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A review of pregnancy information on nutrition, physical activity and sleep websites
No full textHayman, MJ ORCiD: 0000-0003-1469-3496; Lastella, AM ORCiD: 0000-0003-1793-3811; Vandelanotte, CL ORCiD: 0000-0002-4445-8094Problem: Most pregnant women report using the internet to source health information during pregnancy. However, little is known about the information presented on the internet and whether it is consistent with current evidence-based guidelines. Background: Pregnancy is considered a risk period for women as it is associated with poorer health behaviours including an inadequate diet, decreased physical activity and reduced sleep. As a result, pregnant women and their unborn child are at a greater risk of adverse health outcomes. Aim: The purpose of this study was to review pregnancy related information about nutrition, physical activity and sleep provided on Australian government and leading industry body websites, and to compare this information to current evidence-based guidelines. Methods: A systematic online search was conducted to identify Australian Government, and leading industry websites that provided information on nutrition, physical activity, or sleep during pregnancy. The content of each website was reviewed and compared against current nutrition, physical activity and sleep guidelines. Findings: 27 government and leading industry websites were included in this study. 18 websites included nutritional information, none of which aligned 100% with guidelines. Nine websites included physical activity information, only one of which was 100% in accordance with guidelines. Two websites included information on sleep during pregnancy, however neither were in accordance with guidelines. Conclusion: Women are accessing information via the internet that is not in accordance with current evidence-based guidelines. These results call to attention the need for government and leading industry websites to review and update their website information in accordance with current evidence-based guidelines. © 201
Characteristics of free air carbon dioxide enrichment of a northern temperate mature forest
No full textTausz, M ORCiD: 0000-0001-8205-8561In 2017, the Birmingham Institute of Forest Research (BIFoR) began to conduct Free Air Carbon Dioxide Enrichment (FACE) within a mature broadleaf deciduous forest situated in the United Kingdom. BIFoR FACE employs large scale infrastructure, in the form of lattice towers, forming 'arrays' which encircle a forest plot of ~30 m diameter. BIFoR FACE consists of three treatment arrays to elevate local CO2 concentrations (e[CO2 ]) by +150 μmol mol-1 . In practice, acceptable operational enrichment (ambient [CO2 ] + e[CO2 ]) is ± 20% of the set-point 1-minute average target. There are a further three arrays that replicate the infrastructure and deliver ambient air as paired controls for the treatment arrays. For the first growing season with e[CO2 ] (April to November 2017), [CO2 ] measurements in treatment and control arrays show that the target concentration was successfully delivered, i.e.: +147 ± 21 μmol mol-1 (mean ± SD) or 98 ± 14% of set-point enrichment target. e[CO2 ] treatment was accomplished for 97.7% of the scheduled operation time, with the remaining time lost due to engineering faults (0.6% of the time), CO2 supply issues (0.6%), or adverse weather conditions (1.1%). CO2 demand in the facility was driven predominantly by wind speed and the formation of the deciduous canopy. Deviations greater than 10% from the ambient baseline CO2 occurred 80 μmol mol-1 (i.e., > 53% of the treatment increment) into control arrays accounted for < 0.1% of the enrichment period. The median [CO2 ] values in reconstructed 3-dimensional [CO2 ] fields show enrichment somewhat lower than the target but still well above ambient. The data presented here provide confidence in the facility setup and can be used to guide future next-generation forest FACE facilities built into tall and complex forest stands. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved
What can be done to reduce the public stigma of gambling disorder?: Lessons from other stigmatised conditions
No full textRussell, AM ORCiD: 0000-0002-3685-7220Gambling is embedded in Australian cultural history, and perceived as a normal, legitimate leisure activity. Despite this normalisation, people who experience gambling problems are heavily stigmatised which can lead to a variety of harms that extend beyond the individual. The stigma from the general public appears to be based on a stereotype of a typical “problem gambler”—selfish, greedy, impulsive and irresponsible. However, research suggests that people experiencing gambling problems have widely varying characteristics and do not conform to this stereotype. Regardless of whether the stigma is justified, it is both present and problematic. Gamblers experiencing problems delay help-seeking due to feelings of shame and, not unwarranted, expectations of negative judgement because of the heavy stigma associated with the stereotype. As stigma is a primary barrier to treatment and a reason why gambling problems can take longer to acknowledge, it is important to understand and address how stigma can be reduced to minimise the negative consequences of gambling on individuals, their families and friends and the wider community. There is little research on reducing gambling-related stigma, so there is a need to examine strategies used in other stigmatised conditions, such as mental health, to understand the general principles of effective stigma reduction measures. Because gambling disorder is unique, well-hidden and consequently not well understood, there is a need to recognise that techniques used in other domains may differ in their effectiveness within the context of gambling stigma
Working to grow together: Horizontal collaboration for horticulture production in Queensland
