The relationship between maternal pre-pregnancy body mass index and exclusive breastfeeding initiation: Findings from an Australian obstetric cohort.

Background: To assess the type of infant nutrition at initiation of first feed in association with increasing maternal pre-pregnancy Body Mass Index in an Australian obstetric population.

Methods: A retrospective cohort study from 2008 to 2013 was undertaken. Body Mass Index was available for 12,347 women categorised into groups according to: underweight (≤18 kg/m); normal weight (19-24 kg/m); overweight (25-29 kg/m); obese class I (30-34 kg/m); obese class II (35-39/kg) and obese class III (40+ kg/m).

A systematic scoping review of the cost-impact of ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) intervention bundles in intensive care.

Background: Evidence-based economic decision making is key in health care. Presently, however, studies reporting financial outcomes of ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) care bundles have not been systematically evaluated.

Method: This scoping review investigated the characteristics and findings of studies of the economic impact of VAP bundle implementation.

The repeatability and reproducibility of four techniques for measuring horizontal heterophoria: Implications for clinical practice.

Purpose: Convergence insufficiency, the most common binocular vision anomaly, is characterised by a receded near point of convergence and an exophoria which is at least 4 prism dioptres (Δ) larger at near than at distance. However, the repeatability of standard heterophoria measures are poorly understood. This study assessed the ability of four common heterophoria tests to detect differences of 4Δ by evaluating the inter- and intra-examiner variability of the selected techniques.

Maternal body mass index, smoking status and small for gestational age: an Australian retrospective cohort study.

Objectives: Both maternal body mass index (BMI) and smoking during pregnancy have been associated with a range of adverse maternal and infant birth outcomes. This study aimed to identify whether these independent variables had an interacting relationship with small for gestational age in an Australian obstetric cohort.

Study Design: A retrospective cohort design used data from the Birthing Outcomes System of a major tertiary hospital in Australia.

5 km front crawl in pool and open water swimming: breath-by-breath energy expenditure and kinematic analysis.

Purpose: Breath-by-breath energy expenditure during open water swimming has not yet been explored in an ecological environment. This study aimed to investigate and compare energetics and kinematics of 5 km swimming, in both swimming pool and open water conditions.

Methods: Through four independent studies, oxygen uptake ([Formula: see text]) kinetics, heart rate (HR), blood lactate concentration ([La]) and glucose level (BGL), metabolic power ([Formula: see text]), energy cost (C) and kinematics were assessed during 5 km front crawl trials in a swimming pool and open water conditions.

A deep dive into testing and management of COVID-19 for Australian high performance and professional sport.

The purpose of testing for any communicable disease is to support clinicians in the diagnosis and management of individual patients and to describe transmission dynamics. The novel coronavirus is formally named SARS-CoV-2 and the clinical disease state resulting from an infection is known as COVID-19. Control of the COVID-19 pandemic requires clinicians, epidemiologists, and public health officials to utilise the most comprehensive, accurate and timely information available to manage the rapidly evolving COVID-19 environment.

The Association Between Pre-Pregnancy Body Mass Index, Perinatal Depression and Maternal Vitamin D Status: Findings from an Australian Cohort Study.

Purpose: This study aimed to assess the relationship between early-pregnancy Body Mass Index (BMI), perinatal depression risk and maternal vitamin D status.

Patients And Methods: A retrospective cohort study from 2013 to 2017 was undertaken involving 16,528 birth events in the Australian Capital Territory. Multivariate binary logistic regression was conducted using the forced entry method.

Localization of mercury and gold in cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz).

The potential of cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz.) for simultaneous Hg and Au phytoextraction was explored by investigating Hg and Au localization in cassava roots through Micro-Proton Induced X-Ray Emission, High-Resolution Transmission Electron Microscopy (HR-TEM) and X-Ray Diffractometry (XRD). The effect of Hg and Au in the cyanogenic glucoside linamarin distribution was also investigated using Matrix Assisted Laser Desorption Ionization Fourier Transform Ion Cyclotron Resonance Mass Spectrometry (MALDI-FT-ICR-MS) imaging.

Reframing healthy food choices: a content analysis of Australian healthy eating blogs.

Background: Blogs are widely being used by health professionals and consumers to communicate and access nutrition information. There are numerous benefits for dietitians to establish and contribute to healthy eating blogs. In particular, to disseminate evidence-based nutrition information to promote healthier dietary practices.

Exploring the relationship between resilience and practice education placement success in occupational therapy students.

Introduction: Practice education is a fundamental component of health professional students' education and many personal, social and professional factors impact on students' performance. This study investigated the relationship between measures of resilience and practice education performance in occupational therapy students.

Methods: A quantitative cross-sectional study was used to collect the data.

Validation of a method to measure three-dimensional hip joint kinematics in subjects with femoroacetabular impingement.

Introduction: A kinematic measurement method combining dynamic motion and imaging, which captures the behaviour of the hip at terminal motion, may offer improved diagnostic accuracy and enhance our understanding of the mechanics of femoroacetabular impingement (FAI).

