University of Southern Queensland
Recent publications
Issue Addressed Healthcare access disparities, particularly among migrant populations, are escalating. This research focuses on exploring aspects related to healthcare access disparities in the rapidly growing South Asian communities in Australia, which bear a disproportionate burden of chronic diseases. Methods This study employed an exploratory sequential mixed‐method approach (qualitative followed by quantitative), with five focus group discussions (six to eight participants each) and an online survey (n = 460). NVivo and SPSS were used for qualitative and quantitative analysis, respectively. Results The study participants are from South Asia, including Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, the Maldives, Pakistan, Nepal and Sri Lanka. Thematic analysis of focus group discussions identified factors influencing healthcare service utilisation among migrants, including a preference for home remedies over doctor consultations, language barriers, limited access to relevant information, high costs of specialist and dental care, dissatisfaction with rushed doctor interactions and system‐related concerns. One in six survey respondents encountered challenges in accessing timely healthcare, with the most frequently reported barriers being prolonged waiting times (72%), out‐of‐pocket expenses (48%), and limited awareness and availability of services (36%). Migrants with multiple chronic diseases faced the highest barriers to accessing timely healthcare (57.8%), with significantly higher odds of encountering these barriers than those with no or one chronic condition (OR = 0.436, 95% CI = 0.222–0.856). Conclusions South Asian migrants face challenges to access affordable, timely, patient‐centred healthcare. A robust collaboration between services, healthcare providers and the community is essential for sustainable solutions. So What? Reducing waiting times and language barriers, improving awareness of available services and enhancing access to affordable specialist and dental services are imperative to foster equitable healthcare outcomes for Australia's diverse population.
Aims As more people live with and beyond a cancer diagnosis, the role of informal caregivers becomes increasingly vital. Despite emotional, physical, and financial challenges, the impact of caregiving on health behaviors, including diet, has been largely overlooked. This systematic review synthesized quantitative evidence on dietary quality and intake among cancer caregivers. Methods Five databases (CINAHL, Embase, PubMed, PsycINFO, Web of Science) were searched in February 2024 using keywords including cancer, caregiver, and diet. Articles published since 2013 that quantitatively assessed the dietary quality or intake of cancer caregivers were eligible. Articles were independently screened in Rayaan by two authors, with discrepancies resolved by a third author. Data on study design, aims, methods, sample characteristics, and results were extracted and summarized using descriptive analyses. One author performed data extraction, with a second author reviewing results for accuracy. Results Of 12,584 records identified, 22 met eligibility criteria. Most studies were conducted in the United States (68%), were cross‐sectional (77%), and included caregivers who were partners (68%) of people with cancer. Four (18%) studies reported on energy or nutrient intakes, 13 (59%) reported on food or food group intakes, and 10 (45%) reported on diet quality or dietary patterns. Results varied widely due to differences in assessment methods used. Dietary changes due to caregiving were described in 8 (36%) studies, mostly using retrospective self‐reported data. Negative, positive, and no dietary changes were reported in 7 (32%), 5 (23%), and 4 (18%) studies, respectively. Two (9%) studies did not specify the direction of change. Eight (36%) studies assessed adherence to dietary recommendations, with mixed results. Conclusions Evidence of the dietary quality and intake of cancer caregivers is inconclusive. Larger, longitudinal studies using validated measures, repeated observations, and comparison to dietary guidelines are needed to better understand the impacts of caregiving on diet.
