Western Sydney University

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    Yarning about Cultural Protoco

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    A quick yarn by Madison Shakespeare about cultural protocol

    Cost-effectiveness of diagnosis and treatment of early gestational diabetes mellitus : economic evaluation of the TOBOGM study : an international multicenter randomzied controlled trial

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    Background: A recently undertaken multicenter randomized controlled trial (RCT) “Treatment Of BOoking Gestational diabetes Mellitus” (TOBOGM: 2017–2022) found that the diagnosis and treatment of pregnant women with early gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) improved pregnancy outcomes. Based on data from the trial, this study aimed to assess the cost-effectiveness of diagnosis and treatment of early GDM (from <20 weeks') among women with risk factors for hyperglycemia in pregnancy compared with usual care (no treatment until 24–28 weeks’) from a healthcare perspective. Methods: Participants’ healthcare resource utilization data were collected from their self-reported questionnaires and hospital records, and valued using the unit costs obtained from standard Australian national sources. Costs were reported in US dollars ()usingthepurchasingpowerparity(PPP)estimatestofacilitatecomparisonofcostsacrosscountries.Intentiontotreat(ITT)principlewasfollowed.Missingcostdatawerereplacedusingmultipleimputations.Bootstrappingmethodwasusedtoestimatetheuncertaintyaroundmeancostdifferenceandcosteffectivenessresults.Bootstrappedcosteffectpairswereusedtoplotthecosteffectiveness(CE)planeandcosteffectivenessacceptabilitycurve(CEAC).Findings:DiagnosisandtreatmentofearlyGDMwasmoreeffectiveandtendedtobelesscostly,i.e.,dominant(costsaving)[5.6) using the purchasing power parity (PPP) estimates to facilitate comparison of costs across countries. Intention-to-treat (ITT) principle was followed. Missing cost data were replaced using multiple imputations. Bootstrapping method was used to estimate the uncertainty around mean cost difference and cost-effectiveness results. Bootstrapped cost–effect pairs were used to plot the cost-effectiveness (CE) plane and cost-effectiveness acceptability curve (CEAC). Findings: Diagnosis and treatment of early GDM was more effective and tended to be less costly, i.e., dominant (cost-saving) [−5.6% composite adverse pregnancy outcome (95% CI: −10.1%, −1.2%), −1373 (95% CI: −3,749,3,749, 642)] compared with usual care. Our findings were confirmed by both the CE plane (88% of the bootstrapped cost–effect pairs fall in the south-west quadrant), and CEAC (the probability of the intervention being cost-effective ranged from 84% at a willingness-to-pay (WTP) threshold value of 10,0009910,000–99% at a WTP threshold value of 100,000 per composite adverse pregnancy outcome prevented). Sub-group analyses demonstrated that diagnosis and treatment of early GDM among women in the higher glycemic range (fasting blood glucose 95–109 mg/dl [5.3–6.0 mmol/L], 1-h blood glucose ≥191 mg/dl [10.6 mmol/L] and/or 2-h blood glucose 162–199 mg/dl [9.0–11.0 mmol/L]) was more effective and less costly (dominant) [−7.8% composite adverse pregnancy outcome (95% CI: −14.6%, −0.9%), −2795(952795 (95% CI: −6,638, −533)];theinterventionwasmoreeffectiveandtendedtobelesscostly[8.9533)]; the intervention was more effective and tended to be less costly [−8.9% composite adverse pregnancy outcome (95% CI: −15.1%, −2.6%), −5548 (95% CI: −16,740,16,740, 1547)] among women diagnosed before 14 weeks’ gestation as well. Interpretation: Our findings highlight the potential health and economic benefits from the diagnosis and treatment of early GDM among women with risk factors for hyperglycemia in pregnancy and supports its implementation. Long-term follow-up studies are recommended as a key future area of research to assess the potential long-term health benefits and economic consequences of the intervention. Funding: National Health and Medical Research Council (grants 1104231 and 2009326), Region O¨rebro Research Committee (grants Dnr OLL-970566 and OLL-942177), Medical Scientific Fund of the Mayor of Vienna (project 15,205 and project 23,026), South Western Sydney Local Health District Academic Unit (grant 2016), and Western Sydney University Ainsworth Trust Grant (2019)

    Numerical simulation of steel-concrete composite beams and slabs at elevated temperatures

