University of the Sunshine Coast
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Seasonal spatial segregation in blue sharks (Prionace glauca) by sex and size class in the Northeast Pacific Ocean
No full textAim: Animal tracking can provide unique insights into the ecology and conservation of marine species, such as the partitioning of habitat, including differences between life history stages or sexes, and can inform fisheries stock assessments, bycatch reduction and spatial management such as dynamic management. Location: Northeast Pacific Ocean. Methods: We used satellite tracking data from 47 blue sharks (Prionace glauca) from the Northeast Pacific to determine movements and home range along the west coast of North America, and sex–size class (immature females, mature males) specific habitat preferences using boosted regression trees. Using a suite of static and dynamic environmental variables, we determined distribution and habitat preferences across summer and fall for each sex–size class. Results: We found that there was spatial segregation between sex–size classes particularly in the summer months with immature females found largely north of 33°N, and males south of 35°N. In fall, females travelled south, resulting in an overlap in distributions south of 37°N. Sea surface temperature (SST), latitude and longitude were top predictors. However, immature females and adult males demonstrated unique habitat preferences including SST, with immature females preferring cooler temperatures (SST < 15°C) than adult males in summer, and a broader band of SST than adult males in fall. All models performed well, explaining 50%–67% of deviance, and 23%–41% of deviance when predictions were cross‐validated. Main conclusions: We provide first insights into coastal movements and habitat preferences of blue sharks in the Northeast Pacific. We found that immature females undergo a seasonal southward migration in this more coastal habitat, similar to patterns observed in the North Atlantic. We also found some overlap between adult males and immature females in fall months, suggesting the importance of more coastal habitat in managing this species, particularly in determining population structure for blue shark stock assessments, and reducing blue shark bycatch
Who CARES? Fostering Emotionally Intelligent Clinical Leaders through Peer Social Support Groups
No full textNo abstract available
Whole-genome sequencing to differentiate relapse from reinfection in community-onset bacteremic cinetobacter baumannii pneumonia
No full textCommunity-onset bacteremic Acinetobacter baumannii pneumonia recurred in three of 30 (10%) patients followed prospectively, all with ongoing hazardous alcohol intake, 3-56 months after initial pneumonia. Paired isolates underwent whole-genome sequencing. Phylogenetic analysis showed that recurrence strains were all distinct from preceding strains, indicating reinfection in susceptible individuals rather than relapse
What is the prevalence, and what are the clinical correlates, of insulin resistance in young people presenting for mental health care? A cross-sectional study
No full textObjectives To report the distribution and predictors of insulin resistance (IR) in young people presenting to primary care-based mental health services.
Design Cross-sectional.
Setting Headspace-linked clinics operated by the Brain and Mind Centre of the University of Sydney.
Participants 768 young people (66% female, mean age 19.7±3.5, range 12–30 years).
Main outcome measures IR was estimated using the updated homeostatic model assessment (HOMA2-IR). Height and weight were collected from direct measurement or self-report for body mass index (BMI).
Results For BMI, 20.6% of the cohort were overweight and 10.2% were obese. However, 6.9 mmol/L). By contrast, 9.9% had a HOMA2-IR score >2.0 (suggesting development of IR) and 11.7% (n=90) had a score between 1.5 and 2. Further, there was a positive correlation between BMI and HOMA2-IR (r=0.44, p<0.001). Participants in the upper third of HOMA2-IR scores are characterised by younger age, higher BMIs and depression as a primary diagnosis. HOMA2-IR was predicted by younger age (β=0.19, p<0.001) and higher BMI (β=0.49, p<0.001), together explaining 22% of the variance (F(2,361)=52.1, p<0.001).
Conclusions Emerging IR is evident in a significant subgroup of young people presenting to primary care-based mental health services. While the major modifiable risk factor is BMI, a large proportion of the variance is not accounted for by other demographic, clinical or treatment factors. Given the early emergence of IR, secondary prevention interventions may need to commence prior to the development of full-threshold or major mood or psychotic disorders
The course of neuropsychological functioning in young people with attenuated versus discrete mental disorders
No full textAIM:
Clinical staging of mental disorders is designed to facilitate the selection of stage-appropriate interventions, early in the course of illness. Neuropsychological performance, particularly at early stages of mental disorder, is a strong predictor of medium-term functional outcomes. Despite this, the longitudinal examination of neuropsychological profiles in early stages of illness is poorly researched. Thus, we examined baseline and longitudinal neuropsychological profiles of young patients with attenuated syndromes vs those with discrete disorders.
METHODS:
Neuropsychological testing of 497 help-seeking young people (21.2 ± 3 years; 56% female). Clinical staging, assigned separately from testing, rated 262 individuals as "attenuated syndrome" (stage 1b) and 235 as "discrete" or "persistent" disorder (stage 2+). Follow-up testing was undertaken in 170 individuals (54% at stage 1b) after 19.8 ± 9 months (range: 3 to 51 months).
RESULTS:
At baseline, attenuated and discrete/persistent disorders significantly differed in 4 of the 9 neuropsychological measures (verbal learning, verbal memory, visual memory and set shifting). Despite this, both groups showed similar improvement in neuropsychological functioning at follow-up, particularly in processing speed, sustained attention and visual memory. Longitudinal improvement in cognition corresponded with increases in socio-occupational functioning.
