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The Frank Moorhouse Reading Room
No full textPublished September 5, 2024 on the website of The Sydney Review of Books. https://sydneyreviewofbooks.com/essay/the-frank-moorhouse-reading-room
[In Press] A qualitative exploration of nursing and social work university students' experiences of sexual and reproductive health and rights education in Australia and Hong Kong
No full textNursing and social work professionals often exhibit avoidance or a lack of competence in delivering sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) care to service users. When such care is provided, it tends to be heteronormative and deficit focus. Thus, understanding how university education prepares professionals in the field is essential. This study is the first to qualitatively explore SRHR attitudes, learning experiences and educational needs of nursing and social work students in Australia and Hong Kong. Using focus groups, insights were gathered from 19 nursing and 21 social work students across two Australian and three Hong Kong universities. Thematic analysis of the data revealed that, despite regional and disciplinary differences, students’ SRHR educational needs in both regions and disciplines were not being adequately met. This negatively influenced their practical training and the quality of care provided. The study highlights the need to enhance SRHR knowledge and skills in nursing and social work curricula, thereby improving person-centred care. Recommended curriculum enhancements include promoting diversity and inclusivity, adopting a positive framing of sexuality, enhancing critical self-reflection and communication skills, fostering interprofessional learning, developing educators and mentors as role models, and creating safe and inclusive classroom and placement environments
Microbial competition for phosphorus limits the CO2 response of a mature forest
No full textThe capacity for terrestrial ecosystems to sequester additional carbon (C) with rising CO2 concentrations depends on soil nutrient availability(1,2). Previous evidence suggested that mature forests growing on phosphorus (P)-deprived soils had limited capacity to sequester extra biomass under elevated CO2 (refs. (3-6)), but uncertainty about ecosystem P cycling and its CO2 response represents a crucial bottleneck for mechanistic prediction of the land C sink under climate change(7). Here, by compiling the first comprehensive P budget for a P-limited mature forest exposed to elevated CO2, we show a high likelihood that P captured by soil microorganisms constrains ecosystem P recycling and availability for plant uptake. Trees used P efficiently, but microbial pre-emption of mineralized soil P seemed to limit the capacity of trees for increased P uptake and assimilation under elevated CO2 and, therefore, their capacity to sequester extra C. Plant strategies to stimulate microbial P cycling and plant P uptake, such as increasing rhizosphere C release to soil, will probably be necessary for P-limited forests to increase C capture into new biomass. Our results identify the key mechanisms by which P availability limits CO2 fertilization of tree growth and will guide the development of Earth system models to predict future long-term C storage
Elevated atmospheric CO2 and silicon antagonistically regulate anti-herbivore phytohormone and defence gene expression levels in wheat
No full textSilicon (Si) accumulation by grasses is a key mechanism for alleviating biotic and abiotic stresses, including insect herbivory. In addition to conferring physical resistance, tissue silicification may enhance anti-herbivore phytohormone production, such as the jasmonic and salicylic (JA and SA) acid pathways, and downstream regulation of defence genes, although this is poorly understood. Elevated atmospheric carbon dioxide (eCO2) concentrations predicted by climate models are reported to reduce Si accumulation in several plant taxa and may therefore compromise Si-augmented resistance. We investigated how Si enrichment and eCO2 regulate the JA and SA pathways and expression of defence genes in wheat (Triticum aestivum) challenged by a global insect pest (Helicoverpa armigera). Si treatments increased JA production and expression of β-1,3-ENDOGLUCANASE (GNS), and MITOGEN-ACTIVATED PROTEIN KINASE (MAPK; WCK-1) defence genes, while suppressing SA production, resulting in reduced feeding and growth of H. armigera. In contrast, under eCO2 conditions, Si accumulation was reduced, GNS downregulated, but SA production was upregulated. Despite compromised plant defences, H. armigera growth rates were reduced under eCO2. We conclude that eCO2 and Si supplementation contrastingly regulate anti-herbivore defences in wheat; these important drivers operate independently and may influence future patterns of pest resistance in wheat under projected rises in atmospheric CO2
Indigenous governance, ethics and data collection in Australian clinical registries
No full textObjectives: To examine Indigenous Governance of Data processes in Australian clinical registries. Design, setting, participants: Audit (via desktop review and interviews) of registries in the Australian Register of Clinical Registries from 17 January 2022 to 30 April 2023. Main outcome measures: The number of clinical registries collecting ethnicity data, reporting Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander representation on registry governance or steering committees, and reporting human research ethics committee approval. Results: A total of 107 clinical registries were reviewed. Of these registries, 65 (61%) collected ethnicity data; when these were grouped by geographical coverage, those most likely to collect ethnicity data were binational (24/40 [60%]), national (19/26 [73%]) or state based (19/26 [73%]). Of the registries that collected ethnicity data, 29 (45%) classified their ethnicity item as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander. Only eight clinical registries (7%) reported Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander representation on their governance or steering committees. Human research ethics approval was reported in 94 registries (88%), with only 11 (12%) having Aboriginal human research ethics committee approval. Conclusion: Significant variability is evident in clinical registry recording of Indigenous governance of data, meaning that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities remain invisible in data which is used to inform policy, clinical models of care, health services and initiatives. Radical change is required to facilitate meaningful change in quality indicators for clinical registries nationally
Twelve tips for strengthening global equity in health professions education publication
