Ancylostoma ceylanicum
- Authors: Colella, Vito , Bradbury, Richard , Traub, Rebecca
- Date: 2021
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Trends in Parasitology Vol. 37, no. 9 (2021), p. 844-845
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Bipolar radiofrequency ablation treatment of liver cancer employing monopolar needles : a comprehensive investigation on the efficacy of time-based switching
- Authors: Yap, Shelley , Ooi, Ean , Foo, Ji , Ooi, Ean Tat
- Date: 2021
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Computers in Biology and Medicine Vol. 131, no. (2021), p.
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- Description: Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) is a thermal ablative treatment method that is commonly used to treat liver cancer. However, the thermal coagulation zone generated using the conventional RFA system can only successfully treat tumours up to 3 cm in diameter. Switching bipolar RFA has been proposed as a way to increase the thermal coagulation zone. Presently, the understanding of the underlying thermal processes that takes place during switching bipolar RFA remains limited. Hence, the objective of this study is to provide a comprehensive understanding on the thermal ablative effects of time-based switching bipolar RFA on liver tissue. Five switch intervals, namely 50, 100, 150, 200 and 300 s were investigated using a two-compartment 3D finite element model. The study was performed using two pairs of RF electrodes in a four-probe configuration, where the electrodes were alternated based on their respective switch interval. The physics employed in the present study were verified against experimental data from the literature. Results obtained show that using a shorter switch interval can improve the homogeneity of temperature distribution within the tissue and increase the rate of temperature rise by delaying the occurrence of roll-off. The coagulation volume obtained was the largest using switch interval of 50 s, followed by 100, 150, 200 and 300 s. The present study demonstrated that the transient thermal response of switching bipolar RFA can be improved by using shorter switch intervals. © 2021 Elsevier Ltd
Comparisons between impedance-based and time-based switching bipolar radiofrequency ablation for the treatment of liver cancer
- Authors: Yap, Shelley , Ooi, Ean , Foo, Ji , Ooi, Ean Tat
- Date: 2021
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Computers in Biology and Medicine Vol. 134, no. (2021), p.
- Full Text: false
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- Description: Switching bipolar radiofrequency ablation (bRFA) is a cancer treatment technique that activates multiple pairs of electrodes alternately based on a predefined criterion. Various criteria can be used to trigger the switch, such as time (ablation duration) and tissue impedance. In a recent study on time-based switching bRFA, it was determined that a shorter switch interval could produce better treatment outcome than when a longer switch interval was used, which reduces tissue charring and roll-off induced cooling. In this study, it was hypothesized that a more efficacious bRFA treatment can be attained by employing impedance-based switching. This is because ablation per pair can be maximized since there will be no interruption to RF energy delivery until roll-off occurs. This was investigated using a two-compartment 3D computational model. Results showed that impedance-based switching bRFA outperformed time-based switching when the switch interval of the latter is 100 s or higher. When compared to the time-based switching with switch interval of 50 s, the impedance-based model is inferior. It remains to be investigated whether the impedance-based protocol is better than the time-based protocol for a switch interval of 50 s due to the inverse relationship between ablation and treatment efficacies. It was suggested that the choice of impedance-based or time-based switching could ultimately be patient-dependent. © 2021 Elsevier Ltd
Effect of contamination and purity priming on attitudes to vaccination and other health interventions : a randomised controlled experiment
- Authors: Bryden, Gabrielle , Rockloff, Matthew , Browne, Matthew , Unsworth, Carolyn
- Date: 2021
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Vaccine Vol. 39, no. 45 (2021), p. 6653-6659
- Full Text: false
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- Description: The objective of this experiment is to assess whether priming for contamination and purity causes a change in attitudes to health interventions, including vaccination, and complementary and alternative medicines (CAMs). An online priming experiment was conducted with four between-subject experimental conditions including photos of: 1) biological contamination, 2) chemical contamination, 3) pure environments, such as pristine landscapes, and 4) hazard signs/icons indicating physical threats. Two control conditions included photos of neutral scenes and neutral icons, whereby experimental groups were compared against the related control groups (photograph for conditions 1–3 and neutral icons for condition 4). Subjects were randomly assigned to one of the six conditions, and after exposure to the images they were asked to rate 10 conventional and alternative health interventions for effectiveness and safety, as well being assessed for disgust sensitivity using the reduced-item DPSS-R [10]. A total of 642 adults completed the experiment. Exposure to primes did not cause a differential change in ratings of health interventions. Nevertheless, higher levels of sensitivity to disgust were associated with lower ratings of the effectiveness of MMR vaccination, tetanus injection, antibiotics, and surgery; and higher levels of sensitivity to disgust were associated with higher ratings of effectiveness of vitamins/minerals. In conclusion, this online experiment did not find an experimental effect of priming for contamination and purity on subjects’ ratings of the safety and effectiveness of conventional and alternative health interventions. This indicates that attitudes to these health interventions are not influenced by a temporary increase in the salience of feelings of contamination or purity. However, individual differences in disgust sensitivity are related to their attitudes to vaccination and CAM interventions. © 2021 Elsevier Ltd
Feasibility of brief distress screening for family caregivers of adults diagnosed with schizophrenia in Changsha, Hunan, China
- Authors: Guan, Ziyao , Cross, Wendy , Lam, Louisa , Wiley, James , Sun, Mei , Bai, Xiaoling , Tang, Siyuan
