University of the Sunshine Coast
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Assessing child-safe culture and practices in organisational settings: a validation and refinement of Kaufman's Organisational Safety Climate Survey
No full textUsing an Australian sample of employees (n = 1068) we assessed the psychometric properties of Kaufman’s Organisational Safety Climate Survey and its practical utility for measuring child-safe culture within organisations. The 60-item survey was found to have adequate psychometric properties. Initial factor analyses indicated a unidimensional factor structure, despite the survey being originally conceptualised into four subscales. Cronbach’s α coefficients were.95 for the full survey, with subscales ranging from.65–.94. However, qualitative feedback from respondents indicated that the survey was somewhat laborious and repetitive, with some item ambiguity noted. Refinements to the survey resulted in a 24-item short-form survey. The psychometric properties of the short-form survey were re-assessed. Factor analyses indicated a three-factor solution. Despite a significant reduction in items, internal consistency of the scale was not compromised; reliability of subscales also improved. Validation of this short-form survey as an alternative, time-efficient measure to maximise employee participation and contribution, is recommended
Should only females of giant freshwater prawn Macrobrachium rosenbergii be selected in genetic improvement programmes?
No full textSexual dimorphism is widely observed in almost all farmed aquatic animal species but giant freshwater pawn (GFP) is unique, with males characterized by three main morphotypes (blue claw, orange claw and small males) and females by different reproduction status (ovary, berried egg and already‐spawned females). There has been reported evidence that the effect of male morphotype may have masked genetic variation in growth‐related traits, as a result the heritability for male body weight was lower than that estimated in female. A pending question has arisen whether selection should be made in female only. To answer this question, we used an 8‐year data set from a long‐term selection programme (2008–2015) for high growth in this species comprising 106,756 individuals that were offspring of 515 sires and 810 dams. The body weight data of female and male GFP or of each morphotype was treated as a separate trait and a multi‐trait approach was used to estimate genetic correlations for homologous traits between sexes and between morphotypes. Our analysis showed that there were little differences in the heritability estimates between female and male. In female, mature ovary individual displayed higher heritability than berried egg and already‐spawned females. For male, the heritability for blue claw, orange claw and small males were 0.11, 0.06 and 0.00 respectively. Between‐sex genetic correlation was moderate (0.55 ± 0.11) for body weight, suggesting that the trait expressions in female and male may be genetically different. In female, the genetic correlations for body weight among three female types were close to one (0.91–0.94). In contrast, the genetic correlations for body weight between male morphotypes especially between blue claw or orange claw and small males were low (0.15–0.25). Furthermore, we estimated genetic gain as the difference in least square means (LSM) or estimated breeding values (EBV) between the selection line and control group. The genetic gain in body weight was smaller in females than in males. It is concluded that there is no need to run separate breeding programme for female and male GFP. A combined selection using both female and male data can achieve selection response for body weight as demonstrated in the present study
Biochemical Database and Product Sheets for Seaweeds from Fiji, Samoa and Kiribati
No full textSeaweeds are produced for food and as industrial products throughout the Pacific and many communities rely on this production for significant portions of their income. This industry is diverse in the types of seaweeds produced, whether they are cultured or harvested from the coastline, the way that they are processed and in the final use of the seaweeds. However, the biochemical charactertistcs of seaweed across the Pacific region, and the corresponding range of product opportunities, is not well understood. The aim of this research was to sample and characterise the biochemical composition of key species of seaweed from three countries (Fiji, Samoa and Kiribati). More than 1000 individual data entries on the biochemical properties of seaweed were made including analysis of fibre, protein, lipid, ash (minerals) and moisture content. The following product sheets were created for different species in different countries: Kappaphycus (Fiji, Kiribati), Caulerpa (Fiji, Samoa), Hypnea (Fiji), Gracilaria/Hydropuntia (Fiji), Ulva (Fiji, Kiribati), Acanthophora (Kiribati), Tomatoes (grown with Acanthophora seaweed compost, Kiribati).Format of the data: 1 MS Excel file (595 KB); 1 PDF file (2 MB)Please cite this record using the following DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.25907/5e13b12523e43This research was funded by the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research, FIS/2010/098 "Diversification of Seaweed Industries in Pacific Island Countries".Timeframe of data collection: 2013-201
