University of the Sunshine Coast
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The role of seafood sustainability knowledge in seafood purchase decisions
No full textPurpose:
The purpose of this paper is to explore consumer knowledge of seafood sustainability and how that knowledge influences the purchase of seafood products.
Design/methodology/approach:
Using an online survey (n=1,319), the authors investigated Australian consumer knowledge of seafood sustainability and the drivers of purchase choice. Objective knowledge categories were developed through the qualitative analysis of unprompted, open-ended responses and compared with other surveyed measures of objective knowledge. The relationship between these knowledge categories and the importance of sustainability in the purchase decision was tested.
Findings:
A significant group of consumers either had no knowledge of seafood sustainability (17.8 per cent) or gave an incorrect response (15.5 per cent), while 25.1 per cent demonstrated simple and 41.6 per cent complex knowledge. Further, the knowledge was positively related to importance of sustainability when making purchase decisions. Sustainability moved from the lowest ranked attribute for the no knowledge group to the highest ranked attribute for the complex knowledge group.
Research limitations/implications:
The results show that the consumer knowledge about sustainable seafood cannot be assumed and that the level of sustainability knowledge influences the importance of sustainability in the purchase decision.
Practical implications:
The results suggest that information-based strategies based on a universally shared definition of sustainability in the seafood industry designed to drive sustainable consumer behaviour for seafood must take the account of consumer knowledge.
Originality/value:
This paper identifies and provides a classification framework for levels of consumer knowledge about sustainable seafood and demonstrates a positive relationship between knowledge and the importance of sustainability in consumer decisions with regard to purchasing seafood
My-AHA: D7.4 Preparation of a consensus document for recruitment centres participating to the project
No full textThis informed consent form was generated to recruit and especially inform participants of the my-AHA waves 1 and 2 in a more or less standardized way. Especially in wave 2 testing sites will be in very different countries (not only in Europe but also in South Korea, Japan and Australia) with different cultures and legal regulations it is expected that the present documents must be adapted to the local needs. This form is developed by taking into consideration the specific national/ regional requirements but in parallel by bringing them in line as far as possible. The aim was to align the procedure and content of informing participants about the project, the trials, their requirements, data privacy etc. Therewith the consortium ensures to inform participants on a same/ very similar level and further to avoid a bias at the very beginning of the waves
Psychological factors associated with the use of weight management behaviours in young adults
No full textWe modified the Weight Control Behaviours scale to explore unhealthy/healthy behaviours to increase, decrease or maintain weight in young adults (N=1082) and associations with body mass index, depression and body image. Females reported more use of all strategies except those which increase body size or exercising to exhaustion. Although the sample reported more use of healthy weight management strategies, the use of dangerous ones warrants attention by healthcare professionals. Feelings of fatness was an important predictor of weight management behaviours. Public health campaigns should focus on the harmfulness of unhealthy weight management practices as well as the importance of healthy ones
Genetic variations in E6, E7 and the long control region of human papillomavirus type 16 among patients with cervical lesions in Xinjiang, China
No full textBackground:
Xinjiang is one of the areas with the highest incidence of cervical cancer in China. Genetic variation in Human papillomavirus type 16 (HPV16) may increase the ability of the virus to mediate carcinogenesis and immune escape, which are risk factors for the progression of cervical cancer. We investigated polymorphism in HPV16 and the distribution of its sub-lineages in the region by analyzing the E6, E7 and long control region (LCR) gene sequences from women with HPV16-positive cervical samples in Xinjiang.
Methods:
A total of 138 cases of cervical lesions and squamous cell carcinoma with infection of HPV16 virus were collected. The E6 and E7 genes and LCR of HPV16 virus were sequenced and compared with the HPV16 European prototype reference and other HPV16 mutants for single nucleotide polymorphisms. Neighbor-joining phylogenetic trees were constructed using E6, E7 and LCR sequences.
