50716 research outputs found
Sort by
Light Inhibits Lens-Induced Myopia through an Intensity-Dependent Dopaminergic Mechanism
No full textPurpose: Bright light exposure has been postulated to underlie the ability of time spent outdoors to prevent the development of myopia in humans. In support of this, bright light inhibits the development of form-deprivation myopia (FDM) in all species studied. While lens-induced myopia (LIM) is also inhibited by bright light in most species, it remains unclear whether this is brought about in an intensity-dependent manner and whether dopamine (DA) plays the same critical role in this paradigm as is seen in FDM. Design: An experimental study. Subjects: White Leghorn chickens (Gallus gallus). Methods: To examine the effect of light on LIM, chicks fit with lenses of −10 diopters were exposed to 500, 20 000, or 40 000 lux for 14 days (n = 6 per group). To assess the role of DA, its levels were measured 30 minutes after light exposure in previously dark-adapted animals over 6 light intensities (between dark and 40 000 lux). In a separate experiment, a D1-like (SCH-23390) or D2-like (spiperone) receptor antagonist was administered (once daily) to chicks wearing negative lenses under 40 000 lux (n = 5 to 6 per group) for a period of 5 days. Main Outcome Measures: Refraction (infrared photoretinoscopy), axial length (A-scan ultrasonography), and DA levels (liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry). Results: Bright light inhibited LIM in an intensity-dependent manner (P < 0.05) but did not prevent full compensation. The protection afforded by bright light was significantly reduced by administration of spiperone (D2-like, P < 0.05), but not SCH-23390 (D1-like, P = 0.77). Retinal DA levels showed an intensity-dependent increase (P < 0.05). Conclusions: As previously observed for FDM, bright light can inhibit the development of LIM in an intensity-dependent manner. This protection occurs, at least in part, via a DA-dependent mechanism. However, bright light's inability to prevent compensation to negative lenses is indicative of mechanistic differences between the 2 experimental models of myopia. These differences are most likely linked to the presence of a defocus-driven end point for growth in LIM that is not present in FDM. Financial Disclosure(s): Proprietary or commercial disclosure may be found in the Footnotes and Disclosures at the end of this article.</p
Insiders and Outsiders, Winners and Losers: Close-Ups of the Struggle for Power and Status in Australia
No full textAssist-as-Needed Control of a Shoulder Rehabilitation Robot Using a Virtual Biomechanical Model and Online Stiffness Adaptation
No full textThis paper presents an adaptive Assist-as-Needed (AAN) control framework for a shoulder rehabilitation robot enhanced by a Virtual Biomechanical Shoulder Robot Model (VBSRM) and an online stiffness adaptation module. The proposed system adapts support levels dynamically based on user interaction and motor effort, ensuring both safety and active participation during rehabilitation training. The VBSRM is first calibrated to each user’s anthropometric dimensions and used to estimate joint torques during movement. Assistance coefficient β(t), is then dynamically updated based on the user’s measured interaction force, increasing support when effort is low and reducing it when active participation improves. The AAN controller features a gradient-based online stiffness learning mechanism, enabling the system to dynamically adjust joint stiffness during movement based on tracking errors and interaction forces. This dual adaptation enhances rehabilitation training individualization. Experiments with ten healthy subjects performing an Activity of Daily Living (ADL) task Activity of Daily Living (ADL) trajectory demonstrated improved torque profiles, effective stiffness modulation, and reduced trajectory tracking errors in active and passive modes. The proposed control scheme demonstrates high potential for patient-specific, responsive rehabilitation training in neurorehabilitation and post-stroke therapy
EMOTION RECOGNITION TECHNOLOGIES AND DIGNITY IN AI-BASED SURVEILLANCE CAPITALISM
No full textBusinesses, governments and other entities are increasingly presentedwith AI-based ‘emotion recognition’ biometric systems, promoted as toolsoffering robust insights into the honesty, comprehension or health supportneeds of individuals, particularly students and employees. Australianuniversities may consider adopting this technology as they expand their AIengagement in learning/assessment platforms and student supportsystems. Automated emotion recognition systems pose legal and humanrights challenges arising from their potential to be used deterministically;their potential lack of reproducibility, replicability and validity; and theirsusceptibility to bias, notwithstanding their possible utility. Further, theyrely on non-consensual or co-opted participation of individuals whosedignity is eroded by consequent reduction from persons to data subjects.This article evaluates such systems through a dignitarian human rightslens, highlighting the need for a precautionary approach
Racism Undermines High-Performance Democracies
No full textRacism is a chronic problem for fifteen of the world’s top scoring democracies (Denmark serves as a case study). This evidence—which we draw from academic research, government and non-government body reports, journalistic reports, and polling data published between 2013 and 2023—troubles doctrines of representative, liberal, electoral, and participatory theories of democracy. In this article, we apply an aspect of Graefrath and Jahn’s ontological coherence rule—this being a comparison of the ontic commitments required by each theory against ontic commitments of racism as defined by the Australian Human Rights Commission—to conceptually demonstrate this claim. This leads us to the conclusion that real-existing democracies experiencing racism are also likely experiencing a constraint on their democratic capacities. Racism, in short, undermines at least four types of democracy. We end our analysis with a suggestion to adapt International IDEA’s 2024 PODS methodology so that it may capture and contrast the opinions of racialized minorities, alongside the opinions of experts, the statistically average person, and other marginalized persons, as the next step in this line of research.</p