- Date: 2021
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Journal of Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing Vol. 28, no. 2 (2021), p. 174-185
- Full Text: false
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- Description: What is known on the subject? Distress screening amongst FGs is emphasized in worldwide studies, but existing general tools were found time-consuming and sometimes inconvenient when using them amongst FGs of patients diagnosed with schizophrenia. The DT, a single-item scale, was widely used to detect distress amongst FGs of cancer patients, showing good reliability, validity and discrimination power. The 21-item Depression Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS21) can identify distress in the general population and serve as a criterion to determine an optimal cut-off score of the DT. What does the paper add to existing knowledge?: The DT presented good reliability, validity and discriminatory power amongst FGs of adults diagnosed with schizophrenia. A cut-off score of six maximized sensitivity (77%) and specificity (76%). Over half of the FGs of adults diagnosed with schizophrenia reached this cut-off score and experienced significant distress. Distress was higher in FGs of male patients, when FGs were parents, and for FGs whose educational background was primary school or below. What are the implications for practice?: The DT is an effective alternative to existing instruments in identifying distressed FGs of adults diagnosed with schizophrenia. It is important to provide FGs with distress screening programmes and interventions (e.g. skill-building psychoeducation) to identify and relieve distress. In addition, future research could explore brief measures to simultaneously recognize potential negative and positive impacts of caregiving in FGs. © 2020 John Wiley & Sons Ltd
Feasibility of modifying the hospital environment to reduce the length of amnesia after traumatic brain injury : a pilot randomized controlled trial
- Authors: Lannin, Natasha , Galea, Claire , Coulter, Megan , Gruen, Russell , Jolliffe, Laura , Ownsworth, Tamara , Schmidt, Julia , Unsworth, Carolyn
- Date: 2021
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: International journal for quality in health care : journal of the International Society for Quality in Health Care Vol. 33, no. 1 (2021), p.
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- Description: BACKGROUND: Reorientation programmes have been an important component of neurotrauma rehabilitation for adults who suffer from post-traumatic amnesia (PTA) after traumatic brain injury (TBI); however, research testing the efficacy of acute programmes is limited. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to determine if it is feasible to provide a standardized environmental reorientation programme to adults suffering from PTA after TBI in an acute care hospital setting, and whether it is likely to be beneficial. METHODS: We conducted a randomized controlled trial with concealed allocation and intention-to-treat analysis. A total of 40 participants suffering from PTA after TBI were included. The control group received usual care; the experimental group received usual care plus a standardized orientation programme inclusive of environmental cues. The primary outcome measure was time to emergence from PTA measured by the Westmead PTA Scale, assessed daily from hospital admission or on regaining consciousness. RESULTS: Adherence to the orientation programme was high, and there were no study-related adverse responses to the environmental orientation programme. Although there were no statistically significant between-group differences in time to emergence, the median time to emergence was shorter for those who received the standardized reorientation programme (9.0 (6.4-11.6) versus 13.0 (4.5-21.5) days). Multivariate analysis showed that the Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) at scene (P = 0.041) and GCS at arrival at hospital (P = 0.0001) were significant factors contributing to the longer length of PTA. CONCLUSION: Providing an orientation programme in acute care is feasible for adults suffering from PTA after TBI. A future efficacy trial would require 216 participants to detect a between-group difference of 5 days with an alpha of 0.05 and a power of 80%. © The Author(s) 2021. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of International Society for Quality in Health Care. All rights reserved.
- Description: BACKGROUND: Reorientation programmes have been an important component of neurotrauma rehabilitation for adults who suffer from post-traumatic amnesia (PTA) after traumatic brain injury (TBI); however, research testing the efficacy of acute programmes is limited. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to determine if it is feasible to provide a standardized environmental reorientation programme to adults suffering from PTA after TBI in an acute care hospital setting, and whether it is likely to be beneficial. METHODS: We conducted a randomized controlled trial with concealed allocation and intention-to-treat analysis. A total of 40 participants suffering from PTA after TBI were included. The control group received usual care; the experimental group received usual care plus a standardized orientation programme inclusive of environmental cues. The primary outcome measure was time to emergence from PTA measured by the Westmead PTA Scale, assessed daily from hospital admission or on regaining consciousness. RESULTS: Adherence to the orientation programme was high, and there were no study-related adverse responses to the environmental orientation programme. Although there were no statistically significant between-group differences in time to emergence, the median time to emergence was shorter for those who received the standardized reorientation programme (9.0 (6.4-11.6) versus 13.0 (4.5-21.5) days). Multivariate analysis showed that the Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) at scene (P = 0.041) and GCS at arrival at hospital (P = 0.0001) were significant factors contributing to the longer length of PTA. CONCLUSION: Providing an orientation programme in acute care is feasible for adults suffering from PTA after TBI. A future efficacy trial would require 216 participants to detect a between-group difference of 5 days with an alpha of 0.05 and a power of 80%. © The Author(s) 2021. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of International Society for Quality in Health Care. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.
