Murdoch University

Older carers (≥50 years) of older people (≥65 years) are an important sub-group of carers performing valuable roles in providing informal care but often do not have the time or give priority to supporting their own health and wellbeing. Current services supporting older carers’ health and wellbeing are fragmented and inadequate. Through previous research and co-design activity by our team, an innovative multidisciplinary Carer Health and Wellbeing Service (CHWS) has been developed. The purpose of this protocol paper is to describe the rationale for the CHWS and the methods proposed to evaluate its effectiveness and implementation outcomes. The CHWS commenced in March 2024 at Peninsula Health, Melbourne, Australia. Older carers of older people can be referred from multiple sources, including self-referral. A pre-post mixed methods study design is being utilised. Initial assessments include the Carer Support Assessment Needs Tool (CSNAT) and carer prioritisation of their needs, which guides further assessment and interventions. Assessments will occur at Service intake and 6 months later. The primary effectiveness outcome is the Preparedness for Caregiving Scale, and primary implementation outcomes are reach and adoption. Interviews of carers, referrers and staff, and a cost-utility analysis will be undertaken. The target sample size is 137 carers undertaking assessment and intervention over the 15 months data collection. Generalised linear regression will be used to compare pre- and post-continuous outcome measures. Qualitative data will be thematically analysed. Results will inform future scaling up of this innovative approach to optimising health and wellbeing of older carers of older people. Trial registration number: Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (ANZCTR) – ACTRN: 12625000245493.

Background Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a common endocrinopathy in cats. General population epidemiology and mortality studies on DM are lacking. Objectives Describe the incidence, prevalence, risk factors, and mortality for DM in cats under primary veterinary care in the United Kingdom (UK). Animals Random sample of 1053 confirmed DM cases from 1 255 130 cats in VetCompass. Methods Retrospective cohort study with a nested case–control study. Period prevalence and incidence risk of DM for 2019 were calculated. Multivariable logistic regression modeling was used to identify risk factors for DM. Results Annual prevalence was 0.39% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.37–0.42). Incidence risk (2019) was 0.14% (95% CI, 0.13–0.16). Mean age and median adult body weight of incident cases diagnosed with DM was 11.8 ± 3.5 years (n = 371) and 5.9 kg (interquartile range: 4.6–7.1, n = 327). Odds of DM were increased in cats ≥ 9.0 years (odds ratio [OR]: 5.11, CI, 4.10–6.24) compared with cats 4.5–9.0 years. Burmese (OR: 2.07, CI, 1.29–3.31) and Burmillas (OR: 8.30, CI, 2.59–26.62) had increased odds, whereas Bengals (OR: 0.24, CI: 0.06–0.98) and Ragdolls (OR: 0.11, CI: 0.02–0.80) had decreased odds of DM compared with crossbreeds. Of 51.2% (192/375) cats dead within 3 years of diagnosis, 93.0% (176/192) were euthanized; 19.7% (35/178) were euthanized ≤ 3 days after diagnosis. Conclusions and Clinical Importance Almost 1/250 cats in the UK live with DM annually. Burmillas were predisposed to DM, and protection against DM was shown in Bengals and Ragdolls. Early mortality associated with DM diagnosis in cats is high.

The major drinking water reservoirs and catchments supplying many of Australia’s capital cities have been protected from significant levels of public access since their construction (up to 140 years ago). In addition to the primary intended initial benefit, (protecting drinking water quality to prevent typhoid and similar disease outbreaks), additional benefits included reduced flooding, improved and more stable yield, reduced water treatment costs, and protection of native ecosystems. In relation to the latter benefit, over that period, much of the Australian landscape has been modified for various forms of development and recreational activities, leaving these water catchments as some of the last broad areas of remnant habitat for vulnerable and endangered ecosystems and species. Despite these widely appreciated and well-understood benefits, there has been continuous pressure from a diverse range of interest groups to open these areas. As government-owned organisations, the Australian water utilities consider all such requests from the community. Among the interest groups that make representations to access drinking water sources are a wide range of recreators. Pressure from such groups is increasing as populations grow. To help inform decisions on how to respond to such representations, this study predicted gastrointestinal disease burdens from recreation on a currently protected drinking water supply reservoir in Australia. This study considered a range of scenarios, described in terms understandable to the community, and predicted health implications using screening-level quantitative microbial risk assessment (QMRA). The assessment was limited to microbial risks to drinking water quality – risks from chemical or physical hazards were not considered, nor was ecosystem protection. The QMRA predicted that six reasonably foreseeable scenarios could result in microbial risks that exceeded the health-based target benchmark given in the Australian Drinking Water Guidelines (ADWG). Therefore, additional water treatment would be required to reduce those risks to acceptable levels. However, even with the introduction of additional treatment, permitting increases in the levels of recreational activity in the source water was found to be inconsistent with many of the Guiding Principles of the ADWG and with a landmark state Supreme Court planning decision that had interpreted how those principles should be applied in drinking water catchments. Therefore, the results did not support permitting recreational access to the reservoir, and the importance of source protection was reinforced.