Cancer treatment using systemic therapy and radiotherapy may cause post-therapy complications, resulting in increased unplanned hospitalisation. The evidence on such complications, their impact on unplanned hospitalisations, and associated costs is scant in Australia. We aimed to estimate the prevalence of post-therapy complications, evaluate their impact on unplanned hospitalisation, length of stay (LOS) and investigate the associated medical costs. A retrospective cohort study was conducted among 8,633 cancer patients (1.03 million emergency hospital admissions) in Victoria, Australia from July 2006 to June 2020, from the Australian healthcare system perspective. Multivariate generalised linear regression models were employed to estimate the adjusted association between post-therapy complications and clinical characteristics with hospital LOS and associated hospitalisation medical costs. Approximately 52% of patients were male with an average patient age of 59.9 years. Annually, post-therapy complications leading to unplanned hospitalisations increased by 7.25%, outpacing the growth in overall hospitalisation admissions, which was 5.66% for overall hospitalisation admissions. A significant proportion of patients (71%) experienced multiple complications, with the most common being anemia (26%), sepsis (15%), nausea and vomiting (14%), and neutropenia (11%). Patients undergoing combined systemic and radiotherapy exhibited higher odds of post-therapy complications (OR = 8.24, 95%CI: 7.48 to 9.08) compared with those who only received systemic therapy. Mean hospital stay among patients who experienced post-therapy complications was 2.23 days per admission (360 days per patient), an extra 1.72 days per admission [95%CI: 1.68 to 1.76; 354 days per patient, 95%CI: 336 to 371 days] longer than patients without complications (0.51 days per admission and 6.48 days per patients). Overall, per-admission medical hospitalisation costs among patients with post-therapy complications were 8,791higherthanforpatientswhodidnotexperiencecomplications(8,791 higher than for patients who did not experience complications (11,418 vs. 2,627peradmission,952,627 per admission, 95%CI: 8,685 to 8,897).Perpatientcostsforunplannedhospitalisationduetoposttherapycomplicationsweresignificantly8,897). Per-patient costs for unplanned hospitalisation due to post-therapy complications were significantly 1.82 million higher among patients than those without complications (1.86millionvs.1.86 million vs. 33,599 per patient, 95%CI: 1.71millionto1.71 million to 1.94 million). The cost and hospitalisation stay (in days) varied by the type of therapy and cancer type. The study results indicate that post-therapy complications in cancer patients varied by the type of cancer and increased over the study period, leading to longer unplanned hospital stays and higher hospitalisation medical costs. The results highlight the need for better-customized treatment delivery strategies to address this burden and optimise resources in cancer care.
A significant aspect of offshore pipeline engineering involves evaluating the uplift resistance and failure probability of buried pipelines in clay, which are affected by factors such as pipeline geometry, soil characteristics, material properties, and loading conditions. Subsea marine clay is generally not homogeneous, leading to variations in undrained shear strength vertically and horizontally. As a result, the stochastic analysis method is suitable for accurately modeling such soil conditions. This study addresses these challenges using the Random Adaptive Finite Element Limit Analysis (RAFELA) to analyze the mean uplift resistance factor and the probability of failure for buried rectangular box pipelines in random clay. Seven key parameters are considered in the parametric study: the embedment depth ratio (H/B = 0.5, 1, 2, 4, and 6), width-to-height ratio (L/B = 0.5, 1, 2, 3, and 4), overburden factor (γH/μc = 0, 0.5, and 1), adhesion factor (α = 0, 0.5, and 1), load inclination (β = 0°, 45°, and 90°), coefficient of variation (CoVμc = 25% and 60%), and spatial correlation length (Θc = 0.125, 0.5, 1, 2, 4, and 8). The results are presented as dimensionless uplift resistance factors (μNran), probability of failure (Pf), as well as the corresponding safety factor (FS) for designing pipelines in random clay, ensuring practical designs that are both efficient and reliable. Additionally, this study compares its findings with pullout capacity factors derived from deterministic analyses reported in the literature. This study incorporates machine learning, specifically the Random Forest (RF) algorithm, to predict Pf based on parametric data. The RF model, trained on 500 samples (70% training, 30% testing), achieves high predictive accuracy, with R² values of 99.12% and 97.29%, respectively. The Shapley Additive Explanations (SHAP) analysis identifies FS as the most influential factor, directly contributing to the reliability of the pipeline design, while α has the least impact. The analysis emphasizes the practical significance of FS in reducing failure probabilities while contextualizing its influence alongside other factors. The integration of the RAFELA with the RF offers a robust framework to address uncertainties in soil properties, enhancing reliability and efficiency in offshore pipeline engineering.
Background Physical inactivity is a major global health concern and has been identified as a risk factor for cognitive impairment. In Australia, the long-term relationship between physical activity and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in individuals with cognitive impairment remains under researched. This study aims to address this knowledge gap by using data from a population-based longitudinal study. Methods We used data from two waves (wave 12 [2012] and wave 16 [2016]) of the Household, Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia (HILDA) Survey. Our final analytic sample consisted of 1,168 person-year observations from 985 unique individuals. To investigate the association between physical activity and HRQoL, we employed random-effects Generalized Least Squares (GLS) model. Results We found that participants engaging in physical activity, < 1 to 3 times per week, showed significant positive associations with the Physical Component Summary (PCS) score [β = 4.41, Standard Error (SE) = 0.68], Mental Component Summary (MCS) score (β = 2.55, SE = 0.74), and SF-6D utility value (β = 0.05, SE = 0.007) compared to those who did not perform any physical activity. Similarly, participants who engaged in physical activity more than three times per week to every day had notably higher scores in PCS (β = 7.28, SE = 0.82), MCS (β = 4.10, SE = 0.84), and SF-6D utility values (β = 0.07, SE = 0.009). Conclusion There is clear evidence that performing physical activity is positively associated with improved HRQoL in people with cognitive impairment. Our findings underscore the critical role of public health initiatives, such as health education and community-based programs, in promoting physical activity to enhance the HRQoL of older Australians living with cognitive impairment.
