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How turtles keep their cool: Seasonal and diel basking patterns in a tropical turtle
No full textBehavioural thermoregulation by ectotherms is an important mechanism for maintaining body temperatures to optimise physiological performance. Experimental studies suggest that nocturnal basking by Krefft’s river turtles (Emydura macquarii krefftii) in the tropics may allow them to avoid high water temperatures, however, this hypothesis has yet to be tested in the field. In this study, we examined the influence of environmental temperature on seasonal and diel patterns of basking in E. m. krefftii in tropical north Queensland, Australia. Wildlife cameras were used to document turtle basking events for seven consecutive days and nights for each month over a year (April 2020–March 2021). Air and water temperatures were recorded simultaneously using temperature loggers. We used a negative binomial mixed effects model to compare mean basking durations (min) occurring among four environmental temperature categories based on population thermal preference (26 ◦C): 1) air temperature above and water temperature below preferred temperature; 2) air temperature below and water temperature above preferred temperature; 3) air and water temperatures both above preferred temperature; and 4) air and water temperatures both below preferred temperature. Basking behaviour was influenced significantly by the relationship between air and water temperature. During the day, turtles spent significantly less time basking when both air and water temperatures were above their preferred temperatures. Conversely, at night, turtles spent significantly more time basking when water temperatures were warm and air temperatures were cool relative to their preferred temperature. This study adds to the growing body of work indicating pronounced heat avoidance as a thermoregulatory strategy among tropical reptile populations
Involvement and practice of community phrmacists in maternal and child health services: A systematic review.
No full textIntroduction: Community pharmacists are pivotal in the provision of Maternal and Child Health (MCH) services, yet level of involvement, practice and barriers and facilitators in providing these services is largely unknown. Objective: The objective of this review is to summarize available evidence on the involvement and practice of community pharmacists in MCH services. Methods: Seven electronic databases (PubMed, CINAHL, ProQuest Health, Cochrane library, Scopus, Embase, and Web of Science) were searched for articles published in English since inception of the database to November 30, 2019. Papers were included if they assessed involvement and practices of community pharmacists in maternal and child health services. Full articles identified and included for the final analysis were assessed for quality using the Mixed Method Appraisal Tool (MMAT) (2018) by all authors and data were extracted by one author and cross-checked by all authors. Result: A total of 2830 articles were identified. Following the assessment against the inclusion criteria, 14 full text articles were included for the final analysis. In eight studies, community pharmacists were reported to have involvement in maternal health services, in terms of providing breastfeeding guidance, counselling about the benefit of vitamins during pregnancy, provision of emergency contraception advice, and responding to illness symptoms such as back pain. In three studies, community pharmacists were providing advice in managing acute diarrhea in children. Medication use services and counselling about medication for children were also reported in three studies. Perceived consumer attitudes, problem with insurance coverage, lack of time among pharmacists and lack of incentives for the services provided were reported by pharmacists as the main barriers to service provision. Conclusion: Community pharmacists were involved in various MCH services in community pharmacy settings. However, the extent of practices was not as per the joint International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP)/World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines on good pharmacy practice in some services such as management of diarrhea
Decision-making process for breast-conserving therapy from the perspective of women with breast cancer: A grounded theory study
No full textPurpose: To explore the decision-making and coping processes of women with newly diagnosed breast cancer receiving breast-conserving therapy. Methods: The grounded theory methodology approach was employed in this study. Purposive and theoretical sampling methods were used to enroll 27 women with stage I–III breast cancer. Individual interviews were conducted using a semi-structured interview guide, and data were analyzed using open, axial, and selective coding. Results: The core category is “limitations of boundaries,” which includes three categories: feminine body boundary, emotional boundary, and knowledge boundary. Clusters, conflicts, and changeability were among the unique contextual conditions. The decision-making process became more challenging because of the differences between the levels of knowledge of physicians and patients receiving treatment information. Women’s actions and interactions included information seeking, controlling, negotiating, and accepting nondecision-making support. The consequences of decisions included redecision and reoperation, and most women did not regret receiving breast-conserving therapy. Conclusion: Even after choosing breast-conserving therapy, some women may experience changes in treatment procedures. Medical professionals should identify women’s challenges and limitations during their decisionmaking process, explain the benefits and drawbacks of different surgical modalities, address concerns about the outcome of breast-conserving surgery, and provide intellectual and emotional support for decision-making
