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Into the woods and back again : the impact of university musical theatre training on vocal health and production
Get PDFIn preparing Musical Theatre (MT) singers for a lasting career in the modern MT industry, singing voice teachers are challenged to equip their students with the appropriate skills, knowledge and techniques to remain vocally healthy while managing complex style goals and performance requirements across an eight-show work week (Cox, 2024; Fisher et al., 2022; LoVetri et al., 2014; O’Bryan & Harrison, 2024; Melton, 2007). As a starting point many young singers are increasingly turning to university programs as a way to find structured training in the areas of MT singing, acting and dancing in order to increase their employment success in this demanding industry. In Australia, university-based training programs usually take the form of a three-year degree where tuition in all three of the ‘triple threat’ skills is provided. Using a tiered approach, students are gradually encouraged to integrate more frequent and complex performance tasks.
Following an in-depth review of the literature I could find no empirical studies that examined changes to MT students’ vocal health over time. This gap in the literature is important when viewed against a growing number of researchers’ reports that suggest professional MT singers may be at greater risk for voice disorders due to the rigors of their work (Estes et al., 2023; Zuim et al., 2023; D’haeseleer et al., 2022; Rotsides et al., 2021; Phyland et al., 1999). D’haeseleer et al. (2022) and Suddeth & Flynn (2022) suggested further that health issues might arise during university training. To address this gap in the literature, a study was designed to map the vocal health condition of a group (N = 16) of university MT students in one university training program across two years of study (Year 1 & 2). The study followed a concurrent nested design, integrating group and individual data and survey-type data acquisition with case study methods as an embedded secondary method. The vocal health status of the participants was determined at set collection points using both instrumental and perceptual measurements aimed at collecting aerodynamic, acoustic and self-reported measures of voice function. Additionally, the participants were prompted to provide weekly reports on their perception of vocal fatigue and vocal happiness levels for the duration of the data collection. Finally, recorded vocal performances from each testing point were subjected to perceptual analysis by expert panel to determine any changes in vocal proficiency in the MT genre.
Findings strongly suggest that most participants experienced significant improvements to aerodynamic capacity, voice quality and dynamic vocal range across the 37 weeks of their first year of study. However, analysis from the second year of the research revealed areas of disjunction and a lower rate of improvement, particularly regarding participants' spoken loudness levels.
These findings have been used to form the basis for a discussion around the efficacy and efficiency of current MT university training approaches in Australia with data informed suggestions for future planning and development of pedagogical strategies. It is anticipated that the key findings will provide important insights for future researchers who seek to investigate career longevity for MT singers through the foundation of reliable vocal health habits developed at the outset of their careers.Thesis (PhD Doctorate)Doctor of PhilosophyQueensland ConservatoriumArts, Education and Law GroupFull Tex
Identifying the Big Questions in paleontology: a community-driven project
Get PDFPaleontology provides insights into the history of the planet, from the origins of life billions of years ago to the biotic changes of the Recent. The scope of paleontological research is as vast as it is varied, and the field is constantly evolving. In an effort to identify “Big Questions” in paleontology, experts from around the world came together to build a list of priority questions the field can address in the years ahead. The 89 questions presented herein (grouped within 11 themes) represent contributions from nearly 200 international scientists. These questions touch on common themes including biodiversity drivers and patterns, integrating data types across spatiotemporal scales, applying paleontological data to contemporary biodiversity and climate issues, and effectively utilizing innovative methods and technology for new paleontological insights. In addition to these theoretical questions, discussions touch upon structural concerns within the field, advocating for an increased valuation of specimen-based research, protection of natural heritage sites, and the importance of collections infrastructure, along with a stronger emphasis on human diversity, equity, and inclusion. These questions offer a starting point—an initial nucleus of consensus that paleontologists can expand on—for engaging in discussions, securing funding, advocating for museums, and fostering continued growth in shared research directions.Full Tex
Complications in Central Venous Access Devices in Paediatric Cancer Care: A Global Cross-Sectional Survey
No full textObjective
To examine global practices for identifying and managing central venous access device (CVAD) complications—catheter-associated bloodstream infection (CABSI), thrombosis, and occlusion—in paediatric cancer care, comparing patterns between high- and other-income countries.
Methods
A cross-sectional international survey was conducted from 2022 to 2023 and analysed 2024 to 2025. Clinicians involved in paediatric CVAD cancer care were recruited through global networks.
