University of the Sunshine Coast
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Crossing disciplines: Exploring the contribution of a critical futures approach to democratising community engagement with a focus on the gas industry
No full textPurpose – Social and environmental accountability by firms can be compromised by a lack of democracy within community engagement and decision-making processes. This is particularly evident in potential conflict situations such as with unconventional gas (UCG) extraction. Dialogic engagement sits within dialogic accounting theory and offers a potentially valuable contribution to democratisation. This study aims to contribute to dialogic engagement as practice through the application of critical futures theory and methodology, causal layered analysis (CLA). Design/methodology/approach – CLA was applied in field research firstly in interviews and then in a workshop setting involving participants with diverse perspectives on UCG. The workshop was planned around activities designed to: implement dialogic engagement as practice, critically unpack views on the present and future of UCG and energy needs through CLA; and evaluate the usefulness of the methodology. Findings – Findings suggest that CLA enables access to multiple, complex and nuanced perspectives and facilitates, a deeper understanding of participants own views and of other differing views in relation to UCG, 1) a deeper understanding of participants own views, and of other differing views in relation to UCG, 2) a deeper analysis in the identification of key themes in discussions around UCG, and, 3) the identification by participants of “preferred futures” and “uncertainties” concerning energy needs. Practical implications – CLA is a valuable tool for undertaking genuine community engagement and has wide-ranging application, one example being with interviews and focus groups. Moreover, with the inclusion of diverse perspectives, options and solutions emerging for consideration are increased. This in turn provides opportunities for creative decision-making through scenario identification and strategic development that potentially give rise to transformative possibilities. Social implications – CLA may well assist in moving firms, and indeed civil society, closer to reaching preferable social and environmental outcomes. Originality/value – This cross-disciplinary research applies an innovative approach and methodology, taking democratic engagement to new depths
Black Randall
No full textEight authors. Eight students. Eight stories. We are the University of the Sunshine Coast's graduating class of 2018. Our certificates say we are Masters of Professional Practice (Creative Writing). We say, 'Read our works.' Celebrate our graduation. Explore eMerge, an anthology from extracts of our novels. You want aliens and a matriarchal society--it's there. Dystopian Australia--no worries. A childhood robbed--get your handkerchief. A shipwrecked heroine--it's truly unbelievable. A lighthouse--see inside a family salvaged. An African slave, drummer boy and convict--a founder of Australia. The life of an unwed Victorian mother--experience the unimaginable. An alcoholic motorcyclist--rode around Australia--dry. Different worlds; different stories. Fiction and non-fiction. Brilliant works our foremost goal. These are the journeys of USC Masters. Our continuing mission: to explore our creativity; to seek out new styles; emerging work.... to boldly go where no student has gone before! [Book Synopsis
Reply to Horswill and Manica: FTLE is one of a suite of oceanographic variables useful for predicting bycatch risk in marine fisheries
No full textNo abstract available
A double-blind randomized placebo controlled study assessing safety, tolerability and efficacy of palmitoylethanolamide for symptoms of knee osteoarthritis
No full textBackground:
The aim of the study was to assess the safety, tolerability and efficacy of palmitoylethanolamide (PEA) when dosed at 300 mg and 600 mg per day on symptoms of knee osteoarthritis.
Methods:
This was a single site, comparative, double-blind placebo controlled study in adults with mild to moderate knee osteoarthritis with 111 participants randomized to receive 300 mg PEA, 600 mg PEA or placebo each day, in divided doses b.i.d, for 8 weeks. The primary outcome was the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC). The secondary outcomes were the Numerical Rating Scales (NRS) for pain, the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale (DASS), the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), the Pittsburg Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), the Short Form Health Survey (SF-36), the use of rescue pain medication and clinical safety assessment.
Results:
There was a significant reduction in the total WOMAC score in the 300 mg PEA (p = 0.0372) and the 600 mg PEA (p = 0.0012) groups, the WOMAC pain score (300 mg PEA, p = 0.0074; 600 mg PEA, p = < 0.001), the WOMAC stiffness score (PEA 300 mg, p < 0.0490; 600 mg PEA, p = 0.001) and in the WOMAC function score in the 600 mg PEA group (p = 0.033) compared to placebo. The NRS pain evaluations for "worst pain" and "least pain" were significantly reduced in the 300 mg PEA group (p < 0.001, p = 0.005) and the 600 mg PEA group (p < 0.001, p < 0.001) compared to placebo. There was a significant reduction in anxiety (DASS) in both active treatment groups (300 mg PEA, p = 0.042; 600 mg PEA group (p = 0.043) compared to placebo. There were no changes in the clinical markers and the product was well tolerated.