Methods: 3 embalmed cadaveric hip/pelvis specimens with implanted Roentgen Stereophotogrammetric Analysis (RSA) beads were mounted on a custom rig and imaged with a fluoroscope in four poses to simulate a clinical impingement examination: in hip extension and in three positions: near impingement, early impingement and late impingement while simulating a flexion/adduction/internal rotation manoeuvre. Hip joint kinematics were measured using 2 methods and compared: RSA (gold standard) and a custom 3-dimensional to 2-dimensional (3D-2D) image registration method which matches 3D models developed from CT to 2D fluoroscopic images.

Caricaturing can improve facial expression recognition in low-resolution images and age-related macular degeneration.

Previous studies of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) report impaired facial expression recognition even with enlarged face images. Here, we test potential benefits of caricaturing (exaggerating how the expression's shape differs from neutral) as an image enhancement procedure targeted at mid- to high-level cortical vision. Experiment 1 provides proof-of-concept using normal vision observers shown blurred images as a partial simulation of AMD.

Pre-clinical study protocol: Blood transfusion in endotoxaemic shock.

The Surviving Sepsis Campaign (SCC) and the American College of Critical Care Medicine (ACCM) guidelines recommend blood transfusion in sepsis when the haemoglobin concentration drops below 7.0 g/dL and 10.0 g/dL respectively, while the World Health Organisation (WHO) guideline recommends transfusion in septic shock 'if intravenous (IV) fluids do not maintain adequate circulation', as a supportive measure of last resort.

The small non-coding RNA profile of mouse oocytes is modified during aging.

Oocytes are reliant on messenger RNA (mRNA) stores to support their survival and integrity during a protracted period of transcriptional dormancy as they await ovulation. Oocytes are, however, known to experience an age-associated alteration in mRNA transcript abundance, a phenomenon that contributes to reduced developmental potential. Here we have investigated whether the expression profile of small non-protein-coding RNAs (sRNAs) is similarly altered in aged mouse oocytes.

What is healthy eating? A qualitative exploration.

Objective: The present study aimed to explore how healthy food choices are translated into everyday life by exploring definitions of healthy food choices, perceptions of own food choice, and healthy food choice drivers (facilitators) and barriers.

Design: An exploratory qualitative study design was employed using semi-structured face-to-face interviews. Convenience sampling was used to recruit participants.

Impacts of impaired face perception on social interactions and quality of life in age-related macular degeneration: A qualitative study and new community resources.

Aims: Previous studies and community information about everyday difficulties in age-related macular degeneration (AMD) have focussed on domains such as reading and driving. Here, we provide the first in-depth examination of how impaired face perception impacts social interactions and quality of life in AMD. We also develop a Faces and Social Life in AMD brochure and information sheet, plus accompanying conversation starter, aimed at AMD patients and those who interact with them (family, friends, nursing home staff).

Improving face identity perception in age-related macular degeneration via caricaturing.

Patients with age-related macular degeneration (AMD) have difficulty recognising people's faces. We tested whether this could be improved using caricaturing: an image enhancement procedure derived from cortical coding in a perceptual 'face-space'. Caricaturing exaggerates the distinctive ways in which an individual's face shape differs from the average.

Exploring similarities and differences among the self-reported academic integrity of Australian occupational therapy domestic and international students.

Background: Research into the prevalence of dishonest academic behaviours suggests that such behaviours may be extensive among international students in higher education.

Objective: To compare the academic integrity of domestic and international occupational therapy students and identify possible contributors to students' engagement in dishonest academic behaviours.

Design: A quantitative cross-sectional study using a survey containing several standardised scales was used to collect the data.

Utilisation of geriatric assessment in oncology - a survey of Australian medical oncologists.

Introduction: Geriatric assessment (GA) is a multidimensional health assessment of the older person to evaluate their physical and cognitive function, comorbidities, nutrition, medications, psychological state, and social supports. GA may help oncologists optimise care for older patients with cancer. The aim of this study was to explore the views of Australian medical oncologists regarding the incorporation of geriatric screening tools, GA and collaboration with geriatricians into routine clinical practice.

Dietetics students' construction of competence through assessment and placement experiences.

Aim: Competency standards are widely adopted as a framework to describe standards of performance required in the workplace. Little is known, however, about how students construct competence. This qualitative study aimed to explore how dietetics students ready to graduate construct the concept of competence and the role of assessment in developing professional competence.

Is environmental legislation conserving tropical stream faunas? A large-scale assessment of local, riparian and catchment-scale influences on Amazonian fish.

Agricultural expansion and intensification are major threats to tropical biodiversity. In addition to the direct removal of native vegetation, agricultural expansion often elicits other human-induced disturbances, many of which are poorly addressed by existing environmental legislation and conservation programmes. This is particularly true for tropical freshwater systems, where there is considerable uncertainty about whether a legislative focus on protecting riparian vegetation is sufficient to conserve stream fauna.