19683 research outputs found
Sort by
An Exploration of Virtual Reality as an Intervention for the Management of Adult Patients with Needle Phobia
No full textA thesis submitted in total fulfilment of the requirements of the degree of Master of Applied Science to the La Trobe Rural Health School, La Trobe University, Victoria, Australia.</p
The normalisation of sexual violence revictimisation in regional and rural areas: Our failure to respond
No full textSexual revictimisation has devastating consequences for victim/survivors, yet there is limited research exploring women's experience of revictimisation in regional/rural areas. Using a community-based participatory research (CBPR) approach, this paper reports on a qualitative study that employed a material feminist lens and Nixon's theory of “slow violence” to explore women's lived experiences of sexual revictimisation. In-depth interviews were conducted with victim/survivors (N = 11) living in regional and rural areas of Australia. Findings show that the failure of family, community and services to respond appropriately to participant's disclosures of violence and abuse was deeply entangled with rural infrastructure, isolated landscapes, fear of social isolation, victim-blaming discourses, idealisation of men in the community and limited relationship and sexuality education (RSE) in schools. These components collectively formed a manifestation of “slow violence,” which accumulated over the participants' life spans and gradually normalised relational violence. This paper draws attention to a complex interplay of cultural, material and interpersonal elements, including the culture and spaces of rural/regional communities, that establish conditions enhancing the likelihood of women experiencing sexual revictimisation
Usefulness of antenatal care handbook: a cross-sectional study of mothers' perspectives
No full textIn 2016, the Ministry of Health Brunei Darussalam introduced the Maternal and Child Health (MCH) Handbook, replacing the card-type record. Despite its implementation, the handbook’s utility remains unexamined. This study aims to evaluate the community’s usage of the MCH handbook and explore the connections between age, education, and handbook utilization. A cross-sectional study employed an online self-administered survey among pregnant women attending routine antenatal checkups at 32 weeks gestation between December 2020 and January 2021. The survey used the MCH Usefulness Questionnaire, and subgroup analysis was conducted. The study included 73 mothers. Most participants reported having sufficient time to read the handbook (95.9%), being familiar with its content (89.0%), and feeling satisfied with its usage (93.2%). Reasons for not using the handbook included “online availability of the same information” (20.5%), difficulty in understanding certain words (17.8%), preference for more visual content (12.3%), and inadequate encouragement from health-care providers (12.3%). The majority of mothers perceive the handbook as useful. Nonetheless, further investigation is necessary to delve into their perceptions and ensure the handbook’s sustained relevance and effectiveness over time.</p
Appraisal of quality and analysis of the similarities and differences between osteoarthritis Clinical Practice Guideline recommendations: A systematic review
No full textObjective: Clinical Practice Guidelines (CPGs) aim to support management of hip and knee osteoarthritis (OA), but recommendations are often conflicting and implementation is poor, contributing to evidence-to-practice gaps. This systematic review investigated the contextual and methodological factors contributing to conflicting recommendations for hip and knee OA. Method: Our systematic review appraised CPGs for managing hip and knee OA in adults ≥18 years (PROSPERO CRD42021276635). We used AGREE-II and AGREE-REX to assess quality and extracted data on treatment gaps, conflicts, biases, and consensus. Heterogeneity of recommendations was determined using Weighted Fleiss Kappa (K). The relationship between (K) and AGREE-II/AGREE-REX scores was explored. Results: We identified 25 CPGs across eight countries and four international organisations. The ACR, EULAR, NICE, OARSI and RACGP guidelines scored highest for overall AGREE-II quality (83%). The highest overall AGREE-REX scores were for BMJ Arthroscopy (80%), RACGP (78%) and NICE (76%). CPGs with the least agreement for pharmacological recommendations were ESCEO and NICE (−0.14), ACR (−0.08), and RACGP (−0.01). The highest agreements were between RACGP and NICE (0.53), RACGP and ACR (0.61), and NICE and ACR (0.91). Decreased internal validity determined by low-quality AGREE scores(<60%) in editorial independence were associated with less agreement for pharmacological recommendations. Conclusion: There were associations between guideline quality and agreement scores. Future guideline development should be informed by robust evidence, editorial independence and methodological rigour to ensure a harmonisation of recommendations. End-users of CPGs must recognise the contextual factors associated with the development of OA CPGs and balance these factors with available evidence
Evaluation of the X-ray/EUV Nanolithography Facility at AS through wavefront propagation simulations
No full textSynchrotron light sources can provide the required spatial coherence, stability and control to support the development of advanced lithography at the extreme ultraviolet and soft X-ray wavelengths that are relevant to current and future fabricating technologies. Here an evaluation of the optical performance of the soft X-ray (SXR) beamline of the Australian Synchrotron (AS) and its suitability for developing interference lithography using radiation in the 91.8 eV (13.5 nm) to 300 eV (4.13 nm) range are presented. A comprehensive physical optics model of the APPLE-II undulator source and SXR beamline was constructed to simulate the properties of the illumination at the proposed location of a photomask, as a function of photon energy, collimation and monochromator parameters. The model is validated using a combination of experimental measurements of the photon intensity distribution of the undulator harmonics. It is shown that the undulator harmonics intensity ratio can be accurately measured using an imaging detector and controlled using beamline optics. Finally, the photomask geometric constraints and achievable performance for the limiting case of fully spatially coherent illumination are evaluated
Living with hypoxia: Residence and site fidelity by golden perch (Macquaria ambigua) in habitats affected by methane seeps and chronic hypoxia
