A high burden of asymptomatic gastrointestinal infections in traditional communities in Papua New Guinea
- Authors: Horwood, Paul , Soli, Kevin , Maure, Tobias , Naito, Yuichi , Morita, Ayako , Natsuhara, Kazumi , Tadokoro, Kiyoshi , Baba, Jun , Odani, Shingo , Tomitsuka, Eriko , Igai, Katsura , Larkins, Jo-Ann , Siba, Peter , Pomat, William , McBryde, Emma , Umezaki, Masahiro , Greenhill, Andrew
- Date: 2017
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene Vol. 97, no. 6 (2017), p. 1872-1875
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- Description: Stool samples were collected from 148 healthy adults living a traditional subsistence lifestyle in Papua New Guinea and screened for enteric pathogens using real-time RT-PCR/PCR assays. Enteric pathogens were detected in a high proportion (41%) of individuals. Clear differences were observed in the detection of pathogens between highland and lowland communities. In particular, there was a marked difference in detection rates of norovirus GII (20% and 0%, respectively) and Shigella sp. (15% and 0%, respectively). Analysis of the relationship between enteric pathogen carriage and microbial community composition of participants, using box plots to compare specific normal flora population numbers, did not suggest that gut microbial composition was directly associated with pathogen carriage. This study suggests that enteric pathogens are common in healthy individuals in Papua New Guinean highland communities, presumably acting as a reservoir of infection and thus contributing to a high burden of gastrointestinal illnesses.
A study of indoor and outdoor nitrogen dioxide concentrations at student residences
- Authors: Panther, Barbara , Larkins, Jo-Ann
- Date: 2009
- Type: Text , Conference paper
- Relation: The Proceedings of the 19th International Clean air and Environment conference
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Adult deterioration detection system (ADDS) : An evaluation of the impact on met and code blue activations in a regional healthcare service
- Authors: Missen, Karen , Porter, Joanne , Raymond, Anita , de Vent, Kerry , Larkins, Jo-Ann
- Date: 2018
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Collegian Vol. 25, no. 2 (2018), p. 157-161
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- Description: Aims: To evaluate the impact of Acute Deterioration Detection System (ADDS) charts introduced to a regional healthcare service. Background: To assist health professionals in identifying essential elements for recognizing patient clinical deterioration, a national initiative introduced track and trigger observation charts, to hospitals in Australia. This study investigated whether the introduction of ADDS charts had an impact on the number of Medical Emergency Team (MET) and Code Blue activations at one regional healthcare service, according to their incident recording database. Method: A retrospective study of all Code Blue and MET activations was undertaken at a regional hospital, pre and post the introduction of ADDS charts in a two year period, June 2012 to June 2014. Results: There was a significant increase in MET activations from 5.91 to 11.27 per 1000 admissions (p < 0.01) after the implementation of ADDS charts. There was also an unexplained non-significant increase from 0.50 to 0.88 per 1000 admissions in the activations of Code Blue during this period (p = 0.05). It was also found that ADDS charts did not overly influence the activation criteria for calling a MET/Code Blue, except for an increase in reports of high heart rate and a decrease in the use of the criteria ‘worried’. Conclusion: The introduction of ADDS charts has provided health professionals with a clear track and trigger set of criteria, improving the detection of early signs of deterioration in patients. This study demonstrated an increase in activations as a result of the introduction of ADDS charts in one regional healthcare service.
