Showing items 121 - 140 of 14409

Biology, ecology, distribution and control of the invasive weed, lactuca serriola l. (wild lettuce) : a global review

  • Authors: Chadha, Aakansha , Florentine, Singarayer
  • Date: 2021
  • Type: Text , Journal article , Review
  • Relation: Plants Vol. 10, no. 10 (2021), p.
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  • Description: Lactuca serriola L. (wild lettuce) is a highly invasive C3 weed in many countries, including Australia, Canada, and the USA. This weed is a severe threat to agricultural systems, especially in crops grown with reduced or no‐tillage approaches, which commonly include wheat, cereals and pulses. Owing to the vertical orientation of its leaves in the north‐south plane and its root architec-ture, L. serriola can maintain high water use efficiency under drought conditions, giving it the ability to expand its range under a drying climate. Each plant can produce up to 100,000 seeds which have no primary dormancy and form a short‐term seedbank lasting up to three years. Most seedlings emerge in autumn and overwinter as a rosette, with a small flush of emergence in spring depicting staggered germination. Research into control methods for this weed has been performed, and these methods include chemical herbicides applied alone and in combination, the establishment of plant competition, tillage, mowing and bioherbicide. Herbicides can provide effective control when applied in the seedling or rosette stage; however, spring germination is difficult to control, as it skips the rosette stage. Some biotypes are now resistant to ALS inhibitor and synthetic auxins, causing concern regarding using herbicides. A dedicated integrated management plan for 3–4 years is recommended for the control of this troublesome species. This review will explore the biology, ecology, distribution, current control techniques and previous research on this weed, allowing us to make recommendations for its future research and management. © 2021 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.

Biopsychosocial Data Analytics and Modeling

  • Authors: Santhanagopalan, Meena
  • Date: 2021
  • Type: Text , Thesis , PhD
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  • Description: Sustained customisation of digital health intervention (DHI) programs, in the context of community health engagement, requires strong integration of multi-sourced interdisciplinary biopsychosocial health data. The biopsychosocial model is built upon the idea that biological, psychological and social processes are integrally and interactively involved in physical health and illness. One of the longstanding challenges of dealing with healthcare data is the wide variety of data generated from different sources and the increasing need to learn actionable insights that drive performance improvement. The growth of information and communication technology has led to the increased use of DHI programs. These programs use an observational methodology that helps researchers to study the everyday behaviour of participants during the course of the program by analysing data generated from digital tools such as wearables, online surveys and ecological momentary assessment (EMA). Combined with data reported from biological and psychological tests, this provides rich and unique biopsychosocial data. There is a strong need to review and apply novel approaches to combining biopsychosocial data from a methodological perspective. Although some studies have used data analytics in research on clinical trial data generated from digital interventions, data analytics on biopsychosocial data generated from DHI programs is limited. The study in this thesis develops and implements innovative approaches for analysing the existing unique and rich biopsychosocial data generated from the wellness study, a DHI program conducted by the School of Science, Psychology and Sport at Federation University. The characteristics of variety, value and veracity that usually describe big data are also relevant to the biopsychosocial data handled in this thesis. These historical, retrospective real-life biopsychosocial data provide fertile ground for research through the use of data analytics to discover patterns hidden in the data and to obtain new knowledge. This thesis presents the studies carried out on three aspects of biopsychosocial research. First, we present the salient traits of the three components - biological, psychological and social - of biopsychosocial research. Next, we investigate the challenges of pre-processing biopsychosocial data, placing special emphasis on the time-series data generated from wearable sensor devices. Finally, we present the application of statistical and machine learning (ML) tools to integrate variables from the biopsychosocial disciplines to build a predictive model. The first chapter presents the salient features of the biopsychosocial data for each discipline. The second chapter presents the challenges of pre-processing biopsychosocial data, focusing on the time-series data generated from wearable sensor devices. The third chapter uses statistical and ML tools to integrate variables from the biopsychosocial disciplines to build a predictive model. Among its other important analyses and results, the key contributions of the research described in this thesis include the following: 1. using gamma distribution to model neurocognitive reaction time data that presents interesting properties (skewness and kurtosis for the data distribution) 2. using novel ‘peak heart-rate’ count metric to quantify ‘biological’ stress 3. using the ML approach to evaluate DHIs 4. using a recurrent neural network (RNN) and long short-term memory (LSTM) data prediction model to predict Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS) and primary emotion (PE) using wearable sensor data.
  • Description: Doctor of Philosophy

