19683 research outputs found
Sort by
Multi-organ squamous cell carcinoma classification using feature interpretation technique for explainability
No full textSquamous cell carcinoma is the most common type of cancer that occurs in many organs of the human body. To detect carcinoma, pathologists observe tissue samples at multiple magnifications, which is time-consuming and prone to inter- or intra-observer variability. The key challenge for automation of squamous cell carcinoma diagnosis is to extract the features at low (100x) magnification and explain the decision-making process to healthcare professionals. The existing literature used either machine learning or deep learning models to detect squamous cell carcinoma of specific organs. In this work, we report on the implementation of an explainable diagnostic aid system for squamous cell carcinoma of any organ and present a comparative analysis with state-of-the-art models. A classifier with an ensemble feature selection technique is developed to provide an automatic diagnostic aid for distinguishing between squamous cell carcinoma positive and negative cases based on histopathological images. Moreover, explainable AI techniques such as ELI5, LIME and SHAP are introduced to machine learning model which provides feature interpretability of prediction made by the classifier. The results show that the machine learning model achieved an accuracy of 93.43% and 96.66% on public and multi-centric private datasets, respectively. The proposed CatBoost classifier achieved remarkable performance in diagnosing multi-organ squamous cell carcinoma from low magnification histopathological images, even when various illumination variations were introduced.</p
Grainyhead-like 2 interacts with noggin to regulate tissue fusion in mouse
No full textDefective tissue fusion during mammalian embryogenesis results in congenital anomalies, such as exencephaly, spina bifida and cleft lip and/or palate. The highly conserved transcription factor grainyhead-like 2 (Grhl2) is a crucial regulator of tissue fusion, with mouse models lacking GRHL2 function presenting with a fully penetrant open cranial neural tube, facial and abdominal clefting (abdominoschisis), and an open posterior neuropore. Here, we show that GRHL2 interacts with the soluble morphogen protein and bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) inhibitor noggin (NOG) to impact tissue fusion during development. The maxillary prominence epithelium in embryos lacking Grhl2 shows substantial morphological abnormalities and significant upregulation of NOG expression, together with aberrantly distributed pSMAD5-positive cells within the neural crest cell-derived maxillary prominence mesenchyme, indicative of disrupted BMP signalling. Reducing this elevated NOG expression (by generating Grhl2−/−;Nog+/− embryos) results in delayed embryonic lethality, partial tissue fusion rescue, and restoration of tissue form within the craniofacial epithelia. These data suggest that aberrant epithelial maintenance, partially regulated by noggin-mediated regulation of BMP-SMAD pathways, may underpin tissue fusion defects in Grhl2−/− mice.</p
Effects of sport or physical recreation for adults with physical or intellectual disabilities: a systematic review with meta-analysis
No full textNo description supplied. </p
Data File - Psychological Wellbeing and Endometriosis/Adenomyosis
No full textIntroduction: Endometriosis and adenomyosis are chronic health conditions that effect up to 20% of women. Despite their prevalence the average time for diagnosis is 7.5 years which can cause individuals’ significant psychological distress. Currently most research on these conditions focusses on the physical symptoms.
Aims: The aim of this research was to understand how living with endometriosis or adenomyosis impacts psychological wellbeing.
Results: Survey results of 114 participants indicated that more than 90% of participants experienced a lengthy and negative diagnostic process. They also reported feeling high levels of pain consistently, that impaired their daily functioning and was linked to severe levels of psychological distress.
