134125 research outputs found
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Benchmarking in the energy sector: Implications for practice and policy
No full textEfficiency benchmarking has become a cornerstone of energy sector regulation and management, providing tools to evaluate and compare the performance of utilities, power plants, and even national energy systems. Regulators use methods like Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) and Stochastic Frontier Analysis (SFA) to set performance targets, incentivize cost reduction, and guide policy.No Full Tex
Incidence of peripheral arterial catheter failure and complications in intensive care: a systematic review and meta-analysis
No full textINTRODUCTION: Although there is an extensive body of literature on complications associated with central venous catheters, less is known about arterial catheter-related complications. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to quantify the incidence of arterial catheter-related complications and failure in intensive care. METHODS: Databases were searched for relevant randomised controlled trials and cohort studies that reported on arterial catheter-related complications and failure within the adult critical care setting. Two authors independently identified studies for full review, extracted data and completed quality assessments. Pooled estimates were calculated using random-effects models with the Freeman-Tukey double arcsine transformation. Certainty of evidence for each outcome was assessed using the GRADE framework. RESULTS: Thirty-nine studies (22 observational studies and 17 randomised controlled trials), comprising 19,018 arterial catheters, were included. The pooled proportion of all-cause arterial catheter failure was 13.0% (95%CI 7.6-19.5%, moderate certainty). Non-infectious arterial catheter failure occurred in 19.8% (95%CI 12.2-28.7%, moderate certainty) of arterial catheters. The pooled proportion of all-cause catheter-associated or related bloodstream infections was 1.3% (95%CI 0.7-2.1%, moderate certainty). Local infection occurred in 1.2% (95%CI 0.4-2.4%, high certainty). Reporting of definitions of bloodstream and local infections was limited. Incidence density could not be calculated for any outcomes due to limited reporting of total catheter days. DISCUSSION: Arterial catheter failure occurs in up to one in five catheters in intensive care. Reducing failure rates and associated complications requires system-wide interventions, clearer definitions of infection and standardised reporting to improve data synthesis and guide evidence-based improvement.No Full Tex
Direct Seeding achieves rehabilitation objectives for an operational sand mine in Southeast Queensland: A case study
Get PDFDirect seeding is increasingly recognised as a practical method for ecological restoration; however, its application in post-mining rehabilitation remains limited due to concerns regarding establishment reliability, species performance, and cost-effectiveness. This study evaluates the effectiveness of direct seeding for mine rehabilitation at an operational sand mine in Southeast Queensland, with a focus on achieving compliance with Queensland's Progressive Rehabilitation and Closure Plan (PRCP) requirements. A seed mix comprising 10 native woody species—including primary and secondary koala food trees (Eucalyptus and Corymbia spp.)—and five native grass species was applied across two sites with contrasting land-use histories. Vegetation establishment was monitored over a 36-month period, with performance assessed in terms of species richness, plant density, and the influence of non-native vegetation. At the Native Vegetation Site, canopy tree densities substantially exceeded PRCP targets (5200 vs. 600 stems/ha), and key koala food trees also surpassed their respective benchmarks. In contrast, native grass establishment was lower than anticipated, potentially reflecting dormancy constraints, site-specific soil properties, and competition with exotic species. At the Pasture Site, the dominance of Chloris gayana (Rhodes grass) significantly inhibited native plant recruitment, highlighting the importance of targeted weed management. A cost analysis indicated that direct seeding was approximately 30 % more cost-effective than tubestock planting, while supporting greater species and structural diversity. These findings demonstrate that, when implemented with appropriate site preparation and management, direct seeding represents a scalable, economically viable, and ecologically robust strategy for post-mining landscape rehabilitation.Full Tex
Social Media Marketing of Non-Evidence-Based Women's Health Interventions: Protocol for a Content Analysis Using Participatory Research Methods
Get PDFBACKGROUND: The promotion of non-evidence-based health interventions to women on social media is a growing problem. OBJECTIVE: This study aims to explore the use of social media to disseminate and promote health interventions that lack robust evidence and are of current interest and popularity. METHODS: A content analysis of posts on TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook about 5 health interventions targeted at women will be conducted using participatory research methods with consumers. English-language posts that discuss boric acid suppositories, fertility testing, perimenopause and menopause testing, supplements and hormone treatments for menopause, and menopause hormone therapy for disease prevention will be included. Using keyword searches related to each health intervention, consumers will screen the top posts until 100 eligible posts on 2 different social media platforms are identified (1000 posts total across the 5 health interventions). Data from the post's caption, on-screen text, and audio and/or video will be included