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

Blood–brain barrier disruption and ventricular enlargement are the earliest neuropathological changes in rats with repeated sub-concussive impacts over 2 weeks

  • Authors: Hiles-Murison, Bailey , Lavender, Andrew , Hackett, Mark , Armstrong, Joshua , Nesbit, Michael
  • Date: 2021
  • Type: Text , Journal article
  • Relation: Scientific Reports Vol. 11, no. 1 (2021), p.
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  • Description: Repeated sub-concussive impact (e.g. soccer ball heading), a significantly lighter form of mild traumatic brain injury, is increasingly suggested to cumulatively alter brain structure and compromise neurobehavioural function in the long-term. However, the underlying mechanisms whereby repeated long-term sub-concussion induces cerebral structural and neurobehavioural changes are currently unknown. Here, we utilised an established rat model to investigate the effects of repeated sub-concussion on size of lateral ventricles, cerebrovascular blood–brain barrier (BBB) integrity, neuroinflammation, oxidative stress, and biochemical distribution. Following repeated sub-concussion 3 days per week for 2 weeks, the rats showed significantly enlarged lateral ventricles compared with the rats receiving sham-only procedure. The sub-concussive rats also presented significant BBB dysfunction in the cerebral cortex and hippocampal formation, whilst neuromotor function assessed by beamwalk and rotarod tests were comparable to the sham rats. Immunofluorescent and spectroscopic microscopy analyses revealed no significant changes in neuroinflammation, oxidative stress, lipid distribution or protein aggregation, within the hippocampus and cortex. These data collectively indicate that repeated sub-concussion for 2 weeks induce significant ventriculomegaly and BBB disruption, preceding neuromotor deficits. © 2021, The Author(s). *Please note that there are multiple authors for this article therefore only the name of the first 5 including Federation University Australia affiliate “Andrew Lavender” is provided in this record**

Bottom-up transformation of agriculture and food systems

  • Authors: Sandhu, Harpinder
  • Date: 2021
  • Type: Text , Journal article
  • Relation: Sustainability (Switzerland) Vol. 13, no. 4 (2021), p. 1-13
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  • Description: The global agenda for sustainable development includes the alleviation of poverty and hunger by developing sustainable agriculture and food systems. Intensive farming systems and its variations, such as sustainable intensification or ecological intensification, are currently being pro-moted as technologies that can improve agricultural productivity and reduce environmental im-pacts. However, these are focused only on per-hectare productivity with growing negative impacts on local culture and the environment. This study identifies the negative impacts of crop-and live-stock-based farming systems on the Indo-Gangetic plains, as well as in the USA, China, and South America as an example of key challenges in global agriculture. These impacts are classified into environmental, social, economic, and health impacts. An alternative paradigm is proposed to over-come some of the shortcomings of current global agriculture. This new bottom-up paradigm is based on three indicators that are fundamental to achieve the environmental, economic, and social sustainability of agriculture and food systems. These are divided into technical, geographic, and social indicators and have been analysed for four farming systems—low-input, high-input, organic, and desired farming systems. Seven global geographic regions have been analysed in terms of their socio-economic indicators and status of agriculture in order to develop pathways for the implementation of the new paradigm. The pathway for change suggested in this paper includes a focus on research and training, policy and institutional changes, and an evaluation of the costs and benefits, and changes in production models that consider scale and sustainability metrics and include inno-vations in consultation with all stakeholders. This new paradigm has the potential to direct global efforts towards more local and regional solutions, which are community driven and constitute a ‘bottom-up’ approach. © 2021 by the author. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.