Objective We examined whether allowing operators to self-select automation transparency level (adaptable transparency) could improve accuracy of automation use compared to nonadaptable (fixed) low and high transparency. We examined factors underlying higher transparency selection (decision risk, perceived difficulty). Background Increased fixed transparency typically improves automation use accuracy but can increase bias toward agreeing with automated advice. Adaptable transparency may further improve automation use if it increases the perceived expected value of high transparency information. Methods Across two studies, participants completed an uninhabited vehicle (UV) management task where they selected the optimal UV to complete missions. Automation advised the optimal UV but was not always correct. Automation transparency (fixed low, fixed high, adaptable) and decision risk were manipulated within-subjects. Results With adaptable transparency, participants selected higher transparency on 41% of missions and were more likely to select it for missions perceived as more difficult. Decision risk did not impact transparency selection. Increased fixed transparency (low to high) did not benefit automation use accuracy, but reduced decision times. Adaptable transparency did not improve automation use compared to fixed transparency. Conclusion We found no evidence that adaptable transparency improved automation use. Despite a lack of fixed transparency effects in the current study, an aggregated analysis of our work to date using the UV management paradigm indicated that higher fixed transparency improves automation use accuracy, reduces decision time and perceived workload, and increases trust in automation. Application The current study contributes to the emerging evidence-base regarding optimal automation transparency design in the modern workplace.

Due to 21st‐century social advancements, the number of children growing up in culturally ‘transient’ families, also referred to as third culture kids (TCKs), is growing. Studies with bicultural individuals suggest that identity processes are essential to TCKs' life outcomes with identity strategies of integration, compartmentalization and categorization as moderators. Further, sociocultural factors supporting multicultural individuals' adaptation are proposed. We explored the functioning (sociocultural adaptation and acculturative stress) of TCKs (N = 322, 75% females, 71% South Asian, age M = 20.2, SD = 3.1) in association with three groups of factors: individual resources (multicultural identity configurations, self‐efficacy, cultural intelligence), social (family bonds, marginalisation), and cultural (cultural distance). The results of two hierarchical regression analyses revealed that the factors explained 54% of the variance in sociocultural adaptation and 33% in acculturative stress. We concluded that TCKs, while adapting to a sociocultural environment, rely mainly on accumulated individual resources, with the support of a friendly immediate family environment.

Veterinarians undergo several years of rigorous education in order to qualify in their chosen profession. As they enter clinical practice, or work within other areas of the profession, they embark upon a career-long journey of learning, whether that be ‘formal’ or ‘informal’ education and training, in order to develop themselves professionally and remain up to date. However, the vast majority of published educational literature within the veterinary sector relates to undergraduate programs. Research and scholarship relating to veterinary education and training beyond graduation is extremely sparse in comparison. This is somewhat different to what is seen in other health professions, including medical education, where a significant proportion of the literature focuses on education and training beyond graduation, from early career training and residencies through to continuing education. The advantages of publishing high-quality scholarship and research in any field are well known. Sharing more evidence and best practice in post-graduation education and training will inform international advances in this area. Although the specific educational challenges facing the profession at different career stages are distinct, evidence-informed approaches to educational interventions—whether that be supporting graduates’ transition into the workplace, specialty training, or continuing education—have the potential to have a positive impact on many levels, from improved patient outcomes and client satisfaction, to enhancing veterinarians’ job satisfaction and retention in the workplace. This article discusses the gaps in evidence in veterinary education and training beyond graduation, identifying some of the current challenges that could be addressed through a greater focus in this area, and their importance. In relation to graduate transition into the workplace, further work is needed to understand the optimal design and effectiveness of support programs, including coaching and mentoring for graduates. For formal post-graduate education leading to a more advanced level of practice, there is a need to better understand which approaches to teaching and assessment promote high-quality, consistent, learning experiences and outcomes. Further evidence regarding how continuing education is identified and undertaken by learners, and the corresponding impact on practice, would be valuable, and a greater understanding into feasible yet robust licensure assessments and mechanisms for revalidation are needed.

