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Asymmetric neural responses for facial expressions and anti-expressions
Get PDFThis manuscript version is made available under the CC-BY-NC-ND 4.0 license:
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/ which permits unrestricted re-use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. This author accepted manuscript is made available following 18 month embargo from date of publication (Sept 2018) in accordance with the publisher’s archiving policyFace recognition requires identifying both the invariant characteristics that distinguish one individual from another and the variations within the individual that correspond to emotional expressions. Both have been postulated to be represented via a norm-based code, in which identity or expression are represented as deviations from an average or neutral prototype. We used Fast Periodic Visual Stimulation (FPVS) with electroencephalography (EEG) to compare neural responses for neutral faces, expressions and anti-expressions. Anti-expressions are created by projecting an expression (e.g. a happy face) through the neutral face to form the opposite facial shape (anti-happy). Thus expressions and anti-expressions differ from the norm by the same “configural” amount and thus have equivalent but opposite status with regard to their shape, but differ in their ecological validity. We examined whether neural responses to these complementary stimulus pairs were equivalent or asymmetric, and also tested for norm-based coding by comparing whether stronger responses are elicited by expressions and anti-expressions than neutral faces. Observers viewed 20 s sequences of 6 Hz alternations of neutral faces and expressions, neutral faces and anti-expressions, and expressions and anti-expressions. Responses were analyzed in the frequency domain. Significant responses at half the frequency of the presentation rate (3 Hz), indicating asymmetries in responses, were observed for all conditions. Inversion of the images reduced the size of this signal, indicating these asymmetries are not solely due to differences in the low-level properties of the images. While our results do not preclude a norm-based code for expressions, similar to identity, this representation (as measured by the FPVS EEG responses) may also include components sensitive to which configural distortions form meaningful expressions.This work was supported by grants from the National Institutes of Health (EY-10834 to MW; EY-023268 to FJ), with further support for core facilities provided by COBRE P20GM 103650
The Health Action Process Approach model for understanding parents' reflective motivation towards reducing unhealthy foods
No full textThis abstract was prepared for the inaugural 'HDR Student Conference', Flinders University, November 2018. Copyright © the authorAim This study aimed to understand the relationships between, and relative importance of, constructs of the Health Action Process Approach (HAPA) model and children's intake of unhealthy foods. Background Parents play a key role in shaping children's eating habits and are an ideal target for interventions to reduce children's currently excessive unhealthy food intake. To change provision behaviours parents need to be sufficiently motivated, in addition to having the knowledge and resources. The HAPA model is a framework covering important aspects of behaviour change motivation. Methods Australian parents completed a cross-sectional online survey containing parent motivation, child dietary intake and socio-demographics, using validated tools. Structural equation modelling was performed based on the HAPA model, including constructs of risk perception, outcome expectancies, self-efficacy, intention and planning. Results Four hundred and ninety-five parents completed the online survey. Model of fit statistics (CMIN 210.033, df 83, p<0.001; CFI 0.956; TLI 0.936; RMSEA 0.056, PCLOSE 0.153; SRMR 0.0601) supported the HAPA model as a suitable model, with parental motivation accounting for 9.2% of children's unhealthy food intake. The largest relationships were seen between self-efficacy constructs (action to maintenance, beta .69; maintenance to recovery, beta .70), and between maintenance self-efficacy to planning (beta .82). Secondary intervention targets identified were intention (to planning, beta .21) and planning (to intake, beta -.32). Conclusion The HAPA model is a promising framework for examining parental motivation towards limiting unhealthy food provision. Future interventions should include strategies to enhance parent's self-efficacy, intention and plans for reducing unhealthy foods
Exploring the care needs of stroke survivors and family carers in hospital to home transition