Benefits of the scientific method to business and how business and science can learn from each other
- Authors: Howgrave-Graham, Alan , Kirstine, Wayne , Larkins, Jo-Ann
- Date: 2009
- Type: Text , Book chapter
- Relation: Small business: Innovation, problem and strategy, method to business and how business and science can learn from each other p. 117-133
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- Description: Science can be basic (or pure) and curiosity driven, or applied, in which new products or processes are developed or creative solutions to problems are sought. On the other hand, business primarily focuses on profit generation and growth. However, business itself is represented by both the service and manufacturing sectors. The benefits of science to the latter would be through the development of new products and improvement of their processes, whereas the former could also benefit from logical scientific thinking and investigation. Because small business often focuses on survival and does not have the resources to conduct the investigations required for an early response to new developments and market forces, its competitiveness can suffer. On the other hand, scientists are engrossed in their new discoveries and are usually not as adept at promoting these where they can do the most good. This chapter is a review of some historical, interspersed with current unpublished, examples of how the commercialization gap between science and business can be closed to the benefit of each. Opportunities for small and larger enterprises are described, primarily in the manufacturing sector, but benefits of science to members of the service sector that rely upon natural resources, such as drycleaners and forensic laboratories, will also be discussed. The strategies proposed highlight the importance of networking and facilitation by a ‘champion’ for the communication of innovations in a competitive environment, and the importance of marketing skills in an age of technological transparency, revolutionary advance in science, environmental sensitivity and dwindling resources. Examples range from the utilization or production of high-tech innovations to the implementation of the simplest measures for cutting costs and using resources more efficiently in small business. How the scientific/academic community can derive maximum benefits from collaborating with business is also discussed.
Burnout, stress and resilience of an Australian regional hospital during COVID-19 : a longitudinal study
- Authors: Armstrong, Samantha , Porter, Joanne , Larkins, Jo-Ann , Mesagno, Christopher
- Date: 2022
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: BMC Health Services Research Vol. 22, no. 1 (2022), p.
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- Description: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has placed huge strain on hospital staff around the world. The aim of the current longitudinal study was to investigate the resilience, stress and burnout of hospital staff located at a large, regional hospital in Victoria, Australia during the COVID-19 pandemic over time via cross-sectional surveys. The surveys were disseminated six times from August 2020 to March 2021, with the first three data collection points distributed during a state-wide lockdown. A total of 558 responses from various professional roles within the hospital over the survey period were included in the sample. Analysis of variance indicated significant main effects for the psychological variables across time, age, and workload. Hospital staff reported an increase in burnout levels throughout the eight-months. Significant negative relationships were observed between resilience and burnout, and between resilience and stress. A backward regression highlighted the contribution of resilience, stress, age, and nursing roles on burnout. Hierarchical regression analysis indicated that resilience contributed to the stress-burnout relationship. This study strengthens the evidence between resilience and burnout among healthcare workers and hospital staff and highlights the need for psychological wellbeing programs to be implemented for hospital staff impacted by a prolonged worldwide pandemic. © 2022, The Author(s).
Burnout, stress and resilience of an Australian regional hospital during COVID-19: a longitudinal study
- Authors: Armstrong, Samantha , Porter, Joanne , Larkins, Jo-Ann , Mesagno, Christopher
- Date: 2022
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: BMC health services research Vol. 22, no. 1 (2022), p. 1-1115
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- Description: Abstract Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has placed huge strain on hospital staff around the world. The aim of the current longitudinal study was to investigate the resilience, stress and burnout of hospital staff located at a large, regional hospital in Victoria, Australia during the COVID-19 pandemic over time via cross-sectional surveys. The surveys were disseminated six times from August 2020 to March 2021, with the first three data collection points distributed during a state-wide lockdown. A total of 558 responses from various professional roles within the hospital over the survey period were included in the sample. Analysis of variance indicated significant main effects for the psychological variables across time, age, and workload. Hospital staff reported an increase in burnout levels throughout the eight-months. Significant negative relationships were observed between resilience and burnout, and between resilience and stress. A backward regression highlighted the contribution of resilience, stress, age, and nursing roles on burnout. Hierarchical regression analysis indicated that resilience contributed to the stress-burnout relationship. This study strengthens the evidence between resilience and burnout among healthcare workers and hospital staff and highlights the need for psychological wellbeing programs to be implemented for hospital staff impacted by a prolonged worldwide pandemic.