Editorial:Integrating sensors and artificial intelligence for objective pain detection and quantification: unveiling new possibilities
No full textThe player salary costs of match-loss injury and illness at an Australian Football League Club:A six-season retrospective cohort study
No full textBackground: The objective of this study was to quantify the salary costs of match-loss injuries and illnesses at a single professional AFL club. Methods: A retrospective cohort study involving male professional AFL players across a six-season period (2016–2021). Analysis of player injury and illness data, and corresponding salary data, was performed with costs calculated using the human capital method. Results: There were 95 individual players across the six-seasons, with 79 unique diagnoses, 267 match-loss injuries or illnesses and 1130 matches missed. The total salary cost of match-loss injury and illness was AU1.3 million, 30 incidences, 10.0 % of total salary costs), followed by soleus strains (AU1.1 million, 25 incidences, 8.4 %). Of the most frequent injuries, hamstring semimembranosus strains had the highest mean (SD) cost per injury occurrence at AU99,264 (105,086). Injury or illness costs as a proportion of the total salary spend across six seasons was 17 % (range 10 %–22 %). Conclusion: Match-loss injuries and illnesses incur a considerable financial cost relative to the player salary expenditure. This study may provide a costing model for sports businesses to utilise as an approach to inform resource allocation decisions, particularly in relation to injury management and prevention.</p
Inverse Dynamics Solution of an Upper Limb Rehabilitation Robot Using Deep Learning Approach
No full textTo efficiently control the motion of the upper limb rehabilitation robot, it is necessary that correct joint torques are provided. The analytical methods to compute the torque from the inverse dynamics are complex and intricate. For this purpose, a data driven approach based on deep learning model is presented in this study. The algorithm learns the position, velocities, and acceleration of the joints for a given trajectory and predicts the torque required. The results show the efficacy of the proposed algorithm in predicting the joint torques for the given dynamic parameters. The results obtained from this study can be further used in control of the upper limb rehabilitation robot.</p
Exploring the Impact of Construction 4.0 on Industrial Relations:A Comprehensive Thematic Synthesis of Workforce Transformation in the Digital Era of Construction
No full textThe rise of Construction 4.0—driven by digitalisation, automation, and data-intensive technologies—is radically reshaping the construction industry. While its technological innovations are widely acknowledged, their implications for industrial relations remain underexplored. In this study, we conduct a systematic literature review (SLR) of 91 peer-reviewed articles published between 2010 and 2024, aiming to synthesise emerging knowledge on how Construction 4.0 is transforming workforce dynamics, employment models, and labour relations. Using NVivo software and an inductive thematic approach, we identify seven key themes: workforce transformation, the attraction of new generations and women, skill requirements and workforce development, supply chain and logistics optimisation, digital twin technology in project management, the emergence of new business models, and safety and risk assessment. Our findings highlight both opportunities—such as improved collaboration, skill diversification, and enhanced productivity—and challenges, including job displacement, digital ethics, and widening disparities between developed and developing countries. Recent studies from 2023 and 2024 underscore routine-biased changes in workforce structure, evolving project management practices through digital twins, and critical skill shortages within the sector. Furthermore, contemporary policy shifts and increasing labour tensions in some regions reveal deeper socio-economic implications of digital construction. This review contributes to a more holistic understanding of how technological innovation intersects with social systems in the built environment. The insights presented offer valuable guidance for policymakers, educators, and industry leaders seeking to navigate the evolving landscape of Construction 4.0.</p
Conceptualising good mental health for people with intellectual disabilities:An inclusive delphi study
No full textBackground: Currently, there is no conceptualisation of good mental health for people with intellectual disabilities (ID). To develop an initial shared understanding of good mental health in this population, an inclusive Delphi study with two survey rounds was conducted. Methods: The Delphi study comprised a total of N = 60 participants in the first round, and 53 in the second round. In sum, 23 experts with ID and 37 mental health experts were included. The Delphi questionnaire applied a universal design, maximising accessibility for experts with and without ID. Participants were asked to rate the relevance of each item for good mental health of people with ID. People with ID served as co-researchers throughout the research process. Results: In both survey rounds, all items were rated as important for good mental health of people with ID (weighted median ≥ 3 out of 5). In a structural synthesis, the following factors were found to be important: (1) being part of the community, (2) adequate support, (3) social contacts, (4) communication, (5) working and living environment, (6) keeping the body healthy, (7) no mental disorders, (8) healthcare, (9) psychosocial functioning. As the broadest theme, psychosocial functioning included six subthemes, such as emotions, autonomy and self-concept, and doing something meaningful. Conclusions: This study provides a foundational step towards developing a more inclusive understanding of good mental health for people with ID. The active involvement of co-researchers underscores the value of participatory methods in shaping research outcomes.</p