Potential approaches to establishing harmonious river-human relationships
No full textThis paper responds to a call to address the development and building of river-human relationships in the twenty-first century. Many literatures have identified the historical instrumental exploitation of natural resources underpinning urbanisation and the economic development leading to wide-spread degradation of environments including rivers. Clearly such relationships can no longer be considered as appropriate in the twenty-first century. This paper intends to present a conceptual rethink to address the following question: Are there potential approaches by which humans can develop harmonious coexistent relationships with riverine landscapes and associated ecosystems? In answering this question, this paper draws on ideas from new materialism thinking. New materialism offers useful guidance in understanding human-river relationships in which river landscapes are not static backgrounds to the performance of the social. River systems and environments are active participants influencing and shaping social performances through multiple and diverse interconnected and complex human- human relationships and co-productive partnerships. It is concluded that new materialist perspectives provide important guidance for developing harmonious river-human relationships. De-centring the human as the dominant actor in relations with river landscapes and acknowledging rivers as key actors within river-human relationships may enhance the building of harmonious coexistent and mutually beneficial relationships in the twenty-first century. It is further concluded the Nature Futures Framework (NFF) and Human-River Encounter Sites (HRES) frameworks in their capacity to accommodate new materialist thinking provide an opportunity for further exploration and examination of the possibilities for building harmonious coexistent river-human relationships
The impact of podcast-based interventions on mental health: A systematic scoping review
No full textPodcasts are increasingly being used for mental health-related messaging. The objective of this scoping review is to understand how podcasts are being used as a platform for mental health-related interventions (‘podcast-based interventions’). Six databases were searched: CENTRAL, EMBASE, PsycINFO, Communication and Mass Media Complete, Web of Science, and ProQuest Dissertations & Theses Global. Journal articles, conference proceedings, and dissertations were eligible for inclusion. Eligible studies included an audio-only podcast-based condition with at least one quantitative mental health-related outcome, including symptoms, treatment or management of mental health issues, mental health literacy or knowledge, and mental illness stigma, prejudice or discrimination, and involved experimental and quasi-experimental designs. Databases were searched for English-language results up to August 4, 2024. Across all searches, there were 2958 records identified, with 2468 screened after removal of duplicates; 20 unique studies met inclusion criteria. Most common podcast intervention types were meditation or mindfulness exercises, comprising eight (40%) of the studies, and psychoeducational or therapeutic content, also comprising eight (40%) studies. Most podcasts were streamed or downloaded online, and interventions ranged 1-28 episodes. Studies typically involved university or general community convenience samples, and median attrition was 42% (IQR = 10-50%). Researchers most studied the impact of podcast-listening on anxiety, reported in 35% of studies, followed by depressive symptoms (30%), stress or psychological distress (25%), body image-related variables (20%), and stigma (20%). There is some evidence supporting the efficacy of podcast-based interventions on various mental health-related outcomes, including improvements in mindfulness, body image, and stigmatising attitudes. Results highlighted the breadth of experimental and quasi-experimental studies involving podcast-based interventions with mental health-related outcomes. These podcasts show promising mental health-related outcomes worthy of further study and refinement. Study generalisability was limited predominantly by self-report data, convenience samples, and high attrition rates
Loneliness and Rurality: Important Risk Factors for Young Australians' Mental Health
No full textWe are in the midst of a youth mental health crisis. Internationally, youth mental health is a recognised priority, with global prevalence of adolescent mental health disorders estimated to be 15%, and suicide recognised as the third leading cause of death for 15–29-year-olds (World Health Organisation 2024). Concerningly, in Australia, the reported rates are even higher. The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS, 2023) recently reported that in the 2020–2022 period, 38.8% of young people in Australia aged 16–24 years experienced a mental health disorder. In addition, suicide is recognised as the leading cause of death among Australians aged 15–24 years (Australian Institute of Health and Welfare 2024). These statistics are alarming and highlight the need for urgent action to improve mental health outcomes for Australian young people