Broadening the men's shed movement

Building empathy through a design thinking project : a case study with middle secondary schoolboys

  • Authors: Dawbin, Benjamin , Sherwen, Matthew , Dean, Sue , Donnelly, Samantha , Cant, Robyn
  • Date: 2021
  • Type: Text , Journal article
  • Relation: Issues in Educational Research Vol. 31, no. 2 (2021), p. 440-457
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  • Description: Adolescents' empathy is an essential socio-emotional concept that helps mediate friendships and family relationships. Year 10 boys, aged 14-15 years, were invited to participate in a five-day experiential education program (Design Week) based on a social equity challenge using a Design Thinking concept. Students worked in small groups, mentored by experts. Student groups developed innovative solutions to support women who experienced domestic and family violence. As a key outcome, students' empathy measured by the Comprehensive State Empathy Scale increased significantly from a baseline of 63% to 75% at post-test, representing a large effect size (d= 1.06). Six empathy subscale factors were also significantly increased (p= <0.05). The program was feasible and was rated by teachers and students as engaging, relevant to learning, and learning about complex social issues. This paper presents a case study of the Design Week program, shown to be worthy of further testing with secondary school adolescents. © 2021, Western Australian Institute for Educational Research Inc. All rights reserved.

Cable disc elevator : static friction investigation

  • Authors: Webb, Colin , Tuck, Michael
  • Date: 2021
  • Type: Text , Journal article
  • Relation: Mining, Metallurgy and Exploration Vol. 38, no. 2 (2021), p. 979-994
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  • Description: This paper describes the application of a cable disc elevator to continuous lift ore vertically from underground mines. Application of this system requires the tensions developed within the cable must remain within the carrying capacity of the cable including applicable safety margins. A critical element occurs at starting the system when it is fully loaded which requires the force developed by the system to exceed the static friction forces. This paper describes the laboratory rig developed to investigate the static friction forces. Details of the results of tests on three different ores for both dry and wet conditions are given. These results are discussed. © 2020, Society for Mining, Metallurgy & Exploration Inc.

Can intelligent agents improve data quality in online questionnaires? A pilot study

  • Authors: Söderström, Arne , Shatte, Adrian , Fuller-Tyszkiewicz, Matthew
  • Date: 2021
  • Type: Text , Journal article
  • Relation: Behavior Research Methods Vol. 53, no. 5 (2021), p. 2238-2251
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  • Description: We explored the utility of chatbots for improving data quality arising from collection via sonline surveys. Three-hundred Australian adults sampled via Prolific Academic were randomized across chatbot-supported or unassisted online questionnaire conditions. The questionnaire comprised validated measures, along with challenge items formulated to be confusing yet aligned with the validated targets. The chatbot condition provided optional assistance with item clarity via a virtual support agent. Chatbot use and user satisfaction were measured through session logs and user feedback. Data quality was operationalized as between-group differences in relationships among validated and challenge measures. Findings broadly supported chatbot utility for online surveys, showing that most participants with chatbot access utilized it, found it helpful, and demonstrated modestly improved data quality (vs. controls). Absence of confusion for one challenge item is believed to have contributed to an underestimated effect. Findings show that assistive chatbots can enhance data quality, will be utilized by many participants if available, and are perceived as beneficial by most users. Scope constraints for this pilot study are believed to have led to underestimated effects. Future testing with longer-form questionnaires incorporating expanded item difficulty may further understanding of chatbot utility for survey completion and data quality. © 2021, The Psychonomic Society, Inc.

Can optimum solar radiation exposure or supplemented vitamin D intake reduce the severity of COVID-19 symptoms?