No full textAkbar, DH ORCiD: 0000-0002-2269-5056; Kinnear, SH ORCiD: 0000-0002-2734-8547; Rolfe, JC ORCiD: 0000-0001-7659-7040; Schrobback, P ORCiD: 0000-0003-0526-1659The horticulture sector in Queensland is highly diverse, producing tropical fruits, many varieties of vegetables, cucurbits and nuts. There is potential to expand horticulture production with more land and water becoming available. However, domestic demand for many horticulture products is currently saturated in peak seasons, leading to lower farmgate prices. Therefore, exporting high value horticulture produce (HVHP) to Asian destinations may offer market diversification for future growth of horticulture industries in Queensland. Currently staggering of supply of horticultural products is achieved as crops are not simultaneously grown across wide geographic regions due to the variations in weather, water availability and soil condition. For instance, farmers harvest mangoes in the far-north Queensland during August-October while Southeast Queensland’s farmers harvest their mangoes between January and April each year. This study aimed to examine the potential for greater cross-regional collaboration between farmers (i.e., horizontal collaboration) to ensure a continuous and consistent supply chain of large volume of horticulture products over six- to eight-month annual window. This study particularly focused on a case study of mango production using a qualitative approach consisting of a stakeholder workshop supported by literature review and face to face scoping interviews. While some discrete collaborations among mango farmers are occurring in some regions of Queensland, a cross-regional supply chain collaboration supported by both the industry and other supply chain stakeholders would improve returns to mango producers in the short to medium term
Moderate-intensity exercise performed in the evening does not impair sleep in healthy males
No full textLastella, AM ORCiD: 0000-0003-1793-3811; Sargent, C ORCiD: 0000-0001-5340-4701; Scanlan, AT ORCiD: 0000-0002-0750-8697; Vincent, GE ORCiD: 0000-0002-7036-7823The aim of this study was to examine the effect of single bouts of moderate-intensity aerobic exercise and moderate-intensity resistance exercise performed in the evening on the sleep of healthy young males. The study employed a repeated-measures, counterbalanced, crossover design with three conditions (control, evening aerobic exercise, evening resistance exercise). Twelve male participants (mean ± SD; age: 21.9 ± 2.7 yr) attended the laboratory on three occasions separated by one day between each visit. Between 20:45 h and 21:30 h, participants completed either no exercise, 30 min of aerobic exercise at 75%HRmax, or 30 min of resistance exercise corresponding to 75% of 10-repetition maximum. A 9-h sleep opportunity was provided between 23:00 h and 08:00 h. Core body temperature was measured using ingestible temperature capsules and sleep was measured using polysomnography. Core body temperature was higher during the aerobic exercise and resistance exercise compared to control (p = 0.001). There was no difference in core body temperature at bedtime between the conditions. Sleep onset latency, total sleep time, slow-wave sleep duration, REM sleep duration, wake after sleep onset and sleep efficiency were similar in each condition (p > 0.05). Single bouts of moderate-intensity aerobic exercise or moderate-intensity resistance exercise performed in the evening did not impact subsequent night-time sleep. Core body temperature increased during both forms of exercise, but returned to pre-exercise levels in the 90 min prior to bedtime. Healthy young males can engage in a single bout of moderate-intensity aerobic exercise or moderate-intensity resistance exercise ceasing 90 min before bed without compromising their subsequent sleep. © 2019, © 2019 European College of Sport Science
Quantification of non-uniform distribution and growth of corrosion products at steel-concrete interface
No full text© 2019 The expansive nature of corrosion products at the steel-concrete interface directly leads to the cracking and spalling of steel reinforced concrete, and its premature failure. In this paper, fundamental causes that affect the distribution and growth of corrosion products at the steel-concrete interface are quantitatively examined. The thickness of the layer of corrosion products and its growth with time are measured accurately using the technique of backscattered electron imaging and with a statistically significant number of samples, which are then verified with Faraday's law. A model for the distribution and growth of the non-uniform corrosion layer is developed. It is found in the paper that the corrosion products are non-uniform around the steel-concrete interface, with the maximum at the bottom side of steel bar with respect to casting direction. It is also found that the amount of corrosion products increases with the increase of water to cement ratio of concrete. The significance of this research is that it has quantitatively examined the effect of microstructure of the steel-concrete interface, a fundamental factor, on the distribution and growth of corrosion products. Findings presented in the paper can contribute to the accurate prediction of corrosion-induced cracking of steel reinforced concrete and hence prevent its premature failure
Time-dependent finite element reliability assessment of cast-iron water pipes subjected to spatio-temporal correlated corrosion process
