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Millennials and the normalization of surveillance on Facebook
No full textWhile surveillance is usually understood as the purposeful monitoring of individuals by those in authority, ‘participatory surveillance’ is a type of surveillance where people willingly keep watch on each other through social media. An anonymous focus group and online survey of 81 Australians categorized as part of the Millennial Generation investigated their experience of both authority and participatory surveillance on Facebook, that is, their awareness of the level of surveillance they themselves are under and their surveillance of others. The results reveal that this group is generally concerned about privacy and security for their personal information, though not always sure what they should do to ensure it, and that they are willing to access and distribute the personal information of others. They generally feel that protecting their information from individuals and from the government is a greater concern than ensuring privacy from commercial entities. However this group believe that a reduction in privacy, on and off line, is part of contemporary life, and giving up some information is necessary to participate in the online environment. Social media’s participatory surveillance appears to be preparing young people for a lifetime of being watched, by helping to re-define understandings of privacy
Carers and manual handling: survey results
No full textBackground: There is limited literature specific to manual handling practices among informal carers, with most literature relating to nurses and paid carers. This study aimed to identify the current experiences and practices of informal carers in relation to manual handling and their perceived manual handling needs for this role.
Methods: A quantitative cross-sectional study design utilising an online questionnaire was used to survey informal carers who were members of Carers NSW—an organisation for carers in New South Wales, Australia. Seventy-five returned surveys were eligible for inclusion. The data was analysed with descriptive statistics using JMP software (version 10.0.0). Findings: Respondents were predominantly female (74.7%), over 45 years of age (81.1%) and were on a pension (35.8%). Respondents carried out a variety of caring tasks; however, they used limited equipment and received active/interactive training (workshop and training from health professionals) more than passive training (written materials in brochures, books, websites and posters). Conclusions: The study provides information on the manual handling experiences and practices of informal carers. The information can be used by health professionals to develop specific education programmes or appropriate manual handling literature to assist informal carers with this role
Insulin resistance correlates with maculopathy and severity of retinopathy in young adults with Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus
No full textAims: To assess the relationship between insulin resistance (IR), retinopathy and maculopathy in young adults with Type 1 diabetes mellitus. Methods: A cross-sectional study at a regional Australian tertiary hospital. Retinal pathology, assessed by colour fundus photography, was correlated with two surrogate measures of IR: estimated Glucose Disposal Rate (eGDR) and Insulin Sensitivity Score (ISS), where lower scores reflect greater IR. Results: 107 patients were recruited, with mean age 24.7 years, 53% male, and mean duration of disease 10.8 years. Mean eGDR scores (5.6 vs 8.0 p < 0.001) and ISS (4.7 vs 7.9, p < 0.001) were lower in subjects having at least moderate non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy (NPDR; relative to nil/mild-NPDR). Similarly, mean eGDR (4.2 vs 6.2, p = 0.001) and ISS (3.8 vs 6.1, p = 0.003) were lower in patients with maculopathy. Multivariate logistic regression modelling was used to control for confounding. For retinopathy severity, a unit increase in eGDR or ISS (representing lower IR) was associated with a 50% decrease in odds of moderate-NPDR or worse (eGDR OR 0.5, 95%CI 0.32–0.77, p = 0.002; ISS OR 0.49, 95%CI 0.29–0.84, p = 0.01). A unit increase in eGDR or ISS was associated with a 46–56% decrease in odds of maculopathy (eGDR OR 0.54, 95%CI 0.37–0.81, p = 0.003; ISS OR 0.44, 95%CI 0.22–0.88, p = 0.02). Conclusions: IR correlates with more severe retinopathy in young adults with Type 1 DM. This is the first description of a correlation between IR and maculopathy in Type 1 DM, warranting further evaluation. Prospective studies examining whether reducing IR can improve microvascular complications are required
Towards transversal cosmopolitanism: understanding alternative praxes in the global field of transformative movements