Characterization of the gut microbiota of Papua New Guineans using reverse transcription quantitative PCR
- Authors: Greenhill, Andrew , Tsuji, Hirokazu , Ogata, Kiyohito , Natsuhara, Kazumi , Morita, Ayako , Soli, Kevin , Larkins, Jo-Ann , Tadokoro, Kiyoshi , Odani, Shingo , Baba, Jun , Naito, Yuichi , Tomitsuka, Eriko , Nomoto, Kriko , Siba, Peter , Horwood, Paul , Umezaki, Masahiro
- Date: 2015
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: PLoS ONE Vol. 10, no. 2 (2015), p. 1-15
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- Description: There has been considerable interest in composition of gut microbiota in recent years, leading to a better understanding of the role the gut microbiota plays in health and disease. Most studies have been limited in their geographical and socioeconomic diversity to high-income settings, and have been conducted using small sample sizes. To date, few analyses have been conducted in low-income settings, where a better understanding of the gut microbiome could lead to the greatest return in terms of health benefits. Here, we have used quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction targeting dominant and sub-dominant groups of microorganisms associated with human gut microbiome in 115 people living a subsistence lifestyle in rural areas of Papua New Guinea. Quantification of Clostridium coccoides group, C. leptum subgroup, C. perfringens, Bacteroides fragilis group, Bifidobacterium, Atopobium cluster, Prevotella, Enterobacteriaceae, Enterococcus, Staphylococcus, and Lactobacillus spp. was conducted. Principle coordinates analysis (PCoA) revealed two dimensions with Prevotella, clostridia, Atopobium, Enterobacteriaceae, Enterococcus and Staphylococcus grouping in one dimension, while B. fragilis, Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus grouping in the second dimension. Highland people had higher numbers of most groups of bacteria detected, and this is likely a key factor for the differences revealed by PCoA between highland and lowland study participants. Age and sex were not major determinants in microbial population composition. The study demonstrates a gut microbial composition with some similarities to those observed in other low-income settings where traditional diets are consumed, which have previously been suggested to favor energy extraction from a carbohydrate rich diet. © 2015 PLOS ONE.
Decision-making in complex asset life extension
- Authors: Morey, Stephen , Chattopadhyay, Gopinath , Larkins, Jo-Ann
- Date: 2021
- Type: Text , Conference paper
- Relation: 2021 International Conference on Maintenance and Intelligent Asset Management, ICMIAM 2021; Ballarat; 12-15 December 2021
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- Description: Complex, long-life assets present challenges for life cycle management, particularly decisions about life extension at the end of the asset life. Multiple interlinked risk factors drive the decision-making process. Compounding the difficulty, few ready-To-use life extension methods exist in literature. Complex decision analysis processes which are technically superior, but difficult to follow, may have the effect of alienating decision-makers who do not understand them. A method developed for NASA for risk informed decision making appears more suitable for guiding decision-making in life extension problems. This paper proposes a framework for decision-making in life extension of complex, long-life, capital-intensive assets, addressing some of the important challenges in life extension decision-making. © 2021 IEEE.
Developing a framework for generating realistic, but not real, synthetic maintenance records
- Authors: Larkins, Jo-Ann , Chattopadhyay, Gopinath , Morey, Stephen
- Date: 2022
- Type: Text , Conference paper
- Relation: 2022 International Conference on Maintenance and Intelligent Asset Management, ICMIAM 2022, Anand, India, 12-15 December 2022, 2022 International Conference on Maintenance and Intelligent Asset Management, ICMIAM 2022
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- Description: Informed decisions for life-extension of complex long-life assets require knowledge of the current state of the asset as well as understanding of its maintenance and failure history. A lack of access to sufficient and reliable data for method validation, such as appropriately detailed maintenance logs, inhibits research into better-informed decisions for life-extension of long-life capital-intensive assets. Researchers must negotiate industry partnerships and overcome barriers to data access due to commercial sensitivities. This paper proposes a conceptual framework for generating realistic, but not necessarily real, synthetic maintenance records. Maintenance logs have strong structural synergies with electronic health records. We adapt and map methods for generating synthetic health records using only publicly available data sources to create synthetic maintenance records. Facet strings are used to construct a probabilistic framework for developing brief free notes. The generation of realistic synthetic maintenance records can be achieved using publicly available data, supported by expert engineering knowledge of the design and maintenance of the system. © 2022 IEEE.
