Western Sydney University

Aggregate porn sites remain one of the most popular methods to view porn today. Despite this, aggregate sites are subjected to considerable controversy because they rely on user-uploaded material that can be poorly moderated. As pornographic content becomes more expansive and varied, aggregate sites host an enormous panoply of pornographic content that meets a whole range of pornographic tastes. This article draws upon focus group/interview data from 18 young adults who use aggregate sites, and it explores the ways in which incidental and unplanned exposure to particular video pornographies facilitate feelings of desire and disgust based on the users’ sexual likes and dislikes. The findings highlight that incidental exposure to uncurated material can (re)affirm and (re)consolidate people’s sexual boundaries and dis/likes just as much as it can enable forms of sexual expression and experimentation. While aggregate sites may afford productive possibilities for some porn users, the article argues that the business model underpinning aggregate sites is unethical, and greater attention to the distribution and display of pornography is warranted.

This introductory chapter explores the multifaceted role of cultural diversity in shaping urban environments. As cities worldwide become central to economic growth and cultural integration, this book provides a comprehensive analysis of how diverse urban populations contribute to economic vitality and enhance resilience against various challenges. Distinguished by its interdisciplinary approach, the book synthesizes perspectives from urban planning, economics, social sciences, and sustainability studies. This holistic viewpoint reveals the complex interactions that define contemporary urban life and highlights the importance of inclusivity and resilience as outlined in Sustainable Development Goal 11 (or SDG 11). The book's extensive scope examines the economic benefits of cultural diversity, strategies for preserving cultural heritage amidst modern development, and the overall impact of diversity on urban sustainability. By weaving together theory and practical examples, it offers valuable insights for academics, policymakers, urban planners, and anyone invested in the sustainable development of cities. Key features of the book include its combination of theoretical frameworks with practical applications, providing readers with actionable strategies for leveraging cultural diversity in urban settings. The inclusion of global case studies enriches the discourse, making the book relevant to a worldwide audience. By aligning closely with global policy agendas, especially SDG 11, it serves as a crucial guide for those looking to navigate and shape the future of urban living in a sustainable and inclusive manner.

In this concluding chapter, we synthesize the key insights gathered from various case studies and discussions throughout the book. The chapter begins by framing the central view that diversity, when leveraged effectively, acts as a powerful driver for creating resilient and dynamic urban environments. It emphasizes that cities thrive not just by embracing diversity, but by integrating it into their strategic planning and development processes. The chapter starts with this general overview and then provides a reflection of all case study chapters included in the book. The chapter reflects on how each case study presented in the book illustrates the versatile ways in which diversity contributes to urban vitality, economic growth, and urban resilience. The contributions are diverse by nature and their focus of research but align very well with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals. The chapter reflectively highlights examples of how diverse cultural, ethnic, and socioeconomic backgrounds have enriched urban spaces, leading to increased creativity, economic growth, and social cohesion. The narrative ties together the findings from different cities, demonstrating that while challenges exist, the benefits of a diverse population are substantial and transformative.

Professor Corrinne Sullivan’s chapter juxtaposes raw talent, absolute determination and sheer will to ‘do more’ with the barely visible structures and attitudes designed to keep Indigenous people ‘in their place’. Reflecting on a career journey that spans schooling to the achievement of a senior academic role, Professor Sullivan charts a recurring theme of underestimation, first in her family and later in her workplaces. She sagely uses this underestimation to refute low expectations, whether winning awards for her honours and doctoral work, or accolades for her research. As well, Professor Sullivan powerfully illustrates the connection between ‘dreaming big’, individual agency and how opportunities seized can build momentum for the next career goal. A key lesson from this chapter is not to underestimate Indigenous ability, particularly where early signs of success demonstrate ample prospect of future possibilities, but rather to create opportunity for talent to flourish.

Dr. Michelle Locke concludes the book with a discussion of the possibilities for the future. Echoing the call for action from the first chapter and resonating with the multiple voices of the Indigenous ECRs, asks readers, particularly those non-Indigenous readers with authority and opportunity in universities, to heed the invitation to take responsibility and join with Indigenous colleagues to make universities places where Indigenous ECRs can realistically build on the strength and success that guided them through doctoral programs to curate fulfilling careers that contribute to Indigenous community and national success.

