3,584 research outputs found
Towards the Facilitation of Academic Staff Active Engagement in e-Teaching Transformation in Higher Education Institutions : Building an eActive model for three Saudi Arabian universities to facilitate effective academic staff engagement and continuous innovation in e‐Teaching
No full textTechnological innovations have great impacts on higher education. In recent years, higher educational institutes have been replacing, or supplementing, the traditional face-to-face course delivery with electronically-mediated teaching in their programs (Garrison & Kanuka, 2004; Stoltenkamp, Kies, & Njenga, 2007). While the use of electronically-mediated teaching is increasing in higher education, the institutions have been facing complexities and challenges in academic staff engagement. This study used an action research approach to develop a model to motivate staff to be engaged in e-Teaching environments. The researcher role was a consultant in an e-Learning training centre in Saudi Arabia. This centre helps universities in Saudi Arabia to engage their staff in e-Teaching. While working collaboratively with a team from that centre and by reviewing the literature, the researcher has proposed a model to engage staff in e-Teaching for three female Saudi Arabian universities according to the preference of a sample from the same universities.Thesis (PhD Doctorate)Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)Griffith Business SchoolGriffith Business SchoolFull Tex
Fruit Bat Foraging Ecology and Emergence of Hendra Virus in Australia
No full textHendra virus is a bat-borne RNA virus that has recently emerged as a public health concern in Australia. Hendra virus is maintained in its reservoir hosts, pteropid bats (Pteropus alecto, P. poliocephalus, P. conspiculatus, and P. scapulatus) and occasionally spills over into horses. Previous research notes the considerable spatiotemporal variability in both spillover events and viral excretion from bats, which has generated many hypotheses to explain Hendra virus disease dynamics. However, the complex drivers of disease emergence make it difficult to ascertain the ecological drivers to spillover and the human-mediated factors that influence them. In this thesis, I employ a diverse set of analyses to investigate patterns of Hendra virus spillover and viral prevalence in bat populations, focusing on foraging resources as a driver of bat population distribution. Specifically, I develop an integrative theoretical foundation to model transmission among roosts using a resource-driven metapopulation approach. I use temporal models of bat population flux and foraging intensity built with remotely sensed proxies of Eucalypt phenology to understand changes in resources and population abundance. I analyze the periodicity, spatiotemporal synchrony, and environmental drivers of viral prevalence among bat roosts. Concerning future data collection studies, I develop theoretical spatial simulations to optimize the use of under-roost sheet sampling methods that collect pooled urine samples.Thesis (PhD Doctorate)Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)Griffith School of EnvironmentScience, Environment, Engineering and TechnologyFull Tex
Phylogenetics, Phylogeography and the Evolutionary History of the Chestnut-Shouldered Group of Fairy-Wrens (Malurus spp.)
No full textThe chestnut-shouldered fairy-wrens comprise a subgroup of four species in the genus Malurus (Passeriformes: Maluridae). Collectively, they are widespread across the Australian continent but phenotypic variation is strongly structured geographically in just one species, M. lamberti. Earlier phylogenetic analyses of this group have been limited to one or two individuals for each species and have not represented all currently recognized subspecies of M. lamberti. Historically, the taxonomy and nomenclature of the M. lamberti complex has been debated, in part because of morphological similarities among its subspecies and another member of the group, M. amabilis.
In the first data chapter of this thesis, I reconstructed the phylogeny of all four species of chestnut-shouldered fairy-wrens including all four subspecies of M. lamberti using a mitochondrial gene (ND2), five anonymous nuclear loci and three nuclear introns. Phylogenetic analysis of the mitochondrial ND2 gene nests M. amabilis within M. lamberti rendering the latter paraphyletic. Individual nuclear gene trees failed to reliably resolve each of the species boundaries or the phylogenetic relationships found in the mtDNA tree. When combined, a strongly supported overall topology was resolved supporting the monophyly of M. lamberti and its sister species relationships to M. amabilis. Current subspecies taxonomy of M. lamberti was not concordant with all evolutionary lineages of M. lamberti, nominotypical M. l. lamberti being the only subspecies recovered as a monophyletic group from mtDNA.Thesis (PhD Doctorate)Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)Griffith School of EnvironmentScience, Environment, Engineering and TechnologyFull Tex
First Peoples' Perspectives on Engagement at University: What Keeps Students Coming Back to Indigenous Education Units?
