19683 research outputs found
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Alignment of treatment decisions of people with patellofemoral osteoarthritis with current evidence
No full textA thesis submitted in total fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Applied Science to the La Trobe Sport and Exercise Medicine Research Centre, School of Allied Health, Human Services, and Sport, La Trobe University, Victoria, Australia.</p
Metrical Properties of Continued and Lüroth Expansions
No full textA thesis submitted in total fulfilment for the degree of Master of Science to the School of Computing, Engineering and Mathematical Sciences, La Trobe University, Victoria, Australia.</p
Maternal perinatal social support and infant social-emotional problems and competencies: a longitudinal cross-cohort replication study
No full textPurpose: Maternal perinatal social support is theorised to promote offspring social-emotional development, yet few studies have prospectively examined this relationship. Findings may inform preventative intervention efforts, to support a healthy start to emotional life. Methods: This study examined whether maternal social support perinatally predicts infant social-emotional development at 12 months of age in two longitudinal cohort studies: The Australian Temperament Project (ATP) (n = 1,052 mother-infant dyads [653 mothers, Mage_at_birth = 32.03, 88% Australian-born; 1,052 infants, 52% girls]) and The Triple B Pregnancy Cohort Study (Triple B) (n = 1,537 dyads [1,498 mothers, Mage_at_birth = 32.53, 56% Australian-born; 1,537 infants, 49% girls]). Social support was assessed at pregnancy (third trimester) and eight-weeks post-birth. Infant social-emotional competencies (ATP: Brief Infant and Toddler Social and Emotional Assessment (BITSEA), Competencies Scale; Triple B: Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development-Social Emotional Scale) and problems (ATP: BITSEA, Problems Scale; Triple B: Ages and Stages Questionnaires: Social-Emotional Scale), were assessed at 12-months of age. Results: In ATP, social support was associated with lower offspring problems (pregnancy: β = -0.15; post-birth: β = -0.12) and greater competencies (pregnancy: β = 0.12; post-birth: β = 0.16) at 12 months. In Triple B, social support also predicted lower offspring problems (pregnancy: β = -0.11; post-birth: β = -0.07) and greater competencies (pregnancy: β = 0.07) at 12 months. Findings did not indicate an association between support at eight-weeks post-birth and subsequent competencies (β = 0.06). Conclusions: Evidence suggests that perinatal social support promotes healthy infant social and emotional development. These results underscore the critical importance of social support for mothers transitioning into parenthood.</p
Predictors of smoking exposure in non-smoking adolescents in Indonesia
No full textExposure to secondhand smoke is one of the leading causes of death for non-smokers worldwide. The prevalence of exposure to secondhand smoke is higher among adolescents. Research on predictors of secondhand smoke exposure in adolescents is still rarely conducted in Indonesia. This study aimed to analyze the predictors of exposure to secondhand smoke among non-smoking adolescents in Indonesia. This study used data from the Global Youth Tobacco Survey (GYTS) Indonesia 2019 with a cross-sectional design. A total of 7,594 adolescents aged 13 to 15 were selected using purposive sampling. The dependent variables were exposure to secondhand smoke at home and in public. The independent variables included age, gender, smoking parents, smoking friends, and knowledge of the dangers of secondhand smoke. Data were analyzed using STATA with inferential tests, namely chi-square and logistic regression. The prevalence of adolescents exposed to secondhand smoke at home and in public was 49.57% and 71.86%, respectively. At-home exposure was significantly associated with smoking parents [AOR=3.50, 95% CI=2.97 to 4.12], smoking friends [AOR=1.50, 95% CI=1.30 to 1.73], and knowledge of the dangers of secondhand smoke [AOR=2.11, 95% CI=1.52 to 2.93]. Public exposure was associated with ages 13-15 [AOR=1.32, 95% CI=1.10 to 1.58] and older than 15 [AOR=1.77, 95% CI=1.39 to 2.25], male gender [AOR=1.31, 95% CI=1.11 to 1.53], smoking parents [AOR=1.58, 95% CI=1.36 to 1.84], smoking friends [AOR=2.16, 95% CI=1.85 to 2.53], and knowledge of secondhand smoke dangers [AOR=2.84, 95% CI=2.15 to 3.75]. Adolescents’ exposure to secondhand smoke in public spaces is higher in prevalence and has more associated factors compared to exposure at home. Exposure reductions require comprehensive actions from authorities by strictly implementing and expanding non-smoking areas covered by existing regulations. Also, family and school management should be involved in prevention efforts. </p
Settler militarism: Affective colonial pursuits and the militarized atmosphere of war commemoration
No full textThis article examines settler militarism and how it is mobilized through affective practices that ultimately bolster the settler colonial project. With this intent, it develops the concept of ‘militarized atmosphere’ defined as a staged environment where war is positioned outside politics and critical scrutiny through a series of affective manoeuvres and aesthetics. A militarized atmosphere operates through military aesthetics to attune people’s bodies to a position of uncritical validation of a given discourse of war. This article argues that a militarized atmosphere crucially sustains the settler colonial project by removing or reducing contestation around the theme of war, which is a pillar of settler colonialism. In settler societies, numerous Indigenous individuals perceive themselves as embattled and seek acknowledgement of the history and legacy of colonial violence and warfare. In contrast, settler governments have a vested interest in concealing this history and its enduring legacy, and they do so by exalting military warfare as the foundation of the modern nation and creating affective attachments to the military. The article uses the case of Australia to elucidate the argument. It examines how the aesthetics of war commemoration at the Dawn Service, Australia’s major commemorative event, contributes to producing a militarized atmosphere that sustains the Australian settler colonial project. It proposes a framework that links the feminist concept of affective militarism to settler colonialism and contributes to the emerging literature on settler colonialism and militarism