  • Authors: Abraham, Joji , Dowling, Kim , Florentine, Singarayer
  • Date: 2021
  • Type: Text , Journal article , Review
  • Relation: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health Vol. 18, no. 2 (2021), p. 1-21
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  • Description: The foremost mortality-causing symptom associated with COVID-19 is acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). A significant correlation has been identified between the deficiency in vitamin D and the risk of developing ARDS. It has been suggested that if we can reduce or modify ARDS in COVID-19 patients, we may significantly reduce the severity of COVID-19 symptoms and associated mortality rates. The increased mortality of dark-skinned people, who have a reduced UV absorption capacity, may be consistent with diminished vitamin D status. The factors associated with COVID-19 mortality, such as old age, ethnicity, obesity, hypertension, cardiovascular diseases, and diabetes, are all found to be linked with vitamin D deficiency. Based on this review and as a precautionary measure, it is suggested that the adoption of appropriate and safe solar exposure and vitamin D enriched foods and supplements should be considered to reduce the possible severity of COVID-19 symptoms. Safe sun exposure is deemed beneficial globally, specifically in low and middle- income countries, as there is no cost involved. It is also noted that improved solar exposure and vitamin D levels can reduce the impact of other diseases as well, thus assisting in maintaining general human well-being. © 2021 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.

Canonical duality theory and algorithm for solving bilevel knapsack problems with applications

  • Authors: Gao, David
  • Date: 2021
  • Type: Text , Journal article
  • Relation: IEEE Transactions on Systems, Man, and Cybernetics: Systems Vol. 51, no. 2 (2021), p. 893-904
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  • Description: A novel canonical duality theory (CDT) is presented for solving general bilevel mixed integer nonlinear optimization governed by linear and quadratic knapsack problems. It shows that the challenging knapsack problems can be solved analytically in term of their canonical dual solutions. The existence and uniqueness of these analytical solutions are proved. NP-hardness of the knapsack problems is discussed. A powerful CDT algorithm combined with an alternative iteration and a volume reduction method is proposed for solving the NP-hard bilevel knapsack problems. Application is illustrated by benchmark problems in optimal topology design. The performance and novelty of the proposed method are compared with the popular commercial codes. © 2013 IEEE.

Care leavers recovering voice and agency through counter-narratives

  • Authors: Golding, Frank
  • Date: 2021
  • Type: Text , Thesis , PhD
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  • Description: The publications in this thesis discuss recurring issues in the historical context of out-of-home Care (OOHC). They were written for various audiences but are arranged not by date of publication but thematically so as to present a coherent argument about the recovery of voice and agency by those who experienced OOHC. The thesis begins with an Overview which discusses autoethnographic and multi-layered approaches to history and shows how subject matter helps determine the choice of methodology and sources and, in turn, how methodologies influence the selection of sources and shape content. Authorities in Australia have a long history of removing children from their families when they are deemed to be neglected or ‘in moral danger’. Out of the public gaze, these children were often rendered silent, their voices simply unheard or deliberately supressed by the exercise of total institutional power. This thesis analyses how children were marginalised, cast as ‘the other’, and framed as deserving no better than they got. In the aftermath of a series of inquiries into institutional child maltreatment—some of which came about as a result of survivor advocacy and relied heavily on direct testimony—we now better understand children’s institutional experiences. In this changing environment, advocacy groups are effectively challenging the received accounts of historical Care. Their challenge has gained impetus from the opening up of records through rights legislation, especially access to personal case files. Large numbers of Care leavers have found their files inaccurate, incomplete, or misleading, and this discovery has stimulated many to produce compelling counter-narratives of the lived experiences of their childhood, and the living experiences that endure. The thesis concludes with an extended analytical commentary reflecting new interpretations of emerging histories, assessing changes in the status of Care leavers, and identifying directions warranting further development in OOHC.
  • Description: Doctor of Philosophy

Carfilzomib promotes the unfolded protein response and apoptosis in cetuximab-resistant colorectal cancer