No full textThe purpose of this study is to investigate the factors which influence First Peoples students’ decisions to access and engage with GUMURRII Student Success Unit, the Indigenous Education Unit at Griffith University, Queensland, Australia. Higher education plays a critical role in improving socioeconomic outcomes in First Peoples communities; however, First Peoples are underrepresented, with lower participation and higher attrition rates than non-Indigenous students. Engagement with Indigenous Education Units can improve student progression, retention and success; however, the nature of engagement with Indigenous Education Units has not been widely examined. This research adopts an interpretive case study approach using concurrent mixed methods including survey, focus groups, individual interviews, and document analysis to examine students’ engagement with GUMURRII. The incorporation of Nakata’s Cultural Interface and Indigenous Standpoint Theory into the research design privileged First Peoples students’ voices, and allowed experiences to be shared from their perspectives. There were six clear findings identified in this study, indicating that students access and engage with GUMURRII for reasons far beyond seeking traditional forms of support. Findings include (a) making the initial connection to GUMURRII, (b) becoming part of the First Peoples’ student community, (c) understanding the full resource potential of GUMURRII, and (d) knowing how to access these resources. Finally, there were (e) additional factors identified as contributing to student success, and (f) new, creative suggestions from First Peoples students that should be pursued. Through understanding why students initially access and engage with GUMURRII and continue to do so, recommendations surrounding targeted programs and opportunities that contribute to retention, progression and success of students could be made. This research could be used to not only improve First Peoples students’ success and work toward parity, but more broadly could inform university-wide support and the work of Indigenous Education Units across Australia.Thesis (Masters)Master of Education and Professional Studies Research (MEdProfStRes)School Educ & Professional StArts, Education and LawFull Tex
Older Adults Engagement Modes using Computer and Internet Technologies
No full textThe 21st century offers technology advancement and engagement with the passive, static information of print and website media as well as interactive social networking media on the Internet. Children born into this era quickly learn the language, join the digital community, and engage with these technologies. However, older adults who were not born into this dynamic technological era grapple with the constant changes that are explained by Moore's law. This has resulted in a digital skills and knowledge divide that sees older adults excluded from full inVol.vement in dynamic communities that included digital engagement. In order to reduce this digital divide, we need first to understand why some older adults engage with computer and internet technologies therefore, this thesis explores the engagement modes of older adults using computer and internet technologies. The research questions of this thesis are ‘Do older adults’ engagement modes influence their perception about computer and internet technology use?’ and ‘Can understanding these engagement modes help address digital divide issues facing older adults?’
A multi-method approach was undertaken as this enabled the researcher to explore the phenomena using both qualitative and quantitative methods providing rigorous and robust results. This was achieved through two studies that were conducted over a period of five years. The first study explored whether there is a difference between older adult and younger adult engagement modes, as well as any relationship between older adults’ perceived usefulness of the technology and their engagement modes. The second study was confirmatory analysis of the results of study one, which incorporated participant observation to test whether the engagement modes were observable and how these observations, could be explained.Thesis (PhD Doctorate)Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)Griffith Business SchoolGriffith Business SchoolFull Tex
Introducing an Error Orientation Framework: Individual Differences in Coping with Errors in the Workplace
No full textThe study of human error in an organisational context is important because of its potential consequences. Negative consequences of error include adverse effects on individual health and wellbeing, and a reduction in productivity for the organisation, while positive consequences can include innovative solutions. Much of the research into human error has been undertaken on the causation and prevention of errors. However, it is almost inevitable that lapses in attention and memory will continue and that decisions will be found to be erroneous with hindsight. In light of the ubiquity of error, an error orientation framework is presented in this thesis to assist in understanding how individuals cope with errors. Such a framework ultimately complements rather than competes with investigations into error causation and prevention.
