50716 research outputs found
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A Habit-Forming Exercise Approach Promotes Positive Exercise Beliefs and Behaviours: A Survey of People After Stroke
No full textBackground and Aims LiFE is a habit-forming functional exercise program that is not widely used in stroke but could facilitate exercise and support long-term physical activity. The purpose of this study was to determine, in people after stroke participating in the Falls After Stroke Trial: (1) exercise beliefs and behaviours, (2) differences between LiFE and usual care participants and (3) in LiFE participants, perceptions of the program. Methods Participants (n?=?49) were consecutively invited to complete a 43-item survey about exercise beliefs and behaviours. LiFE participants also provided program feedback. Data were analysed using descriptive and frequency analyses, Wilcoxon rank-sum tests, Fisher's exact tests and content analyses. Results Thirty-eight complete surveys (n?=?22 LiFE, n?=?16 usual care) were analysed. Participants had moderately strong outcome expectations for exercise and reported a mean (SD) of 2 (2) barriers and 2 (1) facilitators to exercise. Only 15 participants (39%) reported meeting Australian physical activity guidelines, of which most (67%) received LiFE. More LiFE than usual care participants were confident in overcoming barriers to exercise (62% vs. 33%, p?=?0.18) and satisfied with their reported physical activity levels (50% vs. 37%, p?=?0.41). Most LiFE participants (95%) agreed that the program made it easier for them to be more physically active and all agreed that they would continue with the program. Conclusion People after stroke in both the LiFE and usual care groups had positive views of exercise; however, most reported that they were not completing recommended physical activity levels. There appeared to be some differences in exercise beliefs and behaviours between LiFE and usual care participants, though these were not statistically significant. LiFE participants provided positive feedback about the program and reported that it could help them to engage in physical activity behaviours
Empowering people affected by penile cancer:towards a model for supportive self-management
No full textImprovements in the quality of penile cancer management are difficult due to the rarity of the condition and a limited evidence base for treatment decisions. Penile cancer and some of its highly morbid treatments can cause profound psychosexual and physical effects that negatively impact quality of life. Multidisciplinary interventions are required to equip patients with the support necessary to manage their emotional, physical, work, and lifestyle challenges to optimize health, well-being, and recovery. This paper outlines a model of supported self-management, which is a novel model of care for people with penile cancer to mitigate disease and treatment morbidity.</p
Adapting the group traumatic episode protocol approach as a paraprofessional-led early intervention for law enforcement personnel
No full textBACKGROUND: Law enforcement personnel experience high levels of occupational stress and frequent exposure to potentially traumatic events, requiring effective early interventions. The Modified Group Traumatic Episode Protocol (mGTEP) is an adaptation of Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) designed to help individuals process traumatic experiences in a group setting. This study evaluated the feasibility and effectiveness of a paraprofessional-led mGTEP within the law enforcement population.METHODS: Police officers and staff, with peer support background, were trained as paraprofessionals to facilitate mGTEP as early mental health support for their colleagues. Their role bridges the gap between informal peer support and professional mental health services. Psychological distress (single-item scale), depression (PHQ-9), anxiety (GAD-7), and trauma-related stress (PCL-5) were assessed at baseline (T1), post-intervention (T2), and follow-up (T3). Multilevel statistical analyses were conducted to evaluate changes over time. A sample of 40 law enforcement personnel participated in online mGTEP sessions. The sample consisted of mostly males (54 %), ranging from age 28 to 53 with an average of 14 years working in the police. Multilevel modelling was applied to the repeated measures design to analyse changes across three time points, combining both random (e.g., participant) and fixed (e.g., time) effects.RESULTS: Significant reductions were observed from T1 to T2 in distress (d = 0.69, large), anxiety (d = 0.65, large), and