19683 research outputs found
Sort by
The prevalence of alcohol references in music and their effect on people's drinking behavior: A systematic review and meta-analysis
No full textUnderstanding the prevalence of alcohol references in music and their impact on alcohol drinking behavior is important given the increased accessibility to daily music listening with the proliferation of smart devices. In this review, we estimate the pooled prevalence of alcohol references in music and its association with drinking behavior. Systematic searches were conducted across four major databases (MEDLINE, PsycINFO, EMBASE, and CINHAL). Articles were selected following duplicate checking, title and abstract screening, and full-text review. Studies reporting the prevalence of alcohol-referencing music and/or investigating its association with drinking behavior were included. Pooled prevalence with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were computed using a random effects model. Of 1007 articles identified, 26 met inclusion criteria and 23 studies comprising 12,224 songs were eligible for meta-analysis. The overall pooled prevalence of alcohol references in music (including lyrics and videos) was 24.0% (95% CI: 19.0%–29.0%). The pooled prevalence was 22.0% (95% CI: 16.0%–29.0%) for only lyrics, 25.0% (95% CI: 18.0%–33.0%) for only the visual elements of music videos, and 29.0% (95% CI: 21.0%–38.0%) for both the lyrical content and the visual components. Only three studies assessed the relationship between listening to music with alcohol references and drinking behavior, and all three reported a positive association. Whereas almost a quarter of all songs included references to alcohol, public health preventive measures are needed to reduce alcohol exposure from music. Future research is needed to understand fully the effect of music with alcohol references on drinking behavior.</p
Threatened Mallee Birds in Heathlands Project - Data for N-mixture models
No full textData used to generate N-mixture models for eight rare bird species in the semi-arid mallee/heathlands of south-eastern Australia. Species are listed in the file names. File types consist of: site attributes (SITE_COVARIATES)survey attributes (OBSERVATION_COVARIATES)counts of birds per survey - separate file per species (BIRD_OBSERVATIONS)Note that observations of most species relate to the same set of sites and surveys, however, for the Slender-billed Thornbill, we used a restricted set of sites and surveys. As a result the SITE_COVARIATES and OBSERVATION_COVARIATES files are different for this species.</p
Testing feasibility of relevant outcome measures in an inpatient setting to demonstrate the value of occupational therapy
No full textIntroduction: Measures of participation restrictions in daily life occupations are not typically used and may aid discharge planning and demonstrate the impact of occupational therapy services in inpatient settings. The overall aim of this mixed-methods study was to test the feasibility of relevant outcome measures by (1) investigating which of the three identified measures—the Home Support Needs Assessment, the Personal Care Participation Assessment and Resource Tool, and the Functional Autonomy Measurement System—best identifies meaningful changes in participation restrictions in daily life occupations required for community life; and (2) investigating the acceptability, usefulness, and feasibility of each measure to support inpatient practice. Methods: Occupational therapists (n = 3) completed the three measures with patient participants (n = 12) at admission and discharge. Each occupational therapist participated in a semi-structured interview. Outcome measure responses were summarised statistically. Qualitative data were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis. Findings: Total scores on all three measures changed significantly between admission and discharge (P < 0.002). Three themes reflected the occupational therapist participants' perceptions of the acceptability, usefulness, and feasibility of the outcome measures: ‘Clinically and Professionally Meaningful Tools’, ‘Becoming Familiar’, and ‘Fostering My Daily Work’. Conclusion: Each measure demonstrated a meaningful change. Selection and successful implementation of an outcome measure depends on its local acceptability to occupational therapists and organisational practices. All three measures are promising tools to address a measurement gap in occupational therapy practice. Future research could embed one measure into practice using knowledge translation methods, with a large-scale evaluation of the value of occupational therapy
Teacher Perspectives and Experiences of Assessment Literacy in Victorian Junior Secondary Schools
No full textTeachers’ assessment practices are invariably related to their knowledge, skills, and beliefs or their assessment literacy. While teachers’ assessment literacy continues to gain attention, there is limited empirical research on the relationship between assessment literacy and teachers’ practices and beliefs, in particular junior secondary school teachers. Drawing from a larger project, this paper employs a synthesised conceptual framework on assessment literacy to interrogate the assessment practices of eight teachers. The findings reveal that teachers’ conceptual knowledge and their conceptions of assessment are influenced by government policies. Teachers acknowledged the importance of effectively interpreting and communicating assessment data in order to support student learning. Finally, the study found that the ways in which teachers meaningfully engaged students in the feedback process created opportunities for building assessment literacy in both teachers and students. This article highlights the gap in how teachers draw upon their conceptual knowledge and how that contextual knowledge allows them to enact assessment within their varied school contexts
Backdraft in Self-Compassion: An Overlooked Yet Vital Research Focus
No full textSelf-compassion involves treating oneself with the same kindness, understanding, and forgiveness that one would typically offer a friend in times of suffering or adversity. While self-compassion has shown consistent benefits in research and therapy, including psychological and physical health benefits, some individuals practicing it may initially encounter adverse reactions known as “backdraft.” Backdraft has been theorized to be an inevitable part of healing and recovery from past hurts and trauma. However, empirical studies specifically examining backdraft experiences in the context of self-compassion are lacking. This commentary argues that integrating broader literature outside of self-compassion is crucial for advancing our understanding of the causes of backdraft and identifying practices to alleviate it. Specifically, ideas drawn from traditional Buddhist practices and phenomena conceptually similar to backdraft, such as fear of self-compassion from compassion-focused therapy and adverse effects of meditation practices used in mindfulness-based interventions, should be considered. This commentary concludes that there is an urgent need to establish a clear definition of backdraft. This may promote empirical investigations of the backdraft experiences arising from self-compassion interventions. Only through empirical research can we better understand this backdraft phenomenon, with the ultimate goal of reducing short- and long-term harm and improving the efficacy of self-compassion programs