This study reports on the development of three spodumene reference materials referred to as Curtin University (CU) Tri‐1, Kun‐A‐1 and MG‐1 for calibrating the instrumental mass fractionation for oxygen isotope measurement by secondary ionisation mass spectrometry (SIMS). Millimetre‐sized fragments were prepared from gem‐quality spodumene crystals with chemical compositions close to the ideal spodumene end member (LiAlSi 2 O 6 ). From these fragments, six subsamples were extracted for laser fluorination isotope ratio mass spectrometry (LF‐IRMS) to determine the bulk oxygen isotope ratio of the three materials and confirm their homogeneity on the mg scale. The bulk δ ¹⁸ O (VSMOW) values are 11.29 ± 0.04‰, 9.12 ± 0.10‰ and 15.13 ± 0.08‰ (all 2SE, standard error of the mean) for materials Tri‐1, Kun‐A‐1 and MG‐1, respectively. A random selection of twenty or more fragments from each material was subjected to SIMS analysis. Repeatability of SIMS δ ¹⁸ O measurements was at most 0.24‰ (2 s ), indicating oxygen isotopic homogeneity on the ng scale. Crystal orientation effects potentially affecting SIMS analysis were systematically evaluated and found to be absent at levels equivalent to the repeatability of the method. Applications of the new materials lie mainly in furthering research on pegmatite formation and tracing of raw materials by providing the means for accurate, in situ oxygen isotope measurement in spodumene.

SARS-CoV-2 infections in children lead to symptoms from mild respiratory illness to severe postacute sequelae of COVID-19, including multisystem inflammatory syndrome in Children (MIS-C). We conducted a metabolic profiling of 147 children's serum samples, including acute COVID-19 patients, MIS-C patients, and healthy controls. Using nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and liquid chromatography−mass spectrometry, we measured 1101 metabolites. The results revealed distinct metabolic profiles in acute COVID-19 and MIS-C patients, with significant alterations in lipid classes. Both conditions exhibited an elevated Apo-B100/Apo-A1 ratio and increased serum inflammatory markers. MIS-C patients showed unique disruptions, including increased triglycerides and altered lipoprotein composition. Despite milder clinical respiratory symptoms, children's metabolic disturbances mirrored those seen in severe adult COVID-19 patients, indicating a shared inflammatory response to SARS-CoV-2. This suggests potential long-term health impacts, underscoring the need for continued research into the metabolic consequences of COVID-19 in children.

In this retrospective cohort study, we examined maximal intensity periods (MIPs) for a broad range of movement characteristics during international field hockey. Further, we examined the intensity of near‐peak periods, and whether peak demands for different movement characteristics occurred simultaneously. Player movement data from 28 Australian elite male field hockey players were obtained via wearable tracking devices in four international tournaments over 13 months (n = 393 player‐matches). MIPs were identified via the rolling‐sum method for mean speed, high‐speed distance (> 5 m·s⁻¹), accelerations (> 2.5 m·s²), decelerations (< − 2.5 m·s²) and high‐speed cuts (45° change of direction and > 5 m·s⁻¹) across eight epochs (range: 5 s–5 min). Random effects linear mixed models were used to estimate means for each movement characteristic, with random intercepts fitted for players and matches. Mean speed was ∼80% higher during the 1 min MIP (210 m·min⁻¹) than the match average (116 m·min⁻¹) and players regularly reached high mean speeds (for instance, the 10th most intense minute was still ∼44% above match average). High‐speed distance, accelerations and decelerations accumulated > 5x faster during the 1 min MIP for those variables than the match average and high‐speed cuts occurred with ∼10x greater frequency. During the 1 min MIP for total distance, all other movement characteristics were less than 40% of the 1 min MIP for that variable (except high‐speed distance: 76%). Match averages substantially underestimate the MIPs of elite field hockey. Practitioners should consider analysing the peak periods of matches, with a focus on high‐intensity movements, to inform monitoring and prescription of team sport‐specific training.

Gaining insights into experienced coaches’ perceptions and understanding of performance and training can enhance knowledge to optimise athlete performance. Ten experienced International Laser Class Association dinghy (ILCA) sailing coaches with world-class and elite ILCA coaching credentials undertook semi-structured interviews to explore three key topic areas: i) determinants of athlete success, ii) physical demands of competition, and iii) training practices and philosophies. Hierarchical content analysis was used to establish general dimensions and higher order themes from the interview transcripts. Three general dimensions were established within the topic area of determinants of athlete success: i) sailing the boat fast, ii) being a knowledgeable athlete, and iii) consistent execution. Within the topic area of physical demands of competition three general dimensions were also developed: i) hiking is the most physically demanding skill, ii) environmental conditions influence athletic demands, and iii) accumulation of fatigue over a regatta. Finally, in the topic area of training practices and philosophies there were two general dimensions: i) periodisation, and ii) specific training. Overall, hiking featured across all three topic areas, highlighting its importance in ILCA sailing. Additionally, ‘feel’ and ‘keeping the joy’ were identified as higher order themes that have been under-researched in current literature. Findings suggest coaches should target consistency in both on and off-water training through ‘keeping the joy’ and sailing in a variety of conditions to improve aspects such as ‘feel’ and ‘pattern recognition’. We provide key insights into components of performance and aspects of the physical demands and training in ILCA sailing to optimise athlete performance.

