50716 research outputs found
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Myopia control using a modified optical defocus soft contact lens in schoolchildren-A 12-month randomised double masked control trial
No full textPURPOSE: Defocus Incorporated Soft Contact (DISC) lenses with +2.50 D myopic defocus reduced myopia progression by 25% in a previous randomised clinical trial (RCT). The current study aimed to evaluate if a stronger myopic defocus, +3.50 D with variable myopic defocus (DISC3.5plus), could slow myopia progression compared with single vision (SV) soft contact lenses in a 12-month RCT.METHODS: Conducted from December 2018 to January 2021, the current RCT randomly assigned myopic children to wear DISC3.5plus (n = 87) or SV (n = 80) lenses. Myopia progression and axial elongation were compared between the two groups. Analyses were performed for both enrolled and completed participants.RESULTS: For all enrolled participants, the DISC3.5plus group had significantly less myopia progression (mean difference: -0.15 ± 0.07 D, p = 0.02) and axial elongation (mean difference: 0.04 ± 0.02 D, p = 0.04) than the SV group at 6 months but not at 12 months (myopia progression: p = 0.11; axial elongation: p = 0.13). For completed participants, the DISC3.5plus group (n = 33) had reduced myopia progression at both 6 months (0.25 ± 0.07 D, p = 0.001) and 12 months (0.19 ± 0.09 D, p = 0.049) compared with the SV group (n = 40), but not in axial elongation (6 months: p = 0.16; 12 months: p = 0.32). In January 2020, the coronavirus pandemic disturbed contact lens-wearing patterns.CONCLUSION: DISC3.5plus lenses significantly slowed myopia progression and axial elongation compared with SV lenses for all enrolled participants over 6 months. The pandemic hindered longer term efficacy follow-up and sample size; thus, further investigation with more participants is needed to confirm sustained treatment effects.</p
The AI’s Role in Project Manager Activities in terms of People, Process, Data, Technology and Continuous Improvement (2PDTC): Results from Qualitative Cases
No full textRecent advances in Artificial Intelligence (AI) have significantly influenced various fields and industries. Although some studies have looked into AI's role in project management, there is no comprehensive framework to support this shift. Most approaches to AI implementation focus on delivering project outcomes more efficiently and effectively. This study investigated the conceptualised AI in terms of People, Processes, Data, Technology, and Continuous improvement (2PDTC) to explore its use in project managers’ activities. This research addressed the question of how AI can positively impact PM’s activities. The conceptualised 2PDTC framework is evaluated through a qualitative study utilising thematic analysis. The explored themes highlighted the usefulness of the 2PDTC framework in formulating the research, designing data collection instruments, and investigating this phenomenon, suggesting practical insights. It is concluded by implying that AI should be viewed as a culture where it is agreed upon, reviewed continuously and prepared to adopt
Teaching marketing communication practice-based learning online during and post COVID-19 lockdown
No full textSince the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic disrupted the teaching and learning environment, teachers are increasingly adopting online pedagogy. Even though online pedagogy has been advancing and uncovering students' experience and engagement patterns, little study has been made on studying online pedagogy in the Marketing Communication (MarComm) discipline. This study attempts to contribute to the literature by examining the critical pedagogical and heutagogical factors associated with teaching practice-based learning online during a crisis and online pedagogical experiences of MarComm students at the University of Canberra. The study adopted both co-operative inquiry of seven educational technologists, academics and students and online written semi-structured interviews of 23 MarComm students at the University of Canberra. The thematic analysis identifies two pedagogical and heutagogical factors vital for educating during a crisis. They are responsiveness and critical reflection. Data further demonstrate that effective use of technology supported online pedagogy, while students with low IT skills are less enthralled with online pedagogy. Our study demonstrates the need for technology access, human critical reflection and planning in understanding the unrelenting evolution of contemporary pedagogy and heutagogy. In this instance, we recommend hyflex pedagogies in MarComm programmes.</p
Influence diagnostics for generalized CP tensor regression models
No full textTensor regression models are widely used in diverse fields, but influence diagnostics for these models remain underdeveloped. This study extends local influence analysis and the case-deletion method to generalized CP tensor regression. We derive one-step approximations of generalized Cook's distance using the Hessian and Fisher information matrices. Three perturbation schemes–case-weighted, single-explanatory-variable, and group-explanatory-variable–are analyzed via the likelihood displacement's largest curvature. Simulations and empirical results confirm that our diagnostic methods accurately identify influential observations, even under higher-than-true rank assumptions.</p