Beyond acute infection: mechanisms underlying post-acute sequelae of COVID-19 (PASC)
No full textImmune dysregulation is a key aspect of post-acute sequelae of coronavirus disease 2019 (PASC), also known as long COVID, with sustained activation of immune cells, T cell exhaustion, skewed B cell profiles, and disrupted immune communication thereby resulting in autoimmune-related complications.
The gut is emerging as a critical link between microbiota, metabolism and overall dysfunction, potentially sharing similarities with other chronic fatigue conditions and PASC.
Immunothrombosis and neurological signalling dysfunction emphasise the complex interplay between the immune system, blood clotting, and the central nervous system in the context of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection.
Clear research gaps in the design of PASC studies, especially in the context of longitudinal research, stand out as significant areas of concern.</p
Hip and Groin Problems in Female Team-Sport Athletes: A Cross-Sectional Study
No full textBACKGROUND: Hip and groin problems are common among team-sport athletes. However, few studies have been conducted in female athletes that have used the Doha Agreement classification system to categorize these problems. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to examine the preseason point prevalence of hip and groin problems in elite female team-sport athletes. Secondary aims were to categorize the groin problems according to the Doha Agreement classification system and to explore the association between hip muscle strength and self-reported hip and groin function. STUDY DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. METHODS: Female athletes who participated in various sports underwent preseason assessment of isometric hip adduction and abduction strength, with pain levels recorded during respective contractions, and self-reported function on the Copenhagen Hip and groin Outcome Score (HAGOS). If any athlete reported current hip and groin problems during this screening assessment, a full, standardized clinical hip and groin examination was undertaken. These hip and groin problems were then categorized according to the Doha Agreement classification system. Comparisons between the participants with vs without hip and groin problems were made, and correlational statistics were used to examine relationships between strength and HAGOS scores. RESULTS: Ninety-one elite female athletes from six different sports were included in the study. Thirteen athletes reported current hip and groin problems, with an overall prevalence rate of 14.3%. Iliopsoas-related groin pain was the most common category diagnosed, accounting for 58.8% of cases, followed by hip-related groin pain (17.6%), adductor-related (11.8%), and inguinal- and pubic-related pain (both 5.9%). No association was found between strength and function. CONCLUSION: The hip and groin point prevalence in female athletes documented during preseason appears to be similar to those reported in male athletes. Iliopsoas-related groin pain was the most common clinical entity reported in female athletes in this study. There was no association between hip muscle strength and self-reported hip and groin function. </p
Inclusion and protection in tension: Reflections on gathering sexual orientation and gender identity data in the workplace
No full textThis article addresses the complex issue of sexual orientation and gender identity (SOGI) data collection in workplaces, highlighting the intricate balance between fostering inclusion and mitigating potential harm and exclusion.1 This tension manifests uniquely across diverse cultural, legal, and organizational settings. We review existing literature, offer practical guidance for decision-makers, and outline future research avenues. While SOGI data collection in workplaces can enhance diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives and elevate the visibility of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex, and queer (LGBTIQ+) employees, challenges include the risk of discrimination, privacy concerns, and linguistic complexities. To address these, researchers and practitioners must consider the purpose, language, and cultural context of data collection, involving LGBTIQ+ stakeholders, and conducting reconnaissance studies. Future research opportunities lie in understanding employee willingness to share SOGI data, motivations of human resource (HR) and DEI professionals, and the impact on organizational culture. Reimagining LGBTIQ+ research to ease the tension between inclusion and protection, we conclude that responsible SOGI data collection demands a nuanced approach that prioritizes inclusion and equity while addressing privacy concerns and potential harm.</p
How does Osteoarthritis Education Influence Knowledge, Beliefs and Behavior in People with Knee and Hip Osteoarthritis? A Systematic Review
No full textObjective: Our goal was to inform the design and implementation of osteoarthritis (OA) education for people with knee and hip OA. This review investigated the impact of OA education on knowledge, beliefs, and behavior and how and why these changes occur.
