Redefining older Australians: moving beyond stereotypes and consumer narratives in print media representations

First published online November 1, 2023This paper investigates how Australian print media shape the identities of older individuals through their use of language and reporting techniques. By examining newspaper articles published between 2011 and 2021 through the lens of critical discourse analysis, the study highlights the societal, economic, and journalistic factors that influence the media's portrayal of older persons. The findings reveal that economic discourses dominate the construction of identities, with the financial reliance of older individuals on the government being a significant factor in their representation. The study demonstrates how newspapers create and disseminate narratives that appear to exonerate the government of accountability for providing aged care. Through the application of Fairclough's three-dimensional approach, this study shows how media constructs older individuals as either consumers or a burden in Australia. This study emphasises the need for print media to reflect critically on their representations of older people, avoiding harmful stereotypes and promoting positive and diverse images of ageing.Muhammad Asim Imra

Scoping reviews and their role in identifying research priorities

Background and Objectives: Scoping reviews have been identified as appropriate methodologies to contribute to our knowledge. The objective of this review is to summarize how scoping reviews can be used to identify research priorities. Methods: Based on our experience as evidence synthesis methodologists and researchers, the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) scoping review methodology group, have identified the potential roles of scoping reviews in identification of research priorities. Results: Scoping reviews typically ask broad questions that allow researchers to obtain an overview or map of the existing evidence. Scoping reviews also incorporate multiple levels of evidence that enriches the strength of the knowledge that is gained. This value is revealed by the use of scoping reviews to contribute to and perform the following functions: 1) map a research area and identify gaps that need to be addressed; 2) prioritize research topics by identifying key issues to investigate; 3) identify the type of study designs that have been used to investigate a particular topic, and/or the range of outcomes measured following a specific intervention; 4) identify the essential contextual factors that are relevant to the study of a particular research topic; 5) identify equity issues in the research field; 6) assist in engaging stakeholders and/or experts in the field by facilitating the inclusion of these stakeholders within the research process; and 7) provide the relevant new knowledge to enhance and support applications for funding. Conclusion: To ensure this contribution to identifying research priorities is reliable, scoping reviews must be performed following the existing rigorous methodological processes and adhere to the currently available reporting guidelines. By doing so, scoping reviews have great potential to identify research priorities, to guide the expansion of research and the generation of new knowledge.H. Khalil, R. Jia, E.B. Moraes, Z. Munn, L. Alexander, M.D.J. Peters, A. Asran, C.M. Godfrey, A.C. Tricco, D. Pollock, C. Evan

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community experiences and recommendations for health and medical research: a mixed methods study

Objective: To describe Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities’ processes, positioning and experiences of health and medical research and their recommendations. Design: A cross-sectional online and paper-based survey. Setting, participants: Representatives from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health services and community-controlled organisations in Australia. Main outcome measures: Responses to a 33-item mixed methods survey that explored communities’ positioning and processes relating to health and medical research and their experiences of health and medical research in the previous 5 years. Recommendations for improving health and medical research were elicited via two open-ended questions. Results: Fifty-one community representatives nationally responded to the survey. Most representatives reported feeling slightly or very positive about research (37, 73%). More than half(33, 65%) reported having formal governance processes, and two-thirds of those without governance processes were interested in establishing such processes (12, 67%). Almost half reported that research has sometimes or never had benefit (25, 49%). Ethical principles that were most often reported as essential included those relating to sharing results back with community (45, 88%),translating research into policy and practice (37, 73%), employing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander staff (37, 73%), Indigenous data sovereignty and governance (36, 71%) and research agreements(35, 69%). Community representatives reported being approached frequently and in the later stages of research, with little input during the development and design stages of research. Most representatives reported that their communities had participated in Indigenous-led research (39, 76%). Community representatives highlighted the need for appropriate resourcing and funding to drive and lead their own research agendas. Conclusion: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities continue to have negative experiences of research despite four decades of advocating for control, ownership and leadership of health and medical research. Researchers, funding bodies and institutions must examine current funding and research structures that reinforce current practices, to ensure transparency and accountability to communities by repositioning and giving power to communities to direct and lead their own health and medical research agendas. The known: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities have been at the forefront of advocating for improved health and medical research for the past four decades. The new: Communities continue to have negative experiences of research despite ethical guidelines being developed to guide researchers and institutions. While most communities reported having formal governance processes for research, almost half reported that research is sometimes or never of benefit. The implications: Urgent attention is required for researchers, funding bodies and institutions to invest in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities to lead, control and govern their own research.Felicity Collis, Kade Booth, Jamie Bryant, Tanika Ridgeway, Catherine Chamberlain, Jaquelyne Hughes, Kalinda E Griffiths, Mark Wenitong, Peter O, Mara, Alex Brown, Sandra J Eades, Kelvin M Kong, Michelle Kenned

An Examination of Visitor and Tiger Activity Between Two Zoo Tiger Groups.

