19683 research outputs found
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A comparative study of GPR data processing based on Compensated Time-Reversal and Time-Reversal imaging
No full textTo improve the resolution of ground penetrating radar (GPR) signals, the Compensated Time-Reversal (CTR) method is applied, especially in lossy media, where the conventional time reversal method has the negative effect of dispersion and loss in the propagation medium. To create the CTR method, Time-Reversal (TR) processing combined with attenuation compensation based on continuous wavelet transform is applied. The application of both the TR and CTR methods to synthetic data showed a significant improvement of the radargram resolution, effectively differentiating anomalies within a low-loss medium, especially when the latter approach was implemented. To test the method in a real-world situation, a forensic GPR investigation was carried out to detect the body of a climber buried by a snow avalanche in the Karkas Mountains, Natanz, Iran. Both the TR and CTR methods successfully located the body, but the CTR method provided better definition of both the body and nearby reflectors related to the subsurface features like specific layers of snow. These results demonstrate that the CTR application is efficient at enhancing the spatial resolution of GPR radargrams and proves to have substantial promise as a GPR processing technique, although the method is relatively time consuming
Efficacy of heel lifts for lower limb musculoskeletal conditions: A systematic review
No full textIntroduction: The objective of this systematic review is to determine the benefits and harms of heel lifts to any comparator for lower limb musculoskeletal conditions. Methods: Ovid MEDLINE, Ovid AMED, Ovid EMCARE, CINAHL Plus and SPORTDiscus were searched from inception to the end of May 2024. Randomised, quasi-randomised or non-randomised trials comparing heel lifts to any other intervention or no-treatment were eligible for inclusion. Data was extracted for the outcomes of pain, disability/function, participation, participant rating of overall condition, quality of life, composite measures and adverse events. Two authors independently assessed risk of bias and certainty of evidence using the GRADE approach at the primary time point 12 weeks (or next closest). Results: Eight trials (n = 903), investigating mid-portion Achilles tendinopathy, calcaneal apophysitis and plantar heel pain were included. Heel lifts were compared to exercise, ultrasound, cryotherapy orthotics, stretching, footwear, activity modification, felt pads and analgesic medication. No outcome was at low risk of bias and few effects (2 out of 47) were clinically important. Low-certainty evidence (1 trial, n = 199) indicates improved pain relief (55.7 points [95% CI: 50.3–61.1], on a 100 mm visual analogue scale) with custom orthotics compared to heel lifts at 12 weeks for calcaneal apophysitis. Very low-certainty evidence (1 trial, n = 62) indicates improved pain and function with heel lifts over indomethacin (35.5 points [95% CI: 21.1–49.9], Foot Function Index) at 12 months for plantar heel pain. Conclusions: Few trials have assessed the benefits and harms of heel lifts for lower limb musculoskeletal conditions. Only two outcomes out of 47 showed clinically meaningful between group differences. However, due to very low to low certainty evidence we are unable to be confident in the results and the true effect may be substantially different. Registration: PROSPERO registration number CRD42022309644
Pre-COVID life expectancy, mortality, and burden of diseases for adults 70 years and older in Australia: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease 2019 Study
No full textBackground: The Australian population aged 70 and above is increasing and imposing new challenges for policy makers and providers to deliver accessible, appropriate and affordable health care. We examine pre-COVID patterns of health loss between 1990 and 2019 to inform policies and practices. Methods: Using the standardised methodology framework and analytical strategies from GBD 2019 methodologies, we estimated mortality, causes of death, years of life lost (YLLs), years lived with disability (YLDs), disability-adjusted life years (DALYs), life expectancy at age 70 and above (LE-70), and healthy life expectancy (HALE-70) in Australia comparing them globally and with high socio-demographic index (SDI) groups. Findings: DALY rates have been improving steadily over the past 30 years among Australians aged 70 and above. Decreases in DALY rates were primarily attributed to a fall in YLLs attributable to cardiovascular diseases (60%) and chronic respiratory disorders (30.2%) and transport injuries (56.9%), while the non-fatal burden remained stable from 1990 to 2019. According to the DALY rates, the top five leading causes are ischemic heart disease, Alzheimer's disease, COPD, stroke, and falls, where falls exhibited the largest increase since 1990. Interpretation: This study provides an in-depth report on the main causes of mortality and disability in Australia's population aged 70 and above. It sheds light on the shifts in burden over three decades, emphasising the need for the Australian health system to enhance its readiness in addressing the escalating demands of an ageing population. These findings establish pre-COVID baseline estimates for Australia's population aged 70 and above, informing healthcare preparedness. Funding: Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.</p
