University of the Sunshine Coast
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Acceptance and Adoption of eTourism Technologies
No full textThe field of eTourism research encompasses a plethora of research on users’ adoption and acceptance of technologies. As a multidimensional phenomenon, an in-depth understanding of eTourism technology acceptance requires crossing the boundaries of tourism and hospitality, Information and Communication Technologies and marketing. Taking such a multidisciplinary approach enables researchers to integrate knowledge from the broader disciplines of psychology, sociology and economics to construct a deep understanding of users’ behaviour. However, while there have been some recent advances in broadening the horizons of research in this field, the majority of eTourism technology acceptance research relies on a few classical technology acceptance and consumer behaviour theories. This chapter presents a summarised overview of the most important determinants of technology acceptance behaviour and critically reviews most influential theoretical models that have been used as the foundation of the majority of existing research in this field. Subsequently, some major areas of theoretical and empirical gaps in our understanding of eTourism technology acceptance will be discussed to provide researchers with a pathway towards further expanding the boundaries of research in this field. This chapter assists emerging researchers in this field to gain an overall understanding of the progress of research so far. It also directs emerging researchers towards developing alternative research agendas to diversify the theoretical foundations of eTourism technology acceptance research and expand the boundaries of knowledge in this field beyond the status quo
Health professionals’ experiences of grief associated with the death of pediatric patients: a systematic review
No full textObjective:
The objective of this review was to synthesize the experiences of health professionals who have experienced grief as a result of a pediatric patient dying.
Introduction:
There has been some research into health professionals’ grief experiences, but there has not been a review that synthesizes the findings of these experiences. Other related reviews have focused on prenatal, perinatal or adult deaths or the coping strategies employed by health professionals. This review highlights the complexities of experiences faced by pediatric health professionals.
Inclusion criteria:
Qualitative studies involving pediatric health professionals working in any healthcare setting who had experienced grief from the death of a patient were considered for inclusion. Studies were conducted in any country, at any time and published in English.
Methods:
The search was conducted in PubMed, CINAHL, Embase, PsycINFO, Scopus and ProQuest Dissertations and Theses. The search was completed in January 2019. The review followed principles of meta-aggregation in line with the JBI approach. Methodological quality assessment was based on representation of participants’ voices and congruence between research methodology and both research question and analysis of data.
Results:
Meta-aggregation led to three synthesized findings from 12 qualitative studies that met the inclusion and methodological quality criteria. Studies predominantly included nurses working in a hospital, with sample sizes ranging from six to 25 participants. The synthesized findings were physical, behavioral, psychological or spiritual symptoms; compounding grief; and alleviating grief. Physical, behavioral, psychological, or spiritual symptoms highlighted the various characteristics of grief experiences by health professionals. Compounding grief was the largest synthesized finding and incorporated the various factors that contributed to a poorer experience of grief. Alleviating grief showed the limited identified factors that improved the experience of grief. Methodological quality led to synthesized findings receiving a ConQual rating of low or moderate.
Conclusions:
The synthesized findings from this review highlight the varied reported experience of grief in health professionals. The methodological quality and reporting of studies, however, led to decreased confidence in the synthesized findings and recommendations arising from this review. Healthcare professionals should be aware of the potential for experiencing grief when a patient dies and the compounding and alleviating factors associated with this. Further research could expand participant and language limitations, and improve methodological quality and reporting
Physiological vital sign differences between well newborns greater than 34 weeks gestation: A pilot study
No full textBackground:
Newborns have their vital signs measured as part of routine care. However, there is inconsistency in accepted physiological ranges for well newborns beyond the post-delivery stabilisation period which has implications for the identification of illness.
Objective:
To explore differences in physiological vital signs between three gestational age groups: late preterm (34+0 - 36+6), early term (37+0–38+6) and term (≥39+0) weeks gestation.
Design:
A single site prospective observational study.
Setting:
A postnatal ward and special care baby unit in a major tertiary hospital in Australia.
Participants:
Newborns from 34 weeks gestation admitted to either the postnatal ward or special care baby unit.
Methods:
Heart rate, respiratory rate and oxygen saturation were continuously monitored for up to 6 h. Newborn temperature and blood pressure were measured twice during the monitoring period.
Results:
Continuous monitoring resulted in 284,542 heart rate, 275,826 respiratory rate, 287,572 SpO2 values, and 60 temperature and 60 blood pressure data points. Heart rate was significantly different between gestational age groups with late preterm heart rates 13.4 bpm (95% CI 6.5–20.4) higher than term newborns. Early term heart rates were 2.3 bpm (95% CI -4.6 – 9.3) higher than term newborns, although not statistically significantly different. Heart rate was significantly different based on sex with females on average 7.7 beats per minute (bpm) (95% CI 1.9–13.5) higher than males.