Sumatran tigers (Panthera tigris sumatrae) are currently listed as critically endangered on the IUCN Red List. In modern zoos, the need to balance the welfare of tigers while maintaining visitor interest presents a significant challenge. The aim of this study was to assess the behaviour of five Sumatran tigers housed in two separate groups and habitat areas (male housed alone; female with three cubs), as well as in relation to visitor crowd size and sound intensity (dB) near the habitats. Five categories of behaviour (active, inactive, social, repetitive and other) were observed and analysed. The most frequent behaviour observed for all tigers was inactivity. The only significant differences in tiger behaviours observed were lower social behaviours in themale tiger housed alone compared to both the female tiger and the cubs. Sound intensity, which was measured in the public viewing area and was positively correlated with crowd size, was significantly louder near the female and cub habitat area compared to the male alone habitat area. A near significant larger crowd size for the female/cub habitat area was observed as well. Crowd size and sound intensity were positively correlated for both tiger groups/habitats, as was crowd size and repetitive behaviours for both the female tiger and the cubs. Results are discussed in the context of animal welfare of captive Sumatran tigers, as well as the promotion of the coexistence of captive tigers and zoo visitors in a manner that supports visitor education/entertainment.Chaonan Li, Zahrah Alostad, Chad Crittle, Eduardo J. Fernande

The Adelaide Score: prospective implementation of an artificial intelligence system to improve hospital and cost efficiency

Background: The Adelaide Score is an artificial intelligence system that integrates objective vital signs and laboratory tests to predict likelihood of hospital discharge. Methods: A prospective implementation trial was conducted at the Lyell McEwin Hospital in South Australia. The Adelaide Score was added to existing human, artificial intelligence, and other technological infrastructure for the first 28 days of April 2024 (intervention), and outcomes were compared using parametric, non-parametric and health economic analyses, to those in the first 28 days of April 2023 (control). Artificial intelligence evaluated inpatients admitted under 18 surgical and medical teams, and patients of high likelihood of discharge were provided, on working shifts between Thursday to Sunday, to the Supportive Weekend Interprofessional Flow Team (SWIFT) comprising a senior nurse and pharmacist. Results: Two thousand nine hundred and sixty-eight admissions were included across intervention and control periods. Relative to the control group, use of the Adelaide Score in the intervention group resulted in significantly shorter median length of stay (3.1 versus 2.9 days, P = 0.028) and significantly lower seven-day readmission rate (7.1 versus 5.0%, p = 0.02). The 0.2 bed-day reduction in median length of stay produced a cost saving of $735 708.60 across the 28-day period, or$9 564 211.80 across a 52-week year. There was no significant difference between intervention and control groups in median length of stay for patients discharged on weekends, in-hospital mortality, or discharge to non-home destinations. Conclusions: The prospective implementation of the Adelaide Score was associated with improved hospital and cost efficiency, alongside lower readmissions, for patients across surgical and medical services.Joshua G. Kovoor, Brandon Stretton, Aashray K. Gupta, Alexander Beath, Mathew O. Jacob, John M. Kefalianos, Gavin J. Carmichael, Ammar Zaka, Gerry O, Callaghan, Shrirajh Satheakeerthy, Andrew Booth, Thomson Delloso, Thomas J. Hugh, Weng Onn Chan, Guy J. Maddern, Eva Balan-Vnuk, Michael Cusack, Toby Gilbert, John Maddison, Stephen Bacchi, and on behalf of the Adelaide Score Advisory Group (Adelaide Score Advisory Group: Amal Abou-Hamden ... Matthew Arnold ... Markus Trochsler ... Anton Van Den Hengel ... Andrew Zannettino ... et al.

