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Decision-making among transgender women who are victim-survivors of intimate partner violence: An integrative review
No full textThis integrative literature review examines intimate partner violence experienced by transgender women and the factors influencing their decision making in maintaining their continued relationship. Six online databases have been systematically searched to identify and analyse published peer reviewed journal articles on the topic. A total of seven samples were identified for the study, and data from which were thematically analysed, generating three primary themes: transgender-specific intimate partner violence complexities; experiences with care services and legal protections; and navigating trans-specific intimate partner violence. These findings provide valuable insights for social work and social service providers to ensure safety and well-being of victim-survivors of intimate partner violence among transgender women
Epistolary form and inclusive creative writing practices in Pre-Menstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD) research
No full textAustralian anti-corruption agencies: Factors perceived to influence effectiveness
No full textAnti-corruption agencies, also known as watchdog, oversight or integrity agencies, began emerging in Australia in the early 1980s. Nowadays, every Australian state and territory has an anti-corruption agency, with a federal anti-corruption agency the last to be enacted in 2022, dedicated to reducing public sector corruption. These agencies have been given a suite of extensive and intrusive legislative powers by governments to address public sector corruption, which reflects an underlying assumption that these agencies have been effective. However, history has shown Australian anti-corruption agencies have evolved primarily due to public and political criticism, rather than any proven effectiveness measure. Indeed, some scholars have suggested anti-corruption agencies (ACAs) have failed to reduce corruption and are ineffective. Despite this, public and political support for ACAs remain, highlighting a blurring of lines between their perceived importance and their actual effectiveness. Notably absent, is an evidence-based understanding of what factors underpin ACA effectiveness. As such, this study is guided by the following research question: What factors are perceived to predict ACA effectiveness? Identifying these factors will provide practical insights for guiding future policy development and focus areas for ACA effectiveness building.
I began by reviewing the literature on organisational and ACA effectiveness to gauge an understanding of the key contextual effectiveness factors (conditions or prerequisites required for an organisation to be effective) that have previously been used, grouping similar themes together. I found six global contextual effectiveness factors through the organisational literature and five in the anti-corruption literature. From there, a critical theoretical analysis was conducted using three different theories (systems theory, corporate social responsibility theory and institutional theory) which identified a further 19 contextual effectiveness factors. As it was evident that within these factors there were duplications, I decided to overlay the results from each stage which resulted in four broad common contextual effectiveness being identified. These contextual effectiveness factors helped inform the question selection for my two survey instruments distributed to stakeholders via the snowballing method. The first survey was for internal stakeholders (people who had or still do work for an Australian anti-corruption agency), and the second survey was for external stakeholders (people who had or still do work for a public sector agency).
My survey instruments were validated after distribution resulting in multidimensional constructs being identified. A subsequent scale evaluation resulted in three measurable factors for each group. These factors were then analysed through a backwards regression analysis which revealed that internal stakeholders perceived legitimacy and innovation as accounting for approximately 38% of perceived ACA effectiveness and external stakeholders perceiving legitimacy and relationships as accounting for 43% of perceived ACA effectiveness. These findings have important implications for how ACAs are structured, evaluated and supported. These results suggest that legitimacy is a critical driver of perceived effectiveness across both internal and external stakeholder groups. The emphasis of innovation and relationships in the results highlight the need for ACAs to adapt to changing environments and engage meaningfully with their stakeholders. Together, these results point to the broader need for anti-corruption strategies to move beyond legal powers and enforcement measures and instead focus on building credible, responsive and collaborative organisations that can sustain long-term public trust
Land without marks: In memory of ECU Mt Lawley
Get PDFIn 2026, as ECU opens its new Perth City campus, the old Mt Lawley campus will cease to be, following its 55 years of existence since 1970. Photobook \u27Land without Marks\u27 gathers passing glimpses of ECU Mt Lawley in its final 8 years, through the eyes of a long-term staff member and photographic artist. Captured on 35mm film and smart phone.https://ro.ecu.edu.au/ecubooks/1006/thumbnail.jp
A century of sediment metal contamination of Mar Menor, Europe\u27s largest saltwater lagoon