Evaluation of a rapid immunochromatographic assay for the detection of rotavirus, norovirus and adenovirus from children hospitalized with acute watery diarrhea
- Authors: Kas, Monalisa , Maure, Tobias , Soli, Kevin , Umezaki, Masahiro , Morita, Ayako , Bebes, Sauli , Jonduo, Marinjho , Larkins, Jo-Ann , Luang-Suarkia, Dagwin , Siba, Peter , Greenhill, Andrew , Horwood, Paul
- Date: 2013
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Papua and New Guinea Medical Journal Vol. 56, no. 3-4 (2013), p. 141-144
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- Description: We evaluated the IP-Triple I immunochromatographic rapid test for the detection of rotavirus, norovirus and adenovirus using stool samples from children with diarrhoea. The detection of norovirus and adenovirus was poor compared to polymerase chain reaction assays. However, high sensitivity (92%) and specificity (99%) were obtained for the detection of rotavirus.
Foundations of the DEFT project : tertiary educators developing expertise fostering thinking
- Authors: Osborn, Judy-anne , Larkins, Jo-Ann , McBain, Bonnie , Ellerton, Peter , Black, Joel , Borwein, Naomi , Breuera, Florian , Roberts, Malcolm
- Date: 2020
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: International Journal of Innovation in Science and Mathematics Education Vol. 28, no. 2 (2020), p. 2-15
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- Description: We describe the rationale, creation, and activity of a long-term co-constructed voluntary professional development initiative for tertiary educators. This is a Community of Practice (CoP) formed to investigate “thinking” as a topic which may be explicitly taught. The aim of this paper is to share the value of this CoP in one context and insights into how similar approaches may be useful to other tertiary educators. The project has run for a year to date, involving a small butgrowing collective of tertiary educators, withmembers from one Canadian and several Australian Universities. Our methodology is participatory: we regularly meet,reflect,and record our reflections. Our records contain data relatingto our motivation, our insights, and the impact of these upon our choices in our teaching practices. In particular,our rationaleincludes the mutual desire to invest in developing understanding of our teaching challenges, to enable us to create thoughtful teaching approaches fit for our purposes and contexts. Hence, the central focus of our CoP isthe Development of our Expertise in Fostering Thinking (DEFT). This focus hasilluminatedgaps in existing scholarly literaturepertainingto communal development of theory, personal development of schemata, capacity for reflexivity, and instantiation in our disciplines. Opportunities and risks associated with our other sources of professional learningare identified and discussed. We elaborate on adouble-layered approach, in which we explore the constructionofour ownschemataas a precursor to helpingstudents buildtheirschemataas a foundation for their own understanding, and the role offlexible, critical,and creativethinking on our part. We utilise the scholarship of expertise, frequently returning to such questionsas “How do we know what our students are thinking?”Insights gleaned from our reflections are shared, and recommendations are presented on the formation of similar projects. © 2020, Publisher Name. All rights reserved.
