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  • (2011) Gray, Richard; Byrne, Kate
    Conference Paper
    While the mobile environment has made it possible for academic content to be accessed at the point of need, this paper ponders what value scholars place on the content available via the mobile web. Through an in-depth, qualitative survey of academics from the University of New South Wales Faculty of Law, Faculty of Arts and Social Science and the University’s Australian School of Business this paper aims to understand how academics are currently engaging with e-content in both teaching and research and how this has been altered by the mobile environment. The potential benefits and pitfalls for academic use of mobile content, the adaptations in information seeking behaviour necessary for academics to meet the changing technological demands, and the implications for collection development and content delivery in academic libraries is discussed.

  • (2012) Bunde-Birouste, Anne; Nathan, Sally; McCarroll, Brad; Kemp, Lynn; Shwe, Tun; Gran Ortega, Marcia
    Report
    Australia accepts more than 13,000 refugee and humanitarian immigrants annually and young people account for a large overall percentage of the refugee population in New South Wales (NSW). There is evidence that refugee families are highly vulnerable to social isolation in their countries of resettlement. The difficulties of refugee settlement are well documented, including the need to learn new languages, negotiate differing cultural and societal values and address past emotional trauma. Development through sport refers to the use of sporting activities to provide opportunities for personal and community development with effects that go well beyond the sphere of physical activity and [elite] player and game development. In recent years there has been an increase in programs that use sport to foster social development and engagement, however little robust research has been performed to evaluate these efforts. Football United ® was developed from a vision that people’s love for Football (soccer) can be used to build opportunities for belonging, racial harmony and community cohesion. Football United ®’s six years of operations confirms the Crawford report findings, and highlights other effects of inequity in participation: • Gaps in equity of participation in both community and public education sector sport which can contribute to general disaffection within society, including leaving school, aggressive behaviour and unemployment as examples. • Lack of opportunity to interact across cultural groups which can translate to racism and the ensuing problems it provokes. Football United ® addresses these issues basing its foundations on the premise that structural variables and social processes act at multiple levels to impact on health and social behaviour. Results of the study underline Football United ®’s positive impact on participating young people’s sense of self, and appreciation for and engagement with peers from diverse backgrounds. Learning from interviews found unanticipated connections between participating in Football United ® and learning English, positive engagement with school, and building self confidence.

  • (2011) Hanaor, Dorian; Triani, Gerry; Sorrell, Charles C.
    Journal Article
    Thin TiO2 films on quartz substrates were prepared by spin coating of undoped and metal-ion-doped Sol-Gel precursors. These films were characterised by Scanning Electron Microscopy, Laser Raman Microspectroscopy, X-ray Diffraction and UV-Vis Transmission. The photocatalytic performances of the films were assessed by the photo-degradation of methylene-blue in aqueous solution under UV irradiation. Films exhibited a high degree of orientation and a thermal stabilization of the anatase phase as a result of substrate effects. In the absence of dopants, the rutile phase formed as parallel bands in the anatase which broadened as the transformation progressed. TiO2 films doped or co-doped with transition metals exhibited the formation of rutile in segregated clusters at temperatures under ~800°C as a result of increased levels of oxygen vacancies. Photocatalytic activity of the films synthesised in this work was low as likely result of poor TiO2 surface contact with dye molecules in solution. The presence of transition metal dopants appears detrimental to photocatalytic activity while the performance of mixed phase films was not observed to differ significantly from single phase material.