Results
A total of 161 respondents from 38 countries completed the complication section, including 102 (63.4%) from high-income and 59 (36.6%) from other-income countries (lower- and upper-middle income). For CABSI, blood culture was the main diagnostic method (122 [75.8%]; high-income: 87 [85.3%], other-income: 35 [59.3%]). Differential time to positivity was more often reported in other-income settings (33 [55.9%] vs. 35 [34.3%]), who also more frequently initiated antibiotics based on nonspecific or immediate criteria. CABSI treatment varied, with intravenous antibiotics (68 [60.7%]) and catheter removal (47 [42.0%]) most reported. For thrombosis, anticoagulation before line removal was common (88 [54.7%]), and alteplase use was higher in high-income countries (76 [74.5%] vs. 19 [32.2%]). Thrombolytic agents were the most reported treatment for occlusion (103 [64.0%]), especially in high-income countries (77 [75.5%] vs. 26 [44.1%]).
Conclusions
CVAD complication management varies by country income level, highlighting the need for context-adapted guidelines, training, and equitable access to key resources.No Full Tex
Students' Perspectives on Sustainability Competences and Pedagogical Approaches: Groupings and Interrelations Results From 17 International Case Studies
No full textHigher education institutions (HEIs) have been incorporating sustainability into their curricula, which is crucial for providing students with the skills and knowledge to help societies become more sustainable. During the last 15 years, there has been increasing research on sustainability competences and the pedagogical approaches to develop them. There have been proposals on lists of competences, pedagogical approaches, their groups and their links. However, most research has focused on the perspective of educators, with limited research from the students' perspective. This paper aims to provide the students' perspective of the groups of sustainability competences, groups of pedagogical approaches, and how these connect. A survey was developed for this purpose, which was applied to participants from 17 HEIs worldwide. The responses obtained were analysed in a five-step process: Descriptive statistics, Spearman correlations, Principal Component analysis (PCA) to detect the competence and pedagogical approaches groups, correlations between the groups and regressions between the groups. The PCA analysis resulted in three competences' groups and confirmed the three pedagogical approach groups. The analyses showed differences in the competences' groups between the students' and educators' perspectives. The regression analysis groups shows how the pedagogical approach groups develop the competences' groups from the students' perspective. Developing sustainability competences requires a change in the higher educational system, where the educators' and students' perspectives need to converge so that the sustainability competence–based education model is more efficient and effective in educating the future leaders, decision-makers, educators, management and professionals.Full Tex
Paediatric pain management: Strengthening child and parent voices and partnership for improved care (Editorial)
No full textEffective management of paediatric pain remains a global priority, especially for hospitalised children experiencing acute illness and procedural or surgical intervention, and for children with chronic pain (Forster et al., 2023; Palomaa et al., 2023; Twycross et al., 2015).No Full Tex
Leveraging human precision cut lung slices for the study of human parainfluenza virus 3 infection
Get PDFHuman parainfluenza virus 3 is a highly abundant RNA virus that primarily affects young children, the elderly, and immunocompromised individuals, leading to severe lower respiratory infections and pneumonia. Despite an urgent need of treatment options for these high-risk patients, neither a vaccine nor specific antiviral are currently approved. Blocking viral entry by targeting the viral surface glycoprotein haemagglutinin-neuraminidase (HN) has shown promising results in vitro and, to some extent, in vivo. However, to further evaluate these antiviral approaches for potential human application, a detailed understanding of early hPIV-3 infection and drug treatment mechanisms in human lung tissue is needed. In this study, we established a model for early hPIV-3 infection in human precision-cut lung slices (PCLS). We demonstrate specific infection of small airway epithelial cells followed by a distinct antiviral and inflammatory response marked by expression and secretion of type I, II and III interferons, chemokines such as IP-10 and ITAC, and pro-inflammatory markers IL-6 and TNF-α, but only limited induction of cytokines associated with high clinical severity, such as IL-8. Prophylactic treatment with two viral entry HN-inhibitors significantly reduced hPIV-3 viral load and inflammatory response after infection in the human lung tissue slices, demonstrating the high usability of the PCLS infection model for pharmacological assessment of novel antiviral drugs.Full Tex
Fit for Whom? Gendered Impacts of the Fit Ideal on Body Image and Behavior
Get PDFSocietal body ideals are shifting from thinness for women and muscularity for men to a unified “fit ideal” that emphasizes both leanness and muscle mass across genders. This study tested a revised tripartite influence model, and employed the Fit-Ideal Internalizatfion Test, in a sample of 288 Australian adults (Mage = 22.7; 31% men). Path analysis examined links among social media pressure, fit-ideal internalization, appearance comparison, body dissatisfaction, compulsive exercise, and muscularity-oriented eating (e.g., ingestion of high levels of protein). Results showed that fit-ideal internalization directly predicted compulsive exercise and muscularity-oriented eating in both men and women and mediated the influence of social media pressure on these behaviors. In women only, both internalization and appearance comparison mediated the link between social media pressure and body dissatisfaction, and body dissatisfaction and peer pressure directly predicted muscularity-oriented eating. Although men and women internalized the fit ideal to a similar degree, their behavioral outcomes differed, indicating gender-specific pathways. These findings highlight the importance of gender-informed, media-literate interventions. Clinicians and educators should tailor strategies to the distinct social pressures identified, while recognizing overlap. Public health campaigns and policies must promote inclusive messaging that disrupts the progression from fit-ideal internalization to body dissatisfaction, disordered eating, and compulsive exercise across genders.Full Tex
