University of the Sunshine Coast
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Online needs-based and strengths-focused suicide prevention training: Evaluation of Care · Collaborate · Connect
No full textObjective: This study evaluated an online training programme of the needs-based and strengths-focused Care · Collaborate · Connect approach to suicide prevention. Method: Participants were 303 Australian health professionals and students. Participants completed pre- and post-training assessments of knowledge, attitudes, confidence, and self-care, as well as training satisfaction post-training. Results: Participants showed significant improvements in knowledge, attitudes, confidence, and self-care pre- to post-training with moderate to very large effect sizes. There was no significant difference in outcomes between those who had and had not had previous training or experience working with people with suicidality. Qualitative feedback showed almost universal support for the person- and strengths-focused approach of supporting people with suicidality. Participants reported the web-based training as useful to their learning and many found it fitted well with their organisations' values and priorities. Conclusions: Web-based suicide prevention training is an effective, low-cost, and flexible training medium. The needs-based Care · Collaborate · Connect programme aligns with the person-centred framework preferred by most health professionals and provides practical strategies to support people who are distressed, including those with suicidality
A new mechanism for Cannabidiol in regulating the one‐carbon cycle and methionine levels in Dictyostelium and in mammalian epilepsy models
No full textBackground and Purpose: EpidiolexTM, a form of highly purified cannabidiol (CBD) derived from Cannabis plants has demonstrated seizure control activity in patients with Dravet syndrome, without a fully‐elucidated mechanism of action. We have employed an unbiased approach to investigate this mechanism at a cellular level.
Experimental Approach: We use a tractable biomedical model organism, Dictyostelium, to identify protein controlling the effect of CBD and characterize this mechanism. We then translate these results to a Dravet Syndrome mouse model and an acute in vitro seizure model.
Key Results: CBD activity is partially dependent upon the mitochondrial glycine cleavage system component, GcvH1 in Dictyostelium, orthologous to the human GCSH protein, which is functionally linked to folate one‐carbon metabolism (FOCM). Analysis of FOCM components identified a mechanism for CBD in directly inhibiting methionine synthesis. Analysis of brain tissue from a Dravet syndrome mouse model also showed drastically altered levels of one‐carbon components including methionine, and an in vitro rat seizure model showed an elevated level of methionine that is attenuated following CBD treatment.
Conclusions and Implications: Our results suggest a novel mechanism for CBD in the regulating methionine levels, and identify altered one‐carbon metabolism in Dravet syndrome and seizure activity
Nutraceuticals in heart failure patients: A systematic review
No full textBackground:
Nutraceuticals are pharmacologically active substances extracted from vegetable or animal food and administered to produce health benefits. We recently reviewed the current evidence for nutraceuticals in patients diagnosed with heart failure as part of the writing of the Australian Guidelines for the prevention, diagnosis and management of heart failure.
Methods:
A systematic search for studies that compared nutraceuticals to standard care in adult patients with heart failure was performed. Studies were included if > 50 patients were enrolled, with ≥ 6 months follow up. If no studies met criteria then studies < 50 patients and < 6 months follow up were included. The primary outcomes included mortality/survival, hospitalisation, quality of life, and/or exercise tolerance. Iron was not included in this review as its role in HF is already well established.
Results:
Forty studies met the inclusion criteria. The strongest evidence came from studies of polyunsaturated fatty acids, which modestly decreased mortality and cardiovascular hospitalisations in patients with mostly New York Heart Association (NYHA) II and III heart failure across a range of left ventricular ejection fraction. Co-enzyme Q10 may decrease mortality and hospitalisation, but definite conclusions cannot be drawn. Studies that examined nitrate rich beetroot juice, micronutrient supplementation, hawthorn extract, magnesium, thiamine, vitamin E, vitamin D, L-arginine, L-carnosine and L-carnitine were too small or underpowered to properly appraise clinical outcomes.
Conclusion:
Only one nutraceutical, omega-3 PUFA, received a positive recommendation in the Australian heart failure guidelines. Although occasionally showing some promise, all other nutraceuticals are inadequately studied to allow any conclusion on efficacy. Clinicians should favour other treatments that have been clearly shown to decrease mortality
Twenty-eight years of decline: Nesting population demographics and trajectory of the north-east Queensland endangered hawksbill turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata)
No full textGlobally, hawksbill turtles (Eretmochelys imbricata) are listed as Critically Endangered, the cause of which is largely attributed to excessive historical take by the tortoiseshell industry. Yet few long-term data analyses describing population trend or survivorship exist. Here we analyse a long-term dataset for a globally significant western Pacific E. imbricata nesting population on Milman Island, northern Great Barrier Reef. Three demographic indicators were used: (1) number of egg clutches laid, (2) nester abundance and survival, and (3) the body-size distribution of nesters (curved carapace length, CCL). Models were developed for a time series from the 1990–91 to 2016–17 nesting season that included 21 years of sampling, with predicted trends evaluated against samples from the 2017–18 nesting season. The number of clutches laid and nester abundance rate of decline varied over the study period, but the decline was markedly similar with a 58 and 57% overall reduction, respectively. Annual survival rate was high (0.972, 95% CI = 0.965 to 0.977), but was not estimated separately for all years. Models predicted that the current rate of decline would lead to nesting extirpation by 2036 (95% CI: 2026–2058) and 2032–2037 (95% CI: from 2020 to increasing), for the models of nester abundance and number of eggs laid, respectively; and aligned with the observed values for the test dataset (2017–18 season).