The association between betel quid use and oral potentially malignant and malignant disorders in Southeast Asian and Pacific regions: a systematic review and meta-analysis with GRADE evidence profile
No full textBackground: Betel quid (BQ) chewing is a prevalent habit in the Asian and Pacific regions. It is deeply intertwined within cultural customs, and has been reported to result in oral potentially malignant disorders (OPMDs) and malignant disorders (MDs).Objective: We aim to present a summative and broad overview of the burden that BQ chewing has imposed on the residents of the Southeast Asian, Pacific, and Australasian regions, allowing us to quantify the level of impact it is currently causing on the risk of people developing oral cancer.Methods: This scoping review and meta-analysis screened databases such as PubMed, MEDLINE, and Google Scholar for publications that investigated the association between BQ and OPMDs and MDs. The search strategy involved MeSH headings relating to BQ, OPMDs, and MDs, and a search for results during the period between January 2010 and June 2023 within the set geographical boundaries of the Southeast Asian and Pacific regions. This systematic review was reported in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses Statement for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR). R software was used to screen outliers. The included studies were further analysed using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) system.Results: Nine articles (n = 19,312 participants) presented odds ratio outcomes from 11 regionally different study groups. We indicated a strong correlation between BQ chewing and the increased risk of OMPDs and MDs. The risk was quantified through meta-analyses with an odds ratio (OR) of 8.18 (5.27–12.72) and an increased OR of 9.93 (7.36–13.39) when the outlier was removed. BQ chewing was further identified within various Australian communities and discovered to be produced locally in North Queensland. Discussion: A meta-analysis of two outcomes revealed substantial heterogeneity and minor evidence of publication bias, thus the association effect was included with and without these articles. The overall GRADE quality of evidence ranged from moderate to very high and highlighted five studies with a high level of imprecision. Conclusion: The lingering high prevalence of BQ in the Southeast Asia and Pacific regions, as well as its rising acceptance among non-ethnic Australians, is alarming and requires prompt and rigorous intervention to prevent the risk of oral cancer.</p
Counterconditioning-based interventions for companion dog behavioural modification: A systematic review.
No full textAbstract: Undesirable companion dog behaviours negatively impact the lives of both owners and dogs. Therefore, it is imperative that behaviour modification interventions are researched to establish effectiveness. Counterconditioning is commonly recommended for modification of a broad range of undesirable dog behaviours, however, to date, no comprehensive review has investigated the effectiveness of this technique. This study aimed to evaluate the existing literature on counterconditioning interventions for dog behaviour modification, adopting broad inclusion criteria. Following Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines, 12 peer-reviewed papers and 2 dissertations were identified. A review of these 14 studies found that there were discrepancies in the definitions and applications of counterconditioning-based interventions. These discrepancies were based on the contingency with which dogs received reinforcement and could be categorised into classical and operant counterconditioning methodologies. The majority of the studies resulted in positive outcomes, particularly when addressing undesirable kennel behaviours and aggressive behaviours towards other dogs or household visitors. However, separation-related behaviours were found to be more resistant to change. Furthermore, heterogeneity in intervention techniques, reliance on expert implementation or instruction, and small sample sizes, limit the generalisability of the results. Our review confirms the effectiveness of counterconditioning in reducing undesirable dog behaviours, however it is essential that future studies clearly detail all aspects of the intervention, such that methodologies can be accurately understood, applied, and compared. Future research should also focus on increasing sample sizes and including physiological measures of stress of participating dogs.</p
Investigating place solidarity and consumer boycotting in threatening times: A study on the Ukraine-Russia conflict
