University of the Sunshine Coast
USC Research Bank - University of the Sunshine CoastNot a member yet
28663 research outputs found
Sort by
Isolation of Tetracycline-Resistant Chlamydia suis from a Pig Herd Affected by Reproductive Disorders and Conjunctivitis
No full textDue to various challenges in diagnosing chlamydiosis in pigs, antibiotic treatment is usually performed before any molecular or antibiotic susceptibility testing. This could increase the occurrence of tetracycline-resistant Chlamydia (C.) suis isolates in the affected pig population and potentiate the reoccurrence of clinical signs. Here, we present a case of an Austrian pig farm, where tetracycline resistant and sensitive C. suis isolates were isolated from four finishers with conjunctivitis. On herd-level, 10% of the finishers suffered from severe conjunctivitis and sows showed a high percentage of irregular return to estrus. Subsequent treatment of whole-herd using oxytetracycline led to a significant reduction of clinical signs. Retrospective antibiotic susceptibility testing revealed tetracycline resistance and decreased susceptibility to doxycycline in half of the ocular C. suis isolates, and all isolates were able to partially recover following a single-dose tetracycline treatment in vitro. These findings were later confirmed in vivo, when all former clinical signs recurred three months later. This case report raises awareness of tetracycline resistance in C. suis and emphasizes the importance of preventative selection of tetracycline resistant C. suis isolates
Care in the contested geographies of Dolphin-Assisted Therapy
No full textScholarship recognizes the co-construction of space by humans and non-human animals (hence, animals), but the complex geographies of some animals whose lives depend upon human care remain under-studied. This article explores human–dolphin relations within the context of Dolphin-Assisted Therapy (DAT), a practice in which most dolphins are in human care. We trace a genealogy of dolphin–human relations in built environments, and draw on a DAT case study in Curacao, to understand how the entangled agencies of humans, dolphins and other actants have co-constructed spaces of mutual therapy and care. Our research highlights the circumstances of ‘legacy dolphins’ in DAT, dolphins whose lives depend on human care. We suggest that, while the services of dolphins are recommodified through DAT, the legacy dolphin is de-commodified through ‘relations of obligation’ built on mutual ‘caring for’ as both companion species and work colleague. © 2018 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Grou
Current practice in dialysis central venous catheter management: multi-disciplinary renal team perspectives
No full textAim:
To explore the current practices related to the insertion, management and removal of dialysis central venous catheters used in patients with chronic kidney disease requiring haemodialysis.
Methods:
This qualitative descriptive study involved semi‐structured interviews with surgeons, interventional radiologists, renal physicians, dialysis nurses, renal access nurses and renal researchers involved in the care of patients with chronic kidney disease requiring haemodialysis. Data were collected from staff at eight hospitals in six States and Territories of Australia. Thirty‐eight face‐to‐face interviews were conducted. A modified five‐step qualitative content analysis approach was used to analyse the data.
Results:
Improved visualisation technology and its use by interventional radiologists has steered insertions to specialist teams in specialist locations. This is thought to have decreased risk and improved patient outcomes. Nurses were identified as the professional group responsible for maintaining catheter access integrity, preventing access failure and reducing access related complications. While best practice was considered important, justifications for variations in practice related to local patient and environment challenges, were identified.
Conclusions:
The interdisciplinary team is central in the insertion, maintenance, removal and education of patients regarding dialysis central venous catheters. Clinicians temper research‐based decision‐making about central dialysis access catheter management with knowledge of individual, environmental and patient factors. Strategies to ensure guidelines are appropriately translated for use in a wide variety of settings are necessary for patient safety
Insights into the use of an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) to investigate the behavior of humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) in Vava'u, Kingdom of Tonga
No full textVertical take‐off and landing (VTOL) unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) are becoming invaluable data collection platforms for cetacean research. In particular, multi‐rotors can be used to measure whales and investigate their behavior. Moreover, VTOL UAVs are increasingly accessible for recreational and commercial pilots, and close encounters with whales are widely documented. Unfortunately, quantitative assessments of potential disturbance for the targeted animals are not yet published and guidelines for responsible use of UAVs around cetaceans are still under development. We conducted VTOL UAV surveys on humpback whales in Vava'u, Kingdom of Tonga. Interestingly, whale behaviors such as socializing and nurturing were not detected by trained observers on board the research vessel, but were evident from the UAV. Nevertheless, no significant differences were detected in diving and swim parameters between absence and presence of UAV flying at 30 m altitude. These results suggest that VTOL UAVs can be a noninvasive tool to gather morphometric and behavioral data on baleen whales. However, further research is necessary to establish whether applications that require flight altitudes lower than 30 m and targeting different species may elicit behavioral responses
Readmission Following Hospitalization for Alcoholic Hepatitis: Costly or Cost-Effective?