  • (2012) Sunderland, Matthew; Wong, Nora; Hilvert-Bruce, Zita; Andrews, Gavin
    Journal Article
    Internet based cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) is efficacious for the treatment of anxiety and depression. The current study aimed to examine the effectiveness of internet based CBT prescribed by primary care clinicians for the treatment of depression and generalised anxiety disorder. Psychological distress data from 302 patients who completed an online CBT course for depression and 361 patients who completed an online CBT course for generalised anxiety disorder were subjected to growth mixture analysis. For both disorders psychological distress decreased across each lesson in a quadratic trend. Two classes of individuals were identified with different trajectories of change: a large group of individuals who responded well to the courses and a smaller group of individuals with a lower response. Both groups were similar with respect to sociodemographic characteristics however the low responders tended to have higher levels of symptom severity and psychological distress at baseline in comparison to the responders. For the majority of patients (75-80%) the internet CBT courses for depression and generalised anxiety disorder were effective. Further research is required to identify and effectively treat the smaller proportion of patients who did not improve during internet CBT.

  • (2013) Williams, Alishia; Lau, Gloria; Grisham, Jessica
    Journal Article
    Background and Objectives: Thought-action fusion (TAF), or maladaptive cognitions regarding the relationship between mental events and behaviours, has been implicated in the development and maintenance of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). As some religions promote TAF-like appraisals, it has been proposed that religiosity may play a role in the transformation of normally occurring intrusive thoughts into clinically distressing obsessions. No research, however, has experimentally investigated the mediating role of TAF on the relationship between religiosity and OC symptoms. Methods: 85 Christian, Jewish, and Atheist/Agnostic participants were exposed to an experimental thought-induction protocol and reported on their associated levels of distress, guilt, feelings of responsibility, and urge to suppress target intrusions experienced during a 5-minute monitoring period. Participants also completed measures of obsessive-compulsive symptomatology, TAF beliefs, and general psychopathology. Results: Using PROCESS and bootstrapping analyses, a test of the conditional indirect effects of religiosity on obsessive-compulsive symptoms revealed that Christianity moderated the effects of religiosity on moral TAF beliefs, which in turn mediated the relationship between religiosity and obsessive-compulsive symptoms. Furthermore, in the Christian group, moral TAF beliefs mediated the relationship between religiosity and ratings of guilt and responsibility following the experimental protocol. Limitations: The use of university students with moderate levels of religiosity. Conclusions: Collectively the results suggest that obsessional thinking is not attributable to religion per se, but that teachings underlying certain religious doctrines may fuel TAF beliefs that are implicated in the maintenance of OCD.

  • (2012) Park, Miles
    Conference Paper
    For designers, a key consideration to improve the environmental performance of new products and services is energy and resource efficiency (eco-efficiency). This is particularly important for household energy using products (EuPs) as they consume significant energy during the consumption (use) phase of their lifecycle. EuPs incorporate many types of consumer electrical and electronic products, including televisions and computers as well as the many other powered kitchen, laundry, bathroom and personal electronic devices of which ownership, both individually and cumulatively has increased dramatically in modern households. A consequence of EuP ownership and changing behavioural patterns is that EuPs cumulative contribution to overall household energy use is increasing in Australia, at 4.7% per annum. This is despite the sustained efforts over many years to improve energy efficiency of individual EuPs that is claimed to have improved at a rate of 2% per annum since 1970. This begs exploration of the drivers underpinning this divergence between predicted energy conservation through efficiency and actual energy use. The aim of this study is to investigate why household energy use from EuPs continues to rise. Such situations are described as ‘rebound effects’ where ‘designed in’ energy savings are not achieved. Exploring the proposition of the rebound effect, this study investigates design, ownership and use parameters of televisions (and peripheral equipment), washing machines, dishwashers and refrigerators benchmarked over a period of time. Drawing upon a variety of technical and behavioural criteria, data is mapped and presented for analysis to locate, identify and remark upon the qualities and significance of a likely rebound effect. Such information, where identified, highlights the hidden implications and significance of product use and user behaviour in shaping the success, or otherwise, of design strategies to conserve energy and consumption.

