Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

The Time Course Of Configural Change Detection For Novel 3-D Objects, Simone Favelle, Stephen Palmisano

Faculty of Health and Behavioural Sciences - Papers (Archive)

The present study investigated the time course of visual information processing that is responsible for successful object change detection involving the configuration and shape of 3-D novel object parts. Using a one-shot change detection task, we manipulated stimulus and interstimulus mask durations (40–500 msec). Experiments 1A and 1B showed no change detection advantage for configuration at very short (40-msec) stimulus durations, but the configural advantage did emerge with durations between 80 and 160 msec. In Experiment 2, we showed that, at shorter stimulus durations, the number of parts changing was the best predictor of change detection performance. Finally, in Experiment …

Effects Of Simvastatin And 6-Hydroxydopamine On Histaminergic H1 Receptor Binding Density In Rat Brains, Chang-Hua Hu, Chao Deng, Nikolce Mackovski, Ling Long, Cansheng Zhu, Yu Yang, Yuge Wang, J-Z Chen, Xu-Feng Huang, Qing Wang

Faculty of Health and Behavioural Sciences - Papers (Archive)

Statins have been widely used for the treatment of a variety of medical conditions including psychoneurological disorders beyond their original use in lowering cholesterol. Histamine receptors play an important role in the regulation of neural activity, however, it is unknown whether statins act on histamine receptors, particularly for their neural regulatory effects. This study examined the effects of simvastatin and 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) lesions on histamine H1 receptors using [3H] pyrilamine binding autoradiography. Compared to the saline group, simvastatin (1 mg/kg/day) significantly decreased H1 receptor bindings in the primary motor cortex (M1), ventromedial hypothalamic nucleus (VMH), caudate putamen (CPu), accumbens core …

Eccentric Gaze Dynamics Enhance Vection In Depth, Juno Kim, Stephen Palmisano

Faculty of Health and Behavioural Sciences - Papers (Archive)

This study examined the role of eccentric gaze dynamics in the generation of visual illusions of self-motion (i.e., vection). In Experiment 1, observers maintained their gaze either upward, downward, leftward, or rightward with respect to the center of a radially expanding optic flow pattern, which simulated forward self-motion in depth through a 3D cloud of objects. Realtime vection strength ratings and changes in horizontal and vertical eye positions were recorded simultaneously. Vection strength was found to increase progressively over the course of each 30-s presentation of radial flow. Eye tracking revealed strong optokinetic responses, consistent with ocular following responses (OFRs). …

Molecular Cloning And Characterization Of The Global Regulator Laea In Penicillium Citrinum, Wei Xing, Chao Deng, Chang-Hua Hu

Faculty of Health and Behavioural Sciences - Papers (Archive)

We have cloned and analysed a laeA gene (Pci-laeA) that may control mevastatin biosynthesis in Penicillium citrinum. The full-length Pci-laeA sequence is 1,340 bp with an ORF of 1,284 bp encoding 427 amino acids. It shows 95% identity with LaeA from P. chrysogenum. The predicted molecular mass of Pci-LaeA is 48.72 kDa with an estimated theoretical isoelectric point of 6.96. Pci-LaeA has a conserved S-adenosylmethionine binding site and a potential MlcR (a pathway specific regulator in mevastatin biosynthesis) binding site.

Direct To Consumer Advertising Versus Disease Awareness Advertising: Consumer Perspectives From Down Under, Danika Hall, Sandra C. Jones, J. Hoek

Faculty of Health and Behavioural Sciences - Papers (Archive)

At present, only the United States and New Zealand allow direct-to-consumer advertising (DTCA) of prescription medicine. In other countries where DTCA is not allowed, including Australia and the United Kingdom, pharmaceutical companies undertake disease awareness advertising (DAA). In DAA, advertisements do not name a drug directly, but provide general information about diseases and treatments, and encourage consumers to talk to their doctor. Similar debate surrounds these two forms of advertising, yet while past research has explored consumers' attitudes and behaviour in response to DTCA, little consideration has been given to DAA. This paper compares Australian consumers' perceptions of DAA with …

