Swinburne University Research Articles

Diet May Moderate the Relationship Between Arterial Stiffness and Cognitive Performance in Older Adults.

Background: Cognitive decline is influenced by various factors including diet, cardiovascular disease, and glucose control. However, the combined effect of these risk factors on cognitive performance is yet to be fully understood.Objective: The current study aimed to explore the inter-relationship between these risk factors and cognitive performance in older adults at risk of future cognitive decline.Methods: The sample comprised 163 (Age: M = 65.23 years, SD = 6.50) participants. Food Frequency Questionnaire data was used to score diet quality and adherence to the Western Style Diet (WSD) and Prudent Style Diet (PSD). Glucose control was gauged by serum levels of glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) and arterial stiffness was measured using carotid to femoral pulse wave velocity. Cognitive performance was assessed using two subtests of the Swinburne University Computerized Cognitive Assessment Battery (SUCCAB) and Rey’s Verbal Learning Test (RVLT).Results: Diet quality, adherence to the WSD or PSD, and glucose control were not significantly related to cognitive outcomes. However, a significant negative association was found between arterial stiffness and the spatial working memory subtest of SUCCAB (β= –0.21, p < 0.05). Arterial stiffness also significantly interacted with the PSD to impact total recall (F change (1,134) = 5.37, p < 0.05) and the composite score of RVLT (F change (1,134) = 4.03, p < 0.05).Conclusion: In this sample of older adults at risk of cognitive decline, diet alone was not found to predict cognitive performance; however, it was found to moderate the relationship between arterial stiffness and cognition.

A review of monotreme (Monotremata) evolution

Advances in dating and systematics have prompted a revision of monotreme evolution to refine the timing of adaptative trends affecting body size and craniodental morphology. The oldest known monotreme, Teinolophos trusleri, is restricted to uppermost Barremian deposits of the Strzelecki Group in Victoria, Australia. Its body mass is estimated at ∼40 g, making it the smallest known monotreme. Teinolophos trusleri likely possessed an electro-sensitive and/or mechano-sensitive ‘bill’ or ‘beak’, which we suggest evolved for insectivory in seasonally dark Early Cretaceous polar forests. During the early Albian–mid-Cenomanian, monotremes diversified in Australia and evolved body masses greater than 4 kg, becoming amongst the largest Mesozoic mammals. A gap of 35 million years subsequently separates the youngest Mesozoic monotremes from the oldest Cenozoic monotreme, Monotrematum sudamericanum, which is a Paleocene stem ornithorhynchid from southern South America. We also hypothesize that tachyglossids originated in Melanesia, perhaps on the emergent Vogelkop landmass, and then dispersed to Australia during the Pliocene-Pleistocene. Finally, we present a classification of Monotremata to include five families—Teinolophidae fam. nov., Kollikodontidae, Steropodontidae, Ornithorhynchidae, and Tachyglossidae. We also propose a new genus, Murrayglossus gen. nov. for a gigantic Pleistocene echidna from southwestern Western Australia. http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:E39E2644-DADD-49F4-B2B7-47A25C072B07 Timothy F. Flannery [tim.flannery@textpublishing.com.au], Kristofer M. Helgen [Kris.Helgen@Australian.Museum], Australian Museum, 1 William St Sydney 2000, Australia; Thomas H. Rich [trich@museum.vic.gov.au], Tim Ziegler [tziegler@museum.vic.gov.au], Museums Victoria, PO Box 666, Melbourne, Victoria 3001, Australia; Patricia Vickers-Rich [pat.rich@monash.edu; prich@swin.edu.au], School of Earth, Atmosphere and Environment, Monash University, Victoria 3800, Australia; Swinburne University of Science and Technology, Department of Chemistry and Biotechnology, Hawthorn, Victoria 3122, Australia; Elizabeth Grace Veatch [elizabeth.veatch@gmail.com], National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC 20013, USA.

Retracing the History of Radio-frequency Management

Radio-frequency (RF) spectrum management is a crucial part of media and communications history, as it has shaped how people access information and communicate with others. Dr Jock Given, Professor at Swinburne University of Technology, has written numerous books and articles focusing on this topic. He combines ideas from economics, law, history, and business with his own experience as an economics researcher and policy advisor.