Six weeks of high intensity interval training (HIIT) facilitates a four year preservation of aerobic capacity in sedentary older males : a reunion study
- Authors: Herbert, Peter , Hayes, Lawrence , Beaumont, Alexander , Grace, Fergal , Sculthorpe, Nicholas
- Date: 2021
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Experimental Gerontology Vol. 150, no. (2021), p.
- Full Text: false
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- Description: Long-term implications of acutely increased cardiorespiratory fitness following short-term exercise interventions in older adults are unknown. In this study, we examined peak oxygen uptake (VO2peak) after 4-years of ‘free-living’ after a high intensity interval training (HIIT) intervention. Seventeen lifelong exercisers (LEX) and 17 previously sedentary (SED) males (55–74 years of age in 2012) were tested four years (phase D) after our previous experiment which included 6-weeks of aerobic moderate intensity exercise (phase B), followed by 6-weeks of HIIT (phase C). At all stages, a standard incremental exercise protocol on a cycle ergometer was completed to determine VO2peak. SED (P = 1.000, Cohen's d = 0.01) and LEX (P = 1.000, Cohen's d = 0.11) VO2peak at phase D was not different from phase A (enrolment). SED experienced a large decrease in VO2peak from phase C to phase D (32 ± 6 ml·kg·min−1 to 27 ± 6 ml·kg·min−1 [P < 0.001, Cohen's d = 0.81]). LEX experienced a small decrease in VO2peak from phase C to phase D (42 ± 7 ml·kg·min−1 to 39 ± 9 ml·kg·min−1 [P < 0.001, Cohen's d = 0.46]). At phase D, LEX had greater VO2peak than SED (P < 0.001, Cohen's d = 1.73). The proportion of subjects who reported discontinuing training, maintaining moderate training, and maintaining HIIT differed between groups (P = 0.023), with LEX self-reporting more HIIT, and SED self-reporting more discontinuation from exercise. Those who continued exercising experienced a reduction in VO2peak over the four years from 39 ± 7 ml·kg·min−1 to 36 ± 9 ml·kg·min−1 (N = 25, P < 0.001, Cohen's d = 0.37), and those who discontinued exercising also experienced a reduction in VO2peak from 30 ± 7 ml·kg·min−1 to 25 ± 9 ml·kg·min−1 (N = 9, P = 0.003, Cohen's d = 0.62). Four years after completing a brief period of aerobic exercise and HIIT, older males demonstrated a preservation of VO2peak, irrespective of training status (LEX or SED). However, LEX exhibited greater VO2peak than SED after 4-years of unsupervised ‘free-living’. Notably, participants who discontinued exercising experienced a greater reduction in VO2peak. These data suggest that a 6 weeks of supervised HIIT can facilitate the long term. © 2021 Elsevier Inc.
The relationships between self-compassion, rumination, and depressive symptoms among older adults : the moderating role of gender
- Authors: Hodgetts, Jessica , McLaren, Suzanne , Bice, Bridget , Trezise, Alexandra
- Date: 2021
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Aging and Mental Health Vol. 25, no. 12 (2021), p. 2337-2346
- Full Text: false
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- Description: Objectives: Depression is a significant mental health issue for older adults. Rumination is a key risk factor for depressive symptoms, and self-compassion is a protective factor. The aim of the current study was to test the processes by which self-compassion might act as a protective factor among older adults by investigating a mediation model, and whether the model is conditional on gender. It was hypothesised that self-compassion and its six components (self-kindness, common humanity, mindfulness, self-judgement, isolation, and over-identification) would be indirectly associated with depressive symptoms via rumination. Method: A sample of 135 older Australian women and 106 older Australian men aged between 65 and 89 years completed the Centre for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale, the Ruminative Thought Style Questionnaire, and the Self-Compassion Scale. Results: Results supported the mediation models for self-compassion for both men and women, however, support for the models involving the individual components of self-compassion varied according to gender. The mediation effects were stronger for women than men. Conclusion: Interventions aimed at increasing self-compassion might have benefits for older adults. Future research investigating whether tailoring interventions according to gender of participants is efficacious is needed. © 2020 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.