Development Of Australian Portion Size Photographs To Enhance Self-Administered Online Dietary Assessments For Adults, Yasmine Probst, Holley-Anne Jones, Gemma Sampson, Kimberley Smith

Faculty of Health and Behavioural Sciences - Papers (Archive)

Aim:  Technology is being used increasingly for dietary assessment, to streamline and improve the efficiency. These technologies allow for the inclusion of visual food portion images within the assessments rather than in addition to them as previously required. This paper describes the methodology for creating these food portion images using an online dietary assessment website (DietAdvice) as an example technology. The images include country-specific Australian food items, not previously available.

Methods:  Foods contained in the DietAdvice website were assessed to determine the number requiring food portion images. Preparation methods, recipes and portion sizes were determined for the foods, which varied …

Occupational Factors Associated With 4-Year Weight Gain In Australian Adults, Christopher A. Magee, Peter Caputi, Natalie Stefanic, Don Iverson

Faculty of Health and Behavioural Sciences - Papers (Archive)

No abstract provided.

District-Level Estimates Of Institutional Births In Ghana: Application Of Small Area Estimation Technique Using Census And Dhs Data, Fiifi Amoako Johnson, Hukum Chandra, James J. Brown, Sabu S. Padmadas

Faculty of Health and Behavioural Sciences - Papers (Archive)

The Ghana Health Service functions under a decentralised approach; however, the lack of district level statistics implies that local authorities are faced with difficulties in making policy decisions without relevant statistics. The Ghanain Demographic and Health Surveys provide a range of invaluable data at the regional/national level; they cannot be used directly to produce reliable district-level estimates due to small sample sizes. This article uses small area estimation techniques to derive model-based district-level estimates of institutional births in Ghana by linking data from the 2003 GDHS and the 2000 Population and Housing Census. The models indicate considerable variability in the …

Australians Love To Drive: What Do Drivers Over 55 Say About Dementia And Driving?, Victoria Traynor, Catherine Andrew, Jo-Ann Brown

Faculty of Health and Behavioural Sciences - Papers (Archive)

Background: Driving requires cognitive skills that can be compromised by dementia and some drivers find it difficult accepting the need to consider retirement from driving. This workshop explores driving and dementia and provides opportunities to discuss this topic with consumers, carers, practitioners and researchers.

A Behavioural Comparison Of Acute And Chronic Δ9-Tetrahydrocannabinol And Cannabidiol In C57bl/6jarc Mice, Ian Mcgregor, Xu-Feng Huang, Tim Karl, Jonathon Arnold, Rose Chesworth, Leonora E. Long

Faculty of Health and Behavioural Sciences - Papers (Archive)

Cannabis contains over 70 unique compounds and its abuse is linked to an increased risk of developing schizophrenia. The behavioural profiles of the psychotropic cannabis constituent Δ⁹-tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ⁹-THC) and the non-psychotomimetic constituent cannabidiol (CBD) were investigated with a battery of behavioural tests relevant to anxiety and positive, negative and cognitive symptoms of schizophrenia. Male adult C57BL/6JArc mice were given 21 daily intraperitoneal injections of vehicle, Δ⁹-THC (0.3, 1, 3 or 10 mg/kg) or CBD (1, 5, 10 or 50 mg/kg). Δ⁹-THC produced the classic cannabinoid CB₁ receptor-mediated tetrad of hypolocomotion, analgesia, …

The Utility Of Different Object Properties In Change Detection, Simone K. Favelle, Stephen A. Palmisano

Faculty of Health and Behavioural Sciences - Papers (Archive)