Respiratory rate was not significantly different between gestational age groups however, on average, was −2.0 respiration rate per minute (rpm) (95% CI -6.8 – 2.7) lower for late preterm babies and −1.3 rpm (95% CI -6.0 – 3.4) lower for early term babies compared to term newborns. SpO2 was not significantly different between gestational age groups, however, on average was −1.17 log units (95% CI -2.32 to −0.01) lower for late preterm newborns and −1.00 log units (95% CI -2.16 – 0.15) lower for early term newborns compared to term newborns. Respiratory rate and SpO2 were neither clinically nor statistically significantly different by sex.
There were no significant differences between gestational age groups for temperature (p = 0.38) or blood pressure (systolic p = 0.93, diastolic p = 0.54). No significant mean differences were observed based on sex for temperature (p = 0.57) or blood pressure (systolic p = 0.98, diastolic p = 0.40).
Conclusions:
This study demonstrated a clinically significant higher heart rate in those born late preterm. This may have implications for current “one-size fits all” newborn early warning tools, as well as care of well late preterm infants in maternity units
Exploring the role of post-translational modulators of transcription factors in triple-negative breast cancer gene expression
No full textTriple negative breast cancer (TNBC) is a sub type of breast cancers, and is responsible for numerous deaths worldwide. Due to lack of any of the three hormone receptors (ER, PR and HER2) commonly existing in other breast cancers, current targeted drug therapies are unavailable for this disease. Therefore, by exploring molecular regulatory network of TNBC, which includes transcription factors (TFs), modulators and target genes, it can be possible to determine treatment measures for this disease. In this study, we conducted a systematic investigation in these three key drivers to explain the regulation of TFs and modulators on target gene expression in several biological processes related to carcinogenesis. By integrating TFs with their modulators, we constructed regulatory networks. Following a hierarchical regulatory network, we identified 115 consistent motifs consisting of 52 TFs, 103 modulators (in which 11 are oncogenes, OCGs and nine are tumor suppressor genes, TSGs) and 81 target genes. All these 115 unique genes from the consistent motif of TNBC-related gene regulation were enriched with most of the functional categories related to BC or TNBC progression. The network analysis showed that the regulatory signals from the TSG and/or OCG modulators were transduced to the TFs and then to the target genes. Functional enrichment analysis indicated that most of the TSGs and OCGs were interacted and co-regulated in numerous cellular processes, including DNA damage, immune system development, gene expression, epidermal growth factor receptor signalling pathway, and response to estrogen. In mutational analysis of TFs, the maximum frequency (10%) of gene alteration was observed in TRPS1, which also showed over expression across TNBC tumor samples. These results may help to understand the activity of the novel regulator TRPS1 on TNBC patient risk profile and their post-translational activity
Anorexia nervosa, zinc deficiency and the glutamate system: The ketamine option
No full textAnorexia nervosa (AN) is a severe, biological brain disorder with significant medical risks and a tenacious development over time. Unfortunately, few treatments show efficacy in people with AN although numerous therapies including pharmacological have been explored. Zinc deficiency has been implicated in AN and zinc is important in a large range of processes in the brain. In particular, it is an allosteric modulator of NMDA receptors – the maintenance of zinc levels within a normal, narrow range is essential for glutamatergic functioning. Chronic zinc deficiency increases neuronal stores of calcium and reduces direct modulation of NMDA receptors which collectively lead to overactivation and upregulation of NMDA receptors. This may facilitate pathologically high levels of glutamate, calcium influx and subsequent excitotoxicity, which can disrupt synaptogenesis and synaptic plasticity. While studies of zinc supplementation in AN have shown some promise, the efficacy of this treatment is limited. This may be due to AN illness chronicity and the significant changes already made, as well as a reduced potency of zinc to inhibit NMDA receptors in a pathological state. Thus, we propose that the safe (at low doses) yet more potent NMDA receptor antagonist, ketamine, may act to normalise a perturbed glutamatergic system and increase synaptogenesis in the short term. This ‘kickstart’ via ketamine could then allow zinc supplementation and other forms of treatment to enhance recovery in AN
Exploring how players create emergent narrative and character in strategy games
No full textEmergent narratives are created by players through their gameplay (Moser and Fang 2015). Research into emergent narratives has focused on simulation games, such as The Sims (Maxis 2000-2019) (Murray 2006; Perlin 2006), while other game genres with the capacity for players to create emergent narratives, such as strategy games, have remained underexplored. Strategy video games typically use few narrative elements (characterisation, cut-scenes, and linear plots) when compared to other video game genres such as action-adventure (King and Krzywinska 2002). Instead, the gameplay focuses on players selecting a faction, raising armies to conquer neighbouring factions, or engaging in diplomacy with them, and administrating cities (Ghitta & Andrikopoulos 2009). However, there is evidence that players still find narrative resources through this gameplay. Friedman’s (1999) analysis of the strategy game, Civilisation II (MicroProse 