  • Authors: Zulkifli, Ahmad , Tan, Fiona , Areeb, Zammam , Stuart, Sarah , Luwor, Rodney
  • Date: 2021
  • Type: Text , Journal article
  • Relation: International Journal of Molecular Sciences Vol. 22, no. 13 (2021), p.
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  • Description: Cetuximab is a common treatment option for patients with wild-type K-Ras colorectal carcinoma. However, patients often display intrinsic resistance or acquire resistance to cetuximab following treatment. Here we generate two human CRC cells with acquired resistance to cetuximab that are derived from cetuximab-sensitive parental cell lines. These cetuximab-resistant cells display greater in vitro proliferation, colony formation and migration, and in vivo tumour growth compared with their parental counterparts. To evaluate potential alternative therapeutics to cetuximab-acquired-resistant cells, we tested the efficacy of 38 current FDA-approved agents against our cetuximab-acquired-resistant clones. We identified carfilzomib, a selective proteosome inhibitor to be most effective against our cell lines. Carfilzomib displayed potent antiproliferative effects, induced the unfolded protein response as determined by enhanced CHOP expression and ATF6 activity, and enhanced apoptosis as determined by enhanced caspase-3/7 activity. Overall, our results indicate a potentially novel indication for carfilzomib: that of a potential alternative agent to treat cetuximab-resistant colorectal cancer. © 2021 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. **Please note that there are multiple authors for this article therefore only the name of the first 5 including Federation University Australia affiliate “Rodney Luwor” is provided in this record**

Caring self-efficacy of direct care workers in residential aged care settings : a mixed methods scoping review

  • Authors: Shrestha, Sumina , Alharbi, Rayan , Wells, Yvonne , While, Christine , Rahman, Muhammad Aziz
  • Date: 2021
  • Type: Text , Journal article
  • Relation: Geriatric Nursing Vol. 42, no. 6 (2021), p. 1429-1445
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  • Description: The caring self-efficacy of direct care workers in residential aged care has been explored in the literature mostly as a predictor rather than the focus of interest. This scoping review aimed to provide an overview of the existing literature on aged care workers’ caring self-efficacy and factors that influence it. A systematic search was performed in six electronic databases. All primary studies were included. A total of 41 studies met the inclusion criteria. Caring self-efficacy was most often described by aged care workers as their capacity to deal with difficult situations. The self-efficacy scores of direct care workers were high across studies. Self-efficacy was positively influenced by access to resources, relationships with residents and their families, the support of supervisors and co-workers, job satisfaction, and training opportunities, and negatively affected by work pressure and burnout. Findings indicate possible avenues for intervention to improve direct care workers’ self-efficacy in aged care. © 2021 Elsevier Inc.

Challenges faced by early-career researchers in the sciences in Australia and the consequent effect of those challenges on their careers : a mixed methods project

  • Authors: Christian, Katherine
  • Date: 2021
  • Type: Text , Thesis , PhD
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  • Description: The purpose of the study was to explore the challenges faced by early-career researchers (ECRs) in the sciences in Australia and the consequent effect of those challenges on their careers. Using a realist/postpositivist paradigm, an evaluative approach, and a framework of job satisfaction, this project has explored and compared the views of ECRs to evaluate the factors which shape the ECR experience and contribute to job satisfaction or dissatisfaction and intention to leave, and to define the features which are necessary to keep an ECR in research. Data collection for this mixed methods study entailed a national survey of researchers working in universities and research institutes (n=658), a focus group discussion and semistructured in-depth interviews with eight women from a variety of scientific disciplines who had recently left academic research workplaces. I focussed particularly on the difficulties consequent to job insecurity: the constant need to attracting funding and a permanent position, lack of work-life balance and associated stress; and evidence of workplace difficulties such as bullying, harassment or inequity and support – or lack of it – offered by the research institutions. I examined the factors which contribute to and barriers which prevent job satisfaction of this population, and the consequent intention (if any) for ECRs to leave research or change their career path. I found an interesting situation whereby the satisfaction derived from a “love of science” was counterbalanced by stress and poor working conditions which are a consequence of lack of job security, typified by poor supervision, bullying or harassment, inequitable hiring practices, a concerning rate of impact from “questionable research practices” (impacting 34%-41% of respondents) and evidence of very high (80%) intention of ECRs to leave their position. The most significant predictor of intention to leave is time as a postdoctoral scientist: eventually the job insecurity and its associated stresses become too much and the ECRs leave their chosen career for work elsewhere. This decision, too, provides interesting findings as many of the ECRs have difficulty planning what to do next. They feel ill-prepared for an alternate career and suffer from a sense of failure as a result of having to leave academia. While addressing the shortage of funding is outside the scope of this study, in addition to offering my findings I put forward a range of recommendations which could lead to ar change of culture and benefit the wellbeing of ECRs in STEMM without incurring significant cost. The Australian Government, higher education institutions and the research community need to improve job security and workplace conditions and take better care of our people in STEMM disciplines or we will not have the scientists we need to deliver the “innovative Australia” planned for 2030 (Department of Industry Innovation and Science, 2018)
  • Description: Doctor of Philosophy