in the analysis. The analysis of these posts will take both a deductive approach using a prespecified framework and an inductive approach, generating key themes from the post content. RESULTS: Data on TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook have been searched and screened. Development of the coding framework and analysis is now underway. The findings will be disseminated via publications in peer-reviewed international medical journals and presentations at national and international conferences in 2025 and 2026. CONCLUSIONS: This novel study will provide important insights into how information on various women's health interventions and products, which currently lack robust evidence of benefit, are being disseminated and promoted on social media to women. Understanding this is essential for developing strategies to mitigate potential harm and plan solutions, thus protecting women from the low-value interventions marketed to them, becoming patients unnecessarily, and taking finite resources away from the health care system. INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT IDENTIFIER (IRRID): DERR1-10.2196/76750.Full Tex
Prevalence and implications of sex reversal in free-living birds
Get PDFThe ability to unequivocally identify the sex and reproductive status of individuals is crucial across many fields of study. Recent evidence indicates that avian sex determination is more flexible than once believed, with sex-reversed individuals identified in domestic bird populations - that is, individuals exhibiting gonadal and morphological traits of one sex while possessing the chromosomal make-up of the opposite sex. The presence of these individuals can challenge the reliability of traditional sexing methods that rely solely on external morphology, internal anatomy or genetic markers. These methods, when used in isolation, fail to identify sex-reversed or intersex individuals, potentially overlooking their impact on population dynamics. In this pioneering study, we investigated the prevalence of sex-reversed individuals in five common free-living avian species in Queensland, Australia. By comparing internal and external morphological characteristics with polymerase chain reaction results from sex-linked molecular markers, we identified sex-reversed individuals in all five species, with rates ranging from 3 to 6%. Our findings suggest that sex reversal is a common and potentially widespread phenomenon in avian species.Full Tex
Maternal and Neonatal Outcomes and Health System Costs in Standard Public Maternity Care Compared to Private Obstetric-Led Care: A Population-Level Matched Cohort Study
Get PDFObjective: We aimed to compare health outcomes and costs in standard public maternity care compared to private obstetric-led maternity care. Design: Observational study with linked administrative data. Setting: Australian maternity care. Population: 867 334 births, covering all births in three states of Australia between 2016 and 2019. Methods: Standard public care involved mainly fragmented midwifery, obstetric and General Practitioner provider care, with birth in a public hospital. Private obstetric-led care was led by a personally selected obstetrician, with midwifery involvement and birth in a private hospital. We analysed outcomes from pregnancy onset to 4 weeks post-birth. Matching was utilised to account for demographic, socio-economic and clinical characteristics. Main Outcome Measures: Stillbirths or neonatal deaths; neonatal intensive care admissions; APGAR score < 7 at 5 min; 3rd or 4th degree perineal tears; maternal haemorrhages; mean cost per pregnancy episode. Results: Higher adverse outcomes in standard public maternity care compared to private obstetric-led care, including 778 more stillbirths or neonatal deaths (OR 2.0, 95% CI: 1.8–2.1), 2747 more APGAR score < 7 at 5 min (OR 2.0, 95% CI: 2.0–2.1), 3273 more 3rd or 4th degree perineal tears (OR 2.9, 95% CI: 2.7–3.1) and 10 627 additional maternal haemorrhages (OR 2.7, 95% CI: 2.6–2.8). Mode of birth correlated with neonatal death. Mean cost to all funders in Australian dollars per pregnancy episode was $5929 higher in standard public maternity care. Conclusion: We have shown significantly lower adverse health outcomes and costs in private obstetric-led care compared to standard public maternity care.Full Tex
Beyond the Screen: The Transformative Power of Mobile Technology in Creative Communication and Branding
Get PDFMobile technologies are deeply embedded not just in everyday communications but also in human behaviour and cultural practices (Sağkaya Güngör & Ozansoy Çadırcı, 2022). The smartphone penetration, coupled with internet proliferation, has boosted social media usage, resulting in a need to revamp the ways of brand storytelling, engaging consumers and cultivating loyalty (Xiao Fei et al., 2025). Furthermore, the integration of advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) in mobile tech made it mandatory for businesses to move away from traditional practices of creative communications and branding (Xu et al., 2025). Thus, branding and creative communication strategies must evolve to keep pace with novel and emerging mobile technologies.Full Tex
Understanding experiences, contextual factors and implementation outcomes of a major trauma service: A qualitative study