The stability design of soil structures, such as retaining walls, has traditionally relied on deterministic analyses that use averaged soil parameters. However, modern computational advances, particularly Monte Carlo simulations (MCs), have highlighted the limitations of this approach. Engineers are now increasingly focused on understanding the probability of failure (PF) associated with specific safety factors. This study explores the impact of spatial variability in soil properties, specifically the friction angle and unit weight, on PF. By applying log-normal distributions and spatial correlation lengths, extensive MC simulations were combined with finite element limit analysis to establish relationships between safety factors and PF. This research makes several contributions to geotechnical engineering. It integrates MC simulations with finite element limit analysis to provide a statistically robust framework for evaluating PF in soil structures. The use of adaptive finite element meshes introduces new insights into failure mechanisms, addressing gaps in existing studies. Additionally, the study presents a set of parametric design charts that enable practitioners to estimate PF for specific safety factors effectively. These findings provide practical tools for design engineers, supporting better decision-making and increasing confidence in design outcomes.
Strong and tough hydrogels are promising candidates for artificial soft tissues, yet significant challenges remain in developing biocompatible, anti‐swelling hydrogels that simultaneously exhibit high strength, fracture strain, toughness, and fatigue resistance. Herein, thermoplastic elastomer‐reinforced polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) hydrogels are prepared through a synergistic combination of phase separation, wet‐annealing, and quenching. This approach markedly enhances the crystallinity of the hydrogels and the interfacial interaction between PVA and thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU). This strategy results in the simultaneous improvement of the mechanical properties of the hydrogels, achieving a tensile strength of 11.19 ± 0.80 MPa, toughness of 62.67 ± 10.66 MJ m⁻³, fracture strain of 1030 ± 106%, and fatigue threshold of 1377.83 ± 62.78 J m⁻². Furthermore, the composite hydrogels demonstrate excellent swelling resistance, biocompatibility, and cytocompatibility. This study presents a novel approach for fabricating strong, tough, stretchable, biocompatible, and fatigue‐ and swelling‐resistant hydrogels with promising applications in soft tissues, flexible electronics, and load‐bearing biomaterials.
Fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) is a long-lasting medical condition that poses significant challenges for diagnosis and management because of its complex and poorly understood nature. It affects millions of people around the globe, predominantly women, causing widespread pain, fatigue, cognitive impairments, and mood disturbances. The lack of objective measures to address FMS complicates its assessment, often leading to delayed or misdiagnosed cases. By hindering daily activities and productivity, FMS negatively impacts the quality of the patient’s life. Innovative approaches that use medical data, such as bio-signals and bioimaging, combined with machine learning techniques, hold the promise of deepening our knowledge of FMS, which might in turn lead to systems that offer efficient, precise, and personalized physician support. Furthermore, artificial intelligence-driven identification of biomarkers and patient subgroups could improve FMS management. In this systematic review, we explore the role of artificial intelligence in understanding FMS pathophysiology, discuss the present limitations, and shed light on future research avenues, aiming to translate findings into improved clinical outcomes.
Background A recent resurgence of bacterial sexually transmitted infections (STIs) is placing a major burden on high-risk populations, physicians, and the healthcare system. Treatment in the form of antibiotic pre-exposure prophylaxis (STI PrEP) is a potential solution. However, little is known about the acceptability and feasibility of this approach in high-risk populations. Methods A comprehensive search strategy was developed and executed in October 2024 across six databases adhering to PRISMA guidelines. Results Eight studies met the inclusion criteria. These studies were all conducted in high-income countries, used various methods, and all focussed on sexual minority men. Findings consistently identified moderate to high levels of acceptability among GBMSM (54.3% - 67.5%). Factors such as engagement in perceived ‘high risk’ sexual encounters, and past diagnosis of STIs strengthened acceptability, while others (e.g., antimicrobial resistance concerns and stigma) act as barriers. Only one study included the perspectives of healthcare workers, indicating a moderate willingness to prescribe, which would increase under governing-body endorsement. Discussion Overall, while there is some promise of STI PrEP acceptability among GBMSM, vast gaps in knowledge remain. Knowledge transfer and feasibility and, hence, the sustainability and capacity needed for the success of STI PrEP is yet to be examined and understood. However, for STI PrEP to be successfully adopted, it is essential not only to assess its acceptability and feasibility but also to focus on knowledge transfer. Knowledge transfer is a dynamic and iterative process, involving the synthesis, dissemination, exchange, and application of knowledge in an ethically sound manner. This process supports the improvement of health outcomes, strengthens healthcare systems, and ensures that healthcare interventions, such as STI PrEP, are effectively understood and implemented by both healthcare providers and at-risk populations. Similarly, the perspectives of populations beyond GBMSM have been omitted, and there is little understanding of the impact of their differing socio-cultural contexts around sex-related behaviour and Western pharmaceutical healthcare interventions on their acceptance and uptake. Conclusion Further research into acceptability, feasibility and knowledge transfer among diverse high-risk groups, healthcare professionals, and policymakers is necessary to create a strong foundation for implementing STI PrEP.
