19683 research outputs found
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Prevalence of Cyberbullying Perpetration and Cyberbullying Victimization among Nursing Students in Jordan
No full textIntroduction: Cyberbullying is a form of bullying or harassment carried out online with the intent to harm others mainly using social media sites. Objective: To investigate cyberbullying prevalence and associated factors among nursing students in Jordan. Methods: A descriptive, cross-sectional study was conducted. A convenience sample of 428 Jordanian nursing students from three private Jordanian universities was involved in the study. Data were collected in 2022 using the sociodemographic characteristics sheet, cyberbullying perpetration (CBP) scale; and cyberbullying victimization (CBV) scale. Multiple linear regression analysis was performed to identify variables associated with the CBP and CBV scores. Results: About 30.1% of the students were not involved in any cyberbullying, while 8.6% were categorized as cyberbullying perpetrators only, 20.4% as victims only, and 40.9% were categorized as cyberbullying perpetrators and victims at the same time. Visual /sexual perpetration and verbal/written victimization were the most prevalent forms of cyberbullying among the studied nursing students. Increasing age was associated with a decreased CBP (P < 0.05) and CBV (P < 0.01), while male gender was associated with increased cyberbullying perpetration (P < 0.01). Conclusions: The prevalence of cyberbullying among nursing students in the current study was alarming. The study showed that age was negatively associated with CBP and CBV while being male was associated with increased CBP. Future research may want to consider using a longitudinal research design with more testing variables and a more comprehensive examination of potential causes and impacts of cyberbullying in nursing students. The development of specific policies to combat cyberbullying among Jordanian nursing students is also recommended
Influencing a Just Transition in the Mining Sector in Sub-Saharan Africa
No full textKey points: • There will be a transition within the global energy system. • Broadly this transition will involve a lessening of coal mining and an increase in the mining of transition minerals. • This process has the potential to do significant harm to coal miners if it is not managed properly. • While it also offers opportunities to miners in transition minerals these opportunities come with hurdles: o A rapid increase in production can encourage reducing labour standards (e.g., DRC and Zimbabwe) o Heavily mechanised new mines often rely on fewer, un-unionised workers (e.g., Zambia) o Just Transition advocates often promise that their proposed transitions will create more jobs than they cost, however the promised jobs are often nonpermanent (construction of solar panels); of a lower quality (retrenched miners reframed as agricultural workers) or may only appear a long-time after the end of the coal industry (e.g. a transition to platinum in South Africa). • The ‘Just Transition’ serves as a ‘boundary term’ that links different concepts of justice while obfuscating differing best interests. • Common concerns for unions within existing utilisations of the term ‘Just Transition’ include advocacy for increased privation and the way that the terminology ignores intra-and-international inequalities. </p
Interplay between Mg<sup>2+</sup> and Ca<sup>2+</sup> at multiple sites of the ryanodine receptor
No full textRyR1 is an intracellular Ca2+ channel important in excitable cells such as neurons and muscle fibers. Ca2+ activates it at low concentrations and inhibits it at high concentrations. Mg2+ is the main physiological RyR1 inhibitor, an effect that is overridden upon activation. Despite the significance of Mg2+-mediated inhibition, the molecular-level mechanisms remain unclear. In this work we determined two cryo-EM structures of RyR1 with Mg2+ up to 2.8 Å resolution, identifying multiple Mg2+ binding sites. Mg2+ inhibits at the known Ca2+ activating site and we propose that the EF hand domain is an inhibitory divalent cation sensor. Both divalent cations bind to ATP within a crevice, contributing to the precise transmission of allosteric changes within the enormous channel protein. Notably, Mg2+ inhibits RyR1 by interacting with the gating helices as validated by molecular dynamics. This structural insight enhances our understanding of how Mg2+ inhibition is overcome during excitation.</p
Re-appraisal of the Phylogeny and Fluorescence in Situ Hybridization (FISH) Probes for Identifying the Eikelboom Morphotype ‘Haliscomenobacter Hydrossis’ in Japanese Municipal Wastewater Treatment Plants