trauma-related stress (d = 0.48, medium), with sustained improvements in depression (d = 0.26, small) and trauma-related stress (d = 0.48, medium) at follow-up. Anxiety scores slightly increased between T2 and T3 (d = 0.36, small). Similarly, distress scores did not continue to decline beyond T2. These results potentially reflect the ongoing demands of policing and continued exposure to trauma.CONCLUSION: This study highlights the feasibility of mGTEP as a paraprofessional-led early intervention for law enforcement personnel, demonstrating significant symptom reductions. While improvements in depression and trauma-related stress persisted, fluctuations in anxiety and distress levels suggest the need for continued support post-intervention. Given the cumulative nature of occupational stress in policing, regular implementation may be necessary to sustain benefits. Integrating mGTEP into existing mental health programs could enhance accessibility, allowing it to complement other psychological support initiatives.</p
Engineering education's Odyssey with ChatGPT: Opportunities, challenges, and theoretical foundations
No full textThis study investigates what Artificial Intelligence (AI) and the generative pre-trained transformer (ChatGPT) software offer to engineering education. First, our literature review shows key challenges and considerations linked to infrastructure and resource requirements, digital inequality, data privacy, copyright and some complex ethical issues that come with this pedagogical transformation. However, the article next contextualizes AI and ChatGPT within foundational learning theories such as Constructivist Learning Theory, Personalized Learning Theory, Cognitive Load Theory, and Vygotsky's Zone of Proximal Development, showing how AI and ChatGPT can shift educational practices towards more individualized, dynamic, and active learning experiences. By bringing together practical considerations demanding attention when introducing AI and ChatGPT to engineering course, and the learning theories the digital tools can promisingly enact, this study significantly contributes to ongoing discourse on AI and ChatGPT in engineering education. Different stakeholders, including educators, students, institutions, and industry partners contemplating AI and ChatGPT introduction are likely to be weighing up options. Readers considering whether pedagogical benefits are worth the considerable care needed to introduce these tools in their own engineering faculty should find this article helpful.<br/
Mixed pre-cooling improves thermal strain but not running performance in female endurance athletes exercising in the heat across the menstrual cycle
No full textThis study investigated the effect of mixed pre-cooling (cooling vest and ice-slurry) on thermal and cardiovascular strain and performance in unacclimatized females exercising in the heat during menstrual cycle (MC) Phase-1 (low estrogen and progesterone) and Phase-4 (moderate estrogen and high progesterone). In a randomized crossover design, 11 runners completed two trials in each MC Phase: mixed pre-cooling (wearing a cooling vest around the torso for 30 min and ingesting 7.5 g.kg -1 of body mass of ice slurry), and control (equivalent slurry volume at ~20°C without a cooling vest), prior to a 10-km running time trial (TT) in 34°C and 60% relative humidity. Rectal temperature (T re), heart rate (HR), and perceptual responses were measured throughout the TT. Linear mixed models were fitted to estimate intervention and MC phase effects. Mixed pre-cooling had no effect on HR (1.06 [-0.83, 2.95] beats.min -1; p = 0.272) or TT completion time (-0.23 [-1.32, 0.86] min; p = 0.677) versus control. T re (-0.21 [-0.34, -0.07] °C; p = 0.003) and thermal sensation (-0.61 [-0.78, -0.44] au; p < 0.001) were significantly lower with mixed pre-cooling compared to control. Rise in T re (-0.1 [-0.3, 0.0] °C) and thermal sensation were attenuated in MC phase-4 (-0.57 [-0.81, -0.34] au; all p < 0.05). Mixed pre-cooling was effective at attenuating the rise in T re for a similar work rate, particularly in MC phase-4, where females may experience greater heat thermosensation. However, the magnitude of attenuated T re does not improve 10-km running performance in the heat, suggesting additional cooling and/or heat mitigation strategies may be required to improve performance. </p
Comparative Analysis of Indoor Air Quality and Health Risk Assessment in Academic Workspaces in India and Australia