No full textDespite recent calls to engage in scholarship with attention to anti-racism, equity, and social justice at a global level in Health Professions Education (HPE), the field has made few significant advances in incorporating the views of the so-called “Other” in understanding the nature, origin, and scope of knowledge as well as the epistemic justification of knowledge production. Editors, authors, and reviewers must take responsibility for questioning existing systems and structures, specifically about how they diffuse the knowledge of a few and silence the knowledge of many. This article presents 12 recommendations proposed by The Global South Counterspace Authors Collective (GSCAC), a group of HPE professionals, representing countries in the Global South, to help the Global North enact practical changes to become more inclusive and engage in authentic and representative work in HPE publishing. This list is not all-encompassing but a first step to begin rectifying non-inclusive structures in our field
Submission in Relation to the Criminal Code Amendment (Genocide, Crimes Against Humanity and War Crimes) Bill 2024
No full textWe write this submission in our capacity as law academics with expertise in public international law, including international criminal law (Dr Souheir Edelbi) and international human rights law (Dr Sara Dehm). We write in strong support of the Criminal Code Amendment (Genocide, Crimes Against Humanity and War Crimes) Bill 2024 (the Bill). The Bill will ensure Australian federal legislation concerning the prosecution of serious crimes of international law (namely, the crime of genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes) is consistent with Australia’s obligations under international law to end impunity for acts of mass atrocities
Impact of the ActTeens Program on physical activity and fitness in adolescents : a cluster randomized controlled trial
No full textBackground: The aim of our study was to evaluate the impact of the ActTeens Program on physical activity and health-related physical fitness among adolescents in Brazil. Methods: The “ActTeens Program” was conducted using a cluster-randomized controlled trial during 24-week school term. The sample consisted of 317 adolescents (52.7% girls; 13.61 ± 0.70 years) from four secondary schools that were randomly assigned to intervention group (N = 169) or control group (N = 148). This school-based physical activity (PA) intervention involved two components: (i) structured physical activity sessions delivered within physical education (PE) and (ii) healthy lifestyle guidance (mHealth). The primary outcome was PA assessed using Physical Activity Questionnaire for Adolescents (PAQ-A); secondary outcomes included muscular (MF) and cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) assessed using 90-push-up, handgrip dynamometer, standing long jump, and 20 m PACER shuttle run test. Assessments were conducted at baseline, 12- and 24-week. Intervention effects were assessed using linear mixed models (LMM). Results: For the primary outcome (PA), no significant group-by-time effects were observed for physical education based-PA (0.3 score; 95%CI: -0.1; 0.6; and − 0.01 score; 95%CI: -0.03; 0.03, at 12-wk and 24-wk respectively) and total PA (-0.02 score; 95%CI: -0.2; 0.2; and − 0.01score; 95%CI: -0.2; 0.2, at 12 and 24 weeks respectively). After 24 weeks, we observed a significant group by time effects for lower body muscular fitness (12.9 cm; 95%CI, 3.2 to 22.2). Conclusion: The implementation of aerobic and muscle-strengthening exercises used in the ActTeens intervention did not lead to improvements in physical activity. The intervention resulted in improved lower body muscular fitness, however, we found no significant differences for upper body muscular and cardiorespiratory fitness
Review of the Australian nurse teacher professional practice standards : an e-Delphi study
No full textAim: The aim of the study was to review the 2010 Australian nurse teacher professional practice standards (‘the Standards’) to see if they were still relevant to current nursing educator practice in any practice setting, such as academia or clinical settings. Background: It has been over 10 years since ‘the Standards have been reviewed. Nurse education practice has met many challenges in the past decade, so it is timely to evaluate whether the Standards are still relevant to nursing educators today. Design: A modified Delphi technique was used for this study. Methods: Delphi surveys were used to obtain consensus on the relevance of the Standards’ statements to any nursing educator. Links to two electronic surveys were sent to an expert panel of nursing educator leaders. Also, two online focus groups of nursing educators from any practice setting or level of experience were held. Results from the first survey and focus groups led to word changes and additional statements, which were included in the second Delphi survey. Results: Forty participants responded to the first survey and 38 to the second. Fifteen nursing educators attended the focus groups. There was ≥85 % agreement on all statements in the first survey. with similar high agreement responses in the second survey. Changes in the Standards included language used around culture, inclusion of ‘sustainability of the program’ and ‘demonstrates knowledge and expertise in teaching and educational practice’. Conclusions: The Australian nurse teacher professional practice standards remain highly relevant to nursing educators across all practice settings. In response to feedback from nursing educators some changes to language and additional standard statements were included in the revised standards
Potholes and patches : lessons learned from the transition of two professional programs to online learning
No full textThis paper reports on students’ perceptions of two different modes of delivery: synchronous online learning and face-to-face learning. The study examines the perspectives of both medical and law students and the factors influencing their preferred mode of delivery. Data were obtained from 11 focus group interviews conducted between 2020 and 2021 with 29 students from the Schools of Law and Medicine. Two themes were generated from the analysis and indicate that both groups of students preferred the flexible blended learning mode of delivery, appreciating the advantages of face-to-face and online learning. Although learning experiences between the empirical discipline of medicine and the more rationalist study of law showed contrasts, to some degree, both groups of students endorsed changes to programs that afforded greater flexibility in learning opportunities. Various factors, including the nature of the discipline, required skills sets, and individual preferences, were found to influence the students’ preferred mode of delivery. This study contributes to the understanding of students’ perceptions and preferences, providing insights for educational institutions in designing effective instructional strategies in a rapidly evolving educational landscape