No full textIntroduction: The delivery of optimal trauma care requires an interdisciplinary team approach. However, the composition of these teams often varies across health services and systems. Moreover, different models of care exist which impact the way trauma teams operate, including consultative models and admitting models. This study aimed to explore contextual factors (e.g., barriers and facilitators) influencing trauma service model optimisation, propose strategies to address the factors, and understand implementation outcomes of the model. Methods: Staff and patients within a large public, major trauma referral centre with statewide outreach were interviewed, and data were analysed using a hybrid qualitative inductive and deductive design. The predominantly inductive approach used interpretive description methodology to produce a narrative and themes related to the interviews. The deductive approach used the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR 2.0) to understanding the influence of multi-level factors on implementation, and mapped data to five implementation outcomes. Finally, strategies addressing the factors were mapped to the nine domains of Expert Recommendations for Implementing Change (ERIC) to inform future research and service redesign. Results: Twelve staff and six patient interviews were conducted. ‘Connecting with people’ was a concept that underpinned all three themes of caring for the patient as a whole person; coming together to create a cohesive team identity; and securing a place in the bigger health system. The findings suggest that the Trauma Service improved continuity and enabled patient-centred care, but its perceived effectiveness was hindered by hospital attitudes, leadership changes, staff shortages, and dependence on key individuals. Participants highlighted acceptability and sustainability as key implementation outcomes, with patients viewing the Trauma Service positively while staff had mixed opinions. Fourteen implementation strategies were identified, including restructuring the Trauma Service for continuity of care, pre-planning with stakeholders, using cohorted trauma wards and advocating for funding to ensure sustainability. Conclusions: The themes highlighted that optimal trauma care delivery is focussed on connecting with people; recognising and caring for the trauma patient as a whole person; and knowing individual and collective strengths. The findings may have implications for designing or redesigning similar trauma services in the future by ensuring external and internal risks to service provision are mitigated.Full Tex
Effects of Biochar Application on Nitrogen Fixation and Water Use Efficiency of Understorey Acacia Species as well as Soil Carbon and Nitrogen Pools in a Subtropical Native Forest
Get PDFThis study aimed to examine how biochar and Acacia species would affect biological nitrogen fixation (BNF) and water use efficiency (WUE) of understorey Acacia species as well as soil carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) pools 15 months after biochar application in the suburban native forest of subtropical Australia. This experiment was established with wood biochar applied at 0, 5, and 10 t ha−1 at 20 months after prescribed burning. We collected foliar and soil samples 15 months after biochar application and used N isotope composition (δ15N) and carbon isotope composition (δ13C) to assess the BNF and WUE of two understorey Acacia species (Acacia leiocalyx and Acacia disparrima). We also characterised soil C and N pools and their δ15N and δ13C. Biochar did not influence Acacia plant BNF and WUE 15 months after biochar application. However, the BNF of A. leiocalyx was significantly greater compared with that of A. disparrima. The soil under A. leiocalyx had greater NH4+-N (i.e., 10–20 cm) but lower δ15N than A. disparrima. This study represents one of the few attempts to apply the 15N natural abundance (δ15N) techniques to quantify the soil–plant–microbe interactions for N cycling in a native forest ecosystem. Understorey A. leiocalyx was more effective in improving N recovery post-fire via BNF. Soil under A. leiocalyx had greater N availability with lower δ15N, influencing plant available N sources and δ15N. Thus, A. leiocalyx would be able to fix more N2 from the air compared with that of A. disparrima in the suburban native forest ecosystem subject to periodical fuel reduction prescribed burning.Full Tex
Integrating machine learning and a large language model to construct a domain knowledge graph for reducing the risk of fall-from-height accidents
No full textFall-from-height (FFH) accidents remain a major source of workplace injuries and fatalities. Fall protection systems (FPS) are critical for preventing falls in the work-at-height (WAH) environment. However, challenges in designing and selecting effective FPS persist across various industries, and existing tools often lack practical references. This study aims to develop an FFH-specific knowledge graph (FFH-KG) to support FPS design. By structuring accident data, the FFH-KG provides empirical insights to help designers improve FPS frameworks, aiding safety planning and decision-making. It serves as a decision support system for FPS designers and safety professionals, guiding the selection and design of appropriate protection solutions for diverse WAH scenarios. The FFH-KG was constructed using a hybrid natural language processing approach, combining manual extraction, entity recognition, text segmentation, and rule-based relation extraction. It was grounded in a schema layer (i.e., ontology) established by experts. A text-mining approach, integrating machine learning with a large language model, facilitated the categorization of fall types, refinement of WAH scenarios, and identification of fall causes, enhancing the content and applicability of knowledge graph. A total of 2,200 entities and 4,820 relationships were created based on fall protection equipment standard documents and fall-from-height accident investigation reports, forming a foundation for developing countermeasures. The retrieval performance of FFH-KG was validated through three case studies. This research has also made significant progress in intelligent safety engineering and management across industries.No Full Tex