Abstracts from the Spectra 2018 Symposium Part 2: Visualization

Abstracts from the Spectra 2018 Symposium Part 2: <i>Visualization</i>

Editorial Note

The 32nd Symposium of Malaysian Chemical Engineers (SOMChE2021) was the first of its kind to be held virtually on 15th and 16th July 2021, which was delayed due to the pandemic from its original event date in March 2020 to July 2021. SOMChE2021 was jointly organised by Swinburne University of Technology Sarawak Campus and the Institution of Chemical Engineers (IChemE) Malaysia. Presently, industrial chemical processes rely heavily on unsustainable fossil-fuel based resources. The theme “Navigating the Frontier of Sustainability” serves to address the ongoing global sustainability issues and present viable long-term solutions. SOMChE2021 has provided a platform for a wide community of young researchers, scholars, engineers, and practitioners to present their latest research findings and innovation in chemical engineering (and related disciplines) and to develop long-term research collaborations. A total of 75 delegates from Malaysia, Philippines, Taiwan, Indonesia, Brunei, Australia, and Japan have attended and presented their research findings at SOMChE2021, encompassing a diverse range of topics including green and sustainable processing, environmental and waste management, bioprocessing and biotechnology, materials science and engineering, and energy in terms of energy conversion and management, and renewable and alternative energy. These proceedings serve as a compilation of publications that showcase the progress in engineering and science to bridge the gap between research and industry in solving sustainability concerns, of which all accepted papers have undergone stringent screening and review processes. Overall, the success of SOMChE2021 was made possible through the collective contribution of the Organising Committee, International Scientific Committee, and Sponsors. Editors Assoc. Prof. Jaka Sunarso, Ir. Dr. Ngu Lock Hei, Dr. Chew Jiuan Jing, Dr. How Bing Shen, Dr. Elaine Yeu Yee Lee, Dr. Mahmoud Ahmed Mussad Elhadi, Dr. Siti Salwa Hashim, Dr. MD. Bazlul Mobin Siddique, Ms. Lai Jia Chi, Dr. Claudia Li Chia Chirng, Ms. Megan Soh Zheyin, Ms. Lai Jia Yen, Ms. Liza Melia Anak Terry, Ms. Shirleen Lo Lee Yuen, Ms. Karen Kong Gah Hie, Ms. Adeline Lim Kher Li, Mr. Luke Ngu Wei Wei, Mr. Slyvester Chai Yew Wang, Mr. Frederick Phang Jit Fook, Mr. Jonathan Cheng Lin Yang, Mr. Wong Jung Lin, Mr. Yeo Lip Siang.Swinburne University of Technology Sarawak Campus.List of titles Organising Committee, International Scientific Committee, Sponsors are available in this pdf.