Relationship between attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy of western juniper and natural resistance to fungal and termite attack
No full textWood extractives are considered the major factor determining the natural durability of wood. Attenuated total reflectance-Fourier transform infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectroscopy was assessed for rapid determination of western juniper (Juniperus occidentalis Hook. var. occidentalis) durability based on extractives in heartwood, sapwood-heartwood and sapwood regions. Durability was assessed by exposing samples to brown-rot decay fungi [Gloeophyllum trabeum (Pers.) Murrill and Rhodonia placenta (Fr.) Niemelä, K.H. Larss. & Schigel] or eastern subterranean termite (Reticulitermes flavipes Kollar). Durability classifications were compared to their extractive contents, along with ATR-FTIR spectra of extracted and unextracted blocks to establish relationships using hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA) and principal component analysis (PCA). Western juniper durability varied with test organisms, but the majority of samples had high fungal and termite resistance. Moderate to weak connections were observed between durability and extractive content, but HCA and PCA analysis were unable to classify durability with accuracy. The absence of non-resistant samples may have influenced the ability of the chemometric methods to accurately categorize durability
The Cyberbullying Picture Series (CyPicS): Developed for Use in Cyberbullying and Cyberbystander Research
No full textWhile research has examined bystander responses in a traditional sense, there is a dearth of research regarding responses of cyberbystanders in a real-time situation, such as observing a cyberbullying scenario. This article describes a novel protocol designed to develop a series of images to be used to undertake research that aims to examine cyberbystander responses. A total of 24 scenarios (12 negative (cyberbullying) and 12 neutral) were created by the researchers and designed to mimic the way such scenarios would appear on a social networking site. The negative (cyberbullying) stimuli were rated in terms of level of severity, and the scenarios were compared to a selection of images from the International Affective Picture System using the Self-Assessment Manikin. These stimuli were compiled to form the Cyberbullying Picture Series (CyPicS). Through the development of the CyPicS, this protocol will aid future researchers in examining responses to real-life scenarios, as it is the first of its kind to develop these scenarios and test and evaluate them. CyPicS will provide researchers with the means to systematically evaluate responses to validated, real-life cyberbullying scenarios. More specifically, future researchers can utilize CyPicS to investigate how cyberbystanders respond when observing cyberbullying stimuli compared to neutral stimuli, as well as to measure and understand reactions or perceptions of cyberbullying. CyPicS can be used in any form of cyberbullying research (including electroencephalography and eye-tracking studies, psychological research, and functional magnetic resonance imaging studies) that may utilize bystander reactions and behaviors. Findings from research that utilizes CyPicS will greatly increase our understanding of bystander responses, and with variations in study design, researchers can further examine past or future associations with cyber-victim/bully status and mental health outcomes
Growth performance of selected taxa as candidate species for productive tree plantations in Borneo
No full textThe establishment of commercial tree plantations in Malaysian Borneo began with a progression of various species, including Pinus caribea, Acacia mangium, Gmelina arborea, Falcataria moluccana (formerly Albizia falcataria) and Eucalyptus deglupta. Ultimately, A. mangium, intended for the production of pulplogs, dominated the plantation landscape. However, recent widespread devastation of A. mangium by the Ceratocystis pathogen in Sabah has led to a shift in plantation species, which has also necessitated a review of downstream end products. This paper analyses growth data and estimates productivity for species in a taxa trial as well as a F. moluccana progeny trial in a single trial area in Sabah. A eucalyptus hybrid (Eucalyptus urophylla x Eucalyptus grandis (UG)), Eucalyptus pellita, F. moluccana, Acacia crassicarpa and A. mangium exhibited high productivity after three years, with an average mean annual increment of approximately 35 m3 ha−1 y−1 or better. Mean annual increment curves show that productivity declined slightly for the eucalypts and F. moluccana after three years. Acacia species experienced a sharper decline associated with disease-caused mortality, with A. mangium the most seriously affected. The mean basic density of the UG hybrid and F. moluccana was 560 kg m−3 and 252 kg m−3 at six and five years of age, respectively, and E. pellita had a mean basic density of 629 kg m−3 at six years of age. The importance of growth and wood properties in the selection of species suitable for planted forest development in the wet tropics is discussed