No full textIndoor air quality (IAQ) in workplaces significantly impacts occupational health and productivity, necessitating comparative evaluations across diverse environments. This study investigates particulate matter (PM) concentrations in indoor academic workspaces in Chennai, India, and Canberra, Australia, using the GRIMM 11D aerosol spectrometer. A 12-hour monitoring campaign was done in IIT Madras, India, and ANU, Australia for 3 days during the post-winter (Spring) season. It measured the PM1, PM2.5, PM4, and PM10 levels in the indoor workspaces offering insights into PM concentrations.The average PM concentrations in Chennai were significantly higher than in Canberra. Indian workplaces recorded PM1, PM2.5, PM4, and PM10 levels of 4.03±1.09, 8.28±2.15, 12.36±4.26, and 15.83±6.43 (µg/m³), respectively. Corresponding Australian values were notably lower, at 1.53±0.47, 2.82±1.02, 3.52±1.69, and 4.14±2.72 (µg/m³), respectively. Spikes in PM10 levels in both regions suggest occasional localized pollution events or episodic pollutant intrusions, influencing PM concentrations. Additionally, the fine PM fractions (PM1 and PM2.5) were more prominent in Canberra, indicating potential variations in pollutant sources and infiltration rates.Health risk assessments were performed by simulating lung deposition dosages for males and females using the ‘Symmetric Lung’ configuration within the Multiple Path Dosimetry Model (MPPD). The model revealed stark contrasts in PM lung deposition doses between the two regions, with Indian workplaces presenting significantly higher health risks. In Chennai, male dosages for PM1, PM2.5, PM4, and PM10 were 4.23, 22.16, 38.98, and 56.41 µg, respectively, while females experienced slightly lower dosages of 2.79, 12.99, 23.33, and 34.70 µg. In Canberra, the respective values for males were 1.61, 5.80, 9.14, and 12.33 µg, and for females, 1.05, 3.40, 5.41, and 7.46 µg. These findings highlight a significantly higher health risk for workers in Chennai, with females in both locations receiving lower doses due to smaller lung capacities and breathing rates.This pilot study brings out substantial regional differences in IAQ, shaped by environmental factors, building ventilation standards, and external pollutant sources and infiltration rates. Elevated PM concentrations in Chennai signal a pressing need for interventions to enhance workplace air quality, such as improved filtration and ventilation systems and awareness campaigns. Meanwhile, the finer PM fraction in Canberra warrants attention due to its deeper penetration into the respiratory tract and long-term health implications.Further research should address long-term exposure risks, seasonal variability, and effective mitigation strategies to improve IAQ and safeguard academic workforce health in diverse geographical settings
Sex-related differences in the acute physiological response to a high-intensity CrossFit® workout
No full textCrossFit® is popular form of fitness training but the cardiorespiratory, hemodynamic and metabolic responses have not been well characterised. We compared responses to a short Fran CrossFit® session (consisting of three rounds of 21, 15 and 9 front squat to press overhead and pull-ups) between sexes to evaluate differences in acute exercise effects. Twenty-five (15 males and 10 females) trained participants performed a prescribed Fran session at maximal exertion. Cardiorespiratory variables were assessed at baseline, during and post-exercise. The rating of perceived exertion, blood pressure, blood lactate and glucose concentrations were measured at baseline and in the recovery period. The males completed Fran session in less time (males 177 ± 15 vs females 206 ± 27 s; mean ± SD), resulting in higher peak oxygen uptake values (50.1 ± 3.3 vs 46.4 ± 2.2 mL kg −1 min −1), heart rate (187 ± 6 vs 180 ± 3 b min−1) and percentage heart rate (96 ± 3 vs 93 ± 1 %) compared to females. In addition, elevated systolic blood pressure (male 154 ± 8 vs females 149 ± 10 mmHg), double product (27,050 ± 1504 vs 25,999 ± 2253 mmHg b∙min −1), blood lactate (15.7 ± 1.7 vs 14.6 ± 2.0 mmol L−1) and glucose (132 ± 15 vs 132 ± 14 mg dL−1) values were observed in both sexes post-exercise. The substantial metabolic demands associated with a Fran session can yield similar elevations in cardiorespiratory and hemodynamic responses in both sexes, meeting the criteria for developing cardiorespiratory fitness. Complementarily, these results suggest that researchers and coaches can use the Fran session at maximal effort to assess and monitor crossfitters' training status throughout a CrossFit® season, guiding efforts towards excellence in this demanding sport.</p
Beryllium-isotope signatures in ice sheet proximal marine sediments