Objective This study aimed to analyze the demographic, temporal, and spatial characteristics of animal bite (AB) cases in humans across 12 Upazilas within Mymensingh district of Bangladesh. Methods Retrospective hospital-based data from individual AB cases for 2022 and 2023 were collected from S.K Hospital. The dataset included information on victim demographics, bite details, vaccination information, and Rabies Immune Globulin (RIG) administration. Additionally, monthly case counts from 2016 to 2024 were sourced and analyzed to identify trends. Descriptive statistics and time series analysis using the seasonal decomposition technique were conducted. Risk maps for animal bites in 2022 and 2023 were generated using a standardized incidence ratio (SIR) approach. Findings An almost two-fold increase in the proportion of category 3 bites receiving RIG from 3.6% in 2022 to 6.5% in 2023 was noted. Only 9.7% (2022) and 16.9% (2023) of bite victims received PEP on the day of exposure, whereas 76.5% (2022) and 84.6% (2023) received PEP within 24 hours. Moreover, significant seasonal patterns and annual increasing trends in AB cases were observed. Males and children under 14 years old had a higher risk of being bitten. Dogs (48.2% in 2022) and cats (52.6% in 2023) were identified as the primary animals responsible for the bites. Notably, the legs were the body part most frequently bitten. The bites risk map identified four high risk Upazilas. Conclusion Despite improvements in PEP coverage achieved within 24 hours, a critical gap remains in same-day PEP coverage in both years. The study results also suggest other potential improvements in healthcare practices or treatment protocols, and the need for a veterinary surveillance system. Increasing AB cases highlight the need to enhance surveillance and control measures. Targeted awareness campaigns tailored to high-risk groups such as males and children under 14 years of age, along with preventive programs focused on dogs are imperative. Coordinated One Health efforts among healthcare professionals, veterinarians, policymakers, and community stakeholders are crucial to effectively mitigate the incidence of AB cases, safeguarding public health and eliminate dog mediated rabies by 2030 in the region.

This study investigated stakeholders’ perspectives regarding early childhood teacher training in Bangladesh. Adopting a qualitative research methodology, the study used purposive sampling and invited 12 teachers, six administrators, four early childhood teacher trainees, and four policy professionals from Dhaka, Bangladesh, to be interviewed about their perspectives on ECE teacher training. Applying an ecological systems theoretical framework eight key themes emerged from the data identifying what the stakeholders regarded as important in ECE teacher training. Themes include the schedule of training; the perception of training and trainers; pedagogical approaches to training; content; training resources and materials; implementation of training knowledge and skills; and challenges associated with training. Overall, the quality of the training was viewed as unsatisfactory due to the shortage of skilled trainers to teach the teachers, inadequate physical facilities and instructional materials, low job satisfaction among trainers, and lack of commitment. The implementation of a comprehensive funded government strategy has the potential to address these issues and effectively provide high-quality training for all types of early childhood education, thereby making a significant contribution toward achieving Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 4.

Elite coach experiential knowledge may provide valuable insights into athlete preparation and monitoring practices that are otherwise difficult to establish objectively. Accordingly, we explored the perspectives of elite Australian rowing coaches in relation to (1) training philosophy, (2) training prescription methods, and (3) training monitoring and performance assessment. Ten experienced rowing coaches (experience range 15–51 years) were interviewed in a semi‐structured format on the three topics established above. Data were analysed using hierarchical content analysis to develop higher and lower order themes. Under training philosophy, three higher order themes were established: (1) building the engine, (2) intensity is periodised and polarised, and (3) progression of on‐water speed is key. Two higher order themes were established for training prescription methods: (1) prescription is modality dependent and (2) athlete characteristics are important. Under training monitoring and performance assessment, two higher order themes were identified: (1) assessing on‐water performance is difficult and (2) short versus long term monitoring. Coaches acknowledged the complexity of training prescription and quantification in rowing and offered practical methods to overcome challenges with these processes. These findings help to inform coaches and support staff in the training environment as well as inform future research.