The primary objective of this study is to assess the environmental impact of various factors, including export diversification and GDP, as well as elements believed to facilitate this assessment process, such as green innovation and environmental taxes. The study aims to identify factors that contribute to the reduction of CO2 emissions. It analyzes data from 21 European Union (EU) member states for the period from 1995 to 2020, employing the FFFFF panel cointegration test. The findings indicate that export diversification (EXD), environmental taxes (ET), and economic growth (GDP) have a positive effect on CO2 emissions, whereas green innovation (GI) and GDP squared (GDP2) exert a negative influence. These results indicate that export diversification is detrimental to environmental quality. Another significant finding of the study is the validation of the Environmental Kuznets Curve (EKC) hypothesis. Finally, one of the most critical conclusions of the study is the negative impact of green innovation on the volume of CO2 emissions.
Oilseed crops, such as soybean, groundnut, mustard, sunflower, and sesame, are important in global agriculture due to human consumption and industrial applications. Considering their importance in global agriculture, there has been significant attention given to improving both seed oil content and quality. Oil synthesis and accumulation are regulated by complex biochemical pathways and are typically classified as quantitative traits. Over the past few decades, the elucidation of regulatory pathways governing fatty acid synthesis, identification of target genes and advancements in metabolic engineering have made significant progress. Additionally, advancements in sequencing technologies and revolutionized bioinformatics have helped in a significant transformation in the field of genomic analysis. This transformation involves a shift from analyzing individual cultivars to encompassing studies of entire species at the genomic level. This paradigm shift is aimed at comprehensively capturing the full spectrum of diversity. This chapter explores the complexities of traits linked to oil content and recent advancements in mapping these traits to gain a deeper understanding of their complexity. Additionally, the concepts of the pan-genome and super pan-genome, along with the methods employed for their construction are discussed. We also discuss the current challenges faced in major oilseed crops and consider the future prospects for this ever-evolving field.
The book chapter delves into the multifaceted world of Clonostachys, a group of free-living saprophytic ascomycete fungi that pervade diverse natural habitats, from soil to decomposing organic matter. With their remarkable potential as biocontrol agents against seed and soil-borne pathogens, Clonostachys species has reaped significant attention. These fungi exhibit fascinating parasitic and symbiotic relationships with both plants and animals, making them ubiquitous inhabitants of terrestrial and aquatic environments, while also offering a wide array of applications in agriculture. A distinguishing feature of Clonostachys species is their capacity to produce a diverse range of secondary metabolites, boasting potent antifungal, antibacterial, entomopathogenic, and nematicidal properties that can combat a multitude of plant pathogens and insects. In this chapter, we provide a comprehensive overview of the biology, phylogeny, diversity, biocontrol activities, and metabolites of Clonostachys species, shedding light on their significant contributions to the fields of agriculture.
In order to minimize greenhouse gas emissions, it is essential from an environmental point of view to employ CO2 sequestration technology to store CO2 in underground coal layers. To study this strategy, a triaxial testing apparatus is required. This study introduces a novel triaxial testing apparatus developed to explore enhanced coal bed methane (ECBM) and carbon dioxide (CO2) sequestration techniques. Several laboratory tests were conducted to validate the apparatus and study the behavior of coal exposed to CO2 using this machine. In fact, the implementation of this machine marks the initial step in an empirical feasibility analysis of CO2 sequestration in Iranian coal seams. This analysis involves examining the impact of ash content, ambient temperature, and saturation direction on CO2 adsorption and emission in various coal samples. Two different thermal coal samples from Chamestan and Tash mines were utilized. Some results, such as the trend of the coal sample's strain, show good correlation with previous work. Additionally, some results presented in this work are novel. On the basis of the results, the developed apparatus demonstrated satisfactory performance, and its innovative design fully meets the desired outcome. Higher ash content increases coal strength and reduces deformation. Lower ash content leads to more gas adsorption and deformation post‐saturation. Gas adsorption is higher at 25°C than at 4°C. Moreover, coal samples at 25°C had 12.5 times more axial strain than those at 4°C. Lateral saturation causes 13.72% larger axial strain changes than top and end saturation due to increased gas‐sample contact and penetration into the coal matrix.
