Crafting Quality of Life: Creativity and Well-Being

The “Everyday Creativity of Women Craftmakers” is a narrative research project exploring the ways that contemporary women narrate the meanings of home craft-making in their lives. Craft-making enjoys continuing popularity among contemporary women including young women, and women from different cultures and socio-economic groups. Many of these women have busy lives; they are juggling domestic responsibilities, motherhood and paid work and yet they make time and space for their craft-making. In this article, we focus on three of our participants who are mothers with children still living at home, the meanings craft-making has for them, and how craft-making is linked with their well-being and quality of life. We discuss the ways these three women use craft as both an expression of themselves as mothers, and as escape or relief from the demands of mothering. We explore a number of key themes emerging from the research: craft-making as a challenge and a creative outlet; craft-making and gift giving; intergenerational connections; and the strong belief on the part of these women that craft-making is important and in some instances vital for their well-being, and contributes substantially to the quality of their lives

Dollar scholar squad : a digital-centric educational communication campaign empowering undergraduates to manage their money

"Dollar Scholar Squad" is a communication campaign that encourages graduating students, about to transition into working life, to adopt better money management behaviours in terms of budgeting. This campaign was developed to help and encourage undergraduates to prepare for their future financial needs as they transition into adulthood, before they are met with the stressors that come with becoming a working adult. "Dollar Scholar Squad" is a multimedia, digital-centric campaign. The aim was to educate and persuade undergraduates to practice better budgeting behaviours through various content formats, strategically distributed via different communication channels. To achieve the campaign’s objectives, the key strategy was to increase the target audience’s frequency of exposure to financial management messages. This was done through a combination of tailored content, strategic placement and guerrilla outreach. The campaign effectively reached the intended target audience of digital natives, by populating digital spaces often used for entertainment and social networking, with personable yet informative messages to promote better money management. The campaign found that young adults, and undergraduates in particular, benefitted from content tailored specifically to their needs and stage of life. The evaluation of the campaign also found that Instagram as a digital media platform has the potential to persuade behaviours and should be utilised in education. This report starts off with formative research and theoretical frameworks that informed the campaign’s development, followed by the communication campaign design, and concludes with the key learning points from the evaluation of “Dollar Scholar Squad”.Bachelor of Communication Studie

A synthesis of deimatic behaviour

Deimatic behaviours, also referred to as startle behaviours, are used against predators and rivals. Although many are spectacular, their proximate and ultimate causes remain unclear. In this review we aim to synthesise what is known about deimatic behaviour and identify knowledge gaps. We propose a working hypothesis for deimatic behaviour, and discuss the available evidence for the evolution, ontogeny, causation, and survival value of deimatic behaviour using Tinbergen's Four Questions as a framework. Our overarching aim is to direct future research by suggesting ways to address the most pressing questions in this field.peerReviewe

A synthesis of deimatic behaviour

Deimatic behaviours, also referred to as startle behaviours, are used against predators and rivals. Although many are spectacular, their proximate and ultimate causes remain unclear. In this review we aim to synthesise what is known about deimatic behaviour and identify knowledge gaps. We propose a working hypothesis for deimatic behaviour, and discuss the available evidence for the evolution, ontogeny, causation, and survival value of deimatic behaviour using Tinbergen's Four Questions as a framework. Our overarching aim is to direct future research by suggesting ways to address the most pressing questions in this field.</p

Analysis of Outcomes in Ischemic vs Nonischemic Cardiomyopathy in Patients With Atrial Fibrillation A Report From the GARFIELD-AF Registry

IMPORTANCE Congestive heart failure (CHF) is commonly associated with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation (AF), and their combination may affect treatment strategies and outcomes