19683 research outputs found
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Exploring Spiritual Care and Health for Indonesian Older People Living in the Community: A Mixed Methods Approach
No full textA thesis submitted in total fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy to the School of Nursing and Midwifery, La Trobe University, Victoria, Australia.</p
New dating results at Incarcal-I (Spain) shed light on the exceptionally rich late Early Pleistocene fossil record of the Iberian Peninsula
No full textMore than five decades after the first report of fossil remains found in a limestone quarry near Crespià, NE Spain, we provide here the first dating results for the palaeontological assemblage from Incarcal-I, one of the various fossil-rich sinkholes identified at the locality that has yielded ~2,000 remains representing at least 15 taxa of large mammals. Palaeomagnetism in conjunction with combined U-series and electron spin resonance (ESR) dating of fossil teeth consistently constrain the age of Incarcal-I to the latest part of the Early Pleistocene. Specifically, with palaeomagnetic results showing reverse magnetic polarities for the large majority of the samples and no indisputable evidence of normal polarity in the stratigraphic succession, the deposits may be reasonably correlated to the Matuyama Chron (2.61–0.77 Ma), thus providing a minimum age constraint of 0.77 Ma for the sedimentary infill. Additionally, direct dating of two fossil teeth of Hippopotamus antiquus using the most advanced analytical procedures, through a combination of unusually high sampling density (n = 17) for bulk ESR and U-series analyses and high-resolution laser ablation Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS) analyses, yields a mean age of 862 ± 52 ka (1σ). Interestingly, the data set collected shows the exceptionally high spatial homogeneity of the ESR and U-series data across dental tissues and of the natural radioactivity of the sedimentary environment. Furthermore, the uncertainty around the uranium uptake modelling carries very little weight in the age calculation, which is unusual for such old fossil teeth. Consequently, this set of evidence supports the robustness and reliability of the ESR chronology, adding a new solid chronological tie point for biochronological inferences. In summary, the various lines of evidence available enable confident positioning of Incarcal-I in the latest part of the Early Pleistocene, that is, somewhere between the end of the Jaramillo Subchron (1.01 Ma) and the Matuyama–Brunhes boundary (0.77 Ma). The numerical dating results indicate that the fossil assemblage of Incarcal-I is coeval with those from other well-constrained key Spanish localities such as Atapuerca Gran Dolina TD4-6, and Vallparadís Station EVT7, highlighting the overall exceptional density of the Iberian fossil record between ~0.8 and ~1.0 Ma. Finally, a critical evaluation of the existing age constraints available for the Calabrian (1.80–0.77 Ma) fossil localities of the Iberian Peninsula is also proposed here, with a first tentative classification of the sites into four main categories (A to D) based on the robustness and precision of their chronostratigraphic framework.</p
Development and Evaluation of the Veterinary Nurse Burnout Prevention Survey (VNBPS)
No full textBurnout results from chronic workplace stress and is most effectively addressed through workplace interventions. Successful implementation of interventions may, however, be constrained by factors within the work environment. This study aimed to evaluate a new tool, the Veterinary Nurse Burnout Prevention Survey (VNBPS). The 35-item, cross-sectional mixed methods survey aimed to identify the presence of burnout risk factors for veterinary nurses (VNs), and support selection of tailored interventions within the clinic. The VNBPS was conducted within VN teams (N = 67) across six Australian veterinary clinics between August and September 2025. After delivery and analysis of the survey, a summary of results and tailored recommendations was provided to each clinic. A subsequent evaluation questionnaire measured perceived ease of participation, accuracy of findings, and practicality of recommendations. The majority of the 17 respondents who completed the evaluation questionnaire (71%, n = 10) found the survey very easy to complete, and the findings to be accurate (79%, n = 11), or very accurate (21%, n = 3). Recommended interventions were perceived to be practical (50%, n = 7) or very practical (29%, n = 4). Internal reliability of the VNBPS was good. Participants reported that the survey held additional value in initiating conversations about burnout. This confirms the VNBPS as a useful tool to assist veterinary workplaces in the prevention of VN burnout and provide practical support for leaders to improve the wellbeing and professional sustainability of VN teams.</p
Cross-level environmental influences on social connection among older Australians: a social-ecological analysis
No full textPersistent concerns about loneliness and social isolation in later life have prompted increasing attention to the social and environmental factors that enable or constrain connection. Yet, while previous research has identified community and societal determinants of social connection, little is known about how these factors interact dynamically with individual and interpersonal circumstances to shape older adults’ lived connection experiences. This study addresses this knowledge gap by examining how older Australians perceive and experience environmental influences on their social connectedness, and how factors across multiple ecological levels work together to create or hinder opportunities for connection. Four focus groups were conducted with 15 participants, aged 60 years and over, from metropolitan and regional areas in New South Wales, Australia, to explore how participants described the role of different factors in their connection experiences. Participants identified a range of influences across individual, interpersonal, community and societal levels, including meaningful roles, community spaces, local businesses and transport accessibility. Three patterns of cross-level interaction were revealed: the interplay between personality and community infrastructure; the multi-level role of digital technology; and the cascading influence of policy frameworks shaping community participation opportunities. By uncovering how factors interact dynamically across social-ecological levels, this study advances understanding of the contexts that foster or constrain social connection in later life. The findings contribute to ongoing debates in social gerontology by demonstrating that loneliness and social isolation are best addressed through coordinated, multi-level interventions that align individual, community and policy environments to promote healthy ageing in place.</p
R scripts for metric calculation, arthropod data and associated spatial files to run analysis for pollinator and predator natural capital accounts for an example de-identified farm (Farm YQ).
