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Effects of a 6-month dual-task, power-based exercise program on cognitive function, neurological and inflammatory markers in older adults: Secondary analysis of a cluster randomised controlled trial
Get PDFFunctional power-based exercise training can improve physical performance in older adults and cognitive training can improve measures of cognition, but their combined effects on cognition and related risk factors (neurological and inflammatory markers) remains uncertain. This 6-month cluster randomised controlled trial evaluated the effectiveness of dual-task functional power training (DT-FPT) on cognition and circulating neurological and inflammatory markers in older adults at increased falls risk, and whether intervention responses varied by apolipoprotein-E (ApoE) and brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) polymorphisms. Three hundred residents aged ≥ 65 years at increased falls risk residing in 22 independent-living retirement communities, were randomised by village, to DT-FPT (n = 156, 11 villages) involving a multi-component power-based training program performed simultaneously with cognitive and/or motor tasks (45–60 min, 2/week), or a usual care control (CON) group (n = 144, 11 villages). Cognition (computerized CogState battery), inflammatory cytokines, BDNF, insulin-like growth factor-1, vascular endothelial growth factor, amyloid β (1–40) and (1–42) were assessed at baseline and 6-months. Overall, 233 (78%) participants completed the intervention and adherence averaged 50.1%. DT-FPT led to a net 0.18–0.20 SD benefit versus CON in psychomotor ability/attention and reaction time/attention (both P \u3c 0.05). There were no significant intervention effects on circulating markers, except for a net 10.5% benefit in amyloid β (1–40) in DT-FPT versus CON (P \u3c 0.05). Responses were not influenced by APOE or BDNF genotype. In conclusion, DT-FPT in older adults at increased falls risk can provide some cognitive benefits, but these were not related to corresponding changes in inflammatory or neurological markers or influenced by genotype. Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (ACTRN12613001161718). http://www.anzctr.org.au/ This project was funded by a grant from the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) Project (APP1046267)
The contributions of transcription skills to paper-based and computer-based text composing in the early years
Get PDFDigital tools are an integral part of most writing communities across the globe, enhancing the criticality of gaining a comprehensive understanding of both paper and computer-based writing acquisition and development. The relationships between transcription skills and children’s paper-based writing performance are well documented. Less is known about the relationships between transcription skills and children’s computer-based writing performance. In this study, we examined the unique contributions of transcription skills (i.e., handwriting automaticity, keyboarding automaticity and spelling) in predicting Grade 2 students (N = 544) paper-based and computer-based writing performance (i.e., compositional quality and productivity) after controlling for other student-level factors (i.e., gender, word reading, reading comprehension, and attitudes towards writing) and classroom-level factors (i.e., amount of time teaching handwriting, keyboarding, and spelling). Multilevel modelling showed that, compared to handwriting automaticity, spelling skills accounted for a larger percentage of unique variance in predicting paper-based compositional quality; handwriting automaticity accounted for a larger percentage of unique variance in explaining paper-based compositional productivity. Findings further showed that keyboarding automaticity accounted for a larger percentage of unique variance in students’ computer-based compositional quality and productivity when compared to spelling. Gender and word reading skills were also found to be uniquely related to students’ writing performance across modalities. These findings underscore the need for educators to address and nurture the automaticity of inscription and spelling skills to enhance students\u27 compositional quality and productivity, whether in traditional paperbased or computer-based text composing
Managing the impact of workplace trauma for Australian first responders: Harmonizing policy and practice
Get PDFPolice, fire, ambulance, and emergency services workers face an increased exposure to traumatic events while at work, negatively affecting their mental health, and with broader financial, legal, and moral implications for the public sector organizations that employ them. To better support these workers, and to mitigate the potential financial burden resulting from workers’ compensation claims, many first responder organizations are implementing wellbeing initiatives. This article examines the efficacy of an initiative for a sample of 530 frontline and administrative first responders, working in one state jurisdiction in Australia. The results indicate that wellbeing programmes moderate the impact of trauma on stress for frontline workers. However, the study also highlights that team belongingness and managerial support play a key role in shaping first responder’s psychological distress. The implication of this article is that first responder organizations can realize more profound benefits from crafting a supportive and positive team and organizational climate
