Teaching with YouTube: Online Media as Model Texts

Online multimedia texts such as YouTube videos, TED talks, and podcasts are not only free and engaging for students, they can also model “popular intellectualism,” curiosity, and information literacy. This presentation demonstrates how to effectively use online multimedia as model texts for the university or high-school writing classroom

Teaching Tumblr: Blogging towards Critical Discourse

What can social media sites teach our students about source integration and response? This presentation will demonstrate how the functionality of the social blogging platform Tumblr can give students tools for practicing critical discourse in a relevant and engaging online environment

Recidivism outcomes for young people who have committed a sexual offence and received treatment: A systematic narrative review of studies conducted in Australia and New Zealand

Young people who have committed a sexual offence present unique and serious challenges to the criminal justice systems of Australia and New Zealand. To understand the current state of existing literature, we systematically collated and critically appraised studies using narrative synthesis, examining the recidivism outcomes of young people who have committed a sexual offence and received treatment. Eight studies were identified utilising a sample of 1528 young people. Recidivism was higher among participants who did not complete treatment, compared to those who completed treatment, but highest in those who commenced but subsequently “dropped out”. Our findings highlight a need for more Australian and New Zealand research addressing the recidivism rates post-treatment. More specifically, three future research directives are identified: the need for methodologically strong research, identification of recidivism outcomes for Indigenous young people, and the need for qualitative research to explore the profiles of young people who terminate treatment. PRACTICE IMPACT STATEMENT: Our findings identified gaps in three key areas in current research within the Australian and New Zealand context: (1) a need for more methodologically strong evaluative research, (2) identification of recidivism outcomes for Indigenous young people, and (3) qualitative research to explore the profiles of young people who terminate treatment to compliment current research findings

Complex lives and procedural barriers: Detainees’ “life happens” explanations for breaching orders

The Australian bail system routinely permits most individuals accused of a crime to remain in the community while awaiting a court date under a range of conditions. However, statistics have indicated that a high number of bailees breach the orders placed on them, increasing police and court interactions, and resulting in additional charges. This project utilised the Drug Use Monitoring in Australia – Western Australia (DUMA-WA) collection to survey 230 police detainees about their orders and reasons for breaching recent orders. The results indicated that most understood their orders but disclosed a range of complexities which interfered with compliance. Qualitative responses revealed the themes of life complexities including homelessness and family responsibilities, and procedural challenges which served as barriers to adhering to order requirements. No significant differences were found based on Indigeneity; however, allowances for cultural obligations are essential to reduce breached conditions. General Strain Theory is used to examine the structural elements that arguably contribute to charge pile-ups and criminalisation for those on orders. While this paper utilised WA participants, given the similarities of detained persons in Australia, the issues identified provide suggestions to address the high levels of breaching conditions in other jurisdictions. There urgently needs to be a concerted effort to remove some of the procedural roadblocks to compliance which would reduce additional charges, reduce the workload of police and court staff, and assist with delays in the administration of justice

Process redesign of a surgical pathway improves access to cataract surgery for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in South East Queensland

The Institute for Urban Indigenous Health (IUIH) aimed to improve access to cataract surgery in urban South East Queensland (SEQ) for Indigenous Australians, without compromising clinical visual outcomes. The Penchansky and Levesque concept of access as the ‘fit’ between the patient’s needs and the ability of the system to meet those needs was used to inform the redesign of the mainstream cataract surgical pathway. The IUIH staff and community stakeholders mapped the traditional external cataract surgical pathway and then innovatively redesigned it to reduce the number of patients being removed by the system at key transition points. The integration of eye health within the primary health care (PHC) clinic has improved the continuity and coordination of care along the surgical pathway, and ensured the sustainability of collaborative partnerships with key external organisations. Audit data demonstrated a significant increase in utilisation of cataract surgical services after the process redesign. Previous studies have found that PHC models involving integration, coordination and continuity of care enhance patient health outcomes; however, the IUIH surgical model extends this to tertiary care. There is scope to apply this model to other surgical pathways and communities who experience access inequity

Disruption of beta cell acetyl-CoA carboxylase-1 in mice impairs insulin secretion and beta cell mass

Aims/hypothesis: Pancreatic beta cells secrete insulin to maintain glucose homeostasis, and beta cell failure is a hallmark of type 2 diabetes. Glucose triggers insulin secretion in beta cells via oxidative mitochondrial pathways. However, it also feeds mitochondrial anaplerotic pathways, driving citrate export and cytosolic malonyl-CoA production by the acetyl-CoA carboxylase 1 (ACC1) enzyme. This pathway has been proposed as an alternative glucose-sensing mechanism, supported mainly by in vitro data. Here, we sought to address the role of the beta cell ACC1-coupled pathway in insulin secretion and glucose homeostasis in vivo. Methods: Acaca, encoding ACC1 (the principal ACC isoform in islets), was deleted in beta cells of mice using the Cre/loxP system. Acaca floxed mice were crossed with Ins2cre mice (βACC1KO; life-long beta cell gene deletion) or Pdx1creER mice (tmx-βACC1KO; inducible gene deletion in adult beta cells). Beta cell function was assessed using in vivo metabolic physiology and ex vivo islet experiments. Beta cell mass was analysed using histological techniques. Results: βACC1KO and tmx-βACC1KO mice were glucose intolerant and had defective insulin secretion in vivo. Isolated islet studies identified impaired insulin secretion from beta cells, independent of changes in the abundance of neutral lipids previously implicated as amplification signals. Pancreatic morphometry unexpectedly revealed reduced beta cell size in βACC1KO mice but not in tmx-βACC1KO mice, with decreased levels of proteins involved in the mechanistic target of rapamycin kinase (mTOR)-dependent protein translation pathway underpinning this effect. Conclusions/interpretation: Our study demonstrates that the beta cell ACC1-coupled pathway is critical for insulin secretion in vivo and ex vivo and that it is indispensable for glucose homeostasis. We further reveal a role for ACC1 in controlling beta cell growth prior to adulthood.</p