In this October issue

Intubation is arguably the most important intervention done in an ED. We publish papers that discuss it in some detail. (a) A group from Melbourne conclude that structured and targeted debriefing after intubating children in the ED is feasible and contributes to measurable and qualitative improvements in patient safety. (b) A group from NSW describe current airway management practices after a failed intubation attempt in Australian and NZ EDs as well as factors associated with second attempt success. (c) A group from Queensland report that implementation of an evidence-based care bundle and audit of practice has created a safe environment for trainees to learn the core critical care skill of rapid sequence intubation in the ED. In an editorial linked to the above paper from Melbourne, Victoria Brazil and her colleagues highlight the importance of hot debriefing in the ED. Staff are enthusiastic about team conversations after clinical encounters – to defuse high emotion, promote learning and reflect on ways to improve future care. They argue that clinical event debriefing should be a cornerstone of healthcare team reflexivity but can only result in change if embedded within a larger ‘improvement ecosystem’ that synthesises, analyses and reacts to the data from the coal face. The topic of debriefing is also discussed in detail in the Trainee Focus section. Every year 25 000 Australians experience a cardiac arrest in the community, but only 12% survive. The faster CPR and defibrillation starts, the greater the chance of survival. Currently, only half of Australian adults are trained in Basic Life Support (BLS). The Australian Resuscitation Council and key stakeholder organisations believe the best way to ensure all Australians know how to save a life is by mandating BLS education and training in schools. We publish an ‘Aussie KIDS SAVE LIVES’ Position Statement outlining a strategy to help facilitate the introduction of a programme of regular BLS training into the Australian school curriculum. The August issue profiled this paper on its front cover. In doing so we inadvertently used an acronym for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples that is disrespectful and does not embrace cultural diversity. Once we realised the problem, the acronym was changed immediately online; unfortunately, it was too late to change the cover of the print edition. No disrespect or offence was intended. We apologise unreservedly. A group from South Australia give us a retrospective analysis assessing whether the introduction of point of care Rotational Thromboelastometry (ROTEM) influenced blood product transfusion and coagulation management in an Australian level 1 trauma centre. The authors conclude that ROTEM introduced in the ED, altered blood product transfusion practices for major trauma patients with an ISS >12, leading to a potentially safer transfusion strategy and cost savings for key blood products. Another paper from South Australia reports the incidence of Acute Traumatic Coagulopathy (ATC) in trauma patients presenting to the Royal Adelaide Hospital. The conclusion is that prehospital blood transfusions are given to the most severely injured trauma patients and the incidence of ATC in this group is more than 80%. There is an association with prehospital blood transfusion and increased ATC in part related to patient selection and severity of trauma, with the contribution of red cell transfusions to ATC unclear. This association should allow earlier identification of patients at increased risk of ATC to ensure rapid correction of coagulopathy to decrease the morbidity and mortality of trauma. Since 2018, the Australasian College for Emergency Medicine has collaborated with Swinburne University of Technology on a research project to understand and enhance the leadership capacity of emergency physicians, beginning with Australasian Directors of Emergency Medicine (DEMs). This research has revealed the complexity of leadership in emergency medicine, illuminating the strengths and limitations of extant research and suggesting promising new directions for emergency medicine leadership and leadership development research. This program has also shed new light on the knowledge, skills and abilities that DEMs need to develop to catalyse change in the systems where they work. The authors argue that an approach to leadership development that reflects the complexity of leadership in emergency medicine will go a long way to enhancing the sophistication, effectiveness and impact of leadership in emergency medicine.

Collapse Simulation of CFRP Retrofitted Column using Hybrid Testing Technique

The performance of Reinforced Concrete (RC) structures and their collapse safety experiencing moderate to high-magnitude seismic excitations might not be fully understood. Factors related to the high levels of uncertainties in ground motion content, structural modelling and design uncertainties, or to the empirical nature of design codes and standards affect the collapse assessment of RC structures. Therefore, experimental test researches are very important in verifying and improving the accuracy of structural performance predictions and highlighting the actual behavior during seismic excitation. In this paper, the test results of a full-length damaged RC column retrofitted with Carbon Fiber Reinforced Polymer (CFRP) sheets and then retested using pseudo-dynamic experimental testing approach through the state-of-the-art hybrid simulation testing facility, referred to Multi-Axis Substructure Testing (MAST) system at Swinburne University of Technology are presented. A comparative collapse assessment of the initial and retrofitted column showed more ductile column response reaching higher drift ratios. In addition, the experimental test results displayed clearly the effectiveness of CFRP sheets under increasing intensity of earthquake demands in restoring the collapse resistance of the retrofitted RC column by altering concrete failure type.

Universities as Partners in Primary Health Care Innovation.

Universities have a unique role in the health ecosystem as providers of trained staff and discoverers of health innovations. However, often they sit in silos waiting for their rare blockbuster discoveries to change clinical care or seeing health services simply as future employers of their graduates or clinical trial sites. It is a transactional and targetted relationship. This present case study is of a primary health service Access Health and Community (AccessHC) in Australia and its university partner Swinburne University of Technology. Together they established a Kickstart Program which was to provide seed funding for small joint innovation projects generated by both organisations. One project exemplifies the approach. Swinburne who has a Design School was encouraged through the Kickstart Program to design a clinical waiting room of the future. This project started with a needs analysis. The written report was to inform the design. University staff linked with their internal University animations expertise to better communicate the needs analysis. The “Access me Not” animation was created, unknown to the staff at AccessHC. At initial presentation, the way the animation communicated was not imaginable by AccessHC. “Access me not” was submitted for the 2018 International Design Awards and received an honourable mention. However, the AccessHC staff saw other uses for the approach and contacted Swinburne to design a client journey animation for the newly introduced National Disability Scheme (NDIS). The co design produced an animation of immense help to parents in navigating the scheme for complex and chronic disability care and for AccessHC the scripting served as a framework to develop it new internal NDIS care systems and processes. The Swinburne team is now producing health navigation animations for the State Department of Health and Human Services. The Kickstart Program was an engagement strategy that has produced a set of health communication tools that the health service could not have envisaged and which the University could not have imagined an application. Small low risk seed funding can indeed introduce innovations and create beneficial relationships between health services and universities.