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    Steel-concrete composite beams with shear studs providing composite action between the concrete slabs and steel beams are widely used in modern steel-framed building construction. Three-dimensional finite element modelling has been a viable option for investigating the fire behaviour of composite beams. Although many finite element models are available in the open literature, most of them are simplified models verified by limited test data. Meanwhile, early test data often did not have all the required information for finite element simulation, and some assumptions need to be made. But more detailed test data are now available in the open literature for steel- concrete composite beams, which can be used to develop a generalised finite element model. In addition, National Institute of Standards and Technology has proposed new stress-strain models for steels at elevated temperatures, which can be compared with the more widely adopted Eurocode 4 steel material models in simulating composite beams. Accordingly, this paper selected 22 specimens, including two reinforced concrete slabs, 12 composite beams with reinforced concrete slabs, two composite slabs with profiled steel sheeting, two steel- concrete composite push test specimens with profiled steel sheeting, and four composite beams with profiled steel sheeting, from nine references to verify the developed finite element model. The proposed finite element model can capture different failure modes of composite beams, such as steel yielding/local buckling, concrete cracking/crushing, debonding of profiled steel sheeting, and stud fracture, which is crucial to comprehend the composite beam behaviour at elevated temperatures

    A review of event-based conceptual rainfall-runoff models : a case for Australia

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    Event-based models focus on modelling of peak runoff from rainfall data. Conceptual models indicate simplified models that provide reasonably accurate answers despite their crude nature. Rainfall-runoff models are used to transform a rainfall event into a runoff event. This paper focuses on reviewing computational simulation of rainfall-runoff processes over a catchment. Lumped conceptual, event-based rainfall-runoff models have remained the dominant practice for design flood estimation in Australia for many years due to their simplicity, flexibility, and accuracy under certain conditions. Attempts to establish regionalization methods for prediction of design flood hydrographs in ungauged catchments have seen little success. Therefore, as well as reviewing key rainfall-runoff model components for design flood estimation with a special focus on event-based conceptual models, this paper covers the aspects of regionalization to promote their applications to ungauged catchments

    [In Press] Navigating multiple and complex systems of care and support with ageing family carers from multicultural backgrounds in Australia

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    Ageing family caregivers of family members with disability must navigate complex social care systems within a single household for long-term and end-of-life transitions. This is particularly challenging for migrants from culturally and racially marginalised (caRM) backgrounds, given their historical exclusion from developing disability and aged care support systems. Limited research exists on the lived experiences of new and second-generation caRM communities providing informal care to family members with disabilities, globally and in Australia. This paper highlights the challenges faced by caRM families navigating racial, ethnic, and immigration politics while seeking access to appropriate disability and ageing social care supports. The findings reveal that Many caRM families face isolation and difficulty accessing needed support due to misconceptions about their strong local networks. Moreover, the significance of place, especially in low-resource urban areas, poses challenges for ageing family primary caregivers managing a dual long-term care arrangement, leading to uncertainties about their future

    Staying Grounded: For Bass Trombone and Piano

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    Staying Grounded, for bass trombone and piano, by Diana Blom, was originally written for tenor trombone and piano. The piece is a tribute to the Bee Gees and to the sounds of the trombone itself. With advice from Adrian Sherriff, the work has been transformed for bass trombone and piano. Adrian Sherriff (bass trombone) and Kevin Tamanini (piano) gave the first performance in April 2024

    Distinctive expression and cellular localisation of zinc homeostasis-related proteins in breast and prostate cancer cells

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    Background: Zinc transport proteins (ZIP and ZnT), metallothioneins (MT) and protein kinase CK2 are involved in dysregulation of zinc homeostasis in breast and prostate cancer cells. Following up our previous research, we targeted ZIP12, ZnT1, MT2A and CK2 in this study by investigating their expression levels and protein localisation. Methods: Quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and immunofluorescence confocal microscopy were employed to quantify the expression of ZIP12, ZnT1, MT2A and CK2 subunits in a panel of breast and prostate cell lines without or with extracellular zinc exposure. The cellular localisations of these target proteins were also examined by immunofluorescence confocal microscopy. Results: In response to the extracellular zinc exposure, the gene expression was elevated for SLC39A12 (ZIP12), SLC30A1 (ZnT1) and MT2A (MT2A) in normal prostate epithelial cells (RWPE-1) in contrast to their cancerous counterparts (PC3 and DU145), whilst the gene expression was higher for SLC39A12 (ZIP12) and SLC30A1 (ZnT1) in both normal (MCF10A) and basal breast cancer cells (MDA-MB-231) compared to luminal breast cancer cells (MCF-7). At the protein level, the expression for both ZIP12 and ZnT1 was trending lower in the time course for the breast cancer cells whilst their expression was remained constant in the normal breast epithelial cells. The expression of ZIP12 in prostate cancer cells was higher than the normal prostate cells. The protein expression for CK2 α/αꞌ and CK2β was markedly higher in prostate cancer cells than the normal prostate cells. Upon extracellular zinc exposure, ZIP12 was, for the first time, conspicuously localised in the plasma membrane of breast cancer cells but not in normal breast epithelial cells and prostate cells. ZnT1 is only localised in the plasma membrane of breast cancer cells. MT2A is distinctively seen close to the plasma membrane in breast cancer cells. CK2 is also for the first time shown to be localised in proximity to the plasma membrane of breast cancer cells. Conclusion: The findings, particularly the localisation of ZIP12 and CK2, are novel and significant for our understanding of zinc homeostasis in breast and prostate cancer cells