Get PDFCoastal enclosed ecosystems, such as lagoons, are vulnerable to anthropogenic impacts because they favor the accumulation of contaminants from the surrounding watersheds, particularly in their sediments. Europe\u27s largest saltwater lagoon, the Mar Menor (SE, Iberian Peninsula), is a highly impacted ecosystem and the first in the continent to be granted personhood rights. Based on a high-resolution spatial and temporal dataset, we present the historical reconstruction of metal contamination in this ecosystem during the last century. Our results highlight that sediment metal contamination has been mainly driven by the development of the mining industry in the nearby Sierra Minera de Cartagena-La Unión in the late 19th and until the mid-20th century when premeditated mining spills were forbidden. Runoff from former mining areas still transported metals to the lagoon even after mining ceased in the 1990s. The southern sector of the lagoon, closest to mining-affected ephemeral streams, is the most impacted by metal contamination and holds the highest metal stocks. Stocks since 1900 for the entire lagoon reached values of 9200, 1.6, 450, 270, 10,000, and 12 tons of Pb, Hg, As, Cu, Zn, and Ag, respectively. Maxima concentrations were reached in the mid-20th century, with values of 3400, 0.53, 100, 50, 3700, and 5.5 mg·kg−1 for Pb, Hg, As, Cu, Zn, and Ag. Afterward, while some metals\u27 concentrations declined, others were still supplied to the sediments through runoff from former mining areas and sources related to urban expansion. Metal concentrations reported in this study surpass sediment quality guidelines and are generally higher than those found in similar ecosystems globally. Current surface metal concentrations are lower than during most of the 20th century, and sediments seem to retain metal stocks effectively. However, climate change and eutrophication could increase the risk of metal remobilization, further impacting this already vulnerable ecosystem. This study emphasizes the need for attention to managing coastal enclosed ecosystems, where global change impacts can exacerbate the impact of legacy contamination
Adaptive guard band and power control for resource allocation in mobile and fixed mission-critical IoUT networks
Get PDFThe Internet of Underwater Things (IoUT) is transforming underwater communication by enabling essential mission-critical applications such as precise navigation, emergency response coordination, diver safety, robust security and surveillance systems, and real-time environmental monitoring. However, Underwater Acoustic Communication (UAC), which serves as the primary communication medium for IoUT, experiences substantial challenges, including limited bandwidth availability, severe signal attenuation and Doppler-induced frequency shifts, especially pronounced in mobile underwater environments. These challenges degrade throughput and increase latency, making it difficult to meet the strict delay and reliability demands of mission-critical IoUT applications. Without adaptive solutions, real-time underwater communication remains unreliable and inefficient. This paper introduces an Adaptive Guard band and Power control resource allocation scheme for mission critical applications (AGP-MCA), specifically designed to improve underwater communication. The AGP-MCA framework optimizes the acoustic spectrum based on the criticality of IoUT applications. AGP-MCA dynamically adjusts guard bands to effectively mitigate Doppler caused by mobile nodes and strategically manages transmission power to reduce power consumption significantly, and handles non-critical data through buffering. We formulate a comprehensive mathematical optimization model and employ a Whale Optimization Algorithm (WOA)-based meta heuristic approach to achieve near-optimal solutions while ensuring minimal computational complexity. Extensive simulations demonstrate that AGP-MCA enhances throughput, reduces both end-to-end delay and power consumption, and consistently outperforms existing protocols and configurations without adaptive guard bands. Further, it offers a robust and power-efficient solution for real-time mission-critical IoUT applications
Cardiac autonomic dysfunction in patients with cancer: Exploring the role of physical exercise
Get PDFPurpose: Cardiovascular diseases are a leading cause of non-cancer mortality among patients with cancer, with cardiac autonomic dysfunction identified as a significant predictor of future cardiovascular conditions. Despite the importance of autonomic dysfunction as a prognostic marker being well-established in healthy individuals and other chronic conditions, its role in patients with cancer remains underexplored. This narrative review aims to synthesize existing literature on the role of cardiac autonomic dysfunction in patients with cancer and explore the potential of physical exercise as a non-pharmacological intervention to modulate the autonomic nervous system positively. Methods: This review examines methods for assessing cardiac autonomic dysfunction, the factors contributing to its dysregulation, and the prognostic role of heart rate variability. It also analyzes current evidence on the effectiveness of various physical exercise modalities, including aerobic, resistance training, and mind-body interventions, in modulating autonomic function. Results: Patients with cancer are exposed to disease-related, lifestyle, and physiological factors that impair autonomic regulation. This dysfunction is associated with worse outcomes, such as increased mortality and disease progression. Preliminary evidence suggests that physical exercise, particularly a combination of aerobic and resistance training, as well as yoga, may improve heart rate variability and mitigate sympathovagal imbalance in patients. Conclusion: While research on the effects of physical exercise on autonomic modulation in cancer patients is still limited, early findings show promise. Further studies are needed to fully understand the mechanisms through which exercise improves cardiac autonomic function and its long-term benefits in oncology, positioning this as a novel area of research