No full textThis article critically reflects on theoretical dilemmas of conceptualizing recent ideological shifts and contention among global transformative movements. Some studies conceptualize these movements as ideologically mature and coherent, while other inquiries highlight disorganization, fragmentation, disillusion, and dispute. The former line of argument suggests that underlying emerging global solidarities—to the extent they genuinely exist—there are some identifiably coherent cosmopolitanist, or globalist, values. The latter claim that existing global justice and transformative movements lack an effective ideological position for uniting the masses behind a global (political) project for transforming global capitalist social relations. By drawing upon an interpretive review of empirical studies conducted throughout the last decade, the article delineates four modalities, defined in terms of their orientations toward cosmopolitanist values. Among these modalities is a new and promising one, termed here as ‘transversal cosmopolitanist’ (‘transversal’ here understood as a process verb, indicating a new form of cosmopolitanist praxis). This approach assumes the possibility of creating a common ground for fruitful dialogue, constructive collective learning, progressive hybridization, and active political cooperation among diverse identities and ideological visions of contemporary global transformative movements, against existing capitalist social relations and structures of domination
Effect of cation alkyl chain length on surface forces and physical properties in deep eutectic solvents
No full textDeep eutectic solvents (DESs) have been prepared from mixtures of alkyl ammonium bromide salts (ethylammonium bromide, propylammonium bromide and butylammonium bromide) and glycerol at a 1: 2 M ratio. These DESs reveal the effect of cation alkyl chain length on interfacial structure at mica (a model anionic) surface. As the cation chain length is increased it becomes more amphiphilic and solvophobic, leading to stronger association of alkyl chains, as revealed by atomic force microscope force curve measurements. The effect of increasing cation alkyl chain length on phase transition and thermal decomposition temperatures, density, refractive index, viscosity, ionic and thermal conductivity and air liquid surface tension are also probed. Combined, these studies reveal the length of the cation alkyl chain weakly affects composition dependent properties (e.g. density, refractive index, thermal conduction, etc.) but has a stronger effect where intermolecular (ionic) forces play a role, such as on viscosity, and on surface tension and interfacial structure. To the authors knowledge, this is the first report of amphiphilic nanostructure in DESs and the first systematic study of the effect of cation alkyl chain length on physical properties
Trauma and stem cells: biology and potential therapeutic implications
No full textTrauma may cause irreversible tissue damage and loss of function despite current best practice. Healing is dependent both on the nature of the injury and the intrinsic biological capacity of those tissues for healing. Preclinical research has highlighted stem cell therapy as a potential avenue for improving outcomes for injuries with poor healing capacity. Additionally, trauma activates the immune system and alters stem cell behaviour. This paper reviews the current literature on stem cells and its relevance to trauma care. Emphasis is placed on understanding how stem cells respond to trauma and pertinent mechanisms that can be utilised to promote tissue healing. Research involving notable difficulties in trauma care such as fracture non-union, cartilage damage and trauma induced inflammation is discussed further
Bioaccumulation and toxicity of lead, influenced by edaphic factors: using earthworms to study the effect of Pb on ecological health
No full textPurpose: Lead (Pb) is a highly studied contaminant with no known biological function that causes harmful adverse effects on ecological and human health. We tried to evaluate how protective the current soil regulatory levels are for Pb towards safeguarding the ecological health. In order to achieve this, our study evaluated the effect of soil texture and pH on the toxicity and availability of lead to earthworms in soils varying in soil properties. Materials and methods: The earthworm Eisenia fetida was exposed to Pb in three soils with different physico-chemical characteristics. Pb solutions were homogenously mixed with soil to obtain concentrations ranging from 0 to 10,000 mg/kg Pb dry soil. Avoidance behaviour, weight loss and mortality were measured in this study to calculate the EC50 and LC50 values. Results and discussion: Weight loss and mortality in earthworms due to Pb toxicity were in the following order: acidic > neutral > alkaline soil. The EC50 values resulting in 50% decrease in worm weight over control for Pb in acidic, neutral and alkaline soils were 460, 3606 and 5753 mg/kg soil, respectively. Thus, the acidic soil recorded an EC50 well below the soil guideline value for Pb. Whereas, the LC50 values resulting in 50% mortality in worms over control were 1161, 4648 and 7851 mg/kg, respectively, for acidic, neutral and alkaline soils. The Pb concentrations in earthworms ranged from 0.2 to 740 mg/kg wet weight. Soils with low clay content and acidic to neutral pH values demonstrated an increased Pb toxicity in earthworms compared to the soils with alkaline pH. Conclusions: The worm weight loss is a more sensitive parameter than the mortality. This study emphasizes that the soil regulatory levels for Pb are not protective of worms in acidic soils. Therefore, care should be taken when using the current regulatory limits to assess and predict the safety of a contaminated site with acidic soils towards the ecological health
Updating reliability of single piles and pile groups by load tests