Results:
Fourteen missense mutations were found in the E6 gene; the loci with the highest mutation frequency were T350G (36/75, 48%) and T178G (19/75, 25.3%). In the E7 gene, the locus with the highest mutation frequency was A647G (18/75, 24%). A total of 33 polymorphic sites were found in the LCR, of which T7447C (39/95, 40.1%) was the most frequent.
Conclusion:
HPV16 in Xinjiang is mainly of the European variant, followed by the Asian variant type; no Africa 1, 2 or Asia–America variant types were found
A Biopsychosocial Approach to Aquatic-Based Exercise Interventions for Chronic and Disabling Conditions
No full textPurpose: The purpose of this research was to explore aquatic-based exercise as an intervention for chronic and disabling conditions. This research explored the implications of aquatic-based exercise interventions and links to participation and adherence from the perspective of key stakeholders.
Method: A pragmatic approach was taken to this research, influenced by the researcher’s occupational therapy background and by the biopsychosocial model; the most practical method for answering each of the research questions was employed. The biopsychosocial model directed the exploration of aquatic-based exercise interventions and provided a structure to organise the aquatic research, to identify gaps that need to be addressed, and to provide a platform for the development of practice principles.
Guided by the biopsychosocial lens, this research involved reviewing the literature to identify and synthesise the current best evidence for the effectiveness of aquatic-based exercise interventions. This was followed by three qualitative studies that involved a series of focus groups with key stakeholders in order to address gaps identified by the literature reviews, identify factors associated with participation and adherence, and to provide input into the development of aquatic-based exercise principles.
In a practical sense, this research sought to address the ‘why’ and ‘how’ of aquatic-based exercise interventions. The ‘why’ was addressed in the first part of this research where the evidence for the effectiveness of aquatic-based exercise was explored. This part of the research involved reviewing the literature, in the form of an evidence map and scoping review, to identify and synthesise the current best evidence for the effectiveness of aquatic-based exercise interventions. This was followed by a series of focus groups to expand on current understanding of the effectiveness of such interventions and to gather input from aquatic users. The ‘how’ was addressed through a series of focus groups, the data from which supported the development of a set of principles to guide the implementation of aquatic-based exercise interventions that promote participation and adherence with these interventions.
Findings: Aquatic-based exercise appears to be an effective intervention for meeting the complex needs of people with chronic and disabling conditions. This research suggests that users of aquatic-based exercise can experience benefits across biological, psychological and social domains, and consideration of several program factors not only impacts these benefits, but also promotes participation and adherence with aquatic-based exercise, an important aspect to consider given the chronicity of these conditions.
The culmination of literature and research studies was the development of theory driven, evidence-based principles to guide the development and implementation of aquatic-based exercise interventions with a focus on clients with chronic and disabling conditions. These principles can be used to support the successful implementation of aquatic-based exercise interventions, help guide the referral of clients to the aquatic environment and assist with delivery of the aquatic interventions. Furthermore, these principles can serve as a template for future researchers for development of additional symptom-specific or disease-specific guidelines related to aquatic-based exercise interventions.Submitted in the fulfilment of the requirements of the degree of Doctor of Philosophy, University of the Sunshine Coast, 2019
Understanding elite-student athlete experiences with university supporting services
No full textUniversities around the world have created programs which offer supporting services assisting elite student-athletes to manage study and sport commitments. Although these programs are well embraced among Australian universities, many of them are in their early phases of establishment and it is important to evaluate the experiences of the elite student-athletes engaged in such programs. To address this need, this study administered a questionnaire to student-athletes who participate in elite student-athletes programs offered at Australian universities. The purpose was to understand their perceptions regarding the range, importance and general satisfaction with the services and support offered. This report presents the results of the n=867 valid responses collected from a total of 27 universities across seven Australian states and territories
A model of amygdala function following plastic changes at specific synapses during extinction