Internationalizing Islamic higher education in Indonesia: A lesson learned from Australia
Get PDFInternationalization plays a crucial role in enhancing the quality and global recognition of Islamic higher education institutions in Indonesia. This study investigates how these institutions implement internationalization by drawing insights from the experience of Monash University in Australia. Using a qualitative case study approach, data were collected through interviews and document analysis. The findings indicate that while Islamic higher education institutions have implemented key aspects of internationalization, there is still room for improvement. Institutions must continuously enhance educational quality while maintaining their unique identity to attract international students. Greater autonomy in financial and administrative management is necessary to align Islamic universities with other leading public institutions. Policy support from the government is essential in ensuring institutional autonomy and protecting human resource rights without excessive intervention. Seeking international accreditation through relevant accrediting bodies is also critical in strengthening global competitiveness. These findings highlight the need for strategic efforts by university leaders, government, and stakeholders to advance the internationalization agenda in Islamic higher education. Strengthening institutional autonomy, improving quality standards, and achieving international accreditation will contribute to greater global engagement and recognition of Islamic universities in Indonesia
Prevalence and trends of coexisting forms of malnutrition and its associated factors among children aged 6–59 months in South and Southeast Asia, 1996–2022: A cross-sectional time series study
Get PDFBackground: South and Southeast Asia face severe malnutrition in children under five, with coexisting forms of malnutrition (CFM) exacerbating mortality risks and posing greater challenges than isolated forms of malnutrition. We aimed to assess the prevalence, trends, and factors of CFM among children aged 6–59 months in South and Southeast Asian countries and the entire region. Methods: We used anthropometric and hemoglobin data from 515,170 children aged 6–59 months in seven low- and middle-income South and Southeast Asian countries, based on Demographic and Health Surveys conducted between 1996 and 2022. Weighted multivariable logistic regression was performed to identify the sociodemographic factors associated with seven forms of CFM: coexistence of underweight with wasting, coexistence of underweight with stunting, coexistence of underweight with both wasting and stunting, coexistence of stunting with overweight/obesity (CSO), coexistence of anemia with overweight/obesity, coexistence of anemia with underweight, and coexistence of anemia with stunting (CAS). Results: The overall pooled prevalence of child CFM ranged from 0.8% for CSO to 23.4% for CAS. Most countries showed a declining trend in CFM, except for Timor-Leste, India, and the Maldives. Higher maternal education and being male were associated with lower odds of CFM. Compared to children aged 6–23 months, those aged 24–59 months had a higher risk of CUS but a lower risk of CSO and CAO. Children in India had higher odds of experiencing CAU and CAS compared to those in the Maldives, Myanmar, Nepal, and Timor-Leste. Conclusion: The coexistence of undernutrition and/or anemia in South and Southeast Asia remains a public health problem. Although the prevalence of child CFM has decreased in most countries, it remains higher in Timor-Leste and India. It is necessary to consider multi-faceted nutritional interventions for children with CFM in this region, taking into account the impact of children’s gender, age, and maternal education, to further reduce child CFM
Rhetorics or business as usual? A systematic review of the realities of Australian aid localisation efforts in the Pacific region
Get PDFWhile Australia increasingly references aid localisation in its programming, implementation remains donor-driven and structurally resistant to local agency. Comprehensive reviews capturing these realities remain scarce. This study synthesises insights from 150 articles obtained from the Web of Science Database to address this gap. Findings reveal persistent donor-driven, hierarchical approaches that marginalise local voices and hinder locally led development. Skill deficits, inadequate information sharing, and underutilisation of local knowledge further undermine effectiveness. Political agendas, market-led narratives, and funding systems prioritising external contractors exacerbate dependency and power imbalances. Antithetically, meaningful local leadership and culturally tailored programs have aligned aid initiatives with community needs, ensuring greater sustainability. This paper offers the most comprehensive synthesis to date of Pacific-localised critiques of Australian aid. It exposes the systemic contradictions in donor rhetoric and practice, and advances localisation scholarship by identifying new leverage points for reform