The Introduction, authored by the editorial team, outlines Indigenous participation in Australian higher education, giving a brief overview of some key touchpoints since the colonial era. This historical synopsis provides a context for the Indigenous ECR narratives that follow and acts as a call to action and a marshalling of institutional intent to capitalise on the hard-won successes borne of growing Indigenous doctoral success. To squander the opportunity to greater and more meaningful contributions by Indigenous peoples to higher education, would be to diminish the prospects of enhanced Indigenous research, quality of teaching and modelling for Indigenous students that flow from highly qualified and skilled Indigenous scholars. The benefits to Indigenous communities and the nation are considerable.

Nowadays, bridges play a crucial role, especially with the significant increase in the number of vehicles being driven worldwide. Hence, it is crucial to safeguard these structures from damage. This study aims to achieve this objective by proposing a novel hybrid framework for automated delamination detection of bridge decks based on ground penetrating radar (GPR), a mature technique utilized to localize underground deterioration or damage of bridges. The proposed framework comprises synchrosqueezed wavelet transform (SSWT), convolutional neural network (CNN), transfer learning, and metaheuristic optimization. First, original 1-D GPR signals undergo processing by SSWT to extract time–frequency characteristics that are sensitive to delamination. Next, extracted features are fed into deep CNN model VGG16 to develop a predictive model based on transfer learning. To enhance the generalization capability of the proposed model, modified whale optimization algorithm (MWOA) is utilized to optimize network hyperparameters during the training process. The performance of the proposed hybrid framework for delamination identification is validated using test data collected from the field testing of real bridges using GPR device. The proposed method demonstrates satisfactory results compared to other commonly used techniques, with the prediction accuracy of over 94%, providing an effective and efficient solution to the challenges of bridge defect detection.

Nonstructural carbohydrate (NSC) concentrations might reflect the strategies described in the leaf economic spectrum (LES) due to their dependence on photosynthesis and respiration. We examined if NSC concentrations correlate with leaf structure, chemistry, and physiology traits for 114 species from 19 sites and 5 biomes around the globe. Total leaf NSC concentrations varied greatly from 16 to 199 mg g⁻¹ dry mass and were mostly independent of leaf gas exchange and the LES traits. By contrast, leaf NSC residence time was shorter in species with higher rates of photosynthesis, following the fast‐slow strategies in the LES. An average leaf held an amount of NSCs that could sustain one night of leaf respiration and could be replenished in just a few hours of photosynthesis under saturating light, indicating that most daily carbon gain is exported. Our results suggest that NSC export is clearly linked to the economics of return on resource investment.

Aim A positive pregnancy experience can be a good start for healthy motherhood. This study aimed to investigate Iranian women's pregnancy experience and how self‐reported hassles and uplifts influence birth experience, postpartum depression and anxiety, and the association between childbirth experience and postpartum mental health. Design A prospective descriptive study. Methods A prospective descriptive study was conducted among 228 pregnant women from health centres in Tabriz, Iran. From the 28th to 36th weeks of pregnancy, participants completed the Pregnancy Experience Scale. Then, the mothers were followed up until 4–6 weeks postpartum, and Childbirth Experience Questionnaires version 2.0, Edinburgh Postnatal Depression and the short form of Specific Postpartum Anxiety Scales were completed. The data were analysed using the general linear model. Results After adjusting for possible confounding variables, there was no statistically significant association between women's pregnancy and childbirth experiences. However, the mean scores of postpartum depression and anxiety were significantly higher in women who felt unhappy about the discomforts that they experienced during pregnancy (β [95% CI] = 0.01 [0.01–0.02]; p < 0.001, 0.22 [0.09–0.35]; p = 0.001, respectively). Conclusion There was a significant statistical reverse association between childbirth experience and postpartum anxiety and depression. The study demonstrated a significant association between women's pregnancy, birth experiences and postpartum psychological outcomes. Implementing interventions that create a positive pregnancy experience will likely have an impact on reducing the prevalence of postpartum depression and anxiety. Patient or Public Contribution Pregnant women participated solely in the data collection by responding to the questionnaires. No participant contributions were required for the study's design, outcome measurement or implementation.