Challenges of translating Rasmussen’s Accimap into a usable, sustainable, and useful incident reporting system: end-user attitudes following 12-month implementation

  • Authors: Goode, Natassia , Shaw, Louise , Finch, C. , Salmon, Paul
  • Date: 2021
  • Type: Text , Journal article
  • Relation: Cognition, Technology and Work Vol. 23, no. 1 (2021), p. 39-49
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  • Description: There have been several calls within the accident analysis literature to translate systems thinking-based theories and accident analysis methods into practical and usable tools for practitioners. This paper reports on the findings from a post-implementation evaluation of an incident reporting system underpinned Rasmussen’s (Saf Sci 27(2/3):183–213, 1997) risk-management framework and Accimap. An online survey was used to evaluate end-users’ use and attitudes towards the system after 12 months of implementation. While almost all respondents had used the incident reporting system to collect data, few had undertaken the required training. While the privacy and security of the system were evaluated favourably, significant problems were highlighted with usability, sustainability of the system, and utility of the data for organisations. Overall, the results highlight the significant resource constraints experienced by end-users during the implementation of the new incident reporting system. The challenges for translating a systems thinking-based approach into practice are discussed. © 2019, Springer-Verlag London Ltd., part of Springer Nature.

Changes in tobacco use patterns during COVID-19 and their correlates among older adults in Bangladesh

  • Authors: Mistry, Sabuj , Ali, , Armm , Rahman, Md Ashfikur , Yadav, , Uday , Rahman, Muhammad Aziz
  • Date: 2021
  • Type: Text , Journal article
  • Relation: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health Vol. 18, no. 4 (2021), p. 1-11
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  • Description: The present study explored the changes in tobacco use patterns during the COVID-19 pandemic and their correlates among older adults in Bangladesh. This cross-sectional study was conducted among 1032 older adults aged ≥60 years in Bangladesh through telephone interviews in October 2020. Participants’ characteristics and COVID-19-related information were gathered using a pretested semi-structured questionnaire. Participants were asked if they noted any change in their tobacco use patterns (smoking or smokeless tobacco) during the COVID-19 pandemic compared to pre-pandemic (6 months prior to the survey). Nearly half of the participants (45.6%) were current tobacco users, of whom 15.9% reported increased tobacco use during the COVID-19 pandemic and all others had no change in their tobacco use patterns. Tobacco use was significantly increased among the participants from rural areas, who had reduced communications during COVID-19 compared to pre-pandemic (OR = 2.76, 95%CI:1.51–5.03). Participants who were aged ≥70 years (OR = 0.33, 95% CI: 0.14–0.77), widowed (OR = 0.36, 95% CI: 0.13–1.00), had pre-existing, non-communi-cable, and/or chronic conditions (OR = 0.44, 95% CI:0.25–0.78), and felt themselves at the highest risk of COVID-19 (OR = 0.31, 95% CI: 0.15–0.62), had significantly lower odds of increased tobacco use. Policy makers and practitioners need to focus on strengthening awareness and raising initia-tives to avoid tobacco use during such a crisis period. © 2021 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. **Please note that there are multiple authors for this article therefore only the name of the first 5 including Federation University Australia affiliate “Muhammad Aziz Rahman” is provided in this record**