No full textMeteoric-10Be has become a popular proxy for assessing glacial environments and processes around Antarctica, such as meltwater discharge or ice shelf environments. Despite applications in recent paleostudies, little testing of the mechanisms driving the deposition of Be-isotopes into marine sediments has been conducted. We used chemical leach procedures to sequentially or partially extract 10Be and 9Be from bulk sediments to assess the possible sources and depositional processes affecting them. Additionally, we leached the reactive phase of five different grainsize splits to determine whether 10Be/9Be ratios normalise for grainsize effects acting upon the 10Be concentration. Reactive Be-isotopes are primarily situated in the oxide phases of sediments, with the amorphous oxide (Am-Ox) phases consisting of much higher 10Be/9Be ratios (∼7–10 × 10−8) than the crystalline oxides (∼1–3 × 10−8; X-Ox), indicating that the Am-Ox phase better represents authigenic oxide production and a circumpolar deep water source, which is contrary to most of the current literature. Published leach procedures targeting the reactive phase of sediment consist of ratios in between the Am-Ox and X-Ox phases (∼3–7 × 10−8), indicating that they target both phases to some degree. The fractionation of Be-isotopes in Antarctic sediment samples shows that circumpolar deep water is the primary source of 10Be, and that the “reactive” signatures from different leach steps targeting the reactive phase are not the same
Enhancing Upper Limb Exoskeletons Using Sensor-Based Deep Learning Torque Prediction and PID Control
No full textUpper limb assistive exoskeletons help stroke patients by assisting arm movement in impaired individuals. However, effective control of these systems to help stroke survivors is a complex task. In this paper, a novel approach is proposed to enhance the control of upper limb assistive exoskeletons by using torque estimation and prediction in a proportional–integral–derivative (PID) controller loop to more optimally integrate the torque of the exoskeleton robot, which aims to eliminate system uncertainties. First, a model for torque estimation from Electromyography (EMG) signals and a predictive torque model for the upper limb exoskeleton robot for the elbow are trained. The trained data consisted of two-dimensional high-density surface EMG (HD-sEMG) signals to record myoelectric activity from five upper limb muscles (biceps brachii, triceps brachii, anconeus, brachioradialis, and pronator teres) during voluntary isometric contractions for twelve healthy subjects performing four different isometric tasks (supination/pronation and elbow flexion/extension) for one minute each, which were trained on long short-term memory (LSTM), bidirectional LSTM (BLSTM), and gated recurrent units (GRU) deep neural network models. These models estimate and predict torque requirements. Finally, the estimated and predicted torque from the trained network is used online as input to a PID control loop and robot dynamic, which aims to control the robot optimally. The results showed that using the proposed method creates a strong and innovative approach to greater independence and rehabilitation improvement.</p
Multidisciplinary Allied Health Reablement Model of Care for Older People in Residential Aged Care and Community Settings:Mixed-Methods Evaluation
No full textThis study aimed to explore the feasibility, acceptability, and clinical outcomes of a best practice-aligned multidisciplinary allied health reablement model of care for older people. A mixed-methods pre-post-intervention study was conducted in two nursing homes and the community. Quantitative measures were collected for frailty, physical function, and quality of life for all participants pre-implementation and 12 weeks post-implementation. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with a sub-group of participants and allied health professionals involved in the intervention. Participants' ( n = 50) physical function increased (SPPB 4.2 vs. 4.9) while frailty (FRAIL-NH 6.0 vs. 5.5) and quality of life (16 vs. 16) were maintained. There was a high retention (93%) and attendance rate (84%), indicating acceptability. Participants received a daily median of 16 allied health minutes, costing $26AUD. Findings confirm acceptability and feasibility of the model with potential to maintain or improve clinical outcomes. Future work is needed to define long-term outcomes, scalability and sustainability. The study was registered with the ANZCTR [Trial ID: ACTRN12623000915651; Registration Date: 12/1/2024]. </p