No full textPile load tests are used to refine designs and for quality assurance. They can also be used to verify the reliability of piles and pile groups. Stochastic methods have previously been developed to verify the reliability of single piles. A general stochastic method to verify the reliability of pile groups is developed in this paper. The method can be used to assess the reliability of groups where pile tests have been conducted to the ultimate capacity, to below the ultimate capacity but exceeding specified capacity, and where pile tests fail to achieve the specified capacity. In the latter case, the method allows decisions to be made as to whether the reliability of the entire pile group is satisfactory or whether additional piles need to be installed
Associations between quality of life and duration and frequency of physical activity and sedentary behaviour: baseline findings from the WALK 2.0 randomised controlled trial
No full textWhile physical and mental health benefits of regular physical activity are well known, increasing evidence suggests that limiting sedentary behaviour is also important for health. Evidence shows associations of physical activity and sedentary behaviour with health-related quality of life (HRQoL), however, these findings are based predominantly on duration measures of physical activity and sedentary behaviour (e.g., minutes/week), with less attention on frequency measures (e.g., number of bouts). We examined the association of HRQoL with physical activity and sedentary behaviour, using both continuous duration (average daily minutes) and frequency (average daily bouts≥10 min) measures. Baseline data from the WALK 2.0 trial were analysed. WALK 2.0 is a randomised controlled trial investigating the effects of Web 2.0 applications on engagement, retention, and subsequent physical activity change. Daily physical activity and sedentary behaviour (duration = average minutes, frequency = average number of bouts ≥10 minutes) were measured (ActiGraph GT3X) across one week, and HRQoL was assessed with the ‘general health’ subscale of the RAND 36-Item Health Survey. Structural equation modelling was used to evaluate associations. Participants (N = 504) were 50.8±13.1 (mean±SD) years old with a BMI of 29.3±6.0. The 465 participants with valid accelerometer data engaged in an average of 24.0±18.3 minutes and 0.64±0.74 bouts of moderate-vigorous physical activity per day, 535.2±83.8 minutes and 17.0±3.4 bouts of sedentary behaviour per day, and reported moderate-high general HRQoL (64.5±20.0). After adjusting for covariates, the duration measures of physical activity (path correlation = 0.294, p<0.05) and sedentary behaviour were related to general HRQoL (path coefficient = -0.217, p<0.05). The frequency measure of physical activity was also significant (path coefficient = -0.226, p<0.05) but the frequency of sedentary behaviour was not significantly associated with general HRQoL. Higher duration levels of physical activity in fewer bouts, and lower duration of sedentary behaviour are associated with better general HRQoL. Further prospective studies are required to investigate these associations in different population groups over time
Self-management education and regular practitioner review for adults with asthma
No full textBackground: A key component of many asthma management guidelines is the recommendation for patient education and regular medical review. A number of controlled trials have been conducted to measure the effectiveness of asthma education programmes. These programmes improve patient knowledge, but their impact on health outcomes is less well established. This review was conducted to examine the strength of evidence supporting Step 6 of the Australian Asthma Management Plan: "Educate and Review Regularly"; to test whether health outcomes are influenced by education and self-management programmes. Objectives: The objective of this review was to assess the effects of asthma self-management programmes, when coupled with regular health practitioner review, on health outcomes in adults with asthma. Search strategy: We searched the Cochrane Airways Group trials register and reference lists of articles. Selection criteria: Randomised trials of self-management education in adults over 16 years of age with asthma. Data collection and analysis: Two reviewers assessed trial quality and extracted data independently. We contacted study authors for confirmation. Main results: We included thirty six trials, which compared self-management education with usual care. Self-management education reduced hospitalisations (relative risk (RR) 0.64, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.50 to 0.82); emergency room visits (RR 0.82, 95% CI 0.73 to 0.94); unscheduled visits to the doctor (RR 0.68, 95% CI 0.56 to 0.81); days off work or school (RR 0.79, 95% CI 0.67 to 0.93); nocturnal asthma (RR 0.67, 95% CI 0.0.56 to 0.79); and quality of life (standard mean difference 0.29,CI 0.11 to 0.47). Measures of lung function were little changed. Authors' conclusions: Education in asthma self-management which involves self-monitoring by either peak expiratory flow or symptoms, coupled with regular medical review and a written action plan improves health outcomes for adults with asthma. Training programmes that enable people to adjust their medication using a written action plan appear to be more effective than other forms of asthma self-management