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Career factors related to winning Olympic medals in swimming
No full textTo investigate associations between a swimmer's career progression and winning a medal at the Olympic Games (OG) or World Championships (WC). A total of 4631 swimming performances of 1535 top swimmers (653 women, 882 men) from 105 nationalities since1973 were extracted from FINA rankings. A panel of 12 predictor variables including nationality, gender, competition, age, number and timing of competitions, pattern of progressions and regressions in performance, and medal outcomes was established. Linear logistic regression was used to study the association between winning a medal and predictor variables. Logistic regression coefficients were obtained by training on 80% of the database, and prediction accuracy evaluated on the remaining 20%. Using the training set, a selection of 9 most relevant features for prediction of winning a medal (target variable) was obtained through exhaustive feature selection and cross-validation: nationality, competition, number of competitions, number of annual career progressions (nb_prog), maximum annual career progression (max-progr), number of annual career regressions (nb_reg), age at maximum annual progression, P6 (the level of performance six months before the World Championships or Olympic Games), and P2 (the level of performance two months before the World Championships or Olympic Games). A logistic regression model was built and retrained on the entire training set achieved an area under the ROC curve of ~90% on the test set. The odds of winning a medal increased by 1.64 (95% CI, 1.39-1.91) and 1.44 (1.22-1.72) for each unit of increase in max-progr and n-prog, respectively. Odds of winning a medal decreased by 0.60 (0.49-0.72) for a unit increase in n-reg. In contrast, the odds increased by 1.70 (1.39-2.07) and 4.35 (3.48-5.42) for improvements in the 6 and 2 months before competition (P<0.001, for all variables). The likelihood of a swimmer winning an international medal is improved by ~40-90% with progressions from season-to-season, and reducing the number of regressions in performance. The chances of success are also improved 2- to 4-fold by substantial improvements in performance in the months before competition.</p
Australian Case:Black Summer Bushfires
No full textThe extreme Black Summer Bushfires in 2019–2020 originated in the Blue Mountains near Sydney and spread throughout several rural regions within New South Wales, increasing the country's vulnerability to severe fire incidents. In response, initiatives were launched to create and disseminate retrofit guides to mitigate risks associated with property protection. These efforts were financially supported by government agencies and resulted in the development of various methodologies and national programmes adhering to the building standards. However, the predominant extent of damage to residential structures was observed in dwellings built prior to the 1990s, before improved building codes for bushfire resilience were introduced. Further, 34% of Australians over 65 live in rural and remote areas, with a higher risk of bushfire exposure. Elderly Australians face multiple challenges, such as health status and mobility limitations, communication barriers, and access to resources that impede their capacity to engage in home retrofitting and property maintenance activities, especially in the absence of a centralised resource to guide the improvement of bushfire resilience. The multiple case study methodology was employed in this research, explicitly emphasising two geographic areas: the Bega Valley Shire in New South Wales and the Noosa Shire in Queensland. The data collection included focus groups, site visits, and interviews, which helped develop the tailored bushfire retrofit assessment toolkit. These methods were utilised to investigate various dimensions, including personal heritage considerations, accessible design principles, building and construction, and landscape. The findings form the foundation for informed decision-making and proactive measures to safeguard vulnerable individuals in fire-prone areas
Insights into canine rabies vaccination Disparities in Sierra Leone:A cross-sectional household study
No full textAnnually, Sierra Leone records an estimated 301 human fatalities due to rabies. Canine vaccination is crucial for rabies prevention and control efforts. However, considerable variability exists in vaccination rates. Reasons for this variation remain unclear. We conducted a cross-sectional study across 2,558 dog-owning households (HHs) to provide insights into factors influencing canine vaccination for targeted prevention and control towards elimination by 2030. First, we described dog ownership practices, then built a probabilistic model to understand factors associated with dog vaccination, and finally used a spatial scan statistic to identify spatial clusters where vaccination rates were low. Our results indicated that only 14% (358/2,558) of participating HHs had fully vaccinated their dogs against rabies. The probability of dog vaccination increased when comparing civil servants to private workers/ artisans, with an Odds Ratio(OR) of 1.14 (95% credible interval (Crl) of 0.82–1.56), residing in locations with a veterinary establishment vs. none (OR = 6.43, 95% Crl (4.97–8.35), providing care to dogs vs. allowing dogs to roam freely (OR = 2.38, 95% Crl(1.80–3.17) and owning a single dog vs multiple dogs (OR = 1.20, 95 Crl (0.92–1.56). Conversely, there was a decrease in the estimated