University of the Sunshine Coast
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Importance of human papillomavirus infection in squamous cell carcinomas of the tongue in Guangdong Province, China
No full textObjective: Tongue squamous cell carcinoma is one of the most common oral tumors. Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection has been proposed as a risk factor for head and neck squamous cell carcinoma, particularly oropharyngeal squamous carcinoma. Methods: In this study, we retrospectively analyzed HPV infection in 121 Chinese patients with tongue squamous cell carcinoma in Guangdong Province. Polymerase chain reaction of HPV DNA and immunohistochemistry staining of p16 protein were used to identify the presence of HPV in formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded samples. Results: HPV DNA was detected in 15.7% (n = 19) of tongue squamous cell carcinoma patients, with HPV16 being the most common type (n = 8, 42.1%). p16 staining did not correlate with detection of HPV DNA. Male sex was associated with HPV-positive tongue squamous cell carcinoma, whereas there were no significant differences in alcohol consumption, smoking, or age when tumors were stratified by HPV. Conclusion: Our study showed that HPV infection contributed to tongue squamous cell carcinoma in a small cohort of patients in Guangdong Province, China. Further investigation is needed to confirm whether HPV is a causal factor for tongue squamous cell carcinoma
Learning and Development in the Franchising Sector and Business Performance
No full textThis research creates new knowledge in the domain of franchising research within the context of Learning and Development (L&D), whilst concomitantly providing actionable insights that will be of value to the franchising sector as well as Human Resource Management (HRM) and L&D professionals. It is envisaged that the results will serve members of the franchising and HRM communities by developing an integrative framework for knowledge exchange and transfer. It is proposed that investment in L&D can and does lead to enhanced channel outcomes for the various players involved in the franchising relationship (franchisees, franchisors, customers, franchise employees, suppliers and industry and the franchise sector as a whole). However, poor participation and engagement in franchisor-initiated L&D activities is widespread in the business format franchising sector in Australia and this phenomenon has impacted franchise system performance. Qualitative empirical examination provides confirmation of this proposition and factors that influence successful L&D execution in terms of achieving enhanced channel outcomes are identified. Therefore, the aim of this thesis is to address the following research question; ‘What factors influence participation and engagement with training interventions and their subsequent ability to achieve enhanced channel outcomes?’ Initially, 20 industry experts were interviewed, with participants comprising a mix of franchisors, franchisees, training and education specialists and suppliers to the franchising sector. Franchisors were selected from a range of industries including business services, retail and home services. The interviews explored the diversity of approaches to L&D strategy and the impact it has on achieving enhanced channel outcomes. Next, a qualitative case study approach was adopted, targeting 60 participants across four franchise groups in order to explore factors that influence franchisee participation and engagement with training interventions. It was determined that for enhanced channel outcomes to occur, certain channel conditions need to be present. These conditions are presented as an integrative framework for knowledge transfer.Submitted in the fulfilment of the requirements of the degree of Doctor of Philosophy, University of the Sunshine Coast, 2020
Clinician‐led design for optimising flow: Seizing the opportunity for a new‐build Australian Emergency Department
No full textA new ED build creates a unique opportunity to improve the way we provide clinical care. Often, the focus is primarily on increasing clinical cubicle numbers but this may have a negligible, or even negative impact on care delivery. Instead, Australian EDs should examine the entire patient journey to inform design, reviewing outdated triage and registration models and maximising physical capacity by introducing advanced split‐flow models that optimise clinical space and provide high‐risk patients faster access to clinical care. Efficient ED patient flow is critical for success and is closely linked with departmental design, but too often this design process is delegated to architects with limited knowledge of ED function and with limited input from emergency clinicians. This relationship between clinicians and architects should remain collaborative but requires re‐alignment. Independent, expert ED‐specific designers can empower and provide valuable support for clinician‐led design teams in their interactions with architects
Infant care practices and parent uptake of safe sleep messages: a cross-sectional survey in Queensland, Australia
No full textBackground:
Globally, the incidence of sleep-related infant mortality declined dramatically following the first public health campaigns seen internationally in the 1990s to reduce the risks of sudden infant death. However, Australian Sudden Unexpected Death in Infancy (SUDI) rates have plateaued with little change in incidence since 2004 despite two further public health safe sleep campaigns. This study aims to describe contemporary infant care practices employed by families related to the current public health SUDI prevention program.
Methods:
A cross-sectional survey of 3341 Queensland primary caregivers with infants approximately 3-months of age was conducted using the Queensland Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages as a sampling frame. Surveys were returned either via reply-paid mail or online. Questionnaires explored prevalence of infant care practices and awareness of safe sleep recommendations. Univariable analysis was used to generate descriptive statistics for key variables.