Error orientation is a construct that represents individual differences in coping with errors in the workplace and was initially investigated by Rybowiak, Garst, Frese and Batinic (1999). Rybowiak et al. identifies problem-focussed and emotion-focussed error coping strategies, but these are subsumed with error appraisal. In developing an alternative conceptualisation of error orientation to that of Rybowiak et al., a distinction is made between appraisal and coping, one that is central in the general coping construct of Lazarus and Folkman (1984). The framework presented in this thesis is further differentiated from that of Rybowiak et al. by the inclusion of resources used when coping with errors, that is, the resources of the perpetrator of the error and support provided by others. In this way, a two-by-two framework is created with each quadrant representing a unique combination of strategy and resource. The creation of such a framework highlights the limited research on the use of social support to regulate emotional responses to error.Thesis (PhD Doctorate)Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)Griffith Business SchoolGriffith Business SchoolFull Tex
Dream recall, short term memory and a urine marker for pyrrole disorder - A pilot study
No full textBackground Nearly half of Australians between the age of 16 to 84 have suffered from mental illness [1]. Such health conditions can be chronic and require aggressive medication therapy leading to possible adverse drug reactions and further complications. The need for a holistic, lower risk health care approach has paved the way for the emerging, relatively lower risk therapies, such as advanced micronutrient therapy. Micronutrient therapy utilises vitamins and minerals to correct biochemical imbalances thought to be responsible for mental health conditions. Micronutrients have been investigated in over twenty placebo-controlled randomised control trials across a variety of mental health conditions including depression, anxiety, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, autism, antisocial aggressive behaviour in prisoners [2]. Pyrrole disorder is an example of a biochemical imbalance that is treated with micronutrient therapy consisting primarily of Vitamin B6 (B6) and Zinc (Zn). A theorised mechanism of the pathophysiology of the disorder is the complexation of hydroxyhaemopyrrolin-2-one (HPL), an elevated marker in the pyrrole patients, with Zn and the active form of B6 leading to a deficiency these two nutrients in the body [3-6]. However, very little research has been done on the condition and the practice follows, mostly, anecdotal evidence.
Pyrrole disorder is characterised by a specific cluster of symptoms, signs and traits. Some of the distinctive symptoms reported are little or no recall of dreams, recollection of nightmares only when dreaming, and poor short-term memory (STM) [5, 7]. The relationship between these symptoms, however, has not been clinically investigated. Thus, this pilot study aimed to explore pyrrole disorder and the relationship between the recollection of dreams, remembering nightmares exclusively, STM performance, and the micronutrient, vitamin B6. This study is also the first of its kind in assessing pyrrole disorder in a population of healthy participants.
Methods
Adult participants aged 18-75 years were recruited across two sites in South East Queensland, at the Clinical Trial Unit at Griffith University and Applied Analytical Laboratories, over a period of 6 months between July and November 2017. A questionnaire was designed and tested by experts in the field that consisted of questions relating to dream recall, nightmare recall, STM perception, B6 intake and the unique cluster of symptoms, signs and traits observed in pyrrole disorder. STM was also measured through use of an electronic, validated digit span test (DST). HPL levels were assayed at Applied Analytical Laboratories, an external medical laboratory specialising in HPL urine analysis.
Statistical analyses of the data was conducted with IBM-SPSS statistics 24 software. Descriptive statistics were used for variables of interest which were assessed for normality through skewness and kurtosis. Parametric continuous variables were analysed and reported as mean ± standard deviation (SD) via T-tests or ANOVA. Non-parametric continuous variables were reported as median and range with minimum and maximum values through Mann-Whitney U and Kruskal-Wallis H tests with further post-hoc analysis for significance. Categorical variables are presented as case frequency, and percentage of prevalence, through Chi-square analyses for dichotomous results. Dichotomous variables with cells having an expected cell count ≤ 5 were tested and reported as Fisher's exact test p-value. Results were considered significant if p < 0.05.
Results
Two hundred twenty-nine adults were assessed though an expression of interest. One hundred eighty-five (mean = 37.96 ± standard dev 13.54 years) participants attended the clinic visit and completed the assessments with one urine sample excluded due to contamination. DST scores were evaluated for 176 participants. Participants were split into “pyrrole” (n = 44) and “non-pyrrole” (n = 141) groups based on the symptoms and traits of pyrrole disorder reported in the survey.