The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on nurses\u27 and junior doctors\u27 workloads
Get PDFAims: To explore the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on nurses\u27 and junior doctors\u27 workload, changes to direct care and the impact of workload on resource allocation. Design: Mixed-method design was used. Methods: Data were collected from direct observation, hospital administrative database and a survey. Nurses and junior doctors were observed on two COVID-19 wards and one non-COVID-19 ward using a semi-structured observation schedule. Survey data were collected from nurses and junior doctors that had worked on the COVID-19 ward during the pandemic. Patient data were collected from Web Patient Administration System during the period of March–August 2021 and compared to March–August 2022. Results: The results of this study indicated that the workloads of nurses and junior doctors changed on the COVID-19 wards. Nurses on the COVID-19 ward spent less time on administration, communication and documentation compared to nurses working on the non-COVID-19 ward. For junior doctors, less time was being spent on direct care activities and administrative work compared to the non-COVID ward. On the COVID-19 wards, patients were older and had a shorter length of stay compared to the year before. Five themes were identified from the surveys, staffing shortages resulting in higher workloads and the need for overtime, unforeseen time to undertake tasks, lack of support and physical health and patient care compromised. Conclusion: The study highlights the need for systemic changes to staffing shortages and elevated workloads to improve the compromised mental and physical health caused during the pandemic and to retain the workforce for future sustainability. Implications: As we collectively reflect on the lessons learned from this unprecedented period, it is imperative to address the challenges experienced proactively, fostering a healthcare environment that prioritises the well-being of its front line heroes and, by extension, the quality of patient care. Reporting Method: STROBE. Patient or Public Contribution: No patient or public contribution
The contribute of diet on the relationship between symptoms of depression and anxiety, and Alzheimer’s disease
No full textDiet has been shown to impact both depression and Alzheimer’s disease (AD), while depression itself is comorbid with AD and increases future risk of developing the disease. Therefore, further elucidating this intricate relationship and determining how diet influences AD, as well as symptoms of depression and anxiety, is of great importance, particularly for older adults. Following a critical narrative review (Chapter 2), the first aim of this thesis was to examine whether diet moderates the relationship between symptoms of depression and anxiety, and cognitive performance cross-sectionally (Chapter 3). This was explored across three dietary patterns: Mediterranean Diet (MeDi), Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH), and Western diet. The results showed that in males with low to moderate MeDi adherence, greater depressive symptoms were associated with poorer attention and processing performance. Similarly, in males with high Western diet adherence, greater anxiety symptoms were associated with poorer performance on a Preclinical Alzheimer\u27s Cognitive Composite (PACC).
The second and third aims of this thesis were to investigate dietary patterns as potential moderators of the relationship between symptoms of depression and anxiety, and AD-related neuroimaging and blood-based biomarkers (Chapter 4 and 5, respectively). The results of Chapter 4 revealed that among individuals with lower DASH diet adherence, greater depressive and anxiety symptoms were associated with higher brain amyloid-β (Aβ) load, a hallmark of AD pathogenesis. Notably, the anxiety association was observed both in the cohort as a whole and in Apolipoprotein E (APOE) ε4 allele carriers, a genetic risk factor for AD. Chapter 5 showed that in males with mean MeDi adherence, depressive symptoms were associated with higher plasma neurofilament light (NfL) levels, a blood-based biomarker of neurodegeneration. Additionally, in APOE ε4 non-carriers with below mean and mean MeDi adherence, depressive symptoms were associated with higher plasma NfL levels.
The final aim of this thesis investigated dietary patterns as moderators of the relationship between depression and anxiety symptomology, and cognition, over time (Chapter 6). In males with mean or below mean MeDi adherence, increasing depressive symptoms were associated with faster cognitive decline, as measured by PACC. Furthermore, APOE ɛ4 carriers with mean MeDi adherence showed greater decline in language with increasing depressive symptoms. Below mean DASH adherence was associated with greater decline in PACC scores as anxiety symptoms increased, in APOE ɛ4 non-carriers. Moreover, in males, higher Western diet adherence was associated with greater cognitive decline as depressive symptoms increased.