No full textABSTRACT Solidarity with a suffering country has emerged as an important topic of discussion and influence in society. Using the Ukraine–Russia conflict as the research setting, this research explores the broader conceptual nature of place solidarity and its impact on consumer behavior. Our findings reveal that place solidarity significantly influences consumer boycotting behaviors and drives key behavioral intentions, such as willingness to buy and recommend. Moreover, the study finds that perceived threats to humanity are key motivators of place solidarity. By providing a comprehensive understanding and empirical examination of place solidarity, this research offers valuable insights for managers, as well as local and international policymakers.</p
Olga Tennison Autism Research Centre: Response to the draft National Autism Strategy
No full textLa Trobe University’s Olga Tennison Autism Research Centre (OTARC) welcomes the opportunity to provide feedback on the draft National Autism Strategy (the draft Strategy) to the Australian Government’s Department of Social Services (DSS). I have attached our response, which focuses on providing evidence-based, community-driven recommendations. OTARC's researchers, lived experience experts, and formal Autvisory committee feedback informs our recommendations.</p
First-line treatment for femoroacetabular impingement syndrome and hip-related quality of life: study protocol for a multicentre randomised controlled trial comparing a 6-month supervised strength exercise intervention to usual care (the Better Hip Trial)
No full textINTRODUCTION: Femoroacetabular impingement syndrome (FAIS) is a motion-related and position-related clinical condition of the hip associated with pain, reduced physical function and hip-related quality of life (QoL). Interestingly, higher maximal muscle strength is associated with less pain, better physical function and improved QoL in people with FAIS. Furthermore, preliminary evidence suggests that a proportion of patients with FAIS respond positively to strength exercise as first-line treatment. Nonetheless, there is little evidence supporting a specific exercise intervention offered as a first-line treatment. We will conduct a randomised controlled trial investigating the clinical effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of a 6-month strength exercise intervention compared with usual care as first-line treatment in patients with FAIS. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: This is a multicentre randomised controlled trial that will be conducted at hospitals and physiotherapy clinics across Denmark and Australia. A total of 120 patients with FAIS will be randomised (1:1) to 6 months of supervised strength exercise or usual care. The primary outcome is the change in hip-related QoL measured using the International Hip and Outcome Tool 33 (iHOT-33) from baseline to the end of intervention. A health economic evaluation will be conducted from a societal and healthcare perspective based on the data collection over a 12-month period starting at baseline. The analysis will calculate incremental cost-effectiveness ratios using quality-adjusted life-years and iHOT-33 scores while estimating costs using microcosting and cost questionnaires. Secondary outcomes include objectively measured physical function at baseline and after 6 months and patient-reported outcomes measured at baseline, 3-month, 6-month and 12-month follow-up. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: The trial has been approved by the Committee on Health Research Ethics in the Central Denmark Region (journal no 1-10-72-45-23) and La Trobe University Human Ethics Committee (HEC24042) and is registered at the Central Denmark Region List of Research Projects (journal no 1-16-02-115-23). Informed consent will be obtained from each participant before randomisation. Results will be published in international peer-reviewed scientific journals. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: NCT05927935
Optimization of a Self-management Program for Chronic Musculoskeletal Pain – Protocol of the Pain Education Program Optimization (PEPO) Randomized Controlled Trial
No full textOBJECTIVES: The primary objective is to compare two modes of delivering an 8-week self-management program for chronic musculoskeletal (MSK) pain: standard self-management versus supported self-management, which includes two physiotherapist-led sessions and one patient-partner-led session. The primary outcome measure is pain-related disability after 10 weeks. Secondary objectives include comparing the effects of both delivery modes on pain-related disability after 26 weeks, as well as on pain severity, kinesiophobia, catastrophizing, pain self-efficacy, anxiety, and depression after 10 and 26 weeks. DESIGN: Randomized controlled trial protocol. METHODS: One hundred eight adults with chronic MSK pain will be recruited and evaluated at baseline and after 10 and 26 weeks. At each evaluation, primary (pain-related disability) and secondary (pain severity, kinesiophobia, catastrophization, pain self-efficacy, anxiety, satisfaction, and depression) outcomes will be assessed. After baseline, participants will be randomly assigned to (1) self-management group and (2) supported self-management group. In addition to the 8-week self-management program, participants in the supported self-management group will have two additional 30-minute counselling sessions with a physiotherapist and one 60-minute group session led by a peer living with chronic MSK pain. Linear mixed models will be used to compare the effects of the two delivery modes of the intervention on the outcomes.</p