Traumatic life events and risk for dementia: a systematic review and meta-analysis

OBJECTIVES: To systematically review the association between traumatic life events (TLE) and dementia risk. DESIGN: Systematic review and meta-analysis. DATA SOURCES: APA, PsychINFO, Embase and MEDLINE from their inception to 29.05.21 and updated on 20.04.22. ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA FOR SELECTING STUDIES: Original research articles published in peer reviewed journals examining the association between TLE and all cause dementia in individuals aged 60 and over. Two researchers independently assessed the risk of bias using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. We conducted a generic inverse variance random effects meta-analysis to provide an overall estimate of TLE impact on dementia risk. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Risk, odds and hazards ratios relating to dementia risk. RESULTS: Initially, 3,487 studies were retrieved in the search and seven studies were included in the meta-analysis with data being used from 276,570 participants. TLE were associated with increased dementia risk. Trauma in general had a pooled HR of 1.21, (95% CI 1.03, 1.43, P = 0.0001). War/ Holocaust trauma and childhood trauma were also associated with increased dementia risk (HR = 1.28 (95% CI 1.01-1.63, P = 0.02) and HR = 1.76 (95% CI 1.17-2.64, P = 0.007) respectively). CONCLUSIONS: We have found an association between TLE and dementia risk. Future research exploring the dimensions of TLE and individual level factors are needed to better understand the relationship between TLE and dementia. TRIAL REGISTRATION: PROSPERO CRD42021253090

A Nonlethal Method to Examine Non-Apis Bees for Mark-Capture Research

Studies of bee movement and activities across a landscape are important for developing an understanding of their behavior and their ability to withstand environmental stress. Recent research has shown that proteins, such as egg albumin, are effective for mass-marking bees. However, current protein mass-marking techniques require sacrificing individual bees during the data collection process. A nonlethal sampling method for protein mark-capture research is sorely needed, particularly for vulnerable, sensitive, or economically valuable species. This study describes a nonlethal sampling method, in which three non-Apis bee species (Bombus bifarius Cresson [Hymenoptera: Apidae], Osmia lignaria Say [Hymenoptera: Megachilidae], and Megachile rotundata Fabricius [Hymenoptera: Megachilidae]) were tested for a unique protein marker by immersing them momentarily in saline buffer and releasing them. Results showed that an egg albumin-specific enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was 100% effective at detecting the protein on bees that were sampled nonlethally. Furthermore, this sampling method did not have an impact on bee survivorship, suggesting that immersing bees in buffer is a reliable and valid surrogate to traditional, destructive sampling methods for mark-capture bee studies

Association between Participation in Outpatient Cardiac Rehabilitation and Self-Reported Receipt of Lifestyle Advice from a Healthcare Provider: Results of a Population-Based Cross-Sectional Survey

We test the hypothesis that the odds of self-reported receipt of lifestyle advice from a health care provider will be lower among outpatient cardiac rehabilitation (OCR) nonattendees and nonreferred patients compared to OCR attendees. Logistic regression was used to analyse cross-sectional data provided by 65% (4971/7678) of patients aged 20 to 84 years discharged from public hospitals with a diagnosis indicating eligibility for OCR between 2002 and 2007. Among respondents, 71% (3518) and 55% (2724) recalled advice regarding physical activity and diet, respectively, while 88% (592/674) of smokers recalled quit advice. OCR attendance was low: 36% (1764) of respondents reported attending OCR, 11% (552) did not attend following referral, and 45% (2217) did not recall being invited. The odds of recalling advice regarding physical activity and diet were significantly lower among OCR nonattendees compared to attendees (OR 0.34, 95% CI 0.21, 0.56 and OR 0.33, 95% CI 0.25, 0.44, resp.) and among nonreferred respondents compared to OCR attendees (OR 0.10, 95% CI 0.07, 0.15 and OR 0.17, 95% CI 0.14, 0.22, resp.). Patients hospitalised for coronary heart disease should be referred to OCR or a suitable alternative to improve recall of lifestyle advice that will reduce the risk of further coronary events

Association between Participation in Outpatient Cardiac Rehabilitation and Self-Reported Receipt of Lifestyle Advice from a Healthcare Provider: Results of a Population-Based Cross-Sectional Survey

We test the hypothesis that the odds of self-reported receipt of lifestyle advice from a health care provider will be lower among outpatient cardiac rehabilitation (OCR) nonattendees and nonreferred patients compared to OCR attendees. Logistic regression was used to analyse cross-sectional data provided by 65% (4971/7678) of patients aged 20 to 84 years discharged from public hospitals with a diagnosis indicating eligibility for OCR between 2002 and 2007. Among respondents, 71% (3518) and 55% (2724) recalled advice regarding physical activity and diet, respectively, while 88% (592/674) of smokers recalled quit advice. OCR attendance was low: 36% (1764) of respondents reported attending OCR, 11% (552) did not attend following referral, and 45% (2217) did not recall being invited. The odds of recalling advice regarding physical activity and diet were significantly lower among OCR nonattendees compared to attendees (OR 0.34, 95% CI 0.21, 0.56 and OR 0.33, 95% CI 0.25, 0.44, resp.) and among nonreferred respondents compared to OCR attendees (OR 0.10, 95% CI 0.07, 0.15 and OR 0.17, 95% CI 0.14, 0.22, resp.). Patients hospitalised for coronary heart disease should be referred to OCR or a suitable alternative to improve recall of lifestyle advice that will reduce the risk of further coronary events