Conclusions: This research highlights the serious psychological distress that many people diagnosed with these conditions experience as a result of chronic pain. Furthermore, it highlights the general dismissal of symptoms and the lack of support that individuals feel that they receive during the diagnostic process.</p
Higher Levels of Morning and Daytime Light Exposure Associated with Positive Sleep Indices in Professional Team Sport Athletes
No full textNo description supplied</p
Higher Education Student Experiences of Blended Learning: Unpacking Responsive, Supportive and Flexible Learning Design
No full textAustralian higher education has changed significantly with student cohorts that are increasingly economically and geographically diverse. Online and blended learning delivery has become more prevalent in response. This research reports on data collected to gain an insight into the perceptions
of final year Bachelor of Education students during the implementation of a responsive model of blended learning. Analysis of data identified personalised assistance at the point of need, flexibility and choice, scaffolding assessment tasks, and communication and organisation best supported
student learning. This study contributes to research on blended learning design and university student perceptions of a supportive learning environment.</p
Co-designing a motivational interviewing training platform to enhance oncology healthcare professional communication
No full textBackground: Oncology healthcare professionals (HCPs) using motivational interviewing may motivate and support patients with chronic illness to adhere to medications. Research of online motivational interviewing training focusing on medication adherence in cancer is limited. Objective: Co-design, develop, and preliminarily evaluate a motivational interviewing training platform (MITP) for oncology HCPs focused on medication adherence. Methods: We used co-design and design science research methodology to develop and test the MITP in two phases: 1) program co-design and development and 2) interactive platform design and development. Results: HCPs expressed a high demand for a practical and tailored motivational interviewing training. MITP is an online three-hour training comprising education, roleplay videos, and formative assessments. MITP was reported to be acceptable, usable, and useful by users. Innovation: This study used a novel approach combining co-design and design science research methodology, and digital media to develop a flexible and acceptable online motivational interviewing training focused on medication adherence in cancer. Discussion and conclusion: Applied rigorous methodology ensured the MITP was developed to address knowledge gaps and the needs of oncology HCPs for supporting patient adherence, and to be usable and useful. Study findings may inform future research on online motivational interviewing training and its potential impact on medication adherence
1 Million Turtles: empowering communities to save Australian freshwater turtles
No full textABSTRACT: Australian freshwater turtle populations have declined substantially, with consequent losses to aquatic ecosystem functions. A leading hypothesis is that turtles have declined through lost recruitment caused by high nest predation by invasive foxes. The ‘fox hypothesis’ is supported by experiments showing that nest predation rates exceed 95% in many regions. Furthermore, population surveys have repeatedly found absences of juvenile turtles, and headstarting experiments have successfully replaced those juveniles in some species. We are currently leading a nationwide citizen science program, ‘1 Million Turtles’ (1millionturtles.com), to engage local communities to protect turtles from threats like nest predation using a suite of novel approaches. Our key innovation is to leverage community passion and interest for turtles to create positive conservation impacts via a nationwide support network. We provide a data collection tool and framework (TurtleSAT) and self-guided training in conservation methods. We assist with guidance for gaining licencing and permission, and applying for grants. We are evaluating our approach through both the impacts on turtle populations as well as through surveys of our engaged citizen scientists. Ultimately, we aim to create a science-supported, national grassroots conservation model where community champions can lead their own evidence-based approaches to help wildlife.</p
Mapping Social Work’s Response to the ‘Grand Challenge’ of Loneliness: A Systematic Scoping Review of the Literature
No full textAbstract: Loneliness is recognised as a ‘grand challenge’ for social work, given its negative impact on health and well-being. But there has been limited progress on how social workers should respond. We aimed to characterise social work research on loneliness from 2016 to 2021, to inform policy, practice and training. We utilised the Joanna Briggs Institute methodology for scoping reviews with a narrative synthesis of results. Data were extracted on study characteristics, assessment and intervention strategies, the role of social workers in this literature and limitations in the research. The final review consisted of 366 studies. Results showed a steady growth in research outputs on loneliness over time, predominantly (40 per cent) aimed at improving social work practice. Qualitative research methods (45 per cent) and cross-sectional study designs (61 per cent) were most common. Fewer than one-third of studies (32 per cent) used a formal assessment tool to identify loneliness. The most common intervention strategies examined were enhancing social relationships (30 per cent) and person-centred solutions (21 per cent). A slight majority (57 per cent) of peer-reviewed journal articles had a social work lead author. The review indicates social workers are engaged in research and action on loneliness, but ensuring this expertise is visible, led by social workers and accessible, remains a challenge.</p
Localised and tree total crop loads influence trunk growth, return fruit set, yield, and fruit quality in apples
No full textAbstract: Localised fruit thinning strategies must be investigated to improve precision crop load management in narrow-canopy, multileader apple trees. This study aimed to determine the effects of within-leader and tree total crop load on leaders’ and trunk’s growth, fruit set, yield, and fruit quality in ‘Ruby Matilda’ apples (marketed as Pink Lady®) over three years. Different crop loads were imposed on two leaders (primary and secondary) of bi-axis trees. Leader and trunk relative growth rate, return fruit set, yield, and fruit quality parameters at harvest were measured. High within-leader crop loads led to a significant increase in yield and reductions in trunk growth, return fruit set, and deterioration of fruit quality parameters except for flesh firmness and starch index. Similar trends were observed in whole-tree relationships. High crop load in secondary leaders had moderate negative effects on trunk growth, yield, and fruit mass of primary leaders; it only marginally affected their return fruit set and had no significant effect (p > 0.05) on their fruit quality. A crop load of 6.8 fruit no. cm−2 of leader cross-sectional area was estimated to achieve a relatively consistent return fruit set within the same leader. At a whole-tree level, a similar crop load (6.9 fruit no. cm−2 of trunk cross-sectional area) produced a consistent return fruit set despite its higher variability. These crop loads produced high yields (120 and 111 t ha−1, respectively) and good quality fruit. Using individual leaders as management units is recommended to simplify operations and reduce variability.</p