Young adulthood is a crucial life stage, during which major sexual and reproductive health (SRH) development occurs, and gender norms are often entrenched. Australian migrant and refugee youth (MRY) have particular SRH experiences and vulnerabilities such as under-use of services, higher rates of sexually transmitted infections (STIs), unplanned pregnancy, and experiences of community and family stigma. There is limited research on how gender intersects with ethnicity, migrant status and age to inform understandings and realisation of sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR). Explorations of how gender shapes SRHR have typically been unilateral, focusing on one gender: there is a significant gap in scholarship investigating gender differences among MRY experiences of SRHR. This study will fill this gap, contributing to conceptual knowledge about the experience of SRHR among migrant and refugee youth. This cross-sectional study collected data from 107 MRY aged 15–27 years, living in Western Sydney, Australia. An online survey – including multiple-choice, Likert-scale, and open-text questions – examining behaviour, knowledge, attitudes, service utilisation and rights awareness was used. Key measures included knowledge of various contraceptives and STIs; vaccination rates; attitudes towards SRH taboos; and service use. Participants were recruited using snowball and purposive sampling, incorporating recruitment via social media, community and social service organisations, and word of mouth. Univariate descriptive analysis and bivariate gender analysis were conducted using IBM SPSS. Most participants were female (69%). Non-consensual experiences were gendered: there was a significant association between gender and being pressured into sex (p = < 0.001), with 45% of females experiencing pressure compared with 9% of males, and males significantly more comfortable discussing consent with partners than females (p = .011). Knowledge outcomes were, however, poorer among males, who had significantly lower contraceptive awareness (p = .023), and lower STI awareness. Service access was conspicuously low, with three quarters of participants unaware of local SRH services. Male participants were significantly more likely to select not applicable when asked which services they had used, indicating non-use. In attitudes towards key SRH taboos, females were consistently more liberal than males. Male and female MRY have gender-specific SRHR vulnerabilities. Issues of consent disproportionately impact young women, while males have lower service access and SRH knowledge. Future policy development must consider shared experiences – engaging youth with services – and gender-specific needs – targeting young men in SRH education, addressing continued consent issues.

Objective The COVID‐19 pandemic caused millions of deaths worldwide and significantly impacted people with eating disorders, exacerbating symptoms and limiting access to care. This study examined the association between COVID‐19 death‐related loss—defined as the death of a family member, friend, or acquaintance due to COVID‐19—and mental health among people with preexisting eating disorders in the United States (US), the Netherlands, and Sweden. Method Participants with a history of eating disorders completed a baseline survey early in the pandemic (US: N = 511; Netherlands: N = 510; Sweden: N = 982) and monthly (US, the Netherlands) or biannual (Sweden) follow‐ups from April 2020 to May 2021. The surveys assessed pandemic impact on eating disorder‐related behaviors and concerns, anxiety, depression, sleep disturbances, and COVID‐19‐related deaths. A matched nested case–control design was used to compare individuals experiencing a death‐related loss with matched controls. Results A substantial proportion experienced a COVID‐19 death‐related loss (US: 33%; Netherlands: 39%; Sweden: 17%). No significant differences were found between cases and controls on eating disorder, anxiety, depression, or sleep outcomes. Discussion Despite the expected influence of COVID‐19 death‐related loss on mental health, our study found no significant association. Reactions to pandemics may be highly individual, and practitioners may want to consider broader losses—such as bereavement, missed educational experiences, relationship disruptions, financial instability, and employment challenges—when addressing patients' needs. Future research should continue to explore how death‐related loss impacts eating disorder risk and progression.