Conclusions:
The study demonstrated that palmitoylethanolamide may be a novel treatment for attenuating pain and reducing other associated symptoms of knee osteoarthritis. Further studies on the pharmacological basis of this anti-inflammatory effect are now required
Integrative genome-scale DNA Methylation analysis of a large and unselected cohort reveals five distinct subtypes of Colorectal Adenocarcinomas
No full textBACKGROUND AND AIMS: Colorectal cancer is an epigenetically heterogeneous disease, however the extent and spectrum of the CpG Island Methylator Phenotype (CIMP) is not clear. Methods: Genome scale methylation and transcript expression were measured using the Illumina HM450 DNA methylation and HT12 V3 expression microarrays in 216 unselected colorectal cancers, and findings validated using TCGA 450K and RNA-Seq data. Mutations in epigenetic regulators were assessed using CIMP subtyped Cancer Genome Atlas exomes. RESULTS: CIMP-High cancers dichotomised into CIMP-H1 and CIMP-H2 based on methylation profile. KRAS mutation was significantly associated with CIMP-H2 cancers, but not CIMP-H1 cancers. Congruent with increasing methylation, there was a stepwise increase in patient age from 62 years in the CIMP-Negative subgroup to 75 years in the CIMP-H1 subgroup (P<0.0001). CIMP-H1 were predominantly comprised of consensus molecular subtype 1 (CMS1) cancers (70%) whilst CMS3 was over-represented in the CIMP-H2 subgroup (55%). PRC2-marked loci were subjected to significant gene body methylation in CIMP cancers (P<1.6x10-78). We identified oncogenes susceptible to gene body methylation and Wnt pathway antagonists resistant to gene body methylation. CIMP cluster specific mutations were observed for in chromatin remodeling genes, such as in the SWI/SNF and CHD gene families. CONCLUSION: There are five clinically and molecularly distinct subgroups of colorectal cancer. We show a striking association between CIMP and age, gender and tumor location and identify an unidentified role for gene body methylation in progression of serrated neoplasia. These data support our recent findings that CIMP is uncommon in young patients and that BRAF mutant polyps in young patients may have limited potential for malignant progression
SPRINTING. . . Dietary Approaches to Optimize Training Adaptation and Performance
No full textAlthough sprint athletes are assumed to primarily be interested in promoting muscle hypertrophy, it is the ability to generate explosive muscle power, optimization of power-to-weight ratio, and enhancement of anaerobic energy generation that are key outcomes of sprint training. This reflects the physique of track sprinters, being characterized as ecto-mesomorphs. Although there is little contemporary data on sprinters dietary habits, given their moderate energy requirements relative to body mass, a carbohydrate intake within the range of 3–6 g·kg−1·day−1 appears reasonable, while ensuring carbohydrate availability is optimized around training. Similarly, although protein needs may be twice general population recommendations, sprint athletes should consume meals containing ∼0.4 g/kg high biological value protein (i.e., easily digested, rich in essential amino acids) every 3–5 hr. Despite the short duration of competitions and relative long-recovery periods between races, nutrition still plays an important role in sprint performance. As energy expenditure moderates during competition, so too should intake of energy and macronutrients to prevent unwanted weight gain. Further adjustments in macronutrient intake may be warranted among athletes contemplating optimization of power-to-weight ratio through reductions in body fat prior to the competitive season. Other novel acute methods of weight loss have also been proposed to enhance power-to-weight ratio, but their implementation should only be considered under professional guidance. Given the metabolic demands of sprinting, a few supplements may be of benefit to athletes in training and/or competition. Their use in competition should be preceded with trialing in training to confirm tolerance and perceived ergogenic potential
The influence of bowling velocity on movement variability in experienced older aged lawn bowlers
No full textObjective: This project examined the movement strategies adopted by highly experienced older aged lawn bowlers when performingDraw and Drive deliveries.
