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[In Press] Translational research in punishment learning
No full textPunishment learning is learning of the causal relationship between responses and their adverse or undesirable consequences. Here, we review our translational approach for understanding whether, when, and how individuals differ in what they learn during punishment, and how these differences in learning may drive persistent poor or maladaptive decisions. We show that individual differences in punishment insensitivity can emerge from differences between individuals in what they learn about punishment (instrumental contingency knowledge), rather than differences in aversive valuation, reward valuation, general (impulsivity), or specific (habit) behavioral control. These differences in instrumental contingency knowledge are shared with and can be studied in other animals. Our approach has strong construct and predictive validity, providing a robust translational platform for studying how punishment learning and decision making may contribute to neuropsychiatric disorders
Ubuntu in gerontological social work : a community-led care model
No full textThe ubuntu principles of societal responsibility emphasise the communal expectation and moral obligation of society to care for each other to achieve communal prosperity. These expectations have implications for framing social work practice with older people. The value of Ubuntu in social work is evident. However, there is limited theorisation, exploration and application of Ubuntu in social work with vulnerable groups, particularly older people. This chapter draws on existing literature and lived experiences of 29 older people in Uganda to explore how Ubuntu relates to the care for older people in Uganda. They debate the ideologies that have suppressed Ubuntu and highlight the ways in which Ubuntu continues to prevail. This chapter contributes to the decolonising of African scholarship by developing an Ubuntu-driven and community-led model for supporting older people derived from the voices of older people in Uganda. We conclude the chapter with an examination of the role of social workers in sustaining Ubuntu in gerontological social work
Patients' recommendations to improve help-seeking for vaginismus : a qualitative study
No full textBackground: Research to improve healthcare experiences for women with vaginismus tends to be produced from the perspective of healthcare professionals or health-based researchers. There is lacking research on women’s experiences and recommendations to improve help-seeking for vaginismus from their perspective. To address this research gap, this qualitative study aimed to identify the issues that women face when help-seeking for vaginismus and their recommendations to address it. This sought to support the wellbeing of patients to advocate for their healthcare needs which is often overlooked. Methods: Using a feminist theoretical approach, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 21 participants who sought help for their vaginismus. Thematic analysis was employed to analyse participants’ recommendations. Results: Four main themes emerged: Increase awareness of vaginismus, Dismantle myths about sex, Destigmatise vaginismus, and Empower people with vaginismus during medical consultations. Subthemes were identified as actionable strategies that participants recommended to improve help-seeking and healthcare for vaginismus. Conclusions: The findings from this study can inform healthcare practice and policy to foster better synchronicity between health professionals and their patients’ perceptions and expectations of treating vaginismus. This can promote more acceptance of patients’ advocacy of their needs and goals to improve the therapeutic alliance and treatment outcomes for vaginismus in healthcare practice. The strategies recommended to increase awareness of vaginismus and challenge its stigma should be considered in policy to incite a culture of change in healthcare practice and broader society
A bicomponent synergistic MoxW1−xS2/aluminum nitride vdW heterojunction for enhanced photocatalytic hydrogen evolution : a first principles study
No full textThe coupling of two-dimensional van der Waals heterojunctions is an effective way to achieve photocatalytic hydrogen production. This paper designs the MoxW1−xS2/AlN (x = 0, 0.25, 0.5, 0.75, 1) van der Waals heterojunction as a possible photocatalytic material. By using first-principles calculations, the effects of different Mo/W ratios on the band gap and photocatalytic hydrogen production performance of heterojunctions were investigated. The results show that the heterojunction is a direct Z-scheme photocatalyst and can achieve overall water splitting. By calculating the absorption spectrum, it is found that the heterojunction has a wider visible light absorption range when the bimetal is added, and there is still a strong absorption peak at 615 nm. With the increase of the Mo atom ratio, the absorption spectrum is red-shifted. The Gibbs free energy of the two-component Mo0.5W0.5S2/AlN heterojunction is only −0.028 eV. Our work provides a new perspective for the modification of 2D transition metal dichalcogenide photocatalytic heterojunctions
[In Press] Sequence- and structure-dependent cytotoxicity of phosphorothioate and 2¢-O-methyl modified single-stranded oligonucleotides
No full textSingle-stranded oligonucleotides (SSOs) are a rapidly expanding class of therapeutics that comprises antisense oligonucleotides, microRNAs, and aptamers, with ten clinically approved molecules. Chemical modifications such as the phosphorothioate backbone and the 2′-O-methyl ribose can improve the stability and pharmacokinetic properties of therapeutic SSOs, but they can also lead to toxicity in vitro and in vivo through nonspecific interactions with cellular proteins, gene expression changes, disturbed RNA processing, and changes in nuclear structures and protein distribution. In this study, we screened a mini library of 277 phosphorothioate and 2′-O-methyl-modified SSOs, with or without mRNA complementarity, for cytotoxic properties in two cancer cell lines. Using circular dichroism, nucleic magnetic resonance, and molecular dynamics simulations, we show that phosphorothioate- and 2′-O-methyl-modified SSOs that form stable hairpin structures through Watson-Crick base pairing are more likely to be cytotoxic than those that exist in an extended conformation. In addition, moderate and highly cytotoxic SSOs in our dataset have a higher mean purine composition than pyrimidine. Overall, our study demonstrates a structure-cytotoxicity relationship and indicates that the formation of stable hairpins should be a consideration when designing SSOs toward optimal therapeutic profiles
