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Exploring jump experience, risk perception, anxiety and self-confidence in skydiving : a mixed methods approach
Get PDFSkydivers are required to interpret person-context characteristics to overcome inherent internal challenges (i.e., fear and anxiety) and external challenges (i.e., equipment malfunctions) to successfully perform. Research suggests that as skydiving experience increases, skydivers’ self-confidence in their actions increases, while their perception of risk and anxiety decreases. However, there is a lack of research investigating the influence of experience and considerations of performance in extreme sports. This study examined the influence of skydiving experience on the interpretation of risk perception, anxiety and self-confidence. Participants comprised 503 experienced Australian skydivers (Mage = 40.10, SDage = 12.40; 79.5 % male). Using a mixed methods approach, skydivers completed measures of risk perceptions, anxiety, and self-confidence related to skydiving, as well as open-ended questions on their skydiving experiences. The findings indicated that increases in jumping experience led to greater self-confidence, and self-confidence mediated the relationship between all elements of jumping experience and cognitive and somatic anxiety associated with skydiving. Thematic analysis reinforced that skydivers understood the inherent risks associated with skydiving, and that skydivers adopted positive strategies that promoted self-confidence and mastery to perform successfully, while also managing their interpretations of risk and associated anxiety that potentially exists. Further research is needed to better understand the interpretation of person-context situations in extreme sports and recognize the important affordances for performance. © 2024 The Author
Landscape to earthscape : practice and aesthetics in a time of environmental crisis
Get PDFThis research asks the question: ‘How can contemporary landscape art address and reflect the urgent and complex nature of the environmental crisis we face today?’. It investigates contextual, cross-disciplinary responses to this existential predicament alongside a creative practice-based inquiry. The landscape in question is goldfields bushland in Central Victoria. In this locale, conventional ideas of the rural and scenic may be displaced by a troubled awareness, engendering solastalgia. Not only is the forest successive to major industrial-extractive disturbance, but it is also subject to the climate threat evident in the 2019-20 bushfire disaster. Conceptual interrogations of ‘nature’ are reviewed, alongside artistic engagements with natural environments, from earth-art to climate art. The relational nexus between artist and landscape encompasses sub-issues, from recognizing colonial ways of seeing that reinforce anthropocentrism, to reconceptualizations of modernity’s schism between the human and the non-human. This research connects with environmentalist thought (for example in the work of scientist Matthew Colloff, anthropologist Anna Tsing and interdisciplinary theorist Donna Haraway), and examples of eco-centric art (for example in the work of William Robinson and John Wolseley). The research methodology is informed by the work of theorists including Robin Nelson and Brad Haseman, aiming for an ‘intra-connected’ approach, alongside a studio-based ‘enthusiasm of practice’. The contextual and creative practice-based inquiries operate symbiotically in the research approach; however, for clarity they are dealt with consecutively in the exegesis. Whilst environmentalist thought supports seeing landscape differently, this research aims for greater connection with a fragile living habitat. Concepts which include the idea of the Umwelt, and primal landscapes, correlate with eco-centric tenets to fold into studio practice choices. These choices focus upon organic materials and creating an ‘earthscape’ aesthetics. A key material, charcoal, operates at an indexical level, as a signifier of our carbon-obsessed planetary emergency. Generative of life, it is the colour of mourning; the final body of artworks advocates for a mindful noticing of a vulnerable bushland environment.Partial Masters by Researc
Career considerations in nurse-led traditional Chinese medicine clinics : a two-center qualitative study
Get PDFBackground: Growing demand exists for high-quality Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) care, particularly through Nurse-led TCM clinics (TCM-NLCs). Nurses with extensive experience in TCM departments represent a potential workforce for this healthcare model. This qualitative study aims to investigate the willingness of these candidates to engage in TCM-NLCs, with a specific focus on their main concerns and apprehensions when facing new challenges. Methods: Individual semi-structured face to face interviews were conducted with senior nurses from two TCM hospitals in Shanghai. Each participant had a minimum of three years of work experience in a TCM related department. Conventional qualitative content analysis was utilized. Results: Fourteen participants were interviewed and data saturation was achieved. Nurses exhibited strong interest in practicing in TCM-NLCs. They believed that such innovative TCM nursing service model not only extends nursing role, provides greater empowerment and opportunities for professional development but also meets patients’ diverse healthcare needs, reduces reliance on other healthcare providers such as doctors, and increases hospital revenue. However, challenges such as deficiencies in evidence-based TCM nursing education, the absence of standardized practice guidelines, and limited prescriptive privileges were identified as primary obstacles to engaging in TCM-NLCs practice, potentially undermining the specialization of this advanced nursing practice model. Conclusion: Although the nurses interviewed were highly motivated, they generally lacked confidence to practice independently in TCM-NLCs. A pressing priority is to address their concerns by providing appropriate resources as well as education and policy support to enhance their competency and ensure their practice autonomy, therefore building a more qualified pool of professionals for advanced TCM nursing practice. © 2024 Zhao et al. This work is published and licensed by Dove Medical Press Limiand
Pre-existing depression, anxiety and trauma as risk factors for the development of post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms following wildfires