Design: Cross-sectional
Methods: Twenty five experienced (10.2 ± 7.8 years) older aged lawn bowlers (67.3 ± 7.0 years) who play lawn bowls at least once per week volunteered to participate in this study. Participants performed 10Draw and Drive deliveries at a target positioned 23 m away while standing on two force platforms (600 Hz), while an infrared motion capture system (200 Hz) recorded phases times and both foot and bowl positioning. Normalised Root Mean Square (NoRMS) analyses was used to assess the bowl path consistency during the delivery phase. Correlation analyses assessed for relationships between age and experience and the spatiotemporal variables, with paired t-tests and Effect Size (ES) analyses used to examine differences between delivery types.
Results: None of the spatiotemporal or NoRMS data achieved more than low correlations with either age or playing experience (R2 < 0.2). Although bowl release velocities were significantly slower for the Draw 5.25 ± 0.72 m/s than for the Drive deliveries 6.40 ± 0.97 m/s (P < .001, ES = 1.96) there were limited changes in any of the spatiotemporal variables. NoRMS data remained largely unchanged between Draw (5.10 ± 1.65) and Drive (5.07 ± 1.49, P = .925, ES = 0.02) deliveries.
Conclusion: These highly experienced lawn bowlers are adapting their technique to the different task demands of the two delivery types without altering their specific movement strategies
Acute Dietary Nitrate Supplementation Improves Flow Mediated Dilatation of the Superficial Femoral Artery in Healthy Older Males
No full textAging is often associated with reduced leg blood flow, increased arterial stiffness, and endothelial dysfunction, all of which are related to declining nitric oxide (NO) bioavailability. Flow mediated dilatation (FMD) and passive leg movement (PLM) hyperaemia are two techniques used to measure NO-dependent vascular function. We hypothesised that acute dietary nitrate (NO3−) supplementation would improve NO bioavailability, leg FMD, and PLM hyperaemia. Fifteen healthy older men (69 ± 4 years) attended two experiment sessions and consumed either 140 mL of concentrated beetroot juice (800 mg NO3−) or placebo (NO3−-depleted beetroot juice) in a randomised, double blind, cross-over design study. Plasma nitrite (NO2−) and NO3−, blood pressure (BP), augmentation index (AIx75), pulse wave velocity (PWV), FMD of the superficial femoral artery, and PLM hyperaemia were measured immediately before and 2.5 h after consuming NO3− and placebo. Placebo had no effect but NO3− led to an 8.6-fold increase in plasma NO2−, which was accompanied by an increase in FMD (NO3−: +1.18 ± 0.94% vs. placebo: 0.23 ± 1.13%, p = 0.002), and a reduction in AIx75 (NO3−: −8.7 ± 11.6% vs. placebo: −4.6 ± 5.5%, p = 0.027). PLM hyperaemia, BP, and PWV were unchanged during both trials. This study showed that a dose of dietary NO3− improved NO bioavailability and enhanced endothelial function as measured by femoral artery FMD. These findings provide insight into the specific central and peripheral vascular responses to dietary NO3− supplementation in older adult
Neurocognitive performance is enhanced during short periods of microgravity—Part 2
No full textPrevious studies showed a decrease in reaction time during the weightlessness phase of a parabolic flight. This effect was found to be stronger with increasing task complexity and was independent of previous experience of weightlessness as well as anti-nausea medication. Analysis of event related potentials showed a decreased amplitude of the N100-P200 complex in weightlessness but was not able to distinguish a possible effect of task complexity.
The present study aimed to extend this previous work, by comparing behavioral (reaction time) and neurological (event related potentials analysis) performance to a simple (oddball) and a complex (mental arithmetic + oddball) task during weightlessness.
28 participants participated in two experiments. 11 participants performed a simple oddball experiment in the 1G and 0G phases of a parabolic flight. 17 participants were presented a complex arithmetic task in combination with an oddball task during the 1G and 0G phases of a parabolic flight. Reaction time as well as event related potentials (ERP) were assessed.
Results revealed a reduced reaction time (p < .05) for the complex task during 0G. No gravity effects on reaction time were found for the simple task. In both experiments a reduction of typical ERP amplitudes was noticeable in weightlessness.
It is assumed that the weightlessness induced fluid shift to the brain is positively affecting neuro-behavioral performance