No full textThe synaptic networks in the amygdala have been the subject of intense interest in recent times, primarily because of the role of this structure in emotion. Fear and itsextinction depend on the workings of these networks, with particular interest in extinction because of its potential to ameliorate adverse symptoms associated withpost-traumatic stress disorder. Here we place emphasis on the extinction networks revealed by recent techniques, and on the probable plasticity properties of theirsynaptic connections. We use modules of neurons representing each of the principal components identified as involved in extinction. Each of these modules consistsof neural networks, containing specific ratios of excitatory and specialized inhibitory neurons as well as synaptic plasticity mechanisms appropriate for the com-ponent of the amygdala they represent. While these models can produce dynamic output, here we concentrate on the equilibrium outputs and do not model thedetails of the plasticity mechanisms. Pavlovian fear conditioning generates a fear memory in the lateral amygdala module that leads to activation of neurons in thebasal nucleus fear module but not in the basal nucleus extinction module. Extinction protocols excite infralimbic medial prefrontal cortex neurons (IL) which in turnexcite so-called extinction neurons in the amygdala, leading to the release of endocannabinoids from them and an increase in efficacy of synapses formed by lateralamygdala neurons on them. The model simulations show how such a mechanism could explain experimental observations involving the role of IL as well asendocannabinoids in different temporal phases of extinction
Work Hard, Play Hard: Work-Life Balance in Small Business
No full textThis chapter concerns work-life balance in small business models and compares work-life balance situations for both the owners of franchised and independently owned non-franchised small businesses. It provides a framework to assist and empower individuals to take control of their own outcomes, whilst managing the multiplicity of roles that constitute work and life. The research project follows a qualitative research method in the realist paradigm using case studies. It comprises a variety of data sources such as in-depth interviews, personally administered questionnaires, and interviewer observations. The concept of work-life balance has different meanings for many different people. Generally, most individuals in small business reconcile competing work and life demands on an ad hoc basis. This research is unique. It is the first empirical analysis conducted in Australia that compares the work-life balance of franchised and independent small business owners
Decoding Cities to Model, Assess and Redesign them as Complex Urban Systems
No full textThe complexity of cities presents a key challenge in being able to ‘decode‘ and subsequently measure or describe them. Adding to these challenges is the transdisciplinary nature of city design which largely accords to disciplinary silos. This research argues that successful city design can benefit from understanding cities as complex sociotechnical systems – considering the interaction between humans, technology and the environment. This paper provides a precis of a programme of research which utilised the results of an international survey to ‘decode’ and construct a systems model of a main street to help understand and appropriately respond to city complexity. The research uses subject matter expert knowledge and insights from 70 survey participants, across 5 continents, to model an archetype main street. The project describes and models hundreds of physical objects, priority measures and main street functions with linkages between these components. The model allows for the exploration and measurement of a range of both technical characteristics such as engineering standards, as well as the influence and outcomes of necessary subjective measures like, user experience. It was able to provide an insight about which characteristics are critical to the city system, how they are delivered and why they are important - from a transdisciplinary perspective. This paper also highlights the work done to identify the relationships between the physical objects of a main street. Further details of the research programme are highlighted in the conclusions, including how the archetype model was used to explore the performance of a main street case study, identify missing components and locate them with consideration of their optimal proximity to other related features. We argue that this innovative approach may provide a more structured and process driven exploration of city design
Travel constraint perceptions of people with mobility disability: a study of Sichuan earthquake survivors
No full textThis research examines how different socio-demographic and travel characteristics influence the perceptions of travel constraints of people with mobility disability. Using a mixed-methods approach, the research conducted a questionnaire survey with 157 Sichuan Earthquake survivors who suffer from different levels of mobility disability, supplemented by 22 semi-structured interviews. Findings revealed that age, education, income, and marital status were the sociodemographic variables, and travel frequency, expenditure, motives, time and companions were the travel-related factors influencing the travel constraint perceptions of people with mobility disability. A novel contribution to the literature is the core finding that a life-cycle pattern was identified in the relationship between age and travel constraints. For instance, age is negatively correlated with interpersonal constraint while positively correlated with intrapersonal constraint. Contrary to the reporting in extant studies, this research did not find that severity of mobility isability affects perceptions of travel constraints. Practically, this research adds further theoretically information substance to the notion that destination managers should consider