Uncovering genetic mechanisms of hypertension through multi-omic analysis of the kidney
- Authors: Eales, James , Jiang, Xiao , Xu, Xiaoguang , Prestes, Priscilla , Charchar, Fadi
- Date: 2021
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Nature Genetics Vol. 53, no. 5 (2021), p. 630-637
- Full Text: false
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- Description: The kidney is an organ of key relevance to blood pressure (BP) regulation, hypertension and antihypertensive treatment. However, genetically mediated renal mechanisms underlying susceptibility to hypertension remain poorly understood. We integrated genotype, gene expression, alternative splicing and DNA methylation profiles of up to 430 human kidneys to characterize the effects of BP index variants from genome-wide association studies (GWASs) on renal transcriptome and epigenome. We uncovered kidney targets for 479 (58.3%) BP-GWAS variants and paired 49 BP-GWAS kidney genes with 210 licensed drugs. Our colocalization and Mendelian randomization analyses identified 179 unique kidney genes with evidence of putatively causal effects on BP. Through Mendelian randomization, we also uncovered effects of BP on renal outcomes commonly affecting patients with hypertension. Collectively, our studies identified genetic variants, kidney genes, molecular mechanisms and biological pathways of key relevance to the genetic regulation of BP and inherited susceptibility to hypertension. © 2021, Crown.
Unidirectional ablation minimizes unwanted thermal damage and promotes better thermal ablation efficacy in time-based switching bipolar radiofrequency ablation
- Authors: Ooi, Ean H. , Ooi, Ean Tat
- Date: 2021
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Computers in Biology and Medicine Vol. 137, no. (2021), p.
- Full Text: false
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- Description: Switching bipolar radiofrequency ablation (bRFA) is a thermal treatment modality used for liver cancer treatment that is capable of producing larger, more confluent and more regular thermal coagulation. When implemented in the no-touch mode, switching bRFA can prevent tumour track seeding; a medical phenomenon defined by the deposition of cancer cells along the insertion track. Nevertheless, the no-touch mode was found to yield significant unwanted thermal damage as a result of the electrodes’ position outside the tumour. It is postulated that the unwanted thermal damage can be minimized if ablation can be directed such that it focuses only within the tumour domain. As it turns out, this can be achieved by partially insulating the active tip of the RF electrodes such that electric current flows in and out of the tissue only through the non-insulated section of the electrode. This concept is known as unidirectional ablation and has been shown to produce the desired effect in monopolar RFA. In this paper, computational models based on a well-established mathematical framework for modelling RFA was developed to investigate if unidirectional ablation can minimize unwanted thermal damage during time-based switching bRFA. From the numerical results, unidirectional ablation was shown to produce treatment efficacy of nearly 100%, while at the same time, minimizing the amount of unwanted thermal damage. Nevertheless, this effect was observed only when the switch interval of the time-based protocol was set to 50 s. An extended switch interval negated the benefits of unidirectional ablation. © 2021 Elsevier Ltd
Women's experiences of infant feeding support : findings from a cross-sectional survey in Victoria, Australia
- Authors: Cramer, Rhian , McLachlan, Helen , Shafiei, Touran , Amir, Lisa , Cullinane, Meabh
- Date: 2021
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Women and Birth Vol. 34, no. 5 (2021), p. e505-e513
- Full Text: false
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- Description: Objective: To evaluate new mothers’ experiences of infant feeding support. Design: A postal survey developed for this study was sent to all new mothers in ten local government areas in Victoria, Australia when their baby was six months of age. Questions explored infant feeding methods, feeding support services, and experiences of infant feeding support. This survey made up one component of the Supporting breastfeeding In Local Communities (SILC) cluster randomised controlled trial. Findings: 997/4127 women (24%) completed the survey between 15 April 2013 and 31 July 2013. Women received infant feeding support from multiple sources, including professionals, family members, and peers. Overall, 88% reported receiving adequate infant feeding support. Women who reported not receiving adequate infant feeding support were less likely to be giving any breast milk at six months compared to those reporting adequate support (OR = 0.59; 95% CI 0.40, 0.88). Adjusting for breastfeeding intention and parity did not alter the association (Adj. OR = 0.60; 95% CI 0.40, 0.90). Women were most satisfied when they received accessible, available, consistent professional infant feeding support provided in a non-judgemental and reassuring way. Women were dissatisfied when there were barriers restricting access to support, or when they received conflicting advice or support that made them feel guilty, pressured or judged. Key conclusions: Regardless of infant feeding method, women wanted accessible, non-judgemental support. Given that receiving adequate support was associated with more breast milk feeding at six months, care providers should ensure accessible infant feeding support is available to all new mothers. © 2020 Australian College of Midwives. **Please note that there are multiple authors for this article therefore only the name of the first 5 including Federation University Australia affiliate “Rhian Cramer” is provided in this record**
A survey study of attitudes toward, and preferences for, e-therapy interventions for eating disorder psychopathology
- Authors: Linardon, Jake , Shatte, Adrian , Tepper, Hannah , Fuller-Tyszkiewicz, Matthew
- Date: 2020
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: International Journal of Eating Disorders Vol. 53, no. 6 (2020), p. 907-916