Exploring genetic variation in potential indicators of resilience in sheep using fibre diameter measured along the wool staple
No full textProduction animals are increasingly exposed to a wide variety of disturbances that can compromise their productivity, health and well-being. As a result, there is a growing need to be able to select animals that are more resilient to environmental disturbances. Fibre diameter variation measured along a wool staple is expected to contain information about how resilient sheep are to the disturbances of their internal and external environment. This study aimed to develop potential resilience indicators from fibre diameter variation, estimate their genetic parameters and assess whether these traits are genetically correlated across three age stages. The study used 6 140 Merino sheep from the Sheep Cooperative Research Centre Information Nucleus Flocks recorded at yearling, 2 years old, and adult ages. Eight potential traits were defined based on theory, literature and exploratory analysis, which were suggested to capture the animal’s ability to resist, respond and recover from potential disturbances. Genetic evaluation of the traits was conducted using pedigree-based animal models. The traits were shown to be low to moderately heritable (0.01–0.33) when examined at each of the three age stages. The potential indicators were generally well correlated with one another within age stages. Further, the genetic correlation between the same trait measured at different age stages was moderate to high between yearling and 2 years old (0.35– 0.94) and between 2 years old and adults (0.18–0.70), while slightly lower between yearling and adult estimates (0.09–0.62). These results suggest that selection for resilience indicators from fibre diameter is possible; however, further studies are warranted to refine the trait definitions and validate these indicators against other measures of health, fitness and productive performance
The gift and the giving: reciprocity in international aid and development in Timor-Leste
No full textThis paper examines the transactional dynamics of participation in foreign aid and development programs by exploring links between Marcel Mauss’ characteristics of gift-giving and Marshall Sahlins’ typology of reciprocal relationships. Grounded in Mauss’ insights, a modified version of Sahlins’ Negative, Generalized and Balanced categories is applied to recipient experiences of donor activities in Timor-Leste. In this context, I look at how the ‘development gift’ positions and defines those involved, from producing uncomfortable hierarchies of power and prestige to enhancing mutual trust and respect. Analysis of interviews with ‘ordinary’ Timorese indicates that in offering, accepting and repaying the gift, significant difficulties arise from misunderstandings about the social obligations structuring the exchange. Sahlins’ Negative and, in some circumstances, Generalized forms predict a breakdown in relationships, although not necessarily in the project itself. By contrast, the Balanced form typically leads to the type of interactions recipients desire. Responding to interviewee comments, I propose a ‘charitable’ mode of the Generalized form and identify a new category, Familial reciprocity. I conclude by recommending this modified typology as a way of understanding how we might give and receive respect, a word frequently used by recipients to describe successful development relationships with outsiders. Importantly, while grounded specifically in Timorese experiences, there is scope to apply the proposed framework to any activity in which one party identifies as a donor and others are presented as beneficiaries of their ‘free’ development gifts
Changes in EEG upper-alpha band functional connectivity between cortical regions engaged in retrieval of memory for faces mediates reversible disruptions in recall during a hypnotic face-amnesia suggestion
No full textPropagation dynamics of the monostable reaction-diffusion equation with a new free boundary condition
No full textWe study the reaction diffusion equation ut − duxx = f(u) with a monostable nonlinear function f(u) over a changing interval [g(t), h(t)], viewed as a model for the spreading of a species with population range [g(t), h(t)] and density u(t, x). The free boundaries x = g(t) and x = h(t) are not governed by the same Stefan condition as in Du and Lin [20] and other previous works; instead, they satisfy a related but different set of equations obtained from a “preferred population density” assumption at the range boundary, which allows the population range to shrink. We obtain a rather complete understanding of the longtime dynamics of the model, which exhibits persistent propagation with a finite asymptotic propagation speed determined by a certain semi-wave solution, and the density function converges to the semi-wave profile as time goes to infinity. The asymptotic propagation speed is always smaller than that of the corresponding classical Cauchy problem where the reaction-diffusion equation is satisfied for x over the entire real line with no free boundary. Moreover, when the preferred population density used in the free boundary condition converges to 0, the solution u of our free boundary problem converges to the solution of the corresponding classical Cauchy problem, and the propagation speed also converges to that of the Cauchy problem