Awn length variation in Australia's most widespread grass, Themeda triandra, across its distribution
No full textThemeda triandra (kangaroo grass) is the most widespread plant species in Australia. Using herbarium specimens, we quantified awn-length variation across its distribution in relation to climate. We found that awn lengths were shortest around the eastern and southern coast of Australia (with short awns also concentrated in the Pilbara), increasing in length progressively inland and towards the north. There was a significant positive relationship between awn length and mean annual temperature. Further research is needed to understand why awn lengths vary, and how awn-length variation affects seed and seedling fitness in natural habitats
Reimagining innovation through Indigenous Agricultural Knowledge (IAK): Indigenous innovations and climate crisis resilience in the Pacific
No full textAbstract: This paper examines Indigenous innovation using self-determination for climate resilience within Indigenous communities in the Pacific. Given the Pacific context, communities are vulnerable to the climate crisis, but have adopted climate-resilient strategies and practices. A Pacific research methodological framing and qualitative ethnographic-case study approach was used for the study, which included discussion of some Indigenous enterprises and communitydriven development projects in Fiji. Talanoa method was used to collect data. Three themes unfolded from the three case studies in Fiji: the adoption of Indigenous Agricultural Knowledge as part of their operating model, practical contributions by the enterprises and community-driven projects in response to climate-induced disasters and aiding collective community resilience and well-being through their operations. Indigenous peoples are intimately and holistically connected to their vanua (resources, people and culture) reflected by their environment-related contributions and practices. The paper contributes toward understanding Indigenous innovation centred on indigenous peoples' socio-cultural and spiritual value systems. These are reflected in business operations and community-driven development projects that consider ecological limits and build collective resilience to the climate crisis.</p
Three Years of Taliban Rule in Afghanistan: The Human Rights, Humanitarian and Political Crises
No full textThis report summarises the discussions and outcomes of the Afghanistan Conference marking Three Years of Taliban Rule in Afghanistan: The Human Rights, Humanitarian, and Political Crises, held on August 30, 2024, inMelbourne. The conference was jointly organised by La Trobe University, Monash University, and the Middle East Studies Forum at Deakin University, and led by Abbas Farasoo, Farkhondeh Akbari, Niamatullah Ibrahimi and Arif Saba.The conference addressed the intersecting political, humanitarian, human rights, and security crises that have escalated since the Taliban assumed control in August 2021. The report covers five panel discussions and a keynote speech by Richard Bennett, the United Nations (UN) Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Afghanistan. The panels critically discussed the challenges of diplomatic engagement with the Taliban, the dire human rights situation, risks of terrorism and insecurity for different groups and gender, the humanitarian crisis, and the roles of Afghanistan’s diaspora in addressing these challenges.</p
Who intended to leave? Patterns and impacts of Hong Kong's recent wave of migration
No full textDuring Hong Kong's 2019 political turmoil and the subsequent impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic, a rapid rise in turnover rates in certain occupations, such as teachers, medical workers and civil servants, was observed. Some attributed this trend to the increasing rate of emigration. Previous studies have suggested that younger and better-educated individuals are more likely to emigrate, and that the emigration of a specific group of the population has various impacts on the society of origin. Therefore, we explored the demographic characteristics of potential emigrants in Hong Kong and contrasted such findings with a previous wave of migration to examine the potential impact of the current wave. Based on a territory-wide telephone survey, we found that (1) the associations of age and level of education with the intention to emigrate internationally (i.e., to destinations other than mainland China) corresponded to the typical young, well-educated emigrant described in the literature; (2) a higher level of income was associated with a lower intention of international migration; (3) people in occupations such as professionals and managers, clerical and service workers and students reported a greater intention to emigrate than other groups; and (4) individuals born in Hong Kong were more likely to emigrate and less likely to move to mainland China than those born in mainland China. The implications of these intended migration patterns for ageing and fertility, short- and long-term workforce shortages in tertiary sectors and the city's overall competitiveness are discussed.</p
Does the side of onset influence symptom severity in Parkinson’s disease? A systematic review and meta-analysis
No full textParkinson’s disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative movement disorder characterized by motor symptoms that initially manifest unilaterally. Whilst some studies indicate that right-side onset is associated with greater symptom severity, others report no differences between right-side and left-side onset patients. The present meta-analysis was thus designed to reconcile inconsistencies in the literature and determine whether side of onset affects PD symptom severity. Following the PRISMA guidelines 1013 studies were initially identified in database and grey literature searches; following title and abstract, and full text, screening 34 studies met the stringent inclusion criteria (n = 2210). Results of the random-effects meta-analysis indicated no difference in symptom severity between PD patients with left-side (n = 1104) and right-side (n = 1106) onset. As such, the meta-analysis suggests that the side of onset should not be used to predict symptom trajectory or to formulate prognoses for PD patients. The current meta-analysis was the first to focus on the relationship between the side of onset and symptom severity in PD. However, the studies included were limited by the common exclusion of left-handed participants. Future research would benefit from exploring other factors that may influence symptom severity and disease progression in PD, such as asymmetric loss of nigrostriatal dopaminergic neurons.</p