Is the evolution of biochemistry texts decreasing fitness? A case study of pedagogical error in bioenergetics
- Authors: Larkins, Jo-Ann , Mosse, Jennifer , Chapman, Brian
- Date: 2011
- Type: Text , Conference paper
- Relation: Australian Conference on Science and Mathematics Education (ACSME): Teaching for diversity -Challenges and strategies p. 187-192
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- Description: The initial impetus for this research was the discovery by the authors of a variety of common and consistent errors and misconceptions in pedagogical literature on the topic of thermodynamics in Biochemistry. A systematic survey was undertaken of material on thermodynamics in Biochemistry textbooks commonly used in Australian Universities over the period from the 1920s up to 2010. Four common areas of error and misconception were identified, and a number of factors associated with the initiation and propagation of troublesome pedagogical material through successive editions of Biochemistry textbooks were recognised. These factors included the introduction of multiple authors and also often the departure of the original author of a particular textbook. The very nature of Biochemistry as a rapidly expanding discipline leads to the constant introduction of new material in textbooks and the contraction of older material such as thermodynamics. Material is also often fragmented into a number of smaller sections in modern textbooks. Moreover, less development is likely to be applied to this older material, with considerable reuse of material from previous editions. The lessons learned from charting these particular errors in thermodynamics in Biochemistry textbooks may provide insight into how troublesome pedagogical material evolves in other disciplines.
Presence and antimicrobial resistance profiles of Escherichia coli, Enterococcusspp. and Salmonellasp. in 12 species of Australian shorebirds and terns
- Authors: Smith, Hannah , Bean, David , Clarke, Rohan , Loyn, Richard , Larkins, Jo-Ann , Hassell, Chris , Greenhill, Andrew
- Date: 2022
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Zoonoses and Public Health Vol. 69, no. 6 (2022), p. 615-624
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- Description: Antibiotic resistance is an ongoing threat to both human and animal health. Migratory birds are a potential vector for the spread of novel pathogens and antibiotic resistance genes. To date, there has been no comprehensive study investigating the presence of antibiotic resistance (AMR) in the bacteria of Australian shorebirds or terns. In the current study, 1022 individual birds representing 12 species were sampled across three states of Australia (Victoria, South Australia, and Western Australia) and tested for the presence of phenotypically resistant strains of three bacteria with potential to be zoonotic pathogens; Escherichia coli, Enterococcusspp., and Salmonellasp. In total, 206 E. coli, 266 Enterococcusspp., and 20 Salmonellasp. isolates were recovered, with AMR detected in 42% of E. coli, 85% of Enterococcusspp., and 10% of Salmonellasp. Phenotypic resistance was commonly detected to erythromycin (79% of Enterococcusspp.), ciprofloxacin (31% of Enterococcusspp.) and streptomycin (21% of E. coli). Resident birds were more likely to carry AMR bacteria than migratory birds (p ≤.001). Bacteria isolated from shorebirds and terns are commonly resistant to at least one antibiotic, suggesting that wild bird populations serve as a potential reservoir and vector for AMR bacteria. However, globally emerging phenotypes of multidrug-resistant bacteria were not detected in Australian shorebirds. This study provides baseline data of the carriage of AMR bacteria in Australian shorebirds and terns. © 2022 The Authors. Zoonoses and Public Health published by Wiley-VCH GmbH.
Qualified nurses' perceptions of nursing graduates' abilities vary according to specific demographic and clinical characteristics. A descriptive quantitative study
- Authors: Missen, Karen , McKenna, Lisa , Beauchamp, Alison , Larkins, Jo-Ann
- Date: 2016
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Nurse Education Today Vol. 45, no. (2016), p. 108-113
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- Description: Background: Evidence from the literature and anecdotally from clinical settings suggests that newly graduated nurses are not fully prepared to be independent practitioners in healthcare settings. Aims and Objectives: The aim of this studywas to explore perceptions of qualified nurses in relation to the practice readiness of newly registered nursing graduates and determine whether these views differ according to specific demographic characteristics, clinical settings, and geographical locations. Design: A descriptive quantitative design was used. Methods: An online survey tool was used to assess how qualified nurses (n = 201) in Victoria, Australia, rated newly graduated nurses' abilities on 51 individual clinical skills/competencies in eight key skill areas. A composite score was calculated for each skill area and a comparative analysis was undertaken on the various cohorts of participants according to their demographic and clinical characteristics using one-way ANOVA and post hoc tests. Results: Newly graduated nurses were found to be lacking competence in two key skill areas and were rated as performing adequately in the remaining six skill areas assessed. Significant differences (p ≤ 0.05) in performance were found according to the age of the nurse, number of years registered, the educational setting in which they undertook their nurse education, their role, and the clinical area inwhich theyworked. There were no significant differences according to whether the nurse worked in the private or public healthcare sector. Few differences were found between nurses working in a metropolitan vs. regional/rural healthcare setting. Conclusion: This is the first study to quantify the scale of this problem. Our findings serve as a reference for both nurse education providers and healthcare settings in better preparing nursing graduates to be competent, safe practitioners in all clinical areas.