Previous research has shown that changes to the configuration of an object's parts are better detected than changes to the shape/arrangement of those parts. This finding suggests that configural, rather than shape, information plays a critical role in object change detection. The current study investigated configural and shape changes in greater detail to determine what aspects of these two types of object properties, if any, were more or less important for change detection. Specifically we investigated configural changes in terms of the orientation of the part change and shape changes in terms of the non-accidental properties of the part change. …

Glycemic Index And Pregnancy: A Systematic Literature Review, Jimmy Chun Yu Louie, Jennie C. Brand-Miller, Tania P. Markovic, Glynis P. Ross, Robert G. Moses

Faculty of Health and Behavioural Sciences - Papers (Archive)

Background/Aim. Dietary glycemic index (GI) has received considerable research interest over the past 25 years although its application to pregnancy outcomes is more recent. This paper critically evaluates the current evidence regarding the effect of dietary GI on maternal and fetal nutrition. Methods. A systematic literature search using MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, Cochrane Library, SCOPUS, and ISI Web of Science, from 1980 through September 2010, was conducted. Results. Eight studies were included in the systematic review. Two interventional studies suggest that a low-GI diet can reduce the risk of large-for-gestational-age (LGA) infants in healthy pregnancies, but one epidemiological study reported an …

The Diet That Works, Yasmine Probst, Rebecca L. Thorne

Faculty of Health and Behavioural Sciences - Papers (Archive)

No abstract provided.

Marketing To Children And Teens On Australian Food Company Web Sites, Amanda Reid, Sandra C. Jones

Faculty of Health and Behavioural Sciences - Papers (Archive)

No abstract provided.

Comparison Of Multiple And Novel Measures Of Dietary Glycemic Carbohydrate With Insulin Resistant Status In Older Women, Therese O'Sullivan, Alexandra P. Bremner, Sheila O'Neill, Philippa M. Lyons-Wall

Faculty of Health and Behavioural Sciences - Papers (Archive)

Background: Previous epidemiological investigations of associations between dietary glycemic intake and insulin resistance have used average daily measures of glycemic index (GI) and glycemic load (GL). We explored multiple and novel measures of dietary glycemic intake to determine which was most predictive of an association with insulin resistance. Methods: Usual dietary intakes were assessed by diet history interview in women aged 42-81 years participating in the Longitudinal Assessment of Ageing in Women. Daily measures of dietary glycemic intake (n = 329) were carbohydrate, GI, GL, and GL per megacalorie (GL/Mcal), while meal based measures (n = 200) were breakfast, lunch …

The Polyunsaturated Fatty Acid Intakes Of Children From The Kids Eat Kids Play Survey, N Kolanu, B J. Meyer

Faculty of Health and Behavioural Sciences - Papers (Archive)

No abstract provided.

Landing Strategies Of Athletes With An Asymptomatic Patellar Tendon Abnormality, Suzi Edwards, Julie R. Steele, Deirdre Mcghee, Sue Beattie, Craig Purdam, Jill L. Cook

Faculty of Health and Behavioural Sciences - Papers (Archive)

Purpose: Risk factors associated with a clinical presentation of patellar tendinopathy are patellar tendon ultrasonographic abnormality (PTA) and excessive loading. It remains unknown whether characteristics of an athlete's landing technique contribute to this excessive patellar tendon loading. This study investigated whether asymptomatic athletes with and without PTA had different landing strategies and hypothesized that asymptomatic athletes with a PTA would create higher patellar tendon loading and a different lower-limb landing strategy compared with athletes with normal patellar tendons. Methods: Seven athletes with no previous history or clinical signs of patellar tendon injury with a PTA were matched to athletes with …

Nutrition Screening: Time To Address The Skeletons In The Bedroom Closet As Well As Those In Hospitals, Karen E. Charlton

Faculty of Health and Behavioural Sciences - Papers (Archive)