[In Press] Doesn't matter if you stopped me, I've still got to chase my dream : Tibetan youth in NSW navigate racism and intergenerational differences
No full textRacism and discrimination, family disjuncture and differential experiences depending on migration experiences influence resettlement in new environments and sense of belonging. This article focuses on a little-known group in Australia – Tibetan youth. This article centres the voices of Tibetan refugee youth in the state of New South Wales seeking to understand, from their frame of reference, how they establish networks and social relations in the context of racism and intergenerational differences. ‘Refugee youth’ can imply homogenised experiences, yet intersections such as ethnicity, culture, religion, gender and more shape diverse experiences. This article also shows the importance of responsive not-for-profit organisations in filling the welcome gap that is not apparent in the wider society
Private art museums and their local creative communities : a case study of Mona
No full textThis case study is concerned with the arrival and impact of private art museum Mona in Tasmania, examining how the local creative community perceives its impact and how it influences the broader cultural landscape. The museum represents a larger trend where affluent individuals establish prestigious private museums with significant global reach. This study has found Mona to be a highly personal endeavour, providing influential networks in support of the owner's personal and business objectives. It highlights the perception that the museum has had a transformative impact on Tasmania, particularly in adding a sophisticated dimension to the state's cultural visage and a new vibrancy that is thought to resonate strongly with tourists. Previous scholarship has shown that private museums operate in a different context and play by different rules to their public counterparts and this study has shown this to be true in identifying problems with how to govern Mona and the local creative scene trying to negotiate a place within this changing context. Mona has brought credibility to the arts, but set high expectations for the local arts scene, creating entry barriers for young artists and challenging arts institutions with more limited resources
Shhh!
No full textNo way is Tina having children. Her mum and grandma were taken away with postnatal depression. Then, she gets pregnant.
One woman’s plunge into motherhood, cabbage-pads and a tango with her inner critic. Based on the true stories of 4 generations of women, 'Shhh!' is a mix of physical theatre, storytelling & live music with a stellar international cast
Struggles and joys : a mixed methods study of the artefacts and reflections in medical student portfolios
No full textIntroduction: Portfolios scaffold refection on experience so students can plan their learning. To elicit refection, the learning experiences documented in portfolios must be meaningful. To understand what experiences frst-and second-year medical students fnd meaningful, we studied the patterns in the artefacts chosen for portfolios and their associated written refections. Methods: This explanatory mixed methods study of a longitudinal dataset of 835 artefacts from 37 medical student’ portfolios, identifed patterns in artefact types over time. Mixed model logistic regression analysis identifed time, student and curriculum factors associated with inclusion of the most common types of artefacts. Thematic analysis of participants’ refections about their artefacts provided insight into their choices. Interpretation of the integrated fndings was informed by Transformative Learning (TL) theory. Results: Artefact choices changed over time, infuenced by curriculum changes and personal factors. In frst year, the most common types of artefacts were Problem Based Learning mechanism diagrams and group photos representing classwork; in second year written assignments and ‘selfes’ representing social and clinical activities. Themes in the written refections were Landmarks and Progress, Struggles and Strategies, Connection and Collaboration, and Joyful Memories for Balance. Coursework artefacts and photographic self-portraits represented all levels of transformative learning from across the curriculum. Conclusions: Medical students chose artefacts to represent challenging and/or landmark experiences, balanced by experiences that were joyful or fostered peer connection. Novelty infuenced choice. To maximise learning students should draw from all experiences, to promote supported refection with an advisor. Tasks should be timed to coincide with the introduction of new challenges
[In Press] Synchronization in coupled neural networks with hybrid delayed impulses : average impulsive delay-gain method
No full textIn this article, we propose a new concept called average impulsive delay-gain (AIDG) for studying the synchronization of coupled neural networks (CNNs). Based on the viewpoints of impulsive control and impulsive perturbation, we establish some globally exponential synchronization criteria for CNNs. Our methods are well-suited for addressing the synchronization problems of systems subject to hybrid delayed impulses with time-varying impulsive delay and gain. Moreover, we prove that the AIDG has both positive and negative effects on synchronization. Compared to existing research, our conclusions are more applicable and less conservative as the considered hybrid delayed impulses involve more flexible cases. Finally, we validate the effectiveness of our proposed results by applying them to small-world and scale-free network models