A conventional Noise Clustering (NC) algorithm relies on statistical variables such as means or variance–covariance, which are calculated from sets of training sample data. The NC classifier has been experimented in this research work while using a training sample as an ‘individual sample as mean’, to handle heterogeneity within the class. The six categories analyzed included dense forest, eucalyptus, sand, water, wheat, and grassland, utilizing multispectral imagery from LANDSAT-8 and FORMOSAT-2 in the Haridwar region. The classified data utilized the LANDSAT-8 image, whereas the reference data relied on FORMOSAT-2. This study observed that the NC classifier outperformed when applied to the training sample as ‘individual sample as mean’ instead of ‘mean’. Overall Accuracy was calculated through FERM and RMSE methods, and variance was measured to assess heterogeneity within the class from outputs. The overall accuracy of NC applying the training sample as ‘individual sample as mean’ was 86.49%, while using the training sample as ‘mean’ was 82.55%.

The chapter argues for giving a higher priority to human rights education in our schools. While the humanities-based subjects of History, Geography and Legal Studies in the senior secondary years, and Civics-based subjects in the lower secondary years have clear references to human rights in the curriculum (as noted earlier the discussion of Human Rights Education in the School Curriculum Report), for many other subjects, including such important subjects as English, the focus is more diffuse. Therefore, the overwhelming evidence is that there is a relatively narrow base of subjects in the curriculum spectrum across Australia that specifically offers human rights-based learning opportunities for students. The chapter suggests that teachers need to be better trained to work with human rights issues and some of the controversies that surround them. For sustained change and to ensure quality pedagogical practices in the teaching of human rights issues, teachers need professional development support and access to quality innovative resources that enable global perspectives and linkages that highlight human rights issues.

Background Numerous studies have established a correlation between Food Insecurity (FI) and diminished physical and psychological well-being. However, there is a lack of knowledge regarding this association among migrant and refugee populations. Migrants and refugees face difficulties, such as a lack of legal clarity and employment opportunities, which can exacerbate FI and psychological well-being issues. Therefore, the main goal of this study is to conduct a systematic review of the existing body of literature, followed by a meta-analysis of the results, where appropriate, to examine how common food insecurity is among migrants and refugees living in high-income countries and whether it might be linked to mental distress. Methods The inclusion of studies will be contingent upon providing quantitative data on migrants and refugees in developed countries. This criterion encompasses all pertinent observational study designs and has been published in English. The review will specifically include cross-sectional, case-control, and cohort studies that utilize standardized and validated measurement tools for food insecurity (e.g., Food Insecurity Experience Scale) and psychological stress (e.g., 21-item Depression Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS-21)), excluding non-standard or non-validated measures. A systematic search will be conducted across electronic databases such as Ovid Medline, Embase, SCOPUS, and Web of Science, containing peer-reviewed journal papers in health, psychology, and social sciences from January 1, 2008, to the present for relevant studies. Prevalence estimates will be generated using meta-analysis with a 95% CI, 95% prediction intervals, and I² statistics for heterogeneity. The studies incorporated in the review will be analysed using meta-analysis, as deemed suitable for the characteristics of the data obtained. Discussion This study has practical implications for policies and interventions, offering insights for evidence-based initiatives targeting food security and mental health among migrants and refugees, thus improving resource allocation. PROSPERO registration number: CRD42024525690.