Methods: Five databases—MEDLINE, Excerpta Medica Database (Embase), Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), Scopus, Physiotherapy Evidence Database (PEDro)—were searched in August 2023. Eligible studies were quantitative, qualitative, and mixed-methods, involving OA education interventions and assessing knowledge, beliefs, and/or behavioral outcomes. An interpretivist analytic process guided data evaluation, synthesis, and description of meta-themes.
Results: Ninety-eight studies were included (80 quantitative, 12 qualitative, 6 mixed-methods). OA education was heterogeneous in content and delivery. Outcome measures varied, with poor distinction among knowledge, beliefs, and behavior constructs. Trends toward short-term knowledge improvement were observed, but there were no clear trends in beliefs or behavior change. Intrinsic factors (eg, pre-existing beliefs) and extrinsic factors (eg, socioeconomic factors) appeared to influence change. Three meta-themes described how and why changes may occur: (i) engagement: how individuals relate with education content and delivery; (ii) embodiment: the role of experiential factors in learning, and (iii) empowerment: the level of agency education generates.
Conclusion: Beyond the provision of information and instruction, OA education is a complex, relational process influenced by multidimensional factors. This review identifies potentially important strategies at individual, interpersonal, and community levels to support the design and delivery of engaging education that promotes holistic, embodied learning and facilitates meaningful, empowering change. (Figure presented.).</p
Naturally Occurring Food Chemical Components and Extraintestinal and Gastrointestinal Symptoms in Adults: A Systematic Review
No full textObjective: This systematic review aims to synthesise existing literature to examine the relationship between natural food chemical components and reported symptoms.
Design: A systematic literature review was completed. Databases CINAHL (Ebscohost), Medline (Ovid), Scopus, Informit Health and Google Scholar were searched to identify relevant articles. The population included human studies of adults (≥17 years) and excluded those with IgE-mediate food allergies. Studies examining food chemical components or ‘food chemical elimination diets’ and symptoms were included. Data was synthesised based on clinical conditions and specific food chemical components examined. The risk of bias was assessed using the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics ‘Quality Criteria Checklist: Primary Research’.
Results: Of the 1659 articles retrieved, 21 met inclusion criteria. This included eight randomised controlled trials, four non-randomised controlled trials, four cohort studies with placebo-controlled challenge, one prospective cohort study, three cross sectional cohort studies, one case–controlled study. Available studies support the role of a low-histamine diet for symptoms in chronic urticaria and low-salicylate diet for reducing sino-nasal symptoms in aspirin exacerbated respiratory disease and chronic rhinosinusitis and/or asthma. While further evidence is needed to verify the role of glutamate in respiratory, pain, asthma and gastrointestinal symptoms.
Conclusions: Food chemical elimination diets may improve condition-specific symptoms across the adult cohorts outlined within this review, with the strongest evidence to support the role of a low-histamine diet for management of symptoms in chronic urticaria and a low-salicylate diet in aspirin exacerbated respiratory disease and/or asthma. Further well-designed trials are needed to elucidate the effect of specific natural food chemical components on symptoms.
Trial Registration: Systematic review number: CRD42022322511.</p