Ever since Dr Charles Butterworth's seminal article in 1974¹ on the widespread prevalence of malnutrition in hospitalised patients and its detrimental effect on recovery, attempts have been made to improve the detection of malnutrition through screening initiatives. However, despite compelling evidence that those who are either malnourished at admission or become malnourished during their hospital stay experience increased surgical complications, greater morbidity and increased length of hospital stay^2,3 as well as higher rates of mortality at 12 months,^4,5 malnutrition often remains undetected and untreated because it is not considered to be a clinical priority. Even overt signs …

Point-Of-Sale Alcohol Promotions In The Perth And Sydney Metropolitan Areas, Sandra C. Jones, Lance R. Barrie

Faculty of Health and Behavioural Sciences - Papers (Archive)

There is considerable evidence that reducing the price of alcohol increases the amount consumed, particularly among young people. However, there is an absence of research on other point-of-sale (POS) alcohol marketing strategies - such as those that ‘reward’ purchasers with free gifts. The purpose of the present study was to document the nature and extent of POS alcohol promotions in bottle shops in two Australian capital cities. An audit tool was developed and point-of-sale promotions were found to be ubiquitous, with 416 promotions identified across 24 audits (an average of 17.3 promotions per outlet; 19.8 in Sydney and 14.9 in …

Increasing Research Familiarity Amongst Members Of A Clubhouse For People With Mental Illness, Sarah Louise Marshall, Frank Deane, Nicola Hancock

Faculty of Health and Behavioural Sciences - Papers (Archive)

No abstract provided.

Long-Term Care For People With Dementia: Environmental Design Guidelines., Richard Fleming, Nitin Purandare

Faculty of Health and Behavioural Sciences - Papers (Archive)

No abstract provided.

Effects Of Simvastatin And 6-Hydroxydopamine Lesion On Histaminergic H1 Receptor Binding In Rat Brains, C H. Hu, C Deng, Xu-Feng Huang, J Chen, Q Wang

Faculty of Health and Behavioural Sciences - Papers (Archive)

No abstract provided.

General Practice Registrars: Attitudes Of Older Patients, Andrew D. Bonney, Sandra C. Jones, Lyn Phillipson, Donald C. Iverson

Faculty of Health and Behavioural Sciences - Papers (Archive)

Previous research indicates that older patients may be less willing to consult general practice registrars (GPRs), reducing training opportunities in chronic/complex care. This survey explores older patients’ attitudes in order to inform models of interaction that would be acceptable to patients. METHODS Ten training general practices distributed questionnaires for self completion to 50 patients aged 60 years and over. Chi-square, Spearman’s rho and logistic regression were used for analysis. RESULTS The response rate was 47%. Ninetysix percent wanted ongoing contact with their general practitioner if they saw a GPR. Twenty-four percent were comfortable with GPR chronic/complex care, increasing to 73% …

Ecstasy (Mdma) And Its Relationship With Self Report Depression, Anxiety And Schizotypy, Lisa Woods, Emma Barkus

Faculty of Health and Behavioural Sciences - Papers (Archive)

Abstract. Aims: The relationship between ecstasy and affective psychological symptoms are still subject to debate. We aimed to examine the relationship between Ecstasy use and self-report depression, anxiety and schizotypy. Design: Data were collected via structured remote self-report questionnaires. Participants: Participants were split into three groups: a control group with no ecstasy use, a light ecstasy user group (<50 >times), and a heavy ecstasy user group (>50 times). Measurements: Amount and patterns of ecstasy use were recorded, the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), and Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) measured depression and anxiety respectively, and schizotypal traits were measured using the …

Therapeutic Alliance In Vocational Rehabilitation, Frank P. Deane, Trevor P. Crowe, Lindsay G. Oades

Faculty of Health and Behavioural Sciences - Papers (Archive)

The chapter begins by providing a brief description of the components thought to be important in the therapeutic relationship and in developing a strong therapeutic or working alliance. Many decades of research have established that a good therapeutic alliance is related to better treatment outcomes for people engaged in psychotherapy. However, there has been relatively little of this research which has focused on individuals with severe mental illnesses such as schizophrenia. A brief review of these studies indicates 'promising' findings with regard to the link between therapeutic alliance and more positive treatment outcomes, but it is argued that a strength-based …