The self and the other in democracy:Exploring the opposite of identity through the politics of becoming
No full textDemocratic politics requires the democratic subject’s identifiability to enable accountability. This requirement, stabilizing identities’ classificatory categories of race, sexuality, class and gender, entails essentialist tendencies and invites stereotyping. This essay conjures an imaginary of a democratic politics beyond recognition, a democracy powered by the actions of perceptible yet unidentifiable subjects. This form of democratic engagement allows the subject to show up *any way*, a concept signifying the agency but also the confusion of unrecognizability. In doing so, the essay expands the politics of becoming from democratizing the construction of the self to cultivating democratic relations with the other. It makes the case for (1) unrecognizing, (2) sustaining and (3) co-constructing the other in order to (4) generate ‘other spaces’ or democratic heterotopias
Aged care onsite pharmacists: Implementing the model in rural and remote areas
No full textBackgroundFunding is available under a Commonwealth Government initiative for residential aged care homes (RACH) to employ an aged care onsite pharmacist (ACOP). The program was developed and trialed in urban settings through a pilot study and a randomised control trial conducted in the Australian Capital Territory. These studies demonstrated that the ACOP model has the potential to reduce inappropriate mediation use, including use of psychotropics. Further, the ACOP role was able to streamline medication rounds, providing a cost-benefit to the RACH alongside improving clinical governance through the contribution to policy and clinical committees. Prior to the national rollout, however, the model had not been trialed in regional, rural and remote areas and there is little evidence about the feasibility of the model in these settings. The OPTIMISER3 study is examining the ACOP model in urban, regional, rural and remote settings across Australia. This study aims to provide a comprehensive assessment of the implementation challenges when introducing the ACOP role in rural, regional, and remote RACHsMethodThe study uses a multi-method approach of pre-implementation co-design workshops, activity-based data collection through an online diary and RACH data extractions, along with group forums and individual interviews. Analysis was completed using the Normalisation Process Theory deductive coding framework, a thematic analysis and the quantitative review of quality indicator and activity data. The components were drawn together through the prism of the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research Framework to examine the barriers and facilitators for ACOP implementationResultsOur early findings show that the key driver of successful implementation is early collaborative engagement of aged care staff, ACOPs, general practitioners and community pharmacies. This facilitated a shared understanding and strong communication channels. Further, successful integration of the ACOP role in RACHs can be achieved through inclusion in management and clinical governance structures and upfront prioritisation of target areas for medication management improvements.Geographical areas where existing pharmacists were available could draw on strong existing community relationships. However, areas with little or no access to pharmacists required adaptations not currently funded under the Commonwealth scheme, such as role sharing, online service delivery, and the ability to be onsite into condensed blocks rather than set hours per week. Further barriers facing rural and remote RACHs were the gaps in funding which did not provide for travel, high cost of accommodation and salaries needed to attract the pharmacy workforce. ConclusionsThe ACOP program has shown that successful implementation can be achieved through drawing on local community strengths and upfront collaboration to determine communication pathways and a shared vision of priorities. There are, however, barriers for rural, regional and remote RACHs in accessibility and attraction of the pharmacy workforce. To alleviate these barriers and provide an ACOP program that benefits rural and remote aged care homes; the model requires greater flexibility to accommodate a broader range of service delivery options. <br/
Associations between uraemic toxins and gut microbiota in adults initiating peritoneal dialysis