No full textNo abstract available
A Model of Entrepreneurship Education in Franchising – Application of Outside-in Marketing with a Behavioural Focus
No full textPurpose – Drawing on an outside-in marketing perspective, this paper aims to outline the development, implementation, evaluation and reflection of a real-world entrepreneurship education (EE) intervention with cognitive, affective and ultimately behavioural objectives. Design/methodology/approach – A specific and uniform EE program specifically targeted to current “would be” entrepreneurs who were investigating the franchising business model was developed, focusing on the behavioural outcomes. The effectiveness of the EE intervention was evaluated using a quasi-experimental research design, which involved franchisees who had not participated in the EE intervention (control group) and franchisees who had participated in the EE intervention (experimental group). The administration of the national on-line survey yielded a total of 520 responses (194 in the experimental group and 326 in the control group). Findings – The planning process in the pre-intervention stage included situation analysis, objective setting and decisions in relation to the communication strategy, i.e. content and mode. The effectiveness of the EE intervention was evaluated in the post-intervention stage. The findings indicate that EE intervention resulted in participants’ positive cognitive, affective and behavioural outcomes such as performance and relationship management. Finally, following a reflection process, additional elements covering topics related to work-life balance were incorporated into the module pertaining to an individual’s suitability to become a franchisee. Originality/value – This paper proposes a conceptual framework that represents an outside-in EE approach whereby problems, audiences, objectives and communication strategies (content and method) are strategically intertwined to produce relevant, measurable and diagnostic behavioural outcomes. The EE intervention can also improve the B2B relationship between actors in a business network
Effects of a Nitrification Inhibitor on Nitrogen Species in the Soil and the Yield and Phosphorus Uptake of Maize
No full textPhosphorus (P) resource availability is declining and the efficiency of applied nutrients in agricultural soils is becoming increasingly important. This is especially true for P fertilizers from recycled materials, which often have low plant availability. Specific co-fertilization with ammonium can enhance P plant availability in soils amended with these P fertilizers, and thus the yield of plants. To investigate this effect, we performed a pot experiment with maize in slightly acidic soil (pH 6.9) with one water-soluble (triple superphosphate [TSP]) and two water-insoluble (sewage sludge-based and hyperphosphate [Hyp]) P fertilizers and an ammonium sulfate nitrate with or without a nitrification inhibitor (NI). The dry matter yield of maize was significantly increased by the NI with the Hyp (from 14.7 to 21.5 g/pot) and TSP (from 40.0 to 45.4 g/pot) treatments. Furthermore, P uptake was slightly increased in all three P treatments with the NI, but not significantly. Olsen-P extraction and P K-edge micro-X-ray absorption near-edge structure (XANES) spectroscopy showed that apatite-P of the water-insoluble P fertilizers mobilized during the plant growth period. In addition, novel nitrogen (N) K-edge micro-XANES spectroscopy and the Mogilevkina method showed that the application of an NI increased the fixation of ammonium in detectable hot spots in the soil. Thus, the delay in the nitrification process by the NI and the possible slow-release of temporarily fixed ammonium in the soil resulted in a high amount of plant available ammonium in the soil solution. This development probably decreases the rhizosphere pH due to release of H+ by plants during ammonium uptake, which mobilizes phosphorus in the amended soil and increases the dry matter yield of maize. This is especially important for water-insoluble apatite-based P fertilizers (conventional and recycled), which tend to have poor plant availability
Creating Effective Franchising Relationships: Challenges of Managing Mature Franchisees
No full textThis case study demonstrates how a franchisor tailors the franchising service to maximise the effectiveness of the franchising relationship. The research uses an ethnographic approach to examine the relationship between a franchisor and several mature franchisees in a service industry franchise. It is well known that franchisees progress through various phases during the relationship. In this study, we focus on how and why mature franchisees differ in their attitudes and performance from immature franchisees, and we examine how the franchisor manages franchisees to maximise their potential. This study has developed a framework that describes the challenges and solutions for managing mature franchisees. The research reveals that franchisors need to keep experienced franchisees motivated and challenged if they are to remain dynamic operators within the system. On top of that, franchisors must remember the importance of transparency, and ensure the right recruitment of area managers whom the franchisees could trust and communicate with effectively. Additionally, there is a need to recognise that each franchisee is unique and must be managed individually, which involves recognising the stage of development through which the franchisee is progressing
The identity of Catholic schools as seen by teachers in Catholic schools in Queensland
No full textThis chapter reports on the opinions of teachers in Queensland Catholic schools regarding the identity, purposes and characteristics of Catholic schools. It draws on survey data from 2,287 teachers in Catholic schools as well as semi-structured interviews with 20 teachers. Respondents were asked about their reasons for working in Catholic Education and the faith-based identity, purposes and characteristics of Catholic schools. The vast majority believe that Catholic schools are different or very different to other schools and that the faith-based identity of Catholic schools is important or very important. More than half the survey respondents gave the ‘environment of Catholic schools’ as their main reason for working in Catholic schools, followed by ‘commitment to the Catholic faith’. Providing a ‘safe and nurturing environment’ was also the most popular choice for the purpose of Catholic schools, ahead of more explicitly faith-based options, while ‘caring community’ was by far the most popular characteristic of Catholic schools. Key predictor variables are identified and the implications of some of the key findings are considered with particular reference to the future of Catholic education