Examining The Social Processes Of 'Innovation' To Inform The Development Of A New Framework For Making Sense Of ''Social Innovation", Patrick M. Dawson, Lisa Daniel

Faculty of Health and Behavioural Sciences - Papers (Archive)

In the face of increasing pressure to change and adapt to the needs of highly competitive business markets, it is not unusual for management to focus on the commercial payback on technical innovations and to downplay social processes. Typically, company survival is explained in terms of an 'innovation imperative' where new products and services are part of the dynamic business environment for securing and maintaining competitive advantage. Historically, the focus has been on how to translate innovations in science and technology into commercial applications. We contend that whilst largely downplayed, social processes have always been essential tounderstanding innovation and that …

Orientation Tuning Of Contrast Masking Caused By Motion Streaks, Deborah Apthorp, John Cass, David Alais

Faculty of Health and Behavioural Sciences - Papers (Archive)

We investigated whether the oriented trails of blur left by fast-moving dots (i.e., “motion streaks”) effectively mask grating targets. Using a classic overlay masking paradigm, we varied mask contrast and target orientation to reveal underlying tuning. Fast-moving Gaussian blob arrays elevated thresholds for detection of static gratings, both monoptically and dichoptically. Monoptic masking at high mask (i.e., streak) contrasts is tuned for orientation and exhibits a similar bandwidth to masking functions obtained with grating stimuli (È30 degrees). Dichoptic masking fails to show reliable orientation-tuned masking, but dichoptic masks at very low contrast produce a narrowly tuned facilitation (È17 degrees). For …

Anisotropies In Judging The Direction Of Moving Natural Scenes, Steven C. Dakin, Deborah Apthorp, David Alais

Faculty of Health and Behavioural Sciences - Papers (Archive)

Although visual systems are optimized to deal with the natural visual environment, our understanding of human motion perception is in large part based on the use of artificial stimuli. Here, we assessed observers’ ability to estimate the direction of translating natural images and fractals by having them adjust the orientation of a subsequently viewed line. A system of interleaved staircases, driven by observers’ direction estimates, ensured that stimuli were presented near one of 16 reference directions. The resulting error distributions (i.e., the differences between reported and true directions) reveal several anisotropies in global motion processing. First, observers’ estimates are biased …

Postural Responses To Multidirectional Perturbations To The Hand During Stance, Ali Forghani, Sheida Rabipour, Theodore E. Milner, Paul J. Stapley

Faculty of Health and Behavioural Sciences - Papers (Archive)

Humans are easily able to maintain their balance while applying force with their hands to move or stabilize objects. Based on Newton's laws, the applied force must be counteracted by ground reaction force (GRF) to maintain balance. However, because the GRF is partitioned between the two legs there is no unique solution. Furthermore, central nervous system (CNS) can employ an infinite number of muscle activation patterns to achieve ground reaction force (GRF) vectors needed to satisfy both the task-level goal and balance. This study examines the postural response when hand position must remain stable as an external force is applied …

Stereoscopic Perception Of Real Depths At Large Distances, Stephen Palmisano, Barbara Gillam, Donovan Govan, Robert Allison, Julie Harris

Faculty of Health and Behavioural Sciences - Papers (Archive)

There has been no direct examination of stereoscopic depth perception at very large observation distances and depths. We measured perceptions of depth magnitude at distances where it is frequently reported without evidence that stereopsis is non-functional. We adapted methods pioneered at distances up to 9 m by R. S. Allison, B. J. Gillam, and E. Vecellio (2009) for use in a 381-m-long railway tunnel. Pairs of Light Emitting Diode (LED) targets were presented either in complete darkness or with the environment lit as far as the nearest LED (the observation distance). We found that binocular, but not monocular, estimates of …