The pyrrole participants reported significantly less dreams (χ2 = 6.140; p = 0.046), recalled more nightmares when remembering they dream (χ2 = 0.128; p < 0.001), and scored lower on DST (t = 2.310; p = 0.022) than the non-pyrrole participants. For those participants taking B6 supplements, no significant effects were observed for B6 intake and dream recall frequency (χ2 = 1.423; p = 0.491), the recall of nightmares only when remembering dreams (χ2 = 0.128; p = 0.720), or DST scores (t = 0.416; p = 0.678). B6 did not control HPL values on its own (U = 2438.500; p = 0.242), however the combination treatment for pyrrole disorder (B6+Zn) did demonstrate control on HPL values with lower median, maximum, and the elimination of elevated outliers in comparison to those participants on no supplements (U = 1643.500; p = 0.080).
Conclusion
This pilot study explored a controversial condition that has lacked thorough clinical investigation due to the early misidentification of HPL and the mystery behind its origins. The study investigated key symptoms, signs and traits of the condition, including little to no dream recall, the recall of nightmares exclusively, and poor STM. The objectives of this thesis were achieved through the use of a novel questionnaire and digital DST. Pyrrole participants had significantly less dream recall, recalled nightmares only when dreaming, and had poor STM based on DST scores. Additionally, the treatment for pyrrole, namely B6 and Zn, was shown to control HPL values.
The study, therefore, supports anecdotal evidence for this condition and paves the way for a new approach in treating mental health conditions with a more favourable risk-benefit ratio. Important implications for future practice and research were also identified.Thesis (Masters)Master of Music Research (MMusRes)School of Medical ScienceGriffith HealthFull Tex
Repositioning the graphic designer as researcher
No full textIn academic terms, the discipline of graphic design is relatively young. Consequently the position of the discipline within academic territory, and the role of the designer, continue to be debated. In part, these debates have been a product of attempts to define and defend the discipline’s borders from within, in order to establish a sense of the role of graphic design and the graphic designer as commensurate with other disciplines both within and beyond art and design. In recent years graphic designers have variously been defined as ‘authors’, ‘producers’ and ‘readers’, yet none of these definitions seem to have provided any kind of productive or lasting impact within the academy. This paper suggests that rather than continue to seek territorial definitions and positions from within, it could be more productive to look beyond the confines of the discipline. Gaining a broader, interdisciplinary perspective on, and understanding of, qualitative research methods from other disciplines may enable the graphic designer to more fully position his or her practice within the wider academy. Such a perspective could help facilitate the repositioning and redefinition of the graphic designer as ‘researcher’ - a move that would be productive in relation to the future development of postgraduate research within the discipline
Development of a Novel Implant for Drug Delivery
No full textBackground and aim: In situ gelling formulations are liquids that undergo a phase transition to form semi-solid gel structures within the physiological environment. Sustained release of drug products can therefore be delivered via injectable in situ gelling formulations where the gel formed in vivo acts as a drug reservoir, releasing drug via diffusion and/or degradation of the gel. Due to limitations of previously described in situ gelling formulations, the current research project aimed to address these issues and develop a biocompatible injectable in situ gelling formulation/s containing a hydrophilic polymer within a non-aqueous solvent that would gel upon contact with aqueous physiological fluid. The ideal formulation was developed to exhibit long-term stability, be able to release both hydrophilic and hydrophobic drugs over a sustained period of time without a significant initial drug burst, and be inexpensive to manufacture. Experimental: Preformulation studies were performed and then optimised to develop suitable formulations containing hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC) carboxymethyl cellulose (CMCS), or methylcellulose (MC). These lead formulations were characterised to determine suitability for injectable in situ gelling activity by assessing viscosity, syringeability and gelling behaviour, and then tested for physical stability over a 6 month period. In vitro drug release characteristics were determined for a range of hydrophilic and hydrophobic compounds before the final ideal compound, namely CMCS2a, was chosen for drug incorporation studies. A model drug, risperidone, was incorporated into the final formulation and tested for physical and chemical stability over an 8-week period.Thesis (PhD Doctorate)Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)School of PharmacyGriffith HealthFull Tex
Biochemical Imbalances and Micronutrient Intervention in Violent and Aggressive Male Children and Adolescents
No full textViolence and aggression in children and adolescents is of worldwide public health concern.1 Given the multitude of serious implications associated with violent crime such as costs to victims, taxpayer dollars and heightened safety concerns; early intervention is particularly important.2 Psychiatry is at an important juncture with few psychiatric pharmaceuticals on the horizon and unfavourable, long-term, risk-benefit profiles for many of the existing agents. The use of pharmaceuticals in violent and aggressive children and adolescents is limited due to the negative impact on growth and development, risk of adverse effects and lack of safety and efficacy data available.3 Evidence-based effective and safe therapies for the management of youth with violent and aggressive behavioural disorders are crucially needed.