Chebyshev multivariate polynomial approximation and point reduction procedure

  • Authors: Sukhorukova, Nadezda , Ugon, Julien , Yost, David
  • Date: 2021
  • Type: Text , Journal article
  • Relation: Constructive Approximation Vol. 53, no. 3 (2021), p. 529-544
  • Relation: http://purl.org/au-research/grants/arc/DP180100602
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  • Description: We apply the methods of nonsmooth and convex analysis to extend the study of Chebyshev (uniform) approximation for univariate polynomial functions to the case of general multivariate functions (not just polynomials). First of all, we give new necessary and sufficient optimality conditions for multivariate approximation, and a geometrical interpretation of them which reduces to the classical alternating sequence condition in the univariate case. Then, we present a procedure for verification of necessary and sufficient optimality conditions that is based on our generalization of the notion of alternating sequence to the case of multivariate polynomials. Finally, we develop an algorithm for fast verification of necessary optimality conditions in the multivariate polynomial case. © 2019, Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.

Child protection hypothetical case studies for a virtual archive : professional perspectives versus the lived experience and expertise of care leavers in Victoria, Australia

  • Authors: Mendes, Philip , Wilson, Jacqueline , Golding, Frank
  • Date: 2021
  • Type: Text , Journal article
  • Relation: British Journal of Social Work Vol. 51, no. 7 (2021), p. 2626-2644
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  • Description: For children in out-of-home care (OOHC) and adults who experienced OOHC as children, the records compiled by care workers, social workers and other relevant personnel present multiple ongoing problems. The records often embody deeply contested narratives that may include distortions and misinterpretations of facts, judgemental inferences, moralistic attitudes and other problematic aspects that can leave the care leaver at best ill-served and at worst profoundly distressed and traumatised. This article, an auto-ethnographic collaboration between a social work professional and two care leavers, aims to address these issues by constructing a 'virtual archive' consisting of several hypothetical records compiled in the style typically employed by caseworkers, which are then critiqued by the care leavers. In each case, the record is found to have significant shortcomings in terms of what is included or omitted, the tone, and implied judgements. The article concludes with a discussion that identifies a number of thematic issues and pitfalls intrinsic to the task of record-keeping in the OOHC context and makes recommendations aimed at achieving inclusive, rights-based processes and procedures in the creation and maintenance of records. © 2020 The Author(s). Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of The British Association of Social Workers. All rights reserved.

Chinese mental health professionals’ perceptions of shared decision-making regarding people diagnosed with schizophrenia : a qualitative study

  • Authors: Huang, Chongmei , Lam, Louisa , Zhong, Yaping , Plummer, Virginia , Cross, Wendy
  • Date: 2021
  • Type: Text , Journal article
  • Relation: International Journal of Mental Health Nursing Vol. 30, no. 1 (2021), p. 189-199
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  • Description: The implementation of shared decision-making regarding people diagnosed with schizophrenia is limited, although it is reported to have a positive impact on improving treatment adherence, therapeutic relationships and saving medical costs. The successful implementation of it is mainly dependent on the active engagement of mental health professionals. This study aims to identify mental health professionals’ perceptions of shared decision-making regarding people diagnosed with schizophrenia in collectivist cultures such as Chinese culture. A qualitative descriptive approach was used, involving ten individual interviews with psychiatrists and four focus groups with twenty-three mental health nurses from the psychiatry department of a tertiary hospital in mainland China. An inductive thematic approach was used to analyze the data. Two main themes with five subthemes generated: willingness to engage in shared decision-making and perceiving shared decision-making as unachievable. The last theme included five subthemes: (i) deference to authority, (ii) tension between family decision-making and patient autonomy, (iii) uncertainty of trusting therapeutic relationships, (iv) implicit persuasion and (v) insufficient consultation time. Patients often lack opportunity and support to engage in decision-making. Mental health nurses in other countries need to be aware that Chinese patients and patients with a similar background are not knowledgeable about or value shared decision-making to the extent that other countries might. They need to evaluate and support them, including encouraging them to engage in decision-making as well as providing appropriate information. Mental health nurses need to collaborate with patients and their families to achieve patient-centred care when family involvement is expected. © 2020 Australian College of Mental Health Nurses Inc.