  • (2013) Byrne, Kate; McKenzie, Clare; Dalby, Alyson
    Conference Paper
    The International Librarians Network (ILN) peer-mentoring program is a facilitated program aimed at helping librarians develop international networks. We believe that innovation and inspiration can cross borders, and that spreading our networks beyond our home countries can make us better at what we do. Participants are matched with others outside their country and are supported by regular contact and discussion topics. The ILN is open to anyone working in the library and information industry around the world. The program remains free and the only requirements to participate are an Internet connection, half an hour each week and a desire to build professional connections and learn from colleagues. This poster describes the results of a participant survey conducted during the pilot phase of the program in the first half of 2013.

  • (2012) Funnell, Alister; Norton, Laura; Mak, Ka Sin; Burdach, John; Artuz, Crisbel; Twine, Natalie; Wilkins, Marc; Hung, TT; Perdomo, Jose; Power, Carl; Koh, P; Bell Anderson, Kim; Orkin, S; Fraser, Stuart; Perkins, Andrew; Pearson, Richard; Crossley, Merlin
    Journal Article
    The CACCC-box binding protein erythroid Krüppel-like factor (EKLF/KLF1) is a master regulator that directs the expression of many important erythroid genes. We have previously shown that EKLF drives transcription of the gene for a second KLF, basic Krüppel-like factor, or KLF3. We have now tested the in vivo role of KLF3 in erythroid cells by examining Klf3 knockout mice. KLF3-deficient adults exhibit a mild compensated anemia, including enlarged spleens, increased red pulp, and a higher percentage of erythroid progenitors, together with elevated reticulocytes and abnormal erythrocytes in the peripheral blood. Impaired erythroid maturation is also observed in the fetal liver. We have found that KLF3 levels rise as erythroid cells mature to become TER119(+). Consistent with this, microarray analysis of both TER119(-) and TER119(+) erythroid populations revealed that KLF3 is most critical at the later stages of erythroid maturation and is indeed primarily a transcriptional repressor. Notably, many of the genes repressed by KLF3 are also known to be activated by EKLF. However, the majority of these are not currently recognized as erythroid-cell-specific genes. These results reveal the molecular and physiological function of KLF3, defining it as a feedback repressor that counters the activity of EKLF at selected target genes to achieve normal erythropoiesis.

  • (2012) Blackmore, Margaret; Freeland, Pam
    Conference Paper

  • (2014) Hopwood, Max; Newman, Christy; Persson, Asha; Watts, Ian; Reynolds, Robert; Canavan, Peter; Kippax, Susan; Kidd, Michael
    Journal Article
    Aim: This paper explores cultural and professional dynamics of HIV general practice nursing in Australia. It highlights specific contributions that HIV general practice nurses make to HIV medicine and considers how nurses’ clinical practice has been shaped by past experiences of the AIDS crisis and subsequent developments in HIV medicine. Background: In international contexts, nurses in HIV medicine commonly work as part of shared-care teams. In recent years, HIV general practice nursing has become a prioritised area for primary health care in Australia. Methods: Data for this analysis were drawn from 45 in-depth, semi-structured interviews conducted with nurses and general practitioners (GPs) who provide HIV care in general practice, and key informants who work in policy, advocacy or education and training of the HIV general practice workforce. Findings: Viewed through a socio-ecological framework of social capital, descriptive content analysis highlights a unique and strong HIV health professional identity, which emerged out of the adverse conditions experienced by nurses, GPs and allied health professionals during the 1980s AIDS crisis. Participants reported that today, HIV general practice nursing includes information provision, HIV treatment side-effect management, teaching patients methods to increase adherence to HIV treatments and capacity building with allied health professionals. Participants reported that HIV general practice nurses can reduce the clinical burden on GPs, ameliorate patients’ exposure to HIV health care-related stigma and discrimination and facilitate the emergence of a comprehensive and personalised model of shared primary health care based on trust and rapport, which is desired by people with HIV. This study’s findings support the future expansion of the role of HIV general practice nurses in Australia and internationally. General practice nursing will become increasingly important in the scaling up of HIV testing and in caring for increasing numbers of people living with HIV.