probability of vaccination when comparing dog owners located in rural vs. urban areas (OR = 0.58, CrI 95% (0.43–0.78). Latent understanding, a measure of overall understanding of rabies virus, which we estimated using participant education levels and responses to questions about rabies epidemiology, was also an important predictor of vaccination probability (OR = 1.44, 95% Crl (1.04–2.07). The spatial analysis identified high-risk clusters for low vaccination in the cities of Moyamba, with a radius of 40 km, a relative risk (RR) of 1.10, and Bo, with a radius of 19.9 km with RR of 1.11. These data do not support Sierra Leone reaching the 2030 goal of human rabies elimination caused by dogs. Our study highlights a critical need for public outreach and education, improved vaccination rates, increased accessibility to veterinary services, and targeted interventions in Bo and Moyamba to support rabies prevention and control efforts.</p
The effect of a 4-week, remotely administered, post-exercise passive leg heating intervention on determinants of endurance performance
Get PDFPURPOSE: Post-exercise passive heating has been reported to augment adaptations associated with endurance training. The current study evaluated the effect of a 4-week remotely administered, post-exercise passive leg heating protocol, using an electrically heated layering ensemble, on determinants of endurance performance.METHODS: Thirty recreationally trained participants were randomly allocated to either a post-exercise passive leg heating (PAH, n = 16) or unsupervised training only control group (CON, n = 14). The PAH group wore the passive heating ensemble for 90-120 min/day, completing a total of 20 (16 post-exercise and 4 stand-alone leg heating) sessions across 4 weeks. Whole-body (peak oxygen uptake, gas exchange threshold, gross efficiency and pulmonary oxygen uptake kinetics), single-leg exercise (critical torque and NIRS-derived muscle oxygenation), resting vascular characteristics (flow-mediated dilation) and angiogenic blood measures (nitrate, vascular endothelial growth factor and hypoxia inducible factor 1-α) were recorded to characterize the endurance phenotype. All measures were assessed before (PRE), at 2 weeks (MID) and after (POST) the intervention.RESULTS: There was no effect of the intervention on test of whole-body endurance capacity, vascular function or blood markers (p > 0.05). However, oxygen kinetics were adversely affected by PAH, denoted by a slowing of the phase II time constant; τ (p = 0.02). Furthermore, critical torque-deoxygenation ratio was improved in CON relative to PAH (p = 0.03).CONCLUSION: We have demonstrated that PAH had no ergogenic benefit but instead elicited some unfavourable effects on sub-maximal exercise characteristics in recreationally trained individuals.</p
Making Indigenous Archaeology Indigenous:Will it ever happen?
Get PDFI began my working life in Australian archaeology in late 1976, some four years after the Australian Archaeological Association had been formed. Over the following four years I was employed by the Aboriginal Sites Department, Western Australian Museum, where I undertook Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA)—mostly in the Pilbara region—and documented Indigenous heritage places across WA for the Australian Heritage Commission’s nascent Register of the National Estate. At the end of that time I had come to the view that I, a white archaeologist, would not be working in Indigenous archaeology and heritage management after a further five years or so because that work would be led by, done by, and controlled by Traditional Owners and their communities. This view aligned with a potent sense of optimism in the latter years of the 1970s concerning real change with respect to Indigenous rights and self-determination
Performances and properties of steel and composite prestressed tendons – A review
No full textThe primary drawback of concrete lies in its low tensile strength, prompting the development of various solutions to enhance this aspect. A notable approach is the utilization of Prestressed Reinforced Concrete (PRC) with tendons, aimed at bolstering its tensile strength. As the use of diverse tendon types in the PRC continues to surge, a review becomes imperative to delve into this evolution. Therefore, this study delved into the engineering characteristics, performance, and evolution of different tendon varieties, encompassing both steel and composite options. Despite certain drawbacks associated with employing composite materials such as Fiber Reinforced Polymer (FRP) tendons - such as heightened costs, limited availability of composite materials, and intricate manufacturing processes - there are distinct advantages and merits to incorporating FRP composite tendons in the realm of construction. In this respect, Carbon FRP tendons exhibited superior strength, comparable to their steel counterparts. Glass FRP tendons, lacking metallic components, possessed non-magnetic properties, rendering them resistant to corrosion. Additionally, Aramid FRP tendons boasted low flammability and exceptional resistance to elevated temperatures. Lastly, Basalt FRP tendons offered sustainability, rust resistance, and non-corrosiveness. The findings derived from this review study serve as a valuable resource for researchers seeking to advance the applications of steel tendons and FRP composite materials within the construction industry.</p
The Psychological Impacts of Pill Dysphagia:A Mixed Methods Study
