low-risk women when done from around 36 weeks’ gestation. Women should be reassured that the skill of hand expressing is a valuable tool post-birth, regardless of whether they are able to collect colostrum antenatally or …

Comusichiamo. First Language, Life-Soundtracks And Storytelling To Support The Cultural Wellbeing Of Migrants Living With Dementia, Simone Marino, Loretta Baldassar

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

This study, located at the intersection of anthropology, ageing, music therapy and dementia, explores the value of music, life-storytelling and first language, to support the cultural identity and wellbeing of people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds living with dementia in Australia. It uses participant observation, the collection of oral histories and ‘life soundtracks’ to co-create a song with older Italian migrants and their families. This paper presents the first case study which informed the development of the music engagement program we call Comusichiamo (let’s make music together). The case study shows that the co-creation of a culturally tailored song, …

Empowerment Through Choice: The Interplay Of Choice And Control After Spinal Cord Or Brain Injury, Gisela Van Kessel, Shylie Mackintosh, Carolyn M. Murray, Michelle Guerin, Caroline Elizabeth Fryer, Mandy Stanley

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Purpose: To gain knowledge of the early phase post-injury experiences related to choice and control for individuals living with acquired brain injury or spinal cord injury, as well as their caregivers. Materials and Methods: A qualitative study was conducted to understand the experiences of individuals with acquired brain injury or spinal cord injury and their caregivers in the early phase post-injury, focusing on the aspects of choice and control. Nine individuals with acquired brain injury or spinal cord injury and four of their caregivers participated in semi-structured in-depth interviews, and the data was analysed using thematic analysis. Results: Four themes …

Through The Looking Glass; Midwifery Students' Experience Of Ethical Issues: A Feminist Explanatory Case Study, D. Bygraves, K. Wissemann, K. Buchanan

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Background: The ethical component in midwifery education is governed by international professional values, codes, and ethical principles. The aim of midwifery education is to encourage students to develop a lifelong commitment to ethical practice within their midwifery role and scope. However, little evidence is available on the experiences of midwifery students and how they navigate ethical issues in maternity systems. Aim: To present a case study from a midwifery students' perspective that demonstrates observed ethical issues and to provide analysis of the ethical issues identified. Design: A Single explanatory case study design with a feminist lens applied. Explanatory case studies …

Framing Theory Insights: The Co-Existence Of Frame Coupling And Frame Mirroring In Social Media And Online News About A Disaster-Affected Destination, Violetta Wilk, Ashlee Morgan, Greg Willson, Ruth Sibson

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Through the lens of framing theory, this paper explores social media and news media online narratives about a destination affected by a natural disaster. It presents original insights into the co-existence of frame coupling and frame mirroring in online content. Online news media, and local and overseas social media user-generated content (UGC) was examined. The aim of such triangulation of data, was to understand how different online sources framed the destination in the context of the disaster. 24,985 Twitter (now X) posts were sourced using Salesforce Social Studio and 1,248 online news media articles from Factiva. Leximancer-driven thematic analysis via …