Get PDFThe trauma of wildfires leads to one of the most challenging and treatment resistant mental health conditions-namely-post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Research addressing the contribution of pre-existing mental health conditions to the development of PTSD symptoms following traumatization by wildfires is limited. This study examined whether people with pre-existing diagnoses of anxiety, depression, PTSD, insomnia and nightmares, by a mental health professional, are more likely to develop symptoms of PTSD than those with no previous diagnosis following the trauma of wildfires. A total of 126 wildfire survivors from Australia, Canada and the United States of America completed an online survey. An independent sample t-tests revealed that pre-existing diagnosed conditions of depression, an anxiety disorder and PTSD significantly increased the likelihood of developing PTSD symptoms following traumatization by wildfires (t
A novel extended sliding-mode predictive control with dynamic optimization and virtual voltage vectors
No full textThis article proposes a novel extended sliding-mode predictive control strategy for three-phase three-level voltage source inverters. Initially, the control domain is established using sliding-mode theory, dynamically reducing the search space. Subsequently, a unique parallel optimization strategy is presented in the two-phase stationary coordinate system, with an analysis of the monotonicity of the cost functions and the constraints within the search space. Compared to traditional model predictive control, this approach results in a calculation time reduction of at least 51.3%. To mitigate output ripple, a novel design method for virtual voltage vectors (VVVs) is proposed based o
Changing inner narratives : exploring the influence of transformative learning on coercive control survivors enrolled in Clemente in several locations in Australia
Get PDFFamily violence is pervasive in our communities, nationally and internationally, with the emergence of coercive control as a distinct form of abuse that impacts the daily lives of victims-survivors. Coercive control permeates victims’-survivors’ lives through tactics including but not limited to isolation, manipulation, threats of violence and surveillance, reducing their identity, autonomy, and freedom to participate in society, including the ability to work or study. Abusers often utilise an incident of physical violence to instil fear in the victim-survivor, laying a foundation for coercive controlling behaviour that is invisible. This alters victims’-survivors’ cognitive processes in developing their inner narratives, which underpin their beliefs and value systems. The transformative learning process foundational to the Clemente Course in the Humanities enables students to deconstruct their inner narratives and then analyse and reconstruct new inner narratives. Clemente is a community-based, free tertiary-level course offered to the disadvantaged based on the belief that personal transformation can be achieved through fostering critical reflection. This research explores whether an interconnection exists between Clemente, transformative learning, and coercive control within a higher education context. Victim-survivor voices are central to this research, creating a unique opportunity to gain an understanding of their experiences of Clemente and coercive control. Ten participants aged between 18 and 65 who attended Clemente in New South Wales, Australian Capital Territory, and Victoria participated in this research. The research aims to answer three main questions: (1) Does the Clemente course contribute to transformative learning that empowers students who experience coercive control in a family violence context? (2) How do participants describe the transition from coercive control to education and employment? (3) ‘In what ways and to what extent, if any, has participation in the Clemente course empowered students to regain control over their lives and future life trajectories?’ Data for this narrative analysis was collected by (1) a participant intake form gathering demographic student characteristics; (2) a coercive control self-assessment tool that measured students’ perceptions of coercive control; (3) a coercive control measurement tool measuring students changed views on coercive control; (4) the transformative learning tool enabling students self-assessment of their transformational journey from commencing to finishing and (5) semi-structured interviews encouraging expansion of measurement of change responses. The coercive control self-assessment measurement tool was amended from the tools developed by Kelly et al. (2014). This research adds to knowledge in understanding victims’-survivors’ adjustment to life after coercive control. Victims-survivors appreciated studying the humanities within a social and intellectual community where they felt valued and heard. The humanities curriculum, coupled with the intensive Clemente support, appeared to positively contribute to critical thinking skills development, increased confidence, and an ability to exercise more control over their lives, and engage with the community. Victims-survivors who were parents reported feeling like role models for their children indicating the course assisted in more meaningful engagement with their children. It demonstrates that a rigorous educational opportunity that is not vocationally orientated can assist personal development for victims-survivors who aspire to careers not just employment for the sake of earning an income.Doctor of Philosophy, Partia
Hydrogeological trends in an alluvial valley in the Brazilian semiarid : impacts of observed climate variables change and exploitation on groundwater availability and salinity