Results:
Overall, only 13% of families routinely practised all six ‘Safe Sleeping’ program messages. More than one third (1118, 34%) of infants had slept in a non-supine sleep position at some time. Potentially hazardous sleep environments were common, with 38% of infants sleeping with soft items or bulky bedding, or on soft surfaces. Nearly half, for either day- or night-time sleeps, were routinely placed in a sleep environment that was not designed or recommended for safe infant sleep (i.e. a bouncer, pram, beanbag). Most babies (84%) were reportedly smoke free before and after birth. Sleeping in the same room as their caregiver for night-time sleeps was usual practice for 75% of babies. Half (1600, 50%) of all babies shared a sleep surface in the last two-weeks. At 8-weeks, 17% of infants were no longer receiving any breastmilk.
Conclusions:
The prevalence rates of infant care practices among this Australian population demonstrate many families continue to employ suboptimal practices despite Australia’s current safe sleep campaign. Strategic approaches together with informed decisions about pertinent messages to feature within future public health campaigns and government policies are required so targeted support can be provided to families with young infants to aid the translation of safe sleep evidence into safe sleeping practices
Comparative genomics confirms a rare melioidosis human-to-human transmission event and reveals incorrect phylogenomic reconstruction due to polyclonality
No full textHuman-to-human transmission of the melioidosis bacterium, Burkholderia pseudomallei , is exceedingly rare, with only a handful of suspected cases documented to date. Here, we used whole-genome sequencing (WGS) to characterize one such unusual B. pseudomallei transmission event, which occurred between a breastfeeding mother with mastitis and her child. Two strains corresponding to multilocus sequence types (STs)-259 and -261 were identified in the mother’s sputum from both the primary culture sweep and in purified colonies, confirming an unusual polyclonal infection in this patient. In contrast, primary culture sweeps of the mother’s breast milk and the child’s cerebrospinal fluid and blood samples contained only ST-259, indicating monoclonal transmission to the child. Analysis of purified ST-259 isolates showed no genetic variation between mother and baby isolates, providing the strongest possible evidence of B. pseudomallei human-to-human transmission, probably via breastfeeding. Next, phylogenomic analysis of all isolates, including the mother’s mixed ST-259/ST-261 sputum sample, was performed to investigate the effects of mixtures on phylogenetic inference. Inclusion of this mixture caused a dramatic reduction in the number of informative SNPs, resulting in branch collapse of ST-259 and ST-261 isolates, and several instances of incorrect topology in a global B. pseudomallei phylogeny, resulting in phylogenetic incongruence. Although phylogenomics can provide clues about the presence of mixtures within WGS datasets, our results demonstrate that this methodology can lead to phylogenetic misinterpretation if mixed genomes are not correctly identified and omitted. Using current bioinformatic tools, we demonstrate a robust method for bacterial mixture identification and strain parsing that avoids these pitfalls
Producing Children's Television in the On Demand Age
No full textDrawing on extended interviews with leading industry figures including successful children's content producers, this book provides a detailed insider account of the transforming creative circumstances of contemporary children's screen content. Streaming television services like Netflix and YouTube have increased in popularity while public service broadcasters like the BBC are investing heavily in children's content in an effort to stay relevant to UK children's culture. Despite their very considerable successes, the screen producers profiled here have had to adjust their creative practices and the screen content they produce, to television's distribution revolution. The comprehensive case studies in this book provide valuable insights into how creative practices, production norms and funding models in children's screen content have been altered and modified by the distribution revolution affecting all screen industries. [Book Synopsis
Bleeding Management Practices of Australian Cardiac Surgeons, Anesthesiologists and Perfusionists: A Cross-Sectional National Survey Incorporating the Theoretical Domains Framework (TDF) and COM-B Model
No full textPurpose: Excessive bleeding is an acknowledged consequence of cardiac surgery, occurring in up to 10% of adult patients. This clinically important complication leads to poorer patient outcomes. Clinical practice guidelines are available to support best practice however variability in bleeding management practice and related adverse outcomes still exist. This study had two objectives: 1) to gain insight into current bleeding management practice for adult cardiac surgery in Australia and how that compared to guidelines and literature; and 2) to understand perceived difficulties clinicians face implementing improvements in bleeding management.
Methods: A national cross-sectional questionnaire survey was utilized. Perspectives were sought from cardiac surgeons, cardiac anesthesiologists and perfusionists. Thirty-nine closed-ended questions focused on routine bleeding management practices to address pre and intra-operative care. One open-ended question was asked; “What would assist you to improve bleeding management with cardiac surgery patients?” Quantitative data were analysed with SPSS. Qualitative data were categorized into the domains of the Theoretical Domains Framework; the domains were then mapped to the COM-B model.