- Full Text: false
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- Description: Objective: E-therapy shows promise as a solution to the barriers that stand in the way of people receiving eating disorder (ED) treatment. Despite the potential for e-therapy to reduce the well-known treatment gap, little is known about public views and perspectives on this mode of intervention delivery. This study explored attitudes toward, and preferences for, e-therapy among individuals spanning the spectrum of eating pathology. Method: Survey data assessing e-therapy attitudes and preferences were analyzed from 713 participants recruited from the public. Participants were categorized into one of five subgroups based on the type of self-reported ED symptoms and severity/risk level, ranging from high risk to a probable threshold or subthreshold ED. Results: Attitudes toward e-therapies appeared to be relatively positive; participants largely supported health care insurance coverage of costs for e-therapies, and were optimistic about the wide-ranging benefits of e-therapy. Although three-quarters of participants expressed a preference for face-to-face therapy, a significant percentage of participants (
Cognitive behaviour therapy for insomnia and depression : qualitative reflections from older adults who participated in a randomised controlled trial
- Authors: Sadler, Paul , McLaren, Suzanne , Klein, Britt , Jenkins, Megan
- Date: 2020
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Aging and Mental Health Vol. 24, no. 6 (2020), p. 932-938
- Full Text: false
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- Description: Objectives: To explore the experiences of older adults who participated in a randomised controlled trial (RCT) that tested cognitive behaviour therapy for insomnia and depression. Methods: Focus groups were conducted post treatment for older adults (M age = 75 years; 61% female) who participated in a RCT that tested two experiential interventions targeting comorbid insomnia and depression (cognitive behaviour therapy for insomnia, CBT-I; cognitive behaviour therapy for insomnia plus positive mood strategies, CBT-I+). Six semi-structured focus group interviews (N = 31) were analysed using a qualitative thematic analysis. Results: Interview data were transcribed into 424 sentences and 60 codes were extracted. Thirty-four initial themes emerged, which were transformed into 3 themes and 10 subthemes. The three primary themes were (1) positive experiences, (2) negative experiences, and (3) suggested modifications. The positive subthemes were (1a) therapists, (1b) togetherness, (1c) use of strategies reduced symptoms, and (1d) acceptance. The negative subthemes were (2a) persistent symptoms, (2b) program too condensed, and (2c) attendance obstacles. The suggested modifications were (3a) lengthen program, (3b) multi-dimensional learning, and (3c) multi-modal delivery options. Conclusion: The experiences and suggestions identified in this study strengthen the foundation to advance therapeutic program development for older adults with comorbid insomnia and depression. Future CBT-I programs for older adults may be improved by increasing the length of therapy (e.g. 8 sessions to 12 sessions), adding multi-dimensional learning opportunities (e.g. visual/audio/mentorship), and offering various modes of treatment delivery (e.g. group, individual, internet, telephone). © 2019, © 2019 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.
- Description: Federation University Australia and the Australian Government Research Training Program Scholarship
Decolonizing recordkeeping and archival praxis in childhood out-of-home care and indigenous archival collections
- Authors: McKemmish, Sue , Bone, Jane , Evans, Joanne , Golding, Frank , Lewis, Antonia , Rolan, Gregory , Thorpe, Kirsten , Wilson, Jacqueline
- Date: 2020
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Archival Science Vol. 20, no. 1 (Mar 2020), p. 21-49
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- Description: This paper presents the aims and findings of two research projects-Rights in Records by Design and Indigenous Archiving and Cultural Safety-making particular reference to the ways in which Australia's current child welfare systems and their recordkeeping and archival praxis have been indelibly shaped by colonization and its legacies, which persist into the twenty-first century. We posit that the classist, heteropatriarchal, sexist and racist colonial constructs of child welfare, the neglected and criminal child, and Indigeneity persist to this day and continue to be embodied in the form and content of records and archives, as well as in the principles and values embedded in recordkeeping and archival systems. The paper begins with discussion of framing concepts drawn from records continuum theory and critical theory, followed by an overview of both projects. We then explore in-depth findings of the Rights Charter, Historical Justice, and Educational components of Rights in Records by Design and Indigenous Archiving and Cultural Safety with particular attention to colonial values and negative constructs of childhood and Indigeneity, respectively, and their impacts from colonial times to the present. Importantly, we discuss the intersection of constructs of childhood and Indigeneity with colonial values and constructs embedded in recordkeeping and archiving systems. We note that the primary purpose of recordkeeping in colonial times was to provide critical infrastructure that enabled imperial control and exploitation. Consequently, we point to the need for childhood recordkeeping and archiving itself to be decolonized, to embody constructs of the child as having agency and rights, and, in turn, to play its part in decolonizing childhood. Finally, we discuss the contributions that each project is making to decolonizing recordkeeping and archiving theory and practice, and the potential for decolonized recordkeeping and archiving to play their part in decolonizing childhood for children in out-of-home Care and Indigenous Australian children caught up in the Indigenous child welfare system, respectively.