The rate of decline of E. imbricata nesting at Milman Island highlights the urgency to understand and mitigate risks faced by this endangered population and more broadly across the western Pacific
Influence of technique on upper body force and power production during medicine ball throws
No full textThis project examined the interrelationships between power production and upper body kinematics during a series of medicine ball push-press (MBP-P) throws. Twenty-five regular weight trainers (body mass = 86 ± 10 kg) performed a series of ballistic vertical MBP-P throws at loads representing 5% and 10% of their assessed 5RM bench press. Throws were performed lying supine on a force platform (1 kHz) with upper body kinematics assessed using standard infra-red motion capture techniques (0.5 kHz). Gross measures of performance and power production such as peak vertical ball velocity (Velpeak), peak force (Fpeak) and power (Ppeak) were recorded during the propulsive phase of the movement. Comparative analyses indicated that despite significant reductions in Velpeak from the 5% to 10% loads (P < 0.001), Fpeak remained largely unchanged (P = 0.167). Analysis of inter-trial variability showed that the gross measures of performance and power were relatively stable (Coefficient of Variation [CV%] <13%), while most upper limb segmental kinematics varied considerably between trials (CV% up to 70%). This project highlights the complexity of the relationships between power production and upper body kinematics during light load ballistic MBP-P throwing. Additionally, it shows how trained athletes can achieve similar outcomes during ballistic movements using a variety of movement strategies
Transformative value and the role of involvement in gamification and serious games for well-being
No full textPurpose – This study investigates the use of gamification and serious games as transformative technologies that encourage health and well-being behaviors. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the transformative value that can be co-created by gamified apps and serious games, and the role involvement plays between transformative value and desired outcomes.
Design/Methodology – Four gamified apps/serious games were examined in the study, with data collected from N=497 participants. The data were analyzed using structural equation modeling.
Findings – Results revealed that gamified apps and serious games can create three transformative value dimensions – knowledge, distraction, and simulation – which can have direct and indirect effects on desired outcomes. Examination of competing models revealed involvement plays a mediating rather than moderating role for gamification and serious games for well-being.
Originality/Value – This research contributes to a greater understanding of how technology can be leveraged to deliver transformative gamification services. It demonstrates the multiple transformative value dimensions that can be created by gamified apps and serious games that assist the performance of well-being behaviors, and which have yet to be theorized or empirically examined. The study also establishes the mediating rather than moderating role of involvement in gamification and serious games, as called for in the literature
Community‐based child development service fetal alcohol spectrum disorder assessment: A retrospective clinic audit
No full textAims:
The aims of the current study were to: (i) report on the diagnostic profile of a group of children assessed for fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) using the Australian Guide to the Diagnosis of FASD; and (ii) to provide information and recommendations for paediatricians and/or multidisciplinary teams conducting FASD assessments, including utilising the Australian Guide to the Diagnosis of FASD, and details of how to do FASD assessment.
Methods:
A retrospective chart review was conducted using relevant demographic and diagnostic data from children assessed for FASD within a community child development service.
Results:
Results showed the widespread impact of FASD on the brain, with all children showing some level of impairment in at least 5 out of 10 of the neurodevelopmental domains assessed for FASD. Majority of children were diagnosed with co‐morbid attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, however, many additional co‐morbid diagnoses were evident.
Conclusions:
The current study detailed the profile of children assessed for FASD and was the first to report the diagnostic profile of children assessed using the Australian Guide to the Diagnosis of FASD within a community child development service. Several recommendations are provided to assist paediatricians and multidisciplinary teams involved in child development assessments
The big picture on accident causation: A review, synthesis and meta-analysis of AcciMap studies
No full textAs AcciMap is now arguably the most popular accident analysis method in the peer-reviewed literature, there are key learnings to be taken from reviewing and synthesising published AcciMap analyses. In particular, the extent to which the network of contributory factors underpinning accidents is consistent across safety critical domains. This study reviewed and synthesised 23 AcciMap analyses published in the peer-reviewed literature. Contributory factors and relationships were extracted and thematically coded to form a single multi-domain, multi-incident AcciMap. The resulting AcciMap contains 5587 contributory factors spanning seventy-nine distinct contributory factor types. The findings reveal a set of generic contributory factors that consistently play a role in major accidents regardless of domain. Additionally, contributory factors previously only associated with sharp-end human operators are, in fact, prevalent across multiple levels of accident systems. The implications of these findings for accident theory and accident analysis and prevention activities are discussed. For future AcciMap analyses it is recommended that the contributory factor classification scheme developed in the present study is used to support the identification and classification of contributory factors. In addition, further education for analysts on the systems thinking perspective on accident causation is recommended