No full textThis abstract was prepared for the inaugural 'HDR Student Conference', Flinders University, November 2018. Copyright © the authorBackground Hospital to home transition is the most stressful period for stroke survivors and family carers, especially in the context of shortened hospital stay and early discharge. They face enormous challenges to adapt to home care environments for continuing recovery. They also encounter great difficulties in exploring suitable rehabilitation and care services. Studies on determining and meeting their care needs and expectations in this transition period are much needed to enhance consumer-directed transition care. Aim To explore stroke survivors' and family carers' experiences, perspectives and expectations in transition care and rehabilitation. The objectives are: 1. to explore enablers and barriers in transition care from the perspectives of stroke survivors and family carers in a global context; 2. to understand the experience, perceptions and expectations of stroke survivors and family carers during hospital to home transition in an Australian context; 3. to understand healthcare professionals' perspectives of approaches to identify and meet transition care and rehabilitation needs of the consumers; 4. to develop an evidence-informed hospital to home transition care model and pathways to enhance consumer-directed transition care and rehabilitation services. Study plan A two-stage study will be conducted. In Stage 1, a systematic review using meta-synthesis of qualitative studies will be undertaken to address objectives 1 and 4. In Stage 2, a qualitative study informed by Gadamer's phenomenological hermeneutics will be conducted to address objectives 2-4. In-depth interviews with stroke survivors and family carers, and focus groups with healthcare professionals involved in transition care and rehabilitation services will be applied to collect data
Evidence of the Complete State Model of Mental Health and Implications on public policy and practice
No full textThis abstract was prepared for the inaugural 'HDR Student Conference', Flinders University, November 2018. Copyright © the authorThe burgeoning economic and societal costs of mental ill-health have necessitated immediate action to reform mental health care in Australia. Current work to reduce the burden of mental illness is largely underpinned by the assumption that mental health and mental illness exist as opposite ends of the same spectrum. However, Keyes' (2005) landmark publication revealed that mental illness and positive mental health (wellbeing) are two separate, correlated, unipolar dimensions. Thus, mental illness and mental health are related concepts, but are not two opposite ends of the same spectrum as was previously thought. This model was named the complete state model of mental health, and posits that an individual has'complete mental health' when they have both a high level of wellbeing and a low level (or no diagnosis) of mental illness. Since Keyes' publication, the model has been investigated through a wide range of approaches, in different contexts, and with various findings and conclusions. A systematic scoping review was performed to amalgamate and synthesise the research on the complete state model, aiming to examine the evidence of the model's validity, and to pragmatically summarise the implications of the model. Results of this scoping review will be presented, with a key focus on the quality of extant literature on the model, and a practical summary of the implications for policy makers and practitioners. By transforming our understanding of the relationship between mental health and mental illness, the complete state model could underpin significant mental health reform in the future
Effectiveness of external cues to facilitate task performance in people with neurological disorders: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Get PDF“This is an Accepted Manuscript of an article published by Taylor & Francis in Disability and Rehabilitation on 9 March 2018, available online: http://www.tandfonline.com/10.1080/09638288.2018.1448465”
© 2018 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group
This author accepted manuscript is made available following 12 month embargo from date of publication (March 2018) in accordance with the publisher’s archiving policyPurpose: To examine in people with neurological disorders, which method/s of providing external cues to improve task performance are most effective.
Methods: Medline, EMBASE and PsycINFO were systematically searched. Two reviewers independently screened, extracted data and assessed the quality of the evidence using GRADE.
Results: 26 studies were included. Studies examined a wide-range of cues including visual, tactile, auditory, verbal and multi-component cues. Cueing (any type) improved walking speed when comparing cues to no cues (Mean difference (95% Confidence Interval): 0.08m/s (0.06 to 0.10), I²=68%, low quality of evidence). Remaining evidence was analysed narratively; evidence that cueing improves activity-related outcomes was inconsistent and rated as very low quality. It was not possible to determine which form of cueing may be more effective than others.