Effects of sub-concussion on neuropsychological performance and its potential mechanisms : a narrative review
- Authors: Rawlings, Samuel , Takechi, Ryusuke , Lavender, Andrew
- Date: 2020
- Type: Text , Journal article , Review
- Relation: Brain Research Bulletin Vol. 165, no. (2020), p. 56-62
- Full Text: false
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- Description: Concussion and mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) are recognised as serious medical events that are relatively common in contact sports. Recently, the seemingly non-injurious phenomenon of sub-concussion has gained interest among neuroscience researchers and early studies are showing that there may be some acute and chronic effects on brain health and function with repeated sub-concussive events of the type seen in soccer, where players strike the ball with the head, and collision sports like the rugby codes. The aim of this narrative review is to describe sub-concussion and the current understanding of short and long term effects of repeated minor impacts that have been found to occur in human and animal models. Here, potential mechanisms for cognitive dysfunction following sub-concussion and recommend directions for future research are discussed. The Potential mechanisms of injuries resulting from sub-concussion such as changes in blood brain barrier integrity, neuroinflammation, cognitive impairment, and oxidative stress damage, among other changes in central nervous system function vary considerably making understanding of the underlying causative mechanism challenging for researchers. Some evidence suggests a link between impaired cerebrovascular function and cognitive impairment which poses a potential mechanism linking the two. It is hoped that this review helps guide researchers toward a potential direction of investigations. © 2020
Epidemiology of injury and illness in 153 Australian international-level rowers over eight international seasons
- Authors: Trease, Larissa , Wilkie, Kellie , Lovell, Greg , Drew, Michael , Hooper, Ivan
- Date: 2020
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: British Journal of Sports Medicine Vol. 54, no. 21 (2020), p. 1288-1293
- Full Text: false
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- Description: Aim To report the epidemiology of injury and illness in elite rowers over eight seasons (two Olympiads). Methods All athletes selected to the Australian Rowing Team between 2009 and 2016 were monitored prospectively under surveillance for injury and illness. The incidence and burden of injury and illness were calculated per 1000 athlete days (ADs). The body area, mechanism and type of all injuries were recorded and followed until the resumption of full training. We used interrupted time series analyses to examine the association between fixed and dynamic ergometer testing on rowers' injury rates. Time lost from illness was also recorded. Results All 153 rowers selected over eight seasons were observed for 48 611 AD. 270 injuries occurred with an incidence of 4.1-6.4 injuries per 1000 AD. Training days lost totalled 4522 (9.2% AD). The most frequent area injured was the lumbar region (84 cases, 1.7% AD) but the greatest burden was from chest wall injuries (64 cases, 2.6% AD.) Overuse injuries (n=224, 83%) were more frequent than acute injuries (n=42, 15%). The most common activity at the time of injury was on-water rowing training (n=191, 68). Female rowers were at 1.4 times the relative risk of chest wall injuries than male rowers; they had half the relative risk of lumbar injuries of male rowers. The implementation of a dynamic ergometers testing policy (Concept II on sliders) was positively associated with a lower incidence and burden of low back injury compared with fixed ergometers (Concept II). Illness accounted for the greatest number of case presentations (128, 32.2% cases, 1.2% AD). Conclusions Chest wall and lumbar injuries caused training time loss. Policy decisions regarding ergometer testing modality were associated with lumbar injury rates. As in many sports, illness burden has been under-recognised in elite Australian rowers. ©
GCNA interacts with spartan and topoisomerase II to regulate genome stability
- Authors: Dokshin, Gregoriy , Davis, Gregory , Sawle, Ashley , Eldridge, Matthew , Nicholls, Peter , Gourley, Taylin , Romer, Katherine , Molesworth, Luke , Tatnell, Hannah , Ozturk, Ahmet , de Rooij, Dirk , Hannon, Gregory , Page, David , Mello, Craig , Carmell, Michelle
- Date: 2020
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Developmental Cell Vol. 52, no. 1 (2020), p. 53-68.e6
- Full Text: false
- Reviewed:
- Description: GCNA proteins are expressed across eukarya in pluripotent cells and have conserved functions in fertility. GCNA homologs Spartan (DVC-1) and Wss1 resolve DNA-protein crosslinks (DPCs), including Topoisomerase-DNA adducts, during DNA replication. Here, we show that GCNA mutants in mouse and C. elegans display defects in genome maintenance including DNA damage, aberrant chromosome condensation, and crossover defects in mouse spermatocytes and spontaneous genomic rearrangements in C. elegans. We show that GCNA and topoisomerase II (TOP2) physically interact in both mice and worms and colocalize on condensed chromosomes during mitosis in C. elegans embryos. Moreover, C. elegans gcna-1 mutants are hypersensitive to TOP2 poison. Together, our findings support a model in which GCNA provides genome maintenance functions in the germline and may do so, in part, by promoting the resolution of TOP2 DPCs. DNA topoisomerases help unwind DNA but occasionally get trapped, resulting in DNA-protein crosslinks (DPCs). DPCs damage DNA and threaten genomic integrity. Dokshin et al. find that GCNA protein family complements standard DPC processing machinery in resolving topoisomerase II DPCs to ensure heritable genome stability and germline immortality. © 2019 Elsevier Inc.