Background Poor vision compromises quality of life and participation in different daily life activities of children such as, sports, leisure time, interactive play and social interaction. The purpose of this cross - sectional study is to investigate participation and quality of life of children with visual impairment (VI) and blindness compared with normally sighted peers. Methodology Children aged 7–17 years with blindness ( n = 100), moderate to severe VI ( n = 100) and normal sight ( n = 100) completed Nepalese versions of the Participation and activity inventory children and youth (PAI-CY 7–12 and 13–17), L. V. Prasad functional vision questionnaires (LVP-FVQ II) and Pediatric Eye Questionnaires (PedEyeQ 5–11 and 12–17). The measurement properties of PAI -CY was studied. All (sub) scores were compared between three groups. Associations between the severity of VI and outcomes were assessed with age and sex adjusted linear regression analyses. Results Children with blindness scored worse than children with VI, who scored worse than normally sighted children on the PAI-CY 7–12, the physical functioning subscale of the PAI-CY 13–17 and the LVP-FVQ II(p = < 0.001).However, for the psychosocial functioning subscale of PAI-CY 13–17, children with blindness scored better than children with VI(p = < 0.01). On the PedEyeQ, young children (5–11) with blindness on all subscales, and older children (12–17 years) with blindness on the functional vision subscale scored worse than children with VI(p = < 0.01).Regression models showed that both moderate/severe VI and blindness were significantly associated with worse PAI-CY, LVP-FVQ II, PedEyeQ 5–11 and PedEyeQ 12–17 functional vision subscale scores(p = < 0.01). Conclusion Younger children with blindness showed worse participation and quality of life compared to children with VI, whereas results for older children showed a mixed pattern with children with blindness showing better participation in psychosocial domain. Appropriate low vision rehabilitation interventions are needed for children with VI and blindness to increase their participation and quality of life to the level of their normally sighted peers as far as possible. Future studies could include children who do not attend school and may have worse participation and quality of life than children in our study.

Background Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is increasingly recognised in equine medicine. Antimicrobial use (AMU) is a key driver of AMR. Objectives To pilot a point prevalence survey (PPS), based on the Global‐PPS used in human hospitals, to obtain data on antibiotic prescribing and AMR in equine hospitals and to identify targets for improvement in AMU. Study Design Point prevalence survey. Methods Eight equine hospitals located in Australia, Belgium, South Africa, the United Kingdom and the United States were recruited. Data on AMU were collected from all in‐patients on antibiotic treatment at 08h00 on four selected study days throughout the study year (2022). Results In total, 742 patients, 310 (41.8%) surgical and 432 (58.2%) nonsurgical cases, were evaluated and 58.7% (182/310) surgical and 25.9% (112/432) nonsurgical patients were on antibiotics. The most prescribed antibiotics were penicillin, gentamicin and trimethoprim sulfonamides. In 45.2% (215/476) of prescriptions, use was prophylactic. Therapeutic use was based on a biomarker in 48.8% (127/260) of treatments. A sample was submitted for culture in 56.9% (148/260) of therapeutic treatments. A positive culture result was reported from 49.3% (73/148) of samples, with an antibiogram available for 90.4% (66/73) of the positive cultures. An antibiotic use stop/review date was not recorded in 59.5% (283/476) of uses. Main Limitations This PPS was a pilot study with a relatively small sample size and likely does not reflect AMU in all types of equine hospitals in all geographic locations. Conclusions and Clinical Relevance The PPS identified multiple ways in which antibiotic prescribing could be improved. Targets identified for stewardship interventions included empiric use of European Medicines Agency Category A and B antibiotics, the high prevalence of prophylaxis and the lack of use of a stop/review date. The survey could be used as a repeatable tool to assess stewardship interventions in equine hospitals.

Focusing on the rehabilitation training of hemiplegia patients, this paper proposes a gait-planning strategy based on a central pattern generator and an adaptive time-delay control scheme that utilizes recursive terminal sliding mode for lower limb rehabilitation exoskeleton robots. The central pattern generator network plans a reference gait trajectory for the affected leg, synchronized with the movement of the healthy leg. The proposed adaptive time-delay control scheme possesses a model-independent property due to the mechanism of time-delay estimation, with adaptive control gains that enhance the resilience against system perturbations and a recursive terminal sliding mode control component to achieve a fast convergence rate. According to the Lyapunov stability criterion, it is proved that the gait trajectory-tracking error is uniformly ultimately bounded. Experiments are conducted on a lower limb exoskeleton experimental platform, and the experimental results demonstrate the effectiveness and superiority of the proposed strategies.

This Editorial introduces the Special Issue “Editorial Board Members’ Collection Series: “Global Food Security and Sustainability””, and highlights key topics on this subject [...]