Get PDFPill dysphagia is a common problem amongst older adults, with significant health consequences. Previous research has found that dysphagia can negatively affect an individuals mental health and wellbeing. However, this research has not been extended to pill-specific dysphagia, which presents distinct differences from the challenges posed by swallowing food and liquids. These differences extend to causes, demographics, and physical health ramifications. This study aimed to address this gap in the literature by investigating the effects of pill dysphagia on the wellbeing of older adults. A community sample of 132 Australians aged 65–97 years completed a survey about their wellbeing and difficulty swallowing pills. Thirty-one participants who met the criteria for pill dysphagia completed further open-ended questions detailing the effects of pill dysphagia and how they manage it. Analyses of the quantitative data indicated that difficulty swallowing pills was unrelated to negative affect but negatively related to positive affect, life satisfaction, and eudemonic wellbeing. Supplementary analyses controlling for health-related variables found no significant relationships between difficulty swallowing pills and wellbeing. Responses to the open-ended questions revealed a range of physical, psychological, and practical impacts of pill dysphagia, and successful and unsuccessful methods used to assist in swallowing pills. The findings partially support the hypothesised effects of pill dysphagia on wellbeing. However, further research is required to establish if more severe pill dysphagia predicts wellbeing over and above self-rated health. Future interventions should incorporate wellbeing promotion strategies for older adults with pill dysphagia.</p
Australia’s 3.8% inflation rate is concerning, but not enough to trigger a rate rise
No full textAfter falling for five consecutive quarters to less than half of its 7.8% peak, inflation climbed slightly in the June quarter, from 3.6% to 3.8% for the year to June.A rate of 3.8% is what the Reserve Bank had forecast. It is in line with market expectations, and well down on the 6% recorded this time last year
A systematic review and meta-analysis of cortisol levels in Plasmodium infections
Get PDFMalaria has complex interactions with host physiology, including alterations in cortisol levels. Cortisol, a key hormone in the stress response, is known to be dysregulated in various infectious diseases. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to elucidate the relationship between Plasmodium infection and cortisol levels, shedding light on the intricate interplay between the parasite and the host’s endocrine system. The methodological protocol for assessing cortisol levels in malaria patients was registered in PROSPERO (CRD42024496578), a widely recognized international prospective register of systematic reviews. This registration ensures transparency and minimizes the risk of bias in our research. A comprehensive search strategy was employed across major databases, including Embase, PubMed, Scopus, and Medline, to include studies that reported cortisol levels in infected patients. The qualitative synthesis was undertaken to synthesize the difference in cortisol levels between malaria-infected and uninfected individuals. The meta-analysis employed the random effects model in the quantitative synthesis to calculate the effect estimate. The review included a total of 20 studies, with a substantial number conducted in Africa, followed by Asia and South America. Most included studies (13/20, 65%) reported higher cortisol levels in infected patients than in uninfected patients. The meta-analysis confirmed significantly higher cortisol levels in infected patients compared to uninfected individuals (P < 0.0001, standardized mean difference (SMD): 1.354, 95% confidence interval: 0.913 to 1.795, I2: 88.3%, across 15 studies). Notably, the method for cortisol measurement and the type of blood sample used (serum or plasma) were significant moderators in the analysis, indicating that these factors may influence the observed relationship between Plasmodium infection and cortisol levels. The systematic review and meta-analysis confirmed that Plasmodium infection is associated with increased cortisol levels, highlighting the intricate relationship between the disease and the host stress response. These findings underscore the potential of cortisol as a supplementary biomarker for understanding the pathophysiological impact of malaria. By providing insights into the stress-related mechanisms of malaria, this comprehensive understanding can inform future research and potentially enhance disease management and treatment strategies, particularly in regions heavily burdened by malaria.</p
Building Democratic Resilience: Protecting the Public Sphere From Violent Extremism
Get PDFThis paper focuses on the challenges violent extremism poses to the functioning of the public sphere—a critical aspect often overlooked in discussions surrounding violent extremism. It proposes a novel framework of democratic resilience to examine and improve the public sphere responses to violent extremism. Combining insights from the normative theory of deliberative democracy with the empirical study of Countering Violent Extremism (CVE) initiatives in New South Wales (NSW), Australia, the paper lays out the concrete steps democracies can take to protect the public sphere from extremist threats and attacks. While the primary focus of analysis is NSW, the empirical insights have implications for other jurisdictions and countries seeking to counter violent extremism without compromising democratic commitments and principles