Prevalence of sexually transmitted infections and positive treponemal serology in Solomon Islands guest workers in Australia
Get PDFObjectives: The burden of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in Pacific guest workers in Australia is currently unknown. Our study determined the prevalence of chlamydia, gonorrhoea, HIV and treponemal infection in a group of predominately Solomon Islands guest workers in Australia in 2023. In addition, we sought to understand the effect of sex, age and type of sexual activity on the risk of STIs in this population group. Methods: Workers under one employer were offered chlamydia and gonorrhoea urine polymerase chain reaction testing, treponemal serology with reflex rapid plasma reagin testing, and HIV testing via antibody/antigen detection. Descriptive analyses identified population characteristics and infection frequencies. Logistic regression was used to estimate the likelihood of diagnosis, reported as odds ratios. Results: The participation rate was 93% (n=391). The median age was 31.9 years (interquartile range: 22.9–40.9) and 86.5% were male. Chlamydia (18.5%) and gonorrhoea (1.8%) were common among guest workers. No cases of HIV were diagnosed. Treponemal-specific reactive tests (48.5%) suggested yaws or syphilis exposure despite being asymptomatic, with 37.1% of these having an rapid plasma reagin titre equal to or exceeding 1:16. Women were 3.71 times more likely to have chlamydia [95% confidence interval (CI) 1.97-6.93]. Conclusion: High rates of chlamydia and positive treponemal serology may reflect high rates of untreated STIs. Implications for Public Health: This unique dataset guides potential screening programs for Pacific guest workers to complement existing education programs.Full Tex
Using mHealth to Support Queensland Mothers and Children From Birth to Two Years: A Longitudinal Study of Connecting2u
Get PDFINTRODUCTION: Connecting2u (C2u) is a mobile health (mHealth) intervention supporting Queensland families. The 2021-2023 iteration focused on the first 2 years of a child's life. This study evaluated whether C2u supported maternal and child well-being during this period. METHODS: This longitudinal study used a self-administered online survey at four points over 2 years. Survey items included the Karitane Parenting Confidence Scale, Modified Medical Outcome Social Support survey, child immunisation status, agreement statements, and open-ended questions on C2u support and satisfaction. Parenting confidence and social support were modelled using linear quantile mixed models; univariate and qualitative content analysis were applied to remaining items. RESULTS: Parenting confidence increased over the first 12 months, with faster improvements among first-time parents and modestly faster gains among parents with university-level education. Social support scores showed little change over the 2-year period, although qualitative data suggested C2u encouraged conversations between parents. Agreement statements indicated that C2u was well received and supported preventative health behaviours. Qualitative feedback reinforced these findings, with participants describing C2u as an extra layer of support, prompting self-care, encouraging bonding with their child, and offering timely guidance on introducing solids. By the end of the study, 100% of participants indicated their child had received the full schedule of age-appropriate immunisations. CONCLUSIONS: C2u was well received by mothers. Enhancing its focus on partner support, expanding social support networks, guidance on sibling bonding, and self-care strategies could be beneficial. Queensland Health could consider implementing an online booking system to streamline child health appointments. So what? C2u is an innovative mHealth intervention. Our findings support refinement as C2u expands to include antenatal care messaging and support for children up to 5 years, helping to optimise outcomes for families.Full Tex
Interactive oral assessment: co-existence of formative and summative purposes
Get PDFAssessments are crucial for preparing students for work and life, but pose academic challenges between evaluation and learning. This creates tension between formative and summative assessments with overlapping purposes. This article examines the use of Interactive Oral Assessments (IOAs) in authentic, industry-aligned scenarios, showing how they support co-existence of summative and formative functions through a constructivist lens. Survey data from 290 students across 25 subjects in a three-year project at an Australian institution show high levels of student engagement resulting from IOAs. Preparation for summative IOAs boosted students' confidence and work-readiness while providing insights into their learning processes, reflecting the presence of three Ps: Plan, Prepare, and Perform. Through constructivist principles typical of formative assessments, IOAs enabled personalized feedback and extended learning, meaning that IOAs offer an evidence-based approach to bridging the gap between formative and summative assessments, preparing students for professional life while enhancing employability and improving institutional retention.Full Tex