In recent years there has been an increase in both the quantity and methodological quality of research exploring the relationship between micronutrients and mental health.4 Neuroscientists have identified nutrients required for the synthesis of neurotransmitters, gene regulation and antioxidant protection.5,6 Changes in concentrations of different micronutrients as well as other organic and inorganic compounds may contribute to aggressive behaviour.7,8
The need for novel diagnostic techniques and interventions for children and adolescents with violent and aggressive behavioural disorders has been identified.9,10 Micronutrients that target biochemical imbalances that are identified by clinical examination and pathology may be a novel therapeutic option to improve behaviour, with minimal side effects.10,11 Due to the individualised nature of diagnosis and treatment, the use of micronutrient therapy to target biochemical imbalances has primarily anecdotal evidence. A retrospective review of prescribing patterns, diagnostic instruments and patient outcomes was conducted to evaluate available evidence and identify key trends for micronutrient therapy in violent and aggressive males. This study led to the development of a data collection instrument, and highlighted elevated urinary hydroxyhemopyrroline-2-one (HPL) and elevated plasma copper/zinc ratios as common biochemical imbalances present in violent and aggressive youth. It was also identified in the retrospective review that micronutrients such as zinc, vitamin B6, vitamin E, vitamin C and chromium were often prescribed at doses above the Australian recommended daily intake12 and paediatric guidelines,13,14 but appeared to be well tolerated.
There is no ‘gold-standard’ outcome measure for the evaluation of violent and aggressive behaviours in youth receiving pharmacological intervention.9,15 In addition, findings from the retrospective review emphasised the need to identify appropriate efficacy outcome measures used in this population. Therefore, a review to evaluate the psychometric and administrative properties, and the applicability of instruments used to measure the efficacy of pharmacotherapy in violent and aggressive youth was conducted. The review identified that the majority of instruments contained few items specific to violent and aggressive behaviours, and that these behaviours were often conflated with oppositional and defiant symptoms. It was found that all items in the Children’s Aggression Scale (CAS) and the Modified Overt Aggression Scale (MOAS) could be used to measure violent and/or aggressive behaviours. The CAS was the most psychometrically sound and useful instrument that could be used to exclusively measure aggressive behaviours in youth.
A 16 week, open-label, clinical trial of 31 males aged four to 14 who displayed ongoing violent and aggressive behaviours was conducted. The participants received a standardised micronutrient intervention containing vitamin E, vitamin C, biotin, chromium, pyridoxal-5-phosphate, vitamin B6, selenium and zinc. Primary outcomes were ratings of violent and aggressive behaviours, measured using the CAS and the MOAS. Secondary outcomes were health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and family functioning. Plasma zinc, plasma copper, copper/zinc ratio and urinary HPL tests were conducted at baseline and endpoint. Micronutrient therapy significantly improved parent reported aggressive and violent behaviours measured using the CAS for all domains except the use of weapons, with medium to large effect size, and the MOAS, with large effect size. Parent reported HRQoL and family functioning also significantly improved. Micronutrient therapy appeared well tolerated, with a favourable side effect profile. The feasibility study identified important strengths in the open-label study that should be replicated in future studies and suggestions for the successful conduct of future research including randomised controlled trials, longitudinal or follow-up studies.
This is the first investigation of a standardised micronutrient intervention for violent and aggressive behaviour disorders in male children and adolescents. Significant improvements in parent reported violent and aggressive behaviours as well as HRQoL and family functioning were found which could potentially bridge a therapeutic gap and change current practices in mainstream medicine. Results from the systematic review, evaluation of outcome measures and feasibility analysis should assist, and have an impact on, future research and clinical trials.Thesis (PhD Doctorate)Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)School of Pharmacy and PharmacologyGriffith HealthFull Tex
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