Collectively, the results presented in this thesis highlight dietary patterns as potential moderators of the relationship between symptoms of depression and anxiety, cognition, and AD biomarkers. The findings also highlight the need for considering dietary approaches to mental health and AD prevention that are tailored to the individual on the basis of APOE genotype and sex. Chapter 7 of this thesis discusses the implications of these findings in greater detail, as well as considering future research directions
Exploring the attractiveness of digital human influencers in destination marketing: The allure of two-path meaning transfer
No full textDigital humans are new players in destination marketing; however, little is known about their marketing effectiveness. This research investigates digital human influencers\u27 attractiveness and their roles in destination marketing. Drawing upon meaning transfer theory and dual process theory, we developed a two-path meaning transfer model integrating both affective and cognitive pathways. A mixed-methods design, including qualitative interviews and four quantitative studies, was applied to identify and validate the attractiveness dimensions and test their effects. We identified six dimensions of digital human influencer attractiveness (expressiveness, physical attractiveness, anthropomorphism, interactivity, trendiness, and cultural attractiveness), which shape marketing effectiveness through the two pathways’ sequential mediation. Additionally, the cognitive route of meaning transfer was moderated by the influencer–destination congruence. This research contributes to the literature by integrating distinct paths to elucidate the mechanisms of digital human influencer endorsement. Our findings also provide insightful managerial implications for better utilizing digital human influencers in tourism marketing
Cinnamon bark oil application and modified atmosphere packaging alleviates chilling injury, ethylene production and maintains antioxidant system in persimmons
Get PDFPersimmon fruit is highly susceptible to chilling injury (CI) during cold storage. This study was aimed at evaluating the effects of cinnamon bark oil (CBO, 4 μM) fumigation, modified atmosphere packaging (MAP), and a combination of CBO and MAP on CI of ‘Fuyu’ persimmons. Fourier-transform infrared (FT-IR) analysis revealed changes in the peel surface of CBO fumigated persimmons. Peel and flesh CI incidence and CI index were significantly reduced with a combined application of CBO and MAP. CBO + MAP exhibited lower ethylene production, malondialdehyde (MDA), hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), and lipoxygenase (LOX) activity, maintained higher flavonoids, and upregulated the ascorbate glutathione cycle via preserving high levels of ascorbic acid and glutathione, as well as activities of ascorbate peroxidase (APX), glutathione reductase (GR), monodehydroascorbate reductase (MDHAR) and dehydroascorbate reductase (DHAR) in persimmons. Overall, CBO + MAP improves CI tolerance by mitigating ethylene production and oxidative stress in persimmon fruit
Feasibility of conducting a randomized controlled trial to explore the muscular influence of post-operative intravenous iron treatment for anaemia after major abdominal surgery
Get PDFBackground and Objectives: Iron deficiency anaemia is common in patients recovering from major surgery and is associated with poorer post-operative outcomes. We designed a randomized controlled trial treating post-operative anaemia with iron therapy to observe the influence on post-operative recovery. Materials and Methods: Anaemic patients (haemoglobin [Hb] \u3c 120 g/L for women, Hb \u3c 130 g/L for men) recovering from major abdominal surgery at Fiona Stanley Hospital were recruited. Patients were double-blind randomized 1:1 to ferric carboxymaltose (FCM) or saline administered 4 weeks post-discharge and included in a 12-week exercise programme. Iron indices, quality of life (QoL) questionnaires and muscle function tests were conducted at 4 weeks (baseline), 8-, 12- and 16-weeks post-discharge. This pilot study primarily aimed to assess the feasibility of recruiting 20 patients per intervention arm. Trial registration: ACTRN12622001447741. Results: Of 205 eligible patients screened between 5 May 2023 and 31 August 2023, only four patients were recruited, of which one completed the study. After randomization to FCM, results obtained from the sole participant that completed the trial suggested a trend towards improvement in QoL outcomes, Hb and muscle function. Conclusion: Recruitment to a randomized controlled trial exploring the influence of iron therapy on muscle function after major abdominal surgery was not feasible
It makes me feel dysphoric: Transgender and non-binary students’ perspectives of gendered grouping practices and curriculum provision in secondary school physical education in England
Get PDFThis study foregrounds the voices of transgender (trans) and non-binary students in a large-scale mixed-methods investigation of gendered grouping practices and curriculum provision in secondary school physical education (PE) in England. Theoretically, the research brought together an interdisciplinary framework for educational inclusion and the trans inclusion staged model to pursue conceptualisations and expressions of inclusion that disrupt cisnormative policies and structures. A survey of 14 co-educational secondary schools generated data from 36 students who identified as trans (n = 18) or non-binary (n = 18). The findings revealed that most trans (n = 16) and all non-binary students expressed preferences for mixed-sex grouping in PE. They also underscore the many challenges and contradictions faced by trans and non-binary students in PE, including being stigmatised by peers for not conforming to cisnormative gender expectations and/or being forced to accept disaffirmation of their gender identity in order to participate in PE and ‘fit in’
Revised phylogeography of the common brushtail possum (Trichosurus vulpecula) reveals new insights into genetic structure across Australia
Get PDFUnderstanding genetic relationships within species is essential for identifying distinct genetic lineages and informing conservation strategies, particularly for species with fragmented or widespread geographic distributions. One such widespread species that has suffered declines across Australia, despite remaining common in some areas, is the common brushtail possum (Trichosurus vulpecula), a nocturnal and arboreal marsupial. Previous genetic studies on brushtail possums had limited sampling, which has precluded a comprehensive assessment of the relationships within the species and genus. Using both single nucleotide polymorphism markers and the mitochondrial cytochrome b gene, this study employed phylogenetics, ancestry coefficients, and tested genetic differentiation, to examine the population structure of brushtail possums across Australia. Our results indicate that current subspecies’ classifications of T. vulpecula do not align with genetic structure, as Western Australian Pilbara and Midwest populations, currently defined as the subspecies Trichosurus vulpecula hypoleucus, are instead genetically similar to south-eastern and central T. v. vulpecula. These findings have important implications for current conservation strategies, including translocations of brushtail possums, and highlight the importance of comprehensive genetic sampling within wide-ranging species