No full textWe conducted an acoustic telemetry study of native golden perch (Macquaria ambigua) to examine movement behaviour in areas affected by methane seeps and hypoxia in the intermittent Condamine River, Murray-Darling Basin (MDB), Australia. Fish were collected during periods of no flow and hypoxia (dissolved oxygen [DO] 3 months post-tagging in the study reach and 27 fish were being detected after 14 months. During periods of elevated river flow and relatively high DO, 30 fish moved away from their original tagging locations, with three undertaking movements (>7 km) outside the study reach and not returning. Generalised additive mixed models showed a significant increase in the probability of movement as soon as flow commenced and when water temperatures exceeded 19°C. As flows receded, most fish that had moved exhibited accurate homing behaviour to their original tagging location. The patterns of movement and site fidelity exhibited by golden perch correspond with previous studies of the species in intermittent rivers not affected by methane seeps and severe hypoxia, suggesting that the methane seeps and hypoxia did not inhibit fish movement nor render the affected habitats unsuitable for habitation. Golden perch can survive and remain active in water with much lower DO (<1 mg/L) than previously described for large-bodied native fishes in the MDB. However, fish condition in the study reach was slightly lower than other regions of the MDB, providing preliminary evidence that fish residing in habitats affected by chronic hypoxia and methane seepage may experience sub-lethal stress. Our results demonstrate the importance of field-based data on the behavioural and physiological responses of fish to chronic hypoxia and methane exposure to guide appropriate management responses
Emerging use of air eDNA and its application to forensic investigations – A review
No full textBiological material is routinely collected at crime scenes and from exhibits and is a key type of evidence during criminal investigations. Improvements in DNA technologies allow collection and profiling of trace samples, comprised of few cells, significantly expanding the types of exhibits targeted for DNA analysis to include touched surfaces. However, success rates from trace and touch DNA samples tend to be poorer compared to other biological materials such as blood. Simultaneously, there have been recent advances in the utility of environmental DNA collection (eDNA) in identification and tracking of different biological organisms and species from bacteria to naked mole rats in different environments, including, soil, ice, snow, air and aquatic. This paper examines the emerging methods and research into eDNA collection, with a special emphasis on the potential forensic applications of human DNA collection from air including challenges and further studies required to progress implementation.</p
Development and evaluation of genomics informed real-time PCR assays for the detection and strain typing of mycobacterium avium subsp. Paratuberculosis
No full textAbstract: AIMS: This study aimed to identify specific genomic targets for the detection and strain typing of Map and analyse their sensitivity and specificity, and detect Map directly from faeces. METHODS AND RESULTS: A comparative genomics approach was used to identify specific genomic targets for the detection and strain typing of Map. A Map specific qPCR using the primer pair 7132 that targets a DNA segregation ATPase protein was able to detect all strains of Map and is more sensitive than the current Johne's disease PCR assays with a sensitivity of 0.0002 fg µl-1. A strain specific qPCR using the Atsa primer pair that targets the arylsulfase gene was able to differentiate between Type S and Type C strains of Map and was more sensitive than the IS1311 PCR and REA with a sensitivity of 40 fg µl-1 and was specific for Type S Map. Both assays successfully detected Map directly from faeces. CONCLUSION: This study developed and validated two genomics informed qPCR assays, 7132B Map and Atsa Type S and found both assays to be highly specific and sensitive for the detection of Map from culture and directly from faeces. This is the first time that a probe-based qPCR has been designed and developed for Map strain typing, which will greatly improve the response time during outbreak investigations.</p
Sexual attraction with pollination during feeding behaviour: implications for transitions between specialized strategies
No full text• Background and Aims: Understanding the origin of pollination by sexual deception has proven challenging, as sexually deceptive flowers are often highly modified, making it hard to resolve how any intermediate forms between sexual deception and an ancestral strategy might have functioned. Here, we report the discovery in Caladenia (Orchidaceae) of sexual attraction with pollination during feeding behaviour, which may offer important clues for understanding shifts in pollination strategy. • Methods: For Caladenia robinsonii, we observed the behaviour of its male wasp pollinator, Phymatothynnus aff. nitidus (Thynnidae), determined the site of release of the sexual attractant, and experimentally evaluated if the position of the attractant influences rates of attempted copulation and feeding behaviour. We applied GC-MS to test for surface sugar on the labellum. To establish if this pollination strategy is widespread in Caladenia, we conducted similar observations and experiments for four other Caladenia species. • Key Results: In C. robinsonii, long-range sexual attraction of the pollinator is via semiochemicals emitted from the glandular sepal tips. Of the wasps landing on the flower, 57 % attempted copulation with the sepal tips, while 27 % attempted to feed from the base of the labellum, the behaviour associated with pollen transfer. A similar proportion of wasps exhibited feeding behaviour when the site of odour release was manipulated. A comparable pollination strategy occurs in another phylogenetically distinct clade of Caladenia. • Conclusions: We document a previously overlooked type of sexual deception for orchids involving long-distance sexual attraction, but with pollination occurring during feeding behaviour at the labellum. We show this type of sexual deception operates in other Caladenia species and predict that it is widespread across the genus. Our findings may offer clues about how an intermediate transitional strategy from a food-rewarding or food-deceptive ancestor operated during the evolution of sexual deception.</p