- Description: We thank S. Cheloufi, D. Bellott, D. Durning, L. Okumura, L. Teitz, and members of the Page and Mello labs for advice and discussion. We thank E. Spooner for mass spectrometry and K. Igarashi for technical assistance. We thank P. Boag and R. Pocock for access to microscopes and technical advice. Some strains provided by the CGC were supported by NIH ( P40 OD010440 ) and the International C. elegans Gene Knockout Consortium . This work was supported by the Life Sciences Research Foundation to M.A.C.; American Cancer Society 129916-PF16-232-RMC to G.A.D.; and NIH grants (R37 GM058800 and P01 HD078253 ) to C.C.M. G.J.H. is supported by Cancer Research UK and by a Royal Society Wolfson Research Professorship. D.C.P. and C.C.M. are Howard Hughes Medical Institute Investigators.
High intensity interval training (HIIT) produces small improvements in fasting glucose, insulin, and insulin resistance in sedentary older men but not masters athletes
- Authors: Hayes, Lawrence , Herbert, Peter , Sculthorpe, Nicholas , Grace, Fergal
- Date: 2020
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Experimental Gerontology Vol. 140, no. (2020), p.
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- Description: The aim of this study was to investigate whether 6 weeks' high intensity interval training (HIIT; 6 × 30 s sprints at 40% peak power, once every five days) following 6 weeks' of aerobic preconditioning could favourably affect fasting insulin, glucose, and the homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA1-IR) in sedentary older men compared with masters athletes. A secondary aim was to establish whether lifelong exercisers (LEX) exhibited improved fasting insulin, glucose, and HOMA1-IR, compared to sedentary older males (SED). Twenty-two males (62 ± 2 years) comprised the SED group and 17 males (60 ± 5 years) were enrolled as LEX. Participants were tested at phase A (baseline), B (after preconditioning), and C (post-HIIT). There was no effect of time (P = 0.116) or interaction (P = 0.727) on insulin. However, there was an effect of group (P < 0.001). In terms of magnitude, HIIT induced a small decrease in SED insulin compared to baseline (15.8 ± 8.1 uIU·ml−1 at baseline and 14.0 ± 7.8 uIU·ml−1 post-HIIT; Cohen's d = 0.23) and compared to post-preconditioning (17.5 ± 9.7 uIU·ml−1; Cohen's d = 0.40). LEX insulin was unchanged throughout (all differences were trivial). Insulin was lower in LEX than SED at phase A (P < 0.001, Cohen's d = 1.31), B (P = 0.023, Cohen's d = 0.78), and C (P = 0.004, Cohen's d = 1.01). There was no effect of time (P = 0.290), group (P = 0.166), or interaction (P = 0.153) for glucose. In terms of magnitude, HIIT produced a small reduction in SED glucose compared to baseline (5.7 ± 1.3 mmol·l−1 at baseline and 5.3 ± 0.9 mmol·l−1 post-HIIT; Cohen's d = 0.36), and compared to phase B (5.6 ± 0.8 mmol·l−1, Cohen's d = 0.35). LEX glucose was unchanged throughout (all changes were trivial). SED had moderately higher blood glucose than LEX at phase A (Cohen's d = 0.49), and B (Cohen's d = 0.63), but only a trivial difference existed at phase C (Cohen's d = 0.15). There was no effect of time (P = 0.110), or interaction (P = 0.569) on HOMA1-IR. However, there was an effect of group (P = 0.002). In terms of magnitude, SED HOMA1-IR was unchanged from phase A to B (4.2 ± 3.0 and 4.5 ± 2.9 arbitrary units respectively [Cohen's d = 0.10]). However, at C (3.5 ± 2.6) there was a small decrease compared to B (Cohen's d = 0.36), and A (Cohen's d = 0.25). LEX experienced a small increase in HOMA1-IR from phase A to B (1.6 ± 1.3 and 2.3 ± 2.8 respectively [Cohen's d = 0.32]), followed by a small decrease from B to C (1.7 ± 1.1 at phase C [Cohen's d = 0.28]), and a trivial change from A to C (Cohen's d = 0.08). HOMA1-IR was lower in LEX than SED at baseline (P = 0.002, Cohen's d = 1.12), after preconditioning (P = 0.024, Cohen's d = 0.77), and post-HIIT (P = 0.014, Cohen's d = 0.90). Results of this study provide preliminary evidence that HIIT preceded by preconditioning can induce small improvements in fasting insulin, glucose, and HOMA1-IR in sedentary older men compared with masters athletes. © 2020 Elsevier Inc.