No full textThe demand for information about property-scale natural capital is growing rapidly as producers and supply chains respond to opportunities and pressures to report environmental performance information. Farm-scale Natural Capital Accounts (FsNCA) measure and report on natural capital and environmental performance at the farm-scale and may address a critical gap in sustainability reporting and the promotion of sustainable farm practices. Here, we outline the framework, methods and models to quantify on-farm natural capital and ecosystem services that support agricultural production. The accounts are outcomes-based, data-driven, transparent, and repeatable. They are coherent with the UN System of Environmental Economic Accounting and contain verifiable information about the extent and condition of natural capital assets (e.g. soil, vegetation, biodiversity), ecosystem services (e.g., forage, carbon sequestration, pollination, decomposition, soil regulation, shade and shelter) and environmental performance (for the entire farm and per unit of production).Our approach integrates farm operational and production data (inputs and outputs), remote sensed imagery and data, ecological modelling and state and transition models to generate comprehensive farm-scale natural capital accounts that include biodiversity values, a range of ecosystem service accounts, and environmental performance metrics. We have demonstrated the practicality of our approach by generating farm-scale accounts for 50 farms in south-eastern Australia. The accounts are underpinned by ecological models, built from empirical (field-tested) data, of the relationship between natural capital and various measures of biodiversity and ecosystem services.The accounts provide farmers with detailed information to improve their management of natural capital and leverage that for improved production (by exploiting ecosystem services provided by natural capital) and business outcomes (e.g., market access, sustainability reporting obligations, price premiums). Simultaneously, the accounts provide the agricultural supply-chain with verifiable information on the environmental performance of farming entities, thus overcoming ‘greenwashing’ claims of companies and retailers.</p
Bueno-Pedraz et al., OFT validation dataset
No full textDataset for validation of enzyme immunoassay to monitoring adrenocortical activity in fat-tailed dunnarts non-invasively.</p
No Faggots in the Forum: Defining the <i>Cinaedus </i>of Ancient Rome
No full textA thesis submitted in total fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts to the School of Humanities and Social Sciences, La Trobe University, Victoria, Australia.This thesis was a recipient of the Research Masters Award in recognition of the originality and high standard of the research and the impact of the work in the context of the field of research.</p
Psychometric Evaluation of the German Version of the Motivations to Eat Meat Inventory (MEMI)
No full textBackground: The Motivations to Eat Meat Inventory (MEMI) assesses four motives for eating meat: Natural, Necessary, Normal, and Nice. This study aims to psychometrically evaluate the German MEMI. Methods: We reanalyzed data from two German-speaking samples ( N = 389; N = 1,498) who completed the MEMI online, one with an importance-based (Sample 1), one with an agreement-based (Sample 2) response format. We ran confirmatory factor analyses, tested measurement invariance, and examined validity. Results: Across both samples, bifactor models showed the best fit, with slightly better fit in Sample 1 but acceptable fit in both formats. Measurement invariance across gender, age, and education largely supported factorial validity. Results suggested acceptable convergent validity. Regarding discriminant validity, a strong general factor underpinned responses, with Normal and Nice explaining meaningful additional variance. Nice meaningfully predicted meat consumption. Limitations: Results are limited by sample differences. Conclusions: The German MEMI is a valid tool to assess motivations to eat meat and best modeled with a bifactor structure.</p
Archaeology from above: Applications of LiDAR in Australian archaeology and cultural heritage
No full textThis paper was included in the 14th issue of Excavations, Surveys and Heritage Management in Victoria and was presented at the annual Victorian Archaeology Colloquium held at La Trobe University on 7 February 2025.</p
Foot Structure and Lower Limb Function in People with Midfoot Osteoarthritis
No full textA thesis submitted in total fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy to the School of Allied Health, Human Services and Sport, La Trobe University, Victoria, Australia.</p