Micromechanical characteristics of titanium alloy (Ti-6Al-4V) made by laser powder bed fusion using an in-situ SEM micropillar compression technique

While titanium alloy (Ti-6Al-4V) made by laser powder bed fusion (L–PBF) exhibits complex deformation behaviors, its important micromechanical properties in relation to loading directions are not fully understood. This research aims to investigate the micromechanical behaviors of printed L–PBF Ti-6Al-4V alloys under vertical (i. e., the loading direction perpendicular to printed layers) and horizontal (i.e., the loading direction parallel to printed layers) compressions using in-situ scanning electron microscopy (SEM) micropillar techniques. Ti-6Al-4V alloys were L-PBF-printed using a 45◦ rotate scanning strategy with vertical and horizontal build directions. The microstructures of the two alloys were analyzed using the SEM with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS). The titanium alloy micropillars were produced using focused ion beam (FIB) milling in the SEM. In-situ SEM micropillar compressions were conducted using a flat diamond indenter. Vertical alloy had smaller crosspatterned finer α′ martensite than horizontal one. While both vertical and horizontal micropillars showed elastic-plastic behaviors, the former had significantly higher yield, fracture, and compression strength values, as well as resilience and toughness, than the latter, leading to the formation of favorable shear bands. Both micropillars exhibited ductile fractures but had distinct failure mechanisms. The ductile fracture in the vertical micropillars was due to strain hardening, large plastic deformation, and shear band formation, while the ductile fracture in the horizontal ones was attributed to compression-induced bending and plastic buckling. The micromechanical characteristics of L–PBF Ti-6Al-4V materials provides an important insight into the small-scale deformation and failure mechanisms of the alloys influenced by loading directions.Md Bengir Ahmed Shuvho, Afifah Z. Juri, Animesh K. Basak, Andrei Kotousov, Ling Yi

Predicting Type 2 Diabetes and Testosterone Effects in high-risk Australian men: Development and external validation of a 2 year risk model

Objective: We have shown that men aged 50 years+ at high risk of type 2 diabetes treated with testosterone together with a lifestyle program reduced the risk of type 2 diabetes at 2 years by 40% compared to a lifestyle program alone. To develop a personalized approach to treatment, we aimed to explore a prognostic model for incident type 2 diabetes at 2 years and investigate biomarkers predictive of the testosterone effect. Design: Model development in 783 men with impaired glucose tolerance but not type 2 diabetes from Testosterone for Prevention of Type 2 Diabetes; a multicenter, 2-year trial of Testosterone vs placebo. External validation performed in 236 men from the Examining Outcomes in Chronic Disease in the 45 and Up Study (EXTEND-45, n = 267 357). Methods: Type 2 diabetes at 2 years defined as 2-h fasting glucose by oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) ≥11.1 mmol/L. Risk factors, including predictive biomarkers of testosterone treatment, were assessed using penalized logistic regression. Results: Baseline HbA1c and 2-h OGTT glucose were dominant predictors, together with testosterone, age, and an interaction between testosterone and HbA1c (P = .035, greater benefit with HbA1c ≥ 5.6%, 38 mmol/mol). The final model identified men who developed type 2 diabetes, with C-statistics 0.827 in development and 0.798 in validation. After recalibration, the model accurately predicted a participant’s absolute risk of type 2 diabetes. Conclusions: Baseline HbA1c and 2-h OGTT glucose predict incident type 2 diabetes at 2 years in high-risk men, with risk modified independently by testosterone treatment. Men with HbA1c ≥ 5.6% (38 mmol/mol) benefit most from testosterone treatment, beyond a lifestyle program.Kristy P. Robledo, Ian C. Marschner, Mathis Grossmann, David J. Handelsman, Bu B. Yeap, Carolyn A. Allan, Celine Foote, Warrick J. Inder, Bronwyn G.A. Stuckey, David Jesudason, Karen Bracken, Anthony C. Keech, Alicia J. Jenkins, Val Gebski, Meg Jardine, and Gary Witter

Interleukin-1 Receptor Antagonists Partially Inhibited Histological Injury but Not Tissue Inflammation in a Sheep Model of Pregnancy