1996), found that players exploration of the geography within the game and the changes they made to it provided them with a story. Furthermore, players of developer Paradox’s ‘grand strategy games’ (Paradox Development Studio 2000-2019) are known to create ‘After-Action Reports’ (AARs), in which players using screenshots and text create long and detailed accounts of their gameplay that are more like stories, rather than factual reports (Mukherjee 2016; Poole 2018). These are similar to how authors of walkthroughs can present their instructions as a story, rather than a list of directions (Consalvo 2003). Narrative is a sense-making activity that may be undertaken simultaneously or retrospectively by players (Walsh 2011). Therefore, further exploration of emergent narratives in strategy games will lead to greater understanding of how players make sense of their gameplay sessions
Natural Hazards and Disaster Justice: Challenges for Australia and Its Neighbours
No full textThis book explores policy, legal, and practice implications regarding the emerging field of disaster justice, using case studies of floods, bushfires, heatwaves, and earthquakes in Australia and Southern and South-east Asia. It reveals geographic locational and social disadvantage and structural inequities that lead to increased risk and vulnerability to disaster, and which impact ability to recover post-disaster. Written by multidisciplinary disaster researchers, the book addresses all stages of the disaster management cycle, demonstrating or recommending just approaches to preparation, response and recovery. It notably reveals how procedural, distributional and interactional aspects of justice enhance resilience, and offers a cutting edge analysis of disaster justice for managers, policy makers, researchers in justice, climate change or emergency management. [Book Synopsos
The impact of limb deficiency impairment on Para swimming performance
No full textSwimmers with limb deficiency are a core population within Para Swimming, accordingly this study examined the contribution of limb segments to race performance in these swimmers. Data were obtained for 174 male Para swimmers with limb deficiency. Ensemble partial least squares regression showed accurate predictions when using relative limb segment lengths to estimate Para swimmers' personal best race performances. The contribution of limb segments to performance in swim events was estimated using these regression models. The analysis found swim stroke and event distance to influence the contributions of limb segments to performance. For freestyle swim events, these changes were primarily due to the increased importance of the hand, and decreased importance of the foot and shank, as the distance of the event increased. When comparing swim strokes, higher importance of the thigh and shank in the 100 m breaststroke compared with other swim strokes confirms the separate SB class. Varied contributions of the hand, upper arm and foot suggest that freestyle could also be separated from backstroke and butterfly events to promote fairer classification. This study shows that swim stroke and event distance influence the activity limitation of Para swimmers with limb deficiency suggesting classification should account for these factors
Digital Workbooks in Flipped Nutrition Education: Student Perspectives’
No full textNutrition and dietetic (N&D) education is traditionally taught didactically; however, the flipped classroom approach (FCA) is an emerging pedagogical approach in this discipline. Technological tools providing cognitive support enhance learning, particularly when students are engaged. In N&D education, students have reported the FCA as engaging; however, evidence for how best to integrate technologies into the FCA is limited. The aim of this research is to explore undergraduate nutrition and dietetic students’ self-reported perceptions of the use of a digital workbook in nutrition courses designed and delivered using an FCA. A cross-sectional self-administered online survey was utilised to investigate Australian undergraduate student (N = 39) satisfaction, frequency of use, engagement with, and usefulness of a digital workbook. Most students (87%) were satisfied/very satisfied with the digital workbook as a tool for learning, applying and consolidating/revising course content. Most students (95%) agreed the digital workbook was engaging, providing comments related to workbook design, encouraged participation and novelty. Most useful aspects reported were workbook structure, development of a learning artefact, self-directed aspects and convenience, whereas, least useful aspects included technological issues. The use of a digital workbook in N&D education was well received and is an innovative approach to delivering courses taught with an FCA
The development of an evaluation scale for B2B service quality: The case of the Korean convention industry
No full textThe purpose of this study was to develop scale dimensions for evaluating professional convention organizers (PCOs) from the perspective of conference hosts. Based on a literature review of B2B service quality and convention service quality, and in-depth interviews with host organizers in the Korean convention industry, five quality dimensions were identified: potential, process, personal, technical, and outcome qualities. The reliability and validity of the five dimensions were verified using empirical data. The results show that service quality between PCOs and hosts should be considered to be a holistic experience rather than a set of separate factors as discussed in previous studies. This paper also contributes by proposing that the five scales serve as a managerial tool for PCOs to evaluate their own performance and as criteria for hosts to develop effective business relationships with service providers