No full textDeclining kidney function contributes to the accumulation of uraemic toxins produced by gut microbiota, leading to the uraemic syndrome. This study aimed to identify associations between uraemic toxins, diet quality, symptoms and the gut microbiota in individuals initiating peritoneal dialysis. A cross-sectional analysis of baseline data from participants in a longitudinal study was conducted. Symptom scores using the Integrated Palliative Care Outcomes Scale-Renal were recorded. Plasma p-Cresyl sulfate, indoxyl sulfate and trimethylamine N-oxide were measured using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. Gut microbiota was determined using 16S rRNA sequencing. Multivariate linear models examined associations across the cohort. Data from 43 participants (mean age 61 ± 13 years; 70% male; median eGFR 7 mL/min/1.73 m 2) were analysed. Diabetes was the primary cause of kidney disease (51.2%). Patients were classified into ‘high’ (n = 18) and ‘low’ (n = 26) uraemic toxin groups using K-means clustering. The ‘high’ group had a lower eGFR (p < 0.05) but no differences in diet quality or symptom scores. Significant differences in alpha and beta diversity were observed between the groups (p = 0.01). The ‘high’ group had increased Catenibacterium, Prevotella, Clostridia, and decreased Ruminococcus gnavus abundances. Multivariate models identified 32 genera associated with uraemic toxins, including positive associations of Oscillospiraceae UCG-002 and UCG-005 with p-cresyl sulfate, and negative associations with Actinomyces and Enterococcus. Patients with kidney failure initiating peritoneal dialysis have distinct uraemic toxin profiles, associated with differences in microbial diversity. This phenotype was also associated with differences in residual kidney function but not with diet or symptom severity. Longitudinal studies are required to determine causality and guide therapeutic interventions.</p
Supporting men who support women with endometriosis ‘I enjoy it a lot when she enjoys it . . . ’
No full textIntroduction:Men partners to women-with-endometriosis face long-term challenges to their sex life. The man may perceive responsibility for the sexual pain and be tentative about initiating sexual contact. Relationship discord is also common. The limited studies on the male partner recommend further qualitative research to understand the impact. The aim of this study was to find the sexual impacts on the male partner when his female partner experiences dyspareunia due to endometriosis.Methods:Nine male partners, aged between 24 and 42 years, of women diagnosed with endometriosis participated in in-depth interviews which lasted approximately 90 min. The interviews were held by an experienced social worker and psychosexual therapist. Purposive sampling was used to recruit individuals who could provide data specific to their life setting and the research question.Results and conclusion:Sexual frequency is an early casualty as men (and women) attempt to avoid the pain of intercourse. Men reported their arousal (erection and ejaculation/orgasm) being adversely impacted due to an inability to be ‘present’ when their partner was experiencing sexual pain. Participants indicated not wanting to initiate any form of sexual activity due to a fear it might lead to dyspareunia. Lower levels of fear were reported where the focus shifted to non-penis-in-vagina sex. All men value good communication about sexual and relationship matters
Inclusive climate communication; learning to podcast or learning to listen?
No full textDuring our recent research on gender, disability and climate, we heard a clear call for a wider diversity of the forms by which research was disseminated and returned to the communities. In broadening our methods, we reflected on moments of questioning, tensions, challenges and ethical ponderings that we encountered throughout the creation of more creative outputs. These tensions included questions about what means of communication and dissemination dominate in research, who speaks and who listens, the challenges of negotiating power, ethics and care, rethinking ‘whose stories’ and who is doing the telling and, finally, solutions for accessibility barriers or obstacles encountered. Specifically, the paper argues that podcasting and other communications methods should be recorded in mainstream academic practice, with a focus on how we represent knowledge and methods for knowledge production. Utilising a breadth of spaces for stories and lived experiences is a crucial part of a commitment to listening and learning together in modern development collaborative practice.</p
Measuring and mitigating debugging effectiveness decay in code language models
No full textThe effectiveness of AI debugging follows a predictable exponential decay pattern; most models lose 60-80% of their debugging capability within just 2-3 attempts, despite iterative debugging being a critical capability for practical code generation systems. We introduce the Debugging Decay Index (DDI), a mathematical framework that quantifies when debugging becomes ineffective and predicts intervention points. Our strategic fresh start approach shifts from exploitation to exploration at strategic points in the debugging process, demonstrating that well-timed interventions can rescue the effectiveness of debugging. DDI reveals a fundamental limitation in current AI self-debugging and provides the first systematic metric to gauge LLM-based code generation.</p