No full textThe Eikelboom filamentous bacterial morphotype ‘Haliscomenobacter hydrossis’ is ubiquitous in Japanese and other wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs). However, it is still largely ‘identified’ microscopically on its distinctive morphology, and only one species Haliscomenobacter hydrossis is recognized currently. Thus, little is known about the true level of phylogenetic diversity among members of this morphotype. Here, using 16S rRNA gene amplicon data we reveal that populations of this morphotype belong to several clades. Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) probes were designed against members of each of these morphotypes, together with a new probe more specific than those currently available to target members of the genus Haliscomenobacter. Japanese municipal WWTPs were surveyed to evaluate the abundances of ‘H. hydrossis’ morphotype using FISH analysis with the existing and newly designed FISH probes. Data showed that some ‘H. hydrossis’ morphotypes appeared to show suppressed growth in biological nitrogen removal processes, although process configuration seemed not to be a critical factor in determining their abundances. Their excessive growth appears to cause activated bulking incidents in WWTPs. These data may assist in extending our currently poor understanding of ‘H. hydrossis’ phylogeny and systematics and provide tools to study its global distribution
Explainable Artificial Intelligence for Crowd Forecasting Using Global Ensemble Echo State Networks
No full textCrowd monitoring is a primary function in diverse industrial domains, such as smart cities, public transport, and public safety. Recent advancements in low-energy devices and rapid connectivity have enabled the generation of real-time data streams suitable for crowd-monitoring applications. Crowd forecasting is typically achieved using deep learning models that learn the evolving nature of data streams. The computational complexity, execution time, and opaqueness are inherent challenges of deep learning models that also overlook the latent relationships between multiple real-time data streams for improved accuracy. To address these challenges, we propose the global ensemble echo state network approach for explainable crowd forecasting using multiple WiFi data streams. This approach replaces the random input mapping layer with a clustering layer, allowing the network to learn input projections on cluster centroids. It incorporates an ensemble readout comprising a stack of reservoir layers that provide model explainability. It also learns multiple related time series in parallel to construct a global model that leverage latent relationships across the data streams. This approach was empirically evaluated in a multicampus, mixed-use tertiary education setting. The results of which confirm the effectiveness and interpretability of the proposed approach for industrial applications of crowd forecasting
Investigating the effects of synbiotic supplementation on functional movement, strength and muscle health in older Australians: a study protocol for a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial
No full textBackground: Aging has been associated with a progressive loss of skeletal muscle quality, quantity and strength, which may result in a condition known as sarcopenia, leading to a decline in physical performance, loss of independence and reduced quality of life. While the cause of impaired physical functioning observed in elderly populations appears to be multifactorial, recent evidence suggests that age-associated alterations in gut microbiota could be a contributing factor. The primary objective will be to assess the effects of a dietary synbiotic formulation on sarcopenia-related functional outcomes such as handgrip strength, gait speed and physical performance within older individuals living independently. The secondary objective will be to examine associations between changes in gut microbiota composition, functional performance and lean muscle mass. Methods: Seventy-four elderly (60–85 years) participants will be randomized in a double-blind, placebo-controlled fashion to either an intervention or control group. The intervention group (n = 37) will receive oral synbiotic formulation daily for 16 weeks. The control group (n = 37) will receive placebo. Assessments of physical performance (including Short Physical Performance Battery, handgrip strength and timed up-and-go tests) and muscle ultrasonography will be performed at 4 time points (baseline and weeks 8, 16 and 20). Likewise, body composition via bioelectric impedance analysis and blood and stool samples will be collected at each time point. Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry will be performed at baseline and week 16. The primary outcomes will be between-group changes in physical performance from baseline to 16 weeks. Secondary outcomes include changes in body composition, muscle mass and architecture, fecal microbiota composition and diversity, and fecal and plasma metabolomics. Discussion: Gut-modulating supplements appear to be effective in modifying gut microbiota composition in healthy older adults. However, it is unclear whether these changes translate into functional and/or health improvements. In the present study, we will investigate the effects of a synbiotic formulation on measures of physical performance, strength and muscle health in healthy older populations. </p