Borderline Personality Disorder: To diagnose or not to diagnose? That is the question
No full textThere is considerable controversy around psychiatric diagnosis generally and personality disorders specifically. Since its conception, borderline personality disorder has been controversial because of the stigma associated with the diagnosis and the therapeutic nihilism held by practitioners who encounter people with this high prevalence problem in acute settings. This paper reviews the history of the diagnosis of BPD and summarizes some of the controversy surrounding the categorical nature of diagnosis. Both the DSM 5 and ICD‐11 will be discussed; however, for the purposes of this paper, the DSM 5 will take the primary focus due to greater cultural significance. Recent developments in the treatment of borderline personality disorder suggest that it is a highly treatable condition and that full clinical recovery is possible. This paper formulates an argument that despite problems with psychiatric diagnosis that are unlikely to be resolved soon, a diagnosis should be made with an accompanying formulation to enable people to receive timely and effective treatment to enable personal and clinical recovery
Development of the CliNCare online serious game
No full textVirtual learning environments are helpful pedagogical tools for scaffolded learning through building confidence and familiarization with life-like situations (De Freitas & Neumann, 2009). A complex problem in health courses is bridging the theory to practice gap. Experiential learning provides the opportunity to cross this bridge (Thompson & Gutschall, 2015). Virtual simulation has been used as a safe vehicle for skills-based training of medical students (Stevens et al., 2006) and shown to be a valuable learning tool for pre-clinical skill development (Gunn, Jones, Bridge, Rowntree, & Nissen, 2018). Drawing on the evidence of computer assisted instruction (Herriot, Bishop, & Truby, 2004; Raidl, Wood, Lehman, & Evers, 1995) in dietetic education, an online serious game was developed and is proposed to serve as template for developing critical thinking skills in dietetic students when providing nutrition care with potential for application in other allied health professions. This paper describes the development and reasoning of the CliNCare game, and acronym for Clinical reasoning in the nutrition care process
A Serious-Game for Child Sexual Abuse Prevention: An Evaluation of Orbit
No full textBackground: Greater public and professional awareness of the extent and impact of child sexual abuse (CSA) has prompted the inclusions of prevention initiatives within school curricula. However CSA education is not always soundly grounded in empirical evidence, and evaluations of the impact of programs often inadequate. Objective: This paper reports on a randomized-control trial of an empirically informed serious-game for CSA prevention, for children aged 8-10 years. The study also evaluates the impact on learning of complementary classroom lessons and part completion of the Name game. Participants and Setting: The evaluation involved 139 students (female=78; male=61) aged 8-10 years (Mage=9.64, SD =0.33), from an elementary school in State, Australia. Method: All children were pre-tested and post-tested (at 3 months) for knowledge of abuse prevention using the Children's Knowledge of Abuse Questionnaire-Revised (CKAQ-R-III), and a short form (SF) mapped to the learning objectives of Name. Children were assigned to one of three groups; i) play Name (n=50); ii) play Name and CSA lessons (n=55); and iii) control (n=34). Results: Children in the Name play, and Name play and lesson groups, significantly (p < .001) increased their CKAQ SF scores, whereas those in the control group did not. Furthermore, those children who completed all of Name significantly (p < .001) increased their post-test CKAQ scores, whereas those who didn't complete the game did not. Conclusions: This study shows the strength of a serious-games approach for school CSA prevention whilst reporting how child completion can impact learnings
Developing best practice for cooperative and work-integrated education: Lessons from Germany, Australia and South Korea
No full textUniversities around the world face a common challenge – producing graduates with the necessary practical skills for employment. Cooperative education and work-integrated learning (WIL) make a valuable contribution to increasing graduate employability, however, there are differences in the level of cooperation from industry and government commitment. A comparative study of WIL in Germany, Australia, and South Korea, focusing predominantly on three universities, showed differences in the approaches to achieving practical experience and increasing graduate employability. The data underlying the research was derived from questionnaires, a focus group session, and the development of a descriptive, multi-case study. This allowed comparisons and contrasts between the three universities to be identified. The results and conclusions outlined in this paper aim to highlight best practice in cooperative education and WIL and provide recommendations for the future development of cooperative education, in order to improve graduate employability