Results: Survey responses from 159 Anesthesiologists, 39 cardiac surgeons and 86 perfusionists were included (response rate 37%). Four of the recommendations queried in this survey were reported as routinely adhered to 76% of the time.
Conclusion: There is a wide variation in peri-operative bleeding management practice among cardiac anaesthesiologists, surgeons and perfusionists in Australian cardiac surgery units. Conceptualizing factors believed necessary to improve practice with the TDF and COM-B model found that bleeding management could be improved with a standardized approach including; point of care diagnostic assays, a bleeding management algorithm, access to concentrated coagulation factors, cardiac surgery specific bleeding management education, multidisciplinary team agreement and support, and an overarching national approach
Carrageenans from the Red Seaweed Sarconema filiforme Attenuate Symptoms of Diet-Induced Metabolic Syndrome in Rats
No full textCarrageenans are thickening and gelling agents that may provide health benefits. Iota (ι)-carrageenan, a linear sulfated polysaccharide, is produced by the red seaweed, Sarconema filiforme. This study investigated the potential of this seaweed as a functional food for the reversal of metabolic syndrome and possible mechanisms. Male Wistar rats were divided into four groups in a 16-week protocol: corn starch diet-fed rats (C); C rats supplemented with 5% S. filiforme for the last 8 weeks (CSF); high-carbohydrate, high-fat diet-fed rats (H); and H rats supplemented with 5% S. filiforme for the last 8 weeks (HSF). S. filiforme was produced in tank-based aquaculture yielding 27 g dry weight/day/m2 of culture area. H rats developed obesity, hypertension, dyslipidaemia, glucose intolerance, fatty liver and increased left ventricular collagen deposition. S. filiforme supplementation decreased body weight, abdominal and liver fat, systolic blood pressure, plasma total cholesterol concentrations, and plasma activities of alanine transaminase and aspartate transaminase. S. filiforme supplementation modulated gut microbiota without changing the Firmicutes to Bacteroidetes ratio. S. filiforme improved symptoms of high-carbohydrate, high-fat diet-induced metabolic syndrome in rats. Possible mechanisms include a reduced infiltration of inflammatory cells into organs as well as prebiotic actions in the gastrointestinal tract
Mental disorders and medical conditions associated with causing injury or death: A population-based study
No full textThe aim of the present study is to examine mental disorders and medical conditions associated with causing harm to another person in the general adult population. The sample (n= 22,138) was drawn from a cross-sectional survey designed to characterize mental health needs in France. Twelve-month DSM-IV axis I mental disorders and medical conditions, and lifetime occurrence of potentially traumatic events were assessed with the Composite International Diagnostic Interview. Overall, 2% (n=430) of the sample reported having injured or killed someone. Causing harm was associated with male gender, lower education level, and being unemployed. The great majority (85%) of those who caused harm had experienced two or more additional potentially traumatic events. When adjusting for gender, employment status, education and number of events experienced, causing harm was associated with certain anxiety disorders, drug dependence and lifetime suicide attempt but not with major depression or post-traumatic stress disorder. Furthermore, causing harm was not associated with medical conditions in multivariate analyses. These results highlight the need for clinicians to be particularly attentive to the psychological burden that may be experienced by those who have harmed or killed someone
Smart manufacturing and DVSM based on an Ontological approach
No full textSmart manufacturing is characterized as transparent shop floor production, rapid and intelligentresponses to dynamic changes, and a utilization of high-performance inter-cooperation networks. Smartmanufacturing and a global appetite for personalized products have transitioned industry from massproduction into the age of mass customization. Increased autonomy is slowly changing customer expecta-tions as well, enabling customers to modify a product design not only during an order, but sometimes evenlong after placing an order. In this context, this paper fills a gap by presenting a data-centric infrastructureto enable interaction with a “global, virtual data space,” which overcomes the problems with traditionaldirect access methods such as interoperability and compatibility. Using a Cyber-Physical System (CPS),resource monitoring on the shopfloor as well as multiple parities beyond the enterprise boundary willbe interconnected through this data-centric infrastructure. A semantic knowledge management sys-tem, which encompasses product lifecycle knowledge and manufacturing process ontology, is developedas the data schema in the data-centric infrastructure. In comparison to relational databases which areeffective at handling paper forms and tabular structure, the flexible schema of graph databases enablethese to handle dynamic and uncertain variables. These capabilities are deemed critical for a platformsupporting real-time information exchange between customer, manufacturer and collaborators. Oneadvantage of such a system allowing for real-time information exchange is that it enables last minuteorder changes by the customer, allowing for product design changes even after production has startedon the order. The other advantage is that it allows manufacturing managers to monitor the productivityof customer-directed, dynamic manufacturing processes by utilizing Dynamic Value Stream Mapping(DVSM) methods