Get PDFStudy region: Mimoso Alluvial Valley, Semiarid Brazil. Study focus: This study aims to assess the influence of climate variability and exploitation on groundwater accessibility, quantity and quality, based on a spatiotemporal data analysis from long-term monitoring field campaigns, conducted monthly from 2000 to 2019. This study successfully identified representative stable monitoring points, piezometers and wells, for piezometric and salinity levels employing the technique of relative differences, taking into account aquifer hydraulic properties. Trend analysis was then carried out adopting the Mann-Kendall Method, Sen's Slope test, Pettitt test, and the Seasonal Trend decomposition through the Loess (STL) method. Principal Component Multivariate Analysis (PCA) was also employed to validate long-term analysis of annual groundwater levels, rainfall, evapotranspiration, and pumping rates. New hydrological insights for the region: The spatial-temporal variability of salinity is closely linked to the salt balance in regions with low hydraulic permeability and groundwater use for irrigation. Groundwater salinity presented a strong link between rainfall and groundwater levels. A temporal rise in evapotranspiration alongside declines in rainfall and groundwater levels was observed, potentially exacerbating groundwater scarcity alongside intensified aquifer exploitation. Furthermore, groundwater salinity presented a decreasing trend for the pumping wells and no trends for piezometers. This could potentially disrupt future irrigation plans and cause long-term water shortages in a region already under severe water scarcity. Hence, groundwater pumping constitutes a positive management alternative for controlling groundwater salinity in the domain. © 2024 The Author
Strawberry disease detection using transfer learning of deep convolutional neural networks
No full textThe impact of disease on strawberry quality and yield holds considerable significance, prompting researchers to explore effective methodologies for disease detection in strawberries. Among these, deep learning has emerged as a pivotal approach. In this regard, this research explored the utilization of transfer learning in deep convolutional neural networks (CNNs) to identify various strawberry diseases. Specifically, we utilized models pre-trained on the ImageNet dataset, namely VGG19, Inception V3, ResNet50, and DenseNet121 architectures, employing both fine-tuning and feature extraction techniques of transfer learning and consequently compared to the models without transfer learning. The target diseases for identification included angular leaf spot, anthracnose, gray mold, and powdery mildew on both fruit and leaves. The study outcomes revealed that Resnet-50 consistently achieved the highest accuracy across all three configurations, achieving its peak accuracy at 94.4 %, followed by Densenet-121 with an accuracy of 94.1 % attained through fine-tuning. These results highlighted the superior performance of fine-tuned models over using these models solely as feature extractors for identifying strawberry diseases. Furthermore, this study revealed that the application of transfer learning substantially reduced training time and resulted in a lower count of trainable parameters than models trained without transfer learning. These outcomes strongly endorse the practicality and effectiveness of employing transfer learning techniques for precise strawberry disease identification. Additionally, further research can explore the application of transfer learning to a broader range of crops and diseases, potentially enhancing agricultural disease detection methodologies. © 2024 Elsevier B.V
The Latrobe smoking support service : a quantitative study of participants in a regional area
Get PDFBackground and Aims: More than 70% of current smokers in Australia have a definite plan to stop smoking and around half of them try to quit every year. Latrobe Community Health Service (LCHS) was commissioned by Gippsland Primary Health Network to establish Latrobe Smoking Support Service (LSSS) to break down barriers to accessing services and increase support for smoking cessation. This research aims to assess the feasibility of an ongoing smoking cessation support service and determine the effect the LSSS has on client smoking behavior. Methods: Quantitative data were collected for the LSSS situated at LCHS during the period from September 2021 to March 2022. A new client survey, a returning client survey, and a 6-week follow-up survey were conducted by Clinic staff. The consent forms were obtained from the clients. A total of 117 clients attended the LSSS at least once, and a further 315 returning client sessions were conducted. The data analysis was undertaken by means of various descriptive and inferential statistical techniques, such as multiple linear regression analysis. Results: The research findings demonstrate the strong positive effect of the LSSS in helping clients to change their smoking behavior. Results of multiple regression analysis highlight the significant role of behavioral intervention strategies in the LSSS's success. A combination of both nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) and counseling was a key contributor to the project's success. Conclusion: This research proposed and tested the model of a smoking cessation support service that combines a comprehensive mix of services for smokers including free NRT, free counseling, and ongoing support of counselors or/and nurse practitioners. © 2024 The Authors. Health Science Reports published by Wiley Periodicals LLC
Recent advances in blockchain technology: prospects, applications and constraints in the minerals industry
Get PDFOne of the most important sectors of the world economy is the mining and metals sector. Although, many operational and commercial procedures continue to be ineffective and out-of-date, which results in crucial data omissions, security flaws, and sometimes corruption. Given that the mining industry wants to increase the emphasis on ethical and open mining practices, the industry has been looking for ways to incorporate these practices. It is envisioned that such practices will contribute to the modernisation of supply chains in addition to helping to reduce risks related to sustainability and reputation. The application of blockchain technology in the minerals industry capable of tracking natural resources has been discussed in this study, giving a much-needed layer of transparency of this technology. However, there are a lot of difficulties and problems that come up when thinking about blockchain technology; if it is to advance as an industry standard, stakeholders will need to evaluate the usefulness and scalability of the technology. While blockchain technology can be applied to a wide range of areas in the minerals industry, this study shines more light on the application of this technology to conflict minerals tracking, mineral resources reporting cheating scandals, rock mechanics designs and monitoring strategy, blasting designs and operation, mine ventilation designs and applications, mining machinery maintenance and management, and mining surveying. The study reveals that blockchain technology is starting to be seriously evaluated and used by a variety of stakeholders, even though broad acceptance has not yet been attained. © 2024 The Author(s). Published by Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group