Background The high prevalence of non-consensual sex, including physical force, verbal threats, intimidation, and/or verbal coercion and rape among university students, has prompted urgent calls for action from governments, statutory, and university bodies. This research aims to identify key factors students see as contributing to non-consensual sex with a view to developing effective strategies to address these issues. Methods An online cross-sectional survey was administered to 4291 university students attending universities in south-east Queensland, Australia. Participants were recruited via email, print media, and face-to-face invitations. The survey contained closed and open-ended questions on a range of sexual health knowledge, attitudes, and behaviours, including non-consensual sexual experiences. A subset of students (n = 199) who responded ‘yes’ to engaging in sexual acts against their consent were the primary participants for this paper. Descriptive statistical analysis and thematic analysis, employing the theory of planned behaviour, were conducted using the quantitative and qualitative data regarding non-consensual sex, respectively. Results Immediate and longer-term fear and partner eagerness were the most commonly identified influences on non-consensual sex. An inability to give consent due to lack of consciousness or intoxication were also frequently cited factors contributing to non-consensual sex. Conclusions Interventions acknowledging and addressing sociocultural factors are needed. Sexuality and relationship education encompassing effective communication, relationship boundaries, and safe use of alcohol and drugs could substantially reduce the incidence of non-consensual sex. Importantly, such education should be non-judgmental and place greater responsibility on perpetrators than victim-survivors.
The global water security situation is deteriorating due to unequal distribution of water resources and changing climate, leading to increased conflicts in many regions. This article proposes and develops a three-stage collaborative water resource allocation model and applies this to the Indus River basin in Pakistan, where water resources are shared by four provinces (agents): Punjab, Sindh, Balochistan, and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK). The model uses bankruptcy rules, Nash bargaining theory, and TOPSIS (Technique for Order of Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution) to allocate water resources. The model considers various factors, such as water risk and water satisfaction to achieve the best possible (most equitable and acceptable) outcome. Water allocation was conducted under three scenarios of ‘median’, ‘maximum’ and ‘low’ river flows. In the first stage of water allocation, the positive and negative ideal solutions were defined for all agents (in this case, provinces). These initial ideal solutions provided a baseline for the negotiation process. In the second stage, water allocation ratios of the four provinces Punjab, Sindh, Balochistan and KPK, using the Nash bargaining solution, under the median flows were 57.61%, 29.91%, 6.24% and 6.24%. In the third stage, water allocation ratios demonstrated the reduction in the allocation for those provinces facing high risks and having high satisfaction rates. The final allocations under the median flow conditions for the four provinces were 54.92%, 28.95%, 8.50% and 7.63%, respectively. The developed three-stage water allocation model considers the multi-dimensional attributes of water resources and is expected to support the cooperation of water agents, enabling collective bargaining and group negotiation and improving the acceptability and stability of allocations.
Corporate digital responsibility (CDR) is emerging as a prominent issue and has been sporadically discussed in the relevant literature. Due to the limited research on assessing digital responsibility, this study developed a scale that measures CDR from a consumer perspective. A mixed‐methods approach was employed to develop and validate the scale. First, an exploratory qualitative study was conducted to conceptualize consumer‐centric CDR and formulate the underlying constructs and measures. This was followed by a quantitative study to confirm the validity and reliability of the qualitative results. The scale development and validation process resulted in a measure consisting of six dimensions: digital transparency, digital privacy, digital quality, digital remedy, digital accessibility, and digital inclusiveness. This study contributes to corporate social responsibility research by introducing a consumer‐centric CDR scale, which provides practitioners with insights into how to execute responsible practices in the digitalized business arena, reflecting the preferences and expectations of consumers regarding digital responsibility.
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Rasheda Khanam
  • School of Business
Khalid Saleh
  • Faculty of Health, Engineering and Sciences
CD Tran
  • School of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering
Salman Shahid
  • School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering
Behshad Jodeiri Shokri
  • Faculty of Engineering and Surveying
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Professor Geraldine McKenzie - Vice Chancellor & President