Conclusions: Providing cues to encourage successful task performance is a core component of rehabilitation, however there is limited evidence on the type of cueing or which tasks benefit most from external cueing. Low-quality evidence suggests there may be a beneficial effect of cueing (any type) on walking speed. Sufficiently powered randomised controlled trials are needed to inform therapists of the most effective cueing strategies to improve activity performance in populations with a neurological disorder
Morphological evolution of the sandspit at Tortugueros Beach, Mexico
Get PDFThis manuscript version is made available under the CC-BY-NC-ND 4.0 license:
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/ which permits unrestricted re-use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. This author accepted manuscript is made available following 24 month embargo from date of publication (October 2018) in accordance with the publisher’s archiving policySand spits occur around the world with different shapes, dimensions and dynamics. While usually considered non-developable coastal features, development has taken place in several locations around the world, and because spits are often very dynamic, a better understanding of their behaviour and evolution is useful. Understanding their stability and morphological cycles can be used as a measure of the health of nearby beaches. The inter-annual and decadal morphological evolution of the beach spit at Tortugueros, on the Yucatan peninsula, Mexico, a re-entrant bay on the Isla del Carmen barrier system, is examined. Digitized information from satellite images and aerial photographs, covering a 31 year period, was used to compare the shoreline evolution with numerical results. The method used consists of the estimation of the wave breaking conditions and the evaluation of the cross and longshore energy flux. The time-averaged wave energy flux allows the estimation of the evolution of those morphological features. The shoreline changes are very dramatic, with rates of accretion up to 160 m yr-1 and erosion up to 196 m yr-1. The results of the comparative analysis show that Tortugueros beach is a resilient system in dynamic equilibrium, governed by the combination of the short period local marine climate of the area and large-scale weather cycles related to the El Niño and La Niña phenomena. The analysis presented in this paper is valid to describe the functioning and resilience of dynamic beach systems elsewhere, where the wave climate is known, based on the wave energy flux of the breaking waves
The Cultural Wealth of Cyprus and the Role of Nature in Seferis’ Logbook III
Get PDFIn George Seferis’s (1900-1971) Logbook III, the place names are a recurrent phenomenon, especially in the titles of poems. As we are going to see in this paper, beyond the titles and other elements that denote Cyprus, Seferis refers to the island’s cultural wealth and history in other ways. We examine how nature, through the description of elements like worms, leaves, trees and birds, and cultural heritage in general, suggest strong symbolism and even resist occupation and invasion. They react and rebel together to the threat of invaders and function as protectors of Cyprus’s national identity and reminders of the island’s Greek cultural character
Review of Georges Baudoux’s Jean M’Barai: The Trepang Fisherman, translated and with a critical introduction by Karin Speedy
Get PDFReview of Dalit Voice: Literature and Revolt by Sharankumar Limbale and Jaydeep Sarang
'Including China' in Postcolonial Studies: An Interview with Bill Ashcroft
No full textBill Ashcroft is a renowned critic and theorist, a founding exponent of postcolonial theory and co-author of The Empire Writes Back (1989), the first text to examine systematically a field that is now referred to as ‘postcolonial studies’. He is author and co-author of 16 books and over 160 chapters and papers including Edward Said (2001), Postcolonial Studies: The Key Concepts (2002), Caliban’s Voice: The Transformation of English in Postcolonial Literatures (2008), Utopianism in Postcolonial Literatures (2016). He is on the editorial boards for various journals, such as Textual Practice, New Literatures Review, JASAL, Postcolonial Text, to name just a few. The interviewer met Professor Ashcroft at the 16th International Conference of Australian Studies in China (21-23 June 2018, Beijing) and they had a preliminary discussion on the issues concerned in this paper; they agreed to complete a formal dialogue via e-mail. In this interview, Bill Ashcroft clarifies his area of study in postcolonial literatures; he relates world literature with postcolonial literatures and analyses the problem in the interdisciplinary study of world literature; finally, he discusses why and how to include China in postcolonial literary studies