DISCUSSION:
The degree of baseline neuropsychological dysfunction discriminates those with attenuated syndromes from those with a discrete/persistent disorder. Furthermore, improvement in neuropsychological functioning corresponded with improvement in clinical and functional status, despite stage of illness. This suggests that neuropsychological functioning remains relatively stable in young people with a mental illness and may be a critical window for intervention
Affective engagement as a contextual dimension for predicting intentions to revisit and recommend events – a multinational comparison
No full textWithin the current experience economy, the emotive and affective dimensions of event visitors’ engagement are becoming increasingly important. This study uses the well-established Event Experience Scale (EES) developed by the Association for Tourism and Leisure Education and Research (ATLAS) event experience project, to explore attendees’ affective engagement in a multinational context and across various types of events (N = 852). The associations between visitors’ affective engagement in event experiences and their propensity to visit the destination and recommend the event to others are also explored and verified. The results highlight the importance of affective engagement in shaping attendees’ future behavioural intentions. Excitement was the most powerful predictor of intentions to recommend and revisit an event. The results also indicate the heterogeneity of perceptions of the different dimensions of affective engagement at different types of events. We suggest new possibilities for event organisers to plan and design different types of events that will generate higher levels of affective engagement and increase loyalty
Project Synergy: co-designing technology-enabled solutions for Australian mental health services reform
No full textProject Synergy aims to test the potential of new and emerging technologies to enhance the quality of mental health care provided by traditional face-to-face services. Specifically, it seeks to ensure that consumers get the right care, first time (delivery of effective mental health care early in the course of illness). Using co-design with affected individuals, Project Synergy has built, implemented and evaluated an online platform to assist the assessment, feedback, management and monitoring of people with mental disorders. It also promotes the maintenance of wellbeing by collating health and social information from consumers, their supportive others and health professionals. This information is reported back openly to consumers and their service providers to promote genuine collaborative care. The online platform does not provide stand-alone medical or health advice, risk assessment, clinical diagnosis or treatment; instead, it supports users to decide what may be suitable care options. Using an iterative cycle of research and development, the first four studies of Project Synergy (2014-2016) involved the development of different types of online prototypes for young people (i) attending university; (ii) in three disadvantaged communities in New South Wales; (iii) at risk of suicide; and (iv) attending five headspace centres. These contributed valuable information concerning the co-design, build, user testing and evaluation of prototypes, as well as staff experiences during development and service quality improvements following implementation. Through ongoing research and development (2017-2020), these prototypes underpin one online platform that aims to support better multidimensional mental health outcomes for consumers; more efficient, effective and appropriate use of health professional knowledge and clinical skills; and quality improvements in mental health service delivery
The effect of a purpose-built memory support unit on the transition to high level dementia care; Perspectives of multiple participants
No full textBackground:
Australia faces the challenge of an ageing population. The incidence of people with dementia unable to live in the community is expected to rise leading to demands on care facilities to provide specialised care. This paper reports on the effect a purpose-built Memory Support Unit has on multiple participants during the transition from home, or an aged care residence, to high level dementia care.
Aim:
The aim of this research was to understand the effect of a purpose-built Memory Support Unit on the experiences of those with dementia who are transitioning into this environment, their family or carers and staff.
Method:
A qualitative descriptive methodology was adopted to frame the research. Face-to-face interviews were conducted with nine family members, two residents and three Registered Nurses.
Findings:
A purpose-built Memory Support Unit may have a positive effect on the older person, their families, carers and staff, thus improving the experience of all participants as the older person transitions into dementia care. Optimising design of the physical environment may foster a more person-centered orientation to care and positive outcomes for residents, family members or carers and staff.
Conclusions:
Purpose built environments may have a meaningful subjective effect on the wellbeing of older people during the transition from their residence to permanent dementia care, their family, carers and staff. It is recommended that architects, funding agencies and aged care providers engage with the growing body of evidence that purpose-built environments, such as the Memory Support Unit, to enhance the quality of the experience of those transitioning to high level dementia care, their family or carers and staff
Book Review: Capital Designs: Australia House and Visions of an Imperial London
No full textNo abstract available
Translation of a Mediterranean-Style Diet into the Australian Dietary Guidelines: A Nutritional, Ecological and Environmental Perspective
No full textA Mediterranean diet (MedDiet) has been widely investigated and promoted as one of the ‘healthiest’ dietary patterns with respect to reductions in chronic disease risk and longevity. Moreover, it also emphasizes a plant-based dietary pattern consistent with an environmentally sustainable healthy reference diet conveyed by the EAT-Lancet Commission report. Nevertheless, the MedDiet does not exclude, but rather moderates consumption of animal-based foods, and therefore has emerged as a dietary pattern that could address both health and environmental concerns. However, whether non-Mediterranean countries such as Australia can adhere to such dietary principles is less clear. In this narrative review, we present evidence from eight randomized control trials conducted in Australia which demonstrates impressive and sustained adherence to a MedDiet intervention. However, we also report heterogeneity in the dietary protocols and prescriptive interpretation of a MedDiet across all studies presented in this review, making interpretations of the efficacy and adherence challenging. Based on the observable health benefits, translating key dietary elements of a Mediterranean-style diet within the Australian population remains attractive. However, adapting or modernizing traditional dietary patterns to satisfy the population’s nutritional requirements and/or acceptability warrants further exploration