Background Less dopaminergic neurons in people with Parkinson’s disease result in a reliance on a slow and energy-intensive control, restricting their ability to complete routine everyday activities. Self-regulation takes an active learning approach to rehabilitation by enhancing the person’s self-awareness and encourages self-reflection to overcome problems. Mental imagery assists the person to focus attention on the requirements for the task, making it a goal-directed action and allowing for faster movements. There is a growing body of evidence to support the use of self-regulation and mental imagery in rehabilitation to maintain or improve the performance of everyday activities for people with a neurological condition. Methods A prospective pilot study using a single-group, pre-test and posttest design will test the feasibility and acceptability of a self-regulation and mental imagery programme to enhance performance of everyday activities and motor and cognitive function in people with Parkinson’s disease. People who have a diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease with mild-to-moderate severity and intact attention, comprehension and short-term memory will be recruited. The participants will receive a 6-week programme with one therapist-led session, a home programme and a telephone call each week. The programme uses self-regulation through a step-based problem-solving process and mental imagery to assist in movement planning. Appropriate rehabilitation strategies are used as solutions to tackle problems experienced, impacting performance in everyday activities. The attendance rate will be recorded to indicate the feasibility. A questionnaire will be administered post-intervention to collect feedback on programme acceptability. Patient outcomes will include Barthel index, Lawton Instrumental Activities of Daily Living Scale, Canadian Occupational Performance Measure and Timed Up and Go test. Trail Making Test and Montreal Cognitive Assessment will be collected pre- and post-intervention. Discussion The programme aims to combine the metacognitive strategies of self-regulation and mental imagery to enable individuals with Parkinson’s disease to improve the performance of everyday activities. If feasible, the programme has the potential to be further tested in a randomised controlled trial and benefit people with Parkinson’s disease by enhancing their performance required in independent community living. Trial registration Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry ACTRN12621000903886, Registered on 12 July 2021 — retrospectively registered.

In the plant-plant pathosystem of rice (Oryza sativa) and the parasitic plant Striga hermonthica, cell walls from either plant are important defensive and offensive structures. Here we reveal cell wall dynamics in both Striga and rice using simultaneous RNA sequencing. We used weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) to home in on cell wall modification processes occurring in interactions with a resistant rice cultivar (Nipponbare) compared to a susceptible one (IAC 165). Likewise, we compared the cell wall dynamics in Striga infecting resistant and susceptible rice. Our study revealed an intense battlement at the Striga-rice cell walls involving both parasite (offense) and host (defense) factors; the outcome of which makes the difference between successful or failed parasitism. Striga activates genes encoding cell wall degrading enzymes (CWDEs) to gain access to the host; expansins to allow cell elongation and pectin methyl esterase inhibitors for rigidity during infection. In the susceptible host, immune response processes are not induced and Striga derived CWDEs easily breach the host cell wall resulting in successful parasitism. In contrast, the resistant host invokes immune responses modulated by phytohormones to fortify the cell wall through polysaccharides and lignin deposition. Through these processes, the cell wall of the resistant host successfully obstructs parasite entry. We discuss the implications of these findings in the context of practical agriculture in which cell wall modification can be used to manage parasitic plants.

Introduction China faces the dual challenge of high air pollution and an increasing burden of cardiovascular disease (CVD). We aimed to estimate the healthcare costs associated with CVD and the quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) under scenarios of improved air quality in China. Methods A health prediction model was developed to estimate 10-year CVD-related costs and QALY associated with PM2.5 levels in 2015, as well as two hypothetical improved air quality scenarios: (1) the China national PM2.5 target of 35 µg/m³, and (2) the World Health Organization’s (WHO) PM2.5 guideline of 5 µg/m³. Population CVD risks were estimated from the 2015 China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study. Hazard ratios from WHO risk curves were subsequently applied to baseline cardiovascular risks to predict national 10-year estimates of ischaemic stroke and coronary heart disease-related healthcare expenditures and QALYs for individuals aged 45–85 under the three air quality scenarios. Results Under PM2.5 levels in 2015, we estimated a cumulative 10-year incidence of 35.40 million CVD events, resulting in healthcare costs of US$96.12 billion and 4.44 billion QALYs. Under the national target of 35 µg/m³, the projected 10-year CVD incidence was 31.92 million cases, resulting in cost savings of US$9.29 billion and 3.43 million QALY gains compared with 2015 levels. If PM2.5 concentration levels meet the WHO’s guideline of 5 µg/m³, the projected number of CVD events would decrease to 24.18 million, translating to cost savings of approximately US$30.10 billion and gains of 11.29 million QALYs. Conclusion Our findings indicate that achieving the WHO recommended PM2.5 concentration level of 5 µg/m³ could lead to over threefold greater health and economic benefits than those achievable under national standards of 35 µg/m³. This underscores the potential need for stricter future national PM2.5 standards. Our findings also inform other low- and middle-income countries in establishing effective long-term PM2.5 targets.