Perceptions of shared decision-making in severe mental illness : an integrative review
- Authors: Huang, Chongmei , Plummer, Virginia , Lam, Louisa , Cross, Wendy
- Date: 2020
- Type: Text , Journal article , Review
- Relation: Journal of Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing Vol. 27, no. 2 (Apr 2020), p. 103-127
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- Description: Accessible SummaryWhat is known about shared decision-making? There is increasing evidence of the positive impact of shared decision-making on health outcomes. There has been little exploration of shared decision-making regarding people diagnosed with serious mental illness from the perspectives of key stakeholders including consumers, families and mental health professionals. What this paper adds to existing knowledge? Consumers show variability in the preference for their involvement. Most stakeholders acknowledge the importance of family involvement. MHPs should share the responsibility and right to facilitate consumer involvement. There is bidirectional association between shared decision-making and therapeutic relationships. The practice of shared decision-making is related to multiple factors, and one main perceived barrier is time. The majority of studies are from Western countries. What are the implications for practice? Elicit consumer preferences and establish a collaborative therapeutic relationship. Encourage and engage families in treatment decision-making. Inter-professional collaboration should be integrated into shared decision-making. It might require lengthier consultation time. Studies in non-Western countries are needed to fully understand the impact of culture on shared decision-making. Shared decision-making (SDM) has been broadly advocated in health services and constitutes an important component of patient-centred care and relationship-based care. To review available literature related to perceptions of key stakeholders about shared decision-making in serious mental illness. An integrative review was conducted through a search of four online databases from January 2012 to June 2019. Forty-six articles were included. Six themes were generated from the data analysis: (a) dynamic preferences for SDM, (b) various stakeholders are rarely involved, (c) SDM is not routinely implemented, (d) multiple facilitators and barriers to SDM, (e) SDM and therapeutic relationships interact, (f) SDM has a promising impact on health outcomes. Overall, most stakeholders have recognized the importance and flexibility of SDM in serious mental illness, although it is not routine in mental health service. Consumer preferences show variability in their involvement. Most stakeholders acknowledged the importance of family involvement to treatment decision-making. There are several significant challenges to practice SDM. It may require extended consultation times and increasing empirical evidence regarding the SDM outcomes, as well as integrating inter-professional collaboration into SDM. Most studies were conducted in Western culture. Mental health nurses should elicit consumer preferences and establish a collaborative therapeutic relationship. Encourage and engage families in treatment decision-making when consumers prefer their families to be involved. Inter-professional collaboration should be integrated into shared decision-making. The practice of shared decision-making might need extended consultation time and more robust evidence about the outcome of shared decision-making. Studies in non-Western cultures are needed to fully understand cultural issues of shared decision-making. IntroductionAimMethodResultsDiscussionImplications for practice
Rib stress injuries in the 2012-2016 (Rio) Olympiad : a cohort study of 151 Australian rowing team athletes for 88 773 athlete days
- Authors: Harris, Rachel , Trease, Larissa , Wilkie, Kellie , Drew, Michael
- Date: 2020
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: British Journal of Sports Medicine Vol. 54, no. 16 (2020), p. 991-996
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- Description: Aim To describe the demographics, frequency, location, imaging modality and clinician-identified factors of rib stress injury in a cohort of elite rowers over the Rio Olympiad (2012-2016). Methods Analysis of prospectively recorded medical records for the Australian Rowing Team in 2013-2015 and the combined Australian Rowing Team and Olympic Shadow Squad in 2016, examining all rib stress injuries. Results 19 rib stress injuries (12 reactions and 7 fractures) were identified among a cohort of 151 athletes and included 12 female and 7 male cases, 11 open weight, 8 lightweight, 12 scull and 7 sweep cases. The most common locations of injury identified by imaging, were the mid-axillary line and rib 6. Period prevalence varied from 4 to 15.4 and incidence ranged from 0.27 to 0.13 per 1000 athlete days. There were no significant differences in prevalence by sex, sweep versus scull or weight class. There was a statistically significant increase in incidence in the pre-Olympic year (2015, p<0.001). MRI was the most commonly used modality for diagnosis. Stress fracture resulted in median 69 (IQR 56-157) and bone stress reaction resulted in 57 (IQR 45-78) days lost to full on water training. Conclusions In our 4-year report of rib stress injury in elite rowing athletes, period prevalence was consistent with previous reports and time lost (median