Qualified nurses' rate new nursing graduates as lacking skills in key clinical areas
- Authors: Missen, Karen , McKenna, Lisa , Beauchamp, Alison , Larkins, Jo-Ann
- Date: 2016
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Journal of Clinical Nursing Vol. 25, no. 15-16 (2016), p. 2134-2143
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- Description: Aims and objectives: The aim of this study was to explore perceptions of qualified nurses on the abilities of newly registered nursing graduates to perform a variety of clinical skills. Background: Evidence from the literature suggests that undergraduate nursing programmes do not adequately prepare nursing students to be practice-ready on completion of their nursing courses. Design: A descriptive quantitative design was used. Methods: Participants were recruited through the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation, Victorian branch. A brief explanation of the study and a link to the survey were promoted in their monthly e-newsletter. A total of 245 qualified nurses in the state of Victoria, Australia participated in this study. A survey tool of 51 clinical skills and open-ended questions was used, whereby participants were asked to rate new nursing graduates' abilities using a 5-point Likert scale. Results: Overall participants rated new nursing graduates' abilities for undertaking clinical skills as good or very good in 35·3% of skills, 33·3% were rated as adequate and 31·4% rated as being performed poorly or very poorly. Of concern, essential clinical skills, such as critical thinking and problem solving, working independently and assessment procedures, were found to be poorly executed and affecting new registered nurses graduates' competence. Conclusion: The findings from this study can further serve as a reference for nursing education providers to enhance nursing curricula and work collaboratively with healthcare settings in preparing nurses to be competent, safe practitioners on completion of their studies. Relevance to clinical practice: Identifying key areas in which new nursing graduates are not yet competent means that educational providers and educators from healthcare settings can focus on these skills in better preparing our nurses to be work ready.
Seeking approval from universities to research the views of their staff : do gatekeepers provide a barrier to ethical research?
- Authors: Christian, Katherine , Johnstone, Carolyn , Larkins, Jo-Ann , Wright, Wendy
- Date: 2022
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Journal of Empirical Research on Human Research Ethics Vol. 17, no. 3 (2022), p. 317-328
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- Description: A “gatekeeper” controls access to an organization; “gatekeeper approval” is often needed before external research can take place within an organization. We explore the need for gatekeeper approval for research with university staff employing, as a case study, a project which collected data in Australia. This case study addresses known issues, seemingly rarely addressed in the literature. The Human Research Ethics Committee (HREC)'s requirement for approval from individual universities to approach their staff brought significant consequences, exacerbated by the lack of university procedures for such approvals. Simultaneously, since invitations could legitimately be distributed via other avenues, such approval was superfluous. We recommend the HREC's blanket requirement for institutional approval instead be considered on a case-by-case basis depending on the risk of the research, and perhaps waived for low-risk research where participants are able to provide informed consent, and that universities establish processes to deal with requests from external researchers. © The Author(s) 2022.