    Analysis of Linked Longitudinal Administrative Data on Child Protection Involvement for NSW Families with Domestic and Family Violence, Alcohol and Other Drug Issues and Mental Health Issues

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    Families with complex needs that include domestic and family violence (DFV), alcohol and other drug (AOD) issues and mental health (MH) issues, have been identified as a national priority in Safe and Supported: The National Framework for Protecting Australia’s Children 2021–2031 (Department of Social Services [DSS], 2021). These complex needs are considered key parental behavioural risk factors to children’s safety (Heward-Belle et al., 2020). What is less well understood is the degree to which these factors intersect and interact with each other within child protection and out-of-home care (Humphreys et al., 2018). Approaches to addressing DFV, AOD issues and MH issues have historically been siloed and adult-focused, with efforts shifting only recently towards examination of intersections in the context of child protection (Holly & Horvath, 2012). Moreover, our understanding of the prevalence and service needs of Australian families facing multiple risk factors and child protection involvement has been limited by a lack of studies examining comprehensive, population-level data (Wright et al., 2021). Linked administrative data provides a critical opportunity to build a broader understanding of the needs of these families and the services required to support them

    [In Press] Consumer purchase intention for extrinsic and intrinsic cues of construction and demolition waste recycled products

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    Purpose: The preferences and adoption of recycled materials by consumers are subject to a variety of factors, such as enablers and barriers. Despite this, there exists a paucity of research concerning stakeholders' perceived value and real purchase decision towards recycled products. Consequently, this research study aims to fill this gap by investigating stakeholders' perceived value of recycled products derived from construction and demolition (C&D) waste and its effect on purchase decisions. Design/methodology/approach: Research data were collected from 219 valid questionnaires completed by Chinese stakeholders. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was then employed to test eight hypotheses. Findings: The results show intrinsic cue (materials) and extrinsic cue (brand) influence the stakeholders’ judgment on C&D waste recycled products’ value and then their purchase intention. However, cues such as quality, word-of-mouth, price, policy and advertised have not play a significant role in practice. Originality/value: This research study verified the significance of brand and material cues on decision making for purchasing C&D waste recycled products, providing new insights to policy making to enhance the uptake of C&D waste recycled products in construction industry

    Educational escape rooms for healthcare students : a systematic review

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    Objectives: To synthesize evidence on the implementation and evaluation of educational escape rooms for healthcare students. Design: A systematic review. Data sources: A search of seven databases including PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, Cochrane, EMBASE, CINAHL, and Education Resources Information Center was conducted for published studies from inception to January 2023. The selected articles were assessed by two independent researchers for meeting the inclusion criteria and methodological quality. The data was narratively synthesised. Results: Fifty-two studies were included in the review. Escape rooms were employed as learning and assessment strategies for the delivery of diverse topics within dentistry, medical, nursing, pharmacy and physiotherapy pre-registration healthcare education. Most were conducted on nursing students with learning topics focusing on the development of knowledge related to patient care management. Virtual escape rooms became more prevalent following the COVID-19 pandemic. The specific design features of escape rooms were based on the elements of game-based learning including team learning with appropriate size, time limit and sequential path-design of puzzles. Applying the experiential learning approach, the facilitators played a pivotal role in pre-briefing, facilitating the gameplay, and debriefing. Escape rooms were evaluated to be enjoyable and have an impact on students' cognitive, psychomotor, non-technical and affective skills learning outcomes. However, the learning outcomes compared with conventional learning strategies were inconclusive due to lack of randomised controlled trials. Conclusion: Escape rooms are increasingly being used as experiential and game-based learning in healthcare education. It will continue to evolve with virtual technology advancement and is a promising tool to provide virtual team training within interprofessional education for the development of teamwork and communication skills. While more rigorous research using a randomised controlled trial design is needed to evaluate the effectiveness of escape rooms and their design features, qualitative studies, particularly on the perspective of facilitators are needed to unravel the learning process

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