Intrauterine inflammation is a significant cause of early preterm birth and fetal injury. There is a lack of effective interventions for intrauterine inflammation. This study aimed to determine whether direct fetal treatment with IL-1 receptor antagonists (IL-1RA), specifically anakinra (competitive IL-1RA) or rytvela (allosteric IL-1RA), could reduce intrauterine inflammation caused by intraamniotic injection of E. coli lipopolysaccharides (LPS) in a sheep model of pregnancy. We hypothesized the fetal intramuscular administration of IL1-RA therapy would comprehensively resolve intrauterine inflammation caused by LPS in the pregnant sheep model. Date-mated Merino ewes carrying single fetuses were randomized into four groups: LPS Group (10 mg intraamniotic LPS injection followed by saline), RYTVELA Group (10 mg LPS injection followed by 5 mg rytvela), ANAKINRA Group (LPS injection followed by 100 mg anakinra), and SALINE Group (saline injection followed by saline). All LPS-exposed fetuses had elevated bilirubin levels, leukopenia, and increased inflammatory mediators IL-1β, IL-8, tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNFα), and monocyte chemoattractant protein 1 (MCP-1) in amniotic fluid and lung tissue. Both anakinra and rytvela treatments reduced immunocyte infiltration in chorioamniotic membranes and lungs, and microglial staining, and increased the oligodendrocyte staining, but did not significantly resolve overall inflammation compared to the SALINE Group. In conclusion, fetal intramuscular administration of anakinra and rytvela did not effectively resolve intrauterine inflammation but showed potential in reducing tissue invasion and brain injury markers. These findings suggest that modest inflammation reduction may protect against brain injury and preterm birth, though no additional benefit was observed compared to intraamniotic IL-1RA treatment.Yuki Takahashi, Erin L. Fee, Tsukasa Takahashi, Haruo Usuda, Hideyuki Ikeda, Sean W. Carter, Yuya Saito, Shinichi Sato, Noriyoshi Mochii, Sylvain Chemtob, David M. Olson, Jeffrey A. Keelan, Yusaku Kumagai, Mahesh A. Choolani, Sebastian E. Illanes, Masatoshi Saito, Matthew W. Kem

Lattice Discretisation Artefacts in the Compton Amplitude

The forward Compton subtraction function is an essential component in the determination of both the proton charge radius and the proton-neutron mass difference. However, owing to the difficulty in determining the subtraction function, it remains the dominant source of uncertainty in the calculation of these quantities. In an effort to better understand the function, a first-principles lattice calculation was recently performed using the Feynman-Hellmann method. Unfortunately, the result of the calculation deviated significantly from continuum predictions, provoking an investigation into the cause of this discrepancy. In this thesis, we derive an O(a) correction to the lattice subtraction function by means of a lattice operator product expansion. By removing these short distance lattice artefacts, the subtraction function results are brought into remarkable agreement with the continuum predictions. We further apply this same expansion technique to also consider the vector-axial Compton amplitude.Thesis (MPhil.) -- University of Adelaide, School of Physics, Chemistry and Earth Sciences, 202

Investigating the Functional and Architectural Diversity of Leaf Venation Networks

Plants exhibit a great diversity of leaf venation network architectures, which may reflect trade-offs among multiple leaf functions. Here, a team of 20 undergraduate and postgraduate students led by Dr. Matos collected samples from the University of California Botanical Garden to describe this diversity. The team generated a dataset of 31 functional and several architectural leaf venation traits, sampled from a phylogenetically diverse set of 122 species. This dataset is being used for the identification of venation architecture-function trade-offs and to elucidate the evolutionary processes that resulted in such a diversity of networks.Ilaine Silveira Matos, Mickey Boakye, Monica Antonio, Sonoma Carlos, Ashley Chu, Miguel A. Duarte, Andrea Echevarria, Adrian Fontao, Lisa Garcia, LeeAnn Huang, Breanna Carrillo Johnson, Shama Joshi, Diana Kalantar, Srinivasan Madhavan, Samantha McDonough, Izzi Niewiadomski, Nathan Nguyen, Hailey Jiyoon Park, Caroline Pechuzal, James Rohde, Roshni Sahu, Meg Scudder, Satvik Sharma, LeeDar Sneor, Jason To, Bradley Vu, Natalie Vuong, Nicole Yokota, Luiza Aparecido, Holly Forbes, Mark Fricker, and Benjamin Wong Blonde