The impact of discussion board usage on overall performance in an introductory accounting subject
- Authors: Halabi, Abdel , Larkins, Jo-Ann
- Date: 2016
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Pacific Accounting Review Vol. 28, no. 3 (2016), p. 337-358
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- Description: Purpose The aim of this paper is to examine the academic performances of first-year accounting students using a discussion board. Design/methodology/approach The paper develops a model to determine the impact of discussion board usage on overall student performance. A number of variables are controlled for including academic aptitude, previous accounting experience, gender and student background. Included in the model are diagnostic information indicators of student use of the discussion board, obtained from the Web-based learning environment tracking reports. Findings The multiple regression analysis shows a positive benefit in terms of greater marks for students who post on the discussion board compared to those who do not post, even after controlling for academic ability. Research limitations/implications The improved knowledge construction gained by actively using discussion boards may be used by teaching staff to promote greater student acceptance and voluntary participation in discussion boards resulting in more interaction and possibly higher academic achievement. Originality/value While technology and WBLEs have been well accepted in accounting education, and are widely used (Watson et al., 2007), the introduction of discussion boards has resulted in a dearth of research on their use and effectiveness. In-depth accounting educational literature reviews (Apostolou et al., 2013, 2010; Watson et al., 2007; Watson et al., 2003; Rebele et al., 1998) have reported very few studies on discussion boards over three decades.
The meaning of ‘worried’ in MET call activations : A regional hospital examination of the clinical indicator
- Authors: Raymond, Anita , Porter, Joanne , Missen, Karen , Larkins, Jo-Ann , de Vent, Kerry , Redpath, Simone
- Date: 2019
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Collegian Vol. 26, no. 3 (2019), p. 378-382
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- Description: Little is known about why nurses escalate a Medical Emergency Team (MET) response based on ‘worried’ criteria or what clinical findings define a ‘worried’ MET call. Limited clarity exists in nursing literature regarding the clinical definition of ‘worried’ in medical emergencies. Commonly ‘worried’ terminology is associated with nursing intuition about a patient's condition before signs of decline in clinical condition. This research has identified the exact clinical cause of ‘worried’ escalations, with evidence to support that clinical reasoning and patient deterioration are the main cause of ‘worried’ activation. This research has also highlighted areas for further professional development to enhance levels of patient safety and quality care within a regional hospital setting.
The probability isotherm : An intuitive non-equilibrium thermodynamic framework for biochemical kinetics
- Authors: Chapman, Brian , Mosse, Jennifer , Larkins, Jo-Ann
- Date: 2011
- Type: Text , Conference paper
- Relation: Australian Conference on Science and Mathematics Education p. 169-174
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- Description: Widespread error exists in the ‘thermodynamics’ and/or ‘bioenergetics’ sections of most biochemical textbooks. Three typical examples are drawn from a premier pedagogical source and shown to encapsulate (1) confusion about entropy and reversibility, (2) confounding of coupled reactions with sequential reactions in misguided attempts to show how exergonic reactions might drive endergonic reactions, and (3) confusion about the proximity to equilibrium of living processes. A fresh approach is developed, based on the Second Law imperative that free energy be dissipated (identical to the requirement that entropy be created). This approach identifies a Probability Isotherm, being a probabilistic expression of the Second Law, relating molar free energy dissipation to the overall ratio of probability of forward reaction to backward reaction. By equating the Probability Isotherm to the Van’t Hoff Isotherm, the overall probability ratio may be decomposed into an intrinsic probability ratio (the equilibrium constant) and an extrinsic probability ratio (dependent on composition). The Probability Isotherm is manifest kinetically as the Rate Isotherm, also thermodynamically determined even for kinetically complex reactions. The concept of ‘bound energy’ is introduced to complement ‘free energy’ in reconciling the Second Law imperative for free energy dissipation with the First Law requirement for total energy conservation
We must improve conditions and options for Australian ECRs
- Authors: Christian, Katherine , Larkins, Jo-Ann , Doran, Michael R.
- Date: 2023
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Nature Human Behaviour Vol. 7, no. 7 (2023), p. 1038-1041
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- Description: Early-career researchers in Australia report dissatisfaction, bullying and questionable research practices. We discuss how this may contribute to the replication crisis and suggest local and international strategies to improve the industry.