No full text© 2020 Reliable prediction of the service-life of water pipes is of great importance for asset managers and decision makers. This paper introduces a framework for evaluating the reliability of corroded pipelines. Incorporating the random field representation of corrosion into a finite-element analysis have always been a daunting task especially when the time-dependent reliability analysis is intended. This research addresses the issue by representing the cross-section reduction of a buried pipe due to corrosion through a combination of the Gamma process concept and copula. Moreover, spatial and temporal evolutions of the correlation structure that exists among the corrosion pits over the pipe surface are considered using a time-dependent correlation length model recently introduced by the authors. A three-dimensional non-linear finite element analysis is used to model the residual strength of pipes in terms of time. The method is applied to a case study for estimating the failure probability of a corrosion-affected cast iron water pipe. Furthermore, the impact of the correlation structure of the corrosion depths on the estimated probability of failure is investigated. The research concludes that the proposed method is able to predict the service life of corroding buried pipeline efficiently
Tourism and on-site humour: A perspective article
No full textPabel, A ORCiD: 0000-0003-1409-5496Purpose: This paper aims to outline major theoretical concepts relating to the tourism-humour relationship and provide commentary on opportunities for further research in this area. Design/methodology/approach: Papers for this perspective research were sourced by conducting a systematic review which critically appraised relevant research on this topic to provide evidence on humour and its current use in tourism settings. Findings: Humour has received attention from many academic tribes and disciplines; however, investigations in the context of tourism are only in its early stages. Research limitations/implications: The paper is based on a select number of peer-reviewed literature studies on the topic of tourism and humour. Practical implications: The paper outlines some of the challenges that tourism operators face regarding authenticity, i.e. when the delivery of scripted humour is performed in such a way that it is considered spontaneous and meaningful. Originality/value: The paper provides a brief overview of how humour is currently used in tourism settings and recommends future research opportunities to guide further studies into this topic
Using magnetic susceptibility for predicting hydrocarbon pollution levels in a petroleum refinery compound in Isfahan Province, Iran
No full textGyasi-Agyei, Y ORCiD: 0000-0002-2671-1180Nowadays through the world as well as in Iran, petroleum hydrocarbons have majority contribution in environmental ricks for human and other organisms. Therefore, this study evaluates hydrocarbon pollution effects on soil chemical properties, as well as soil magnetic susceptibility on a petroleum refinery compound in Isfahan province, Iran. It also examines the efficacy of using magnetic signatures to predict hydrocarbon pollution of soils. Two sites (polluted and unpolluted) with similar intrinsic soil properties and environmental attributes were selected. A total of 120 soil samples were collected at two depths of 0–10 and 10–30 cm. Laboratory analysis included measurement of electrical conductivity (EC), pH, aqua regial extractable Fe (FeA), dithionite extractable Fe (Fed), magnetic susceptibility at low frequency (χlf), total petroleum hydrocarbon (TPH), as well as powdery X-ray characterization. Polluted soils by petroleum hydrocarbons had significantly higher EC, χlf, FeA and Fed and lower pH values compared to the unpolluted soils. Positive significance (r = 0.88, p < .01) was obtained between TPH and magnetic susceptibility. Enhancement of magnetic susceptibility presumably attributed to formation of ferrimagnetic minerals such as magnetite because of degradation of hydrocarbon compounds. A multiple linear regression model was developed between magnetic susceptibility and TPH, and the results showed that the developed pedotransfer function could explain 86% of the variability of TPH in the studied area, and provided a reliable function to predict TPH in polluted soils, as a cost-effective and fast technique to be implemented in the polluted sites by petroleum hydrocarbons. It seems that inclusion of additional magnetic measures may improve the accuracy of the predictive model. © 2019 Elsevier B.V
The voices of death doulas about their role in end-of-life care
No full textMiller-Lewis, LR ORCiD: 0000-0001-6013-130X'Death Doulas' have emerged as a relatively new role supporting dying people and their family members; however there is a lack of clarity around how the role is enacted, and around the death doula role within health and social care systems. This study aimed to explore the ambiguity of the role of death doulas in end-of-life care including the skills, training and experience of death doulas; how the role is communicated to the community; and the relationships to palliative care providers and other health professionals. People identifying as death doulas were invited to participate in an online survey between April and June 2018. Ethical approval was obtained. A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted, and purposive sampling was used to survey death doulas registered with death doula training organisations, newsletters and email distribution lists. Questions were based on the researchers' previous findings about the role. One hundred and ninety completed or partially completed surveys were received. Results showed diversity within, and some commonalities across the sample in terms of: training, experience and skills; Death doulas have emerged not only as a response to the overwhelming demands on families and carers, but also demands placed on health care professionals (including palliative care) at the end-of-life. They have identified gaps in health and social care provision, perhaps taking on tasks that health professionals don't have responsibility for. However, the roles and scope of practice of death doulas is not clear-cut even within their cohort, which can then make it hard for patients and families when choosing a death doula, especially as a lack of regulation and standardised training means that doulas are working without oversight, and often in isolation