Implementing a shared decision-making intervention to support treatment decisions for patients following an anterior cruciate ligament rupture — a protocol for the POP-ACLR feasibility study
No full textBackground: Treatment for anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) rupture may follow a surgical or nonsurgical pathway. At present, there is uncertainty around treatment choice. Two shared decision-making tools have been codesigned to support patients to make a decision about treatment following an ACL rupture. The shared decision-making tools include a patient information leaflet and an option grid. We report the protocol for a mixed-methods feasibility study, with nested qualitative interviews, to understand feasibility, acceptability, indicators of effectiveness and implementation factors of these shared decision-making tools (combined to form one shared decision-making intervention). Methods: A single-centre non-randomised feasibility study will be conducted with 20 patients. Patients diagnosed with an ACL rupture following magnetic resonance imaging will be identified from an orthopaedic clinic. The shared decision-making intervention will be delivered during a clinical consultation with a physiotherapist. The primary feasibility outcomes include the following: recruitment rate, fidelity, acceptability and follow-up questionnaire completion. The secondary outcome is the satisfaction with decision scale. The nested qualitative interview will explore experience of using the shared decision-making intervention to understand acceptability, implementation factors and areas for further refinement. Discussion: This study will determine the feasibility of using a newly developed shared decision-making intervention designed to support patients to make a decision about treatment of their ACL rupture. The acceptability and indicators of effectiveness will also be explored. In the long term, the shared decision-making intervention may improve service and patient outcomes and ensure cost-effectiveness for the NHS; ensuring those most likely to benefit from surgical treatment proceed along this pathway. </p
The Effects of Contextual Interference Learning on the Acquisition and Relatively Permanent Gains in Skilled Performance: A Critical Systematic Review with Multilevel Meta-Analysis
No full textThe paradoxical effects of contextual interference (CI) assume that high CI practices hinder performances during the acquisition phase of learning, while providing more permanent enhancement during the retention phase. This meta-analysis evaluates the possible generalizability of the CI phenomenon in physical education (PE) and sports contexts, with regard to the acute and relatively permanent gains in performance outcomes. A total of 933 records from five electronic databases were screened using the PICOS criteria, of which 36 studies were selected. Outcomes evaluating the performance changes (Δ) from pre-post, post-retention, and pre-retention tests were included. Out of 183 overall pooled outcomes, Δ in only 37 performance outcomes (20%) agreed with the paradoxical CI effects on the acquisition or the relatively permanent gains. No statistically significant overall difference was detected for “Δ pre-post” between low (blocked) (28.9 ± 59.5%) and high (random/serial) (27.9 ± 52.8%) CI (effect size (ES) = 0.1, p = 0.35). An overall significant difference (p = 0.001) in favor of high CI practice was detected in “Δ post-retention.” However, this difference was not large enough (ES = − 0.35) to produce an overall greater long-term gain following high (24.56 ± 4.4%), compared to low (21.9 ± 9.8%) CI (ES = − 0.13, p = 0.18). Out of 10 tested variables, only the age significantly moderated both CI effects (p < 0.0001 for both Δ pre-post and Δ pre-retention) and the female proportion significantly moderated only the first CI effect (p = 0.009 for Δ pre-post). These findings found very limited evidence supporting the recommendation to employ high CI practices to gain a longer-term performance advantage, calling into question the generalization of the CI model to PE and sports practices. High-quality follow-up research evaluating alternative motor-learning models are therefore needed
Seeing the unseen: Copper toxicity disrupts neural and visual signalling in zebrafish (Danio rerio) larvae
No full textThis thesis is submitted in total fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science to the School of Agriculture, Biomedicine and Environment, La Trobe University, Victoria, Australia.</p
Judgement and Decision-Making by Athlete-Team Selectors
No full textSubmitted in total fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy to La Trobe Business School, La Trobe University, Victoria, Australia.</p