Preface

It has been a tremendous experience to organize the 6th International Conference of Science, Technology, and Interdisciplinary Research (IC-STAR 2020). The annual international conference is held in conjunction with other conferences throughout series of event spanning from October to December 2020. The scope of IC-STAR 2020 includes chemical and biotechnology, civil and environmental, computer science and information technology, electrical and communications, materials sciences, industrial engineering, mechanical and aerospace, geodetic and geophysics, applied mathematics and physic sciences, and also the interdisciplinary research. IC-STAR conference series intend to integrate engineering and life sciences fields in order to provide a cross section roadmap from basic research, technological and developments, processes development, and their applications and integrity in the real-world usage.The event’s series started with a virtual event which is hosted at Universitas Lampung, in Bandar Lampung, Indonesia, on 20 – 21 October 2020. The conference featured Keynote Speakers list of Prof. Ahmad Saudi Samosir (Universitas Lampung, Indonesia), Prof. Rizalman Mamat (Universiti Malaysia Pahang, Malaysia), Prof. Sunny J. Kalayathankal (K. E. College, India), Prof. Naoya Kasai (Yokohama National University, Japan) and Prof. Gavin Brown (Auckland University, New Zealand). During the event, there are about 50 authors presenting their papers in oral presentation.The series proceeded with another virtual event hosted at Institut Teknologi Bandung, in Bandung, Indonesia, on 25-26 November 2021 by ICASA-MATRIX. Keynote Speakers for the conference were Prof. Koji Shimoyama (Tohoku University, Japan), Prof. Erry YT Adesta (International Islamic University of Malaysia, Malaysia), Prof. Tatacipta Dirgantara (Institut Teknologi Bandung, Indonesia) and Prof. Bambang Kismono Hadi (Institut Teknologi Bandung, Indonesia). There were about 40 oral presentations during the event.The series concluded with a virtual event jointly hosted and supported by Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, Curtin University Malaysia, Universiti Teknologi Brunei, and Universitas Lampung, on 8 – 9 December 2021. The Keynote Speakers were Prof. Hadi Nur (Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, Malaysia), Prof. Ramesh Singh (Universiti Teknologi Brunei, Brunei Darussalam), Dr. Rino Rakhmata Mukti (Institut Teknologi Bandung, Indonesia), Prof. Mohammed Rafiq Abdul Kadir (Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, Malaysia), Prof. M. Akbar Rhamdhani (Swinburne University, Australia) and Prof. Ahad Ali (Lawrence Technological University, USA). There were about 80 oral presentations in the event.We appreciate all distinguished speakers and all authors who presented during the conference series. We also acknowledge the effort of all committees, including all reviewers, for their contribution to the conference series and in making this proceeding. Thank you and hope to see you in future events of the conference series.Publication and Proceeding EditorsIrza Sukmana (Universitas Lampung, Indonesia)Khairuddin (Universitas Lampung, Indonesia)Seri Rahayu Ya’akub (Universiti Teknologi Brunei, Brunei Darussalam)Fethma M Nor (Curtin University, Malaysia)Taufiq Mulyanto (Institut Teknologi Bandung, Indonesia)Muhammad Hanif (Universitas Lampung, Indonesia)

Preface

The 2021 International Conference on Information Technology and Intelligent Control (CITIC 2021) was held on 23-25 July 2021 as a virtual conference due to the growing concerns over the coronavirus outbreak (COVID-19), and in order to protect the well-being of our attendees, partners, and staff as our number one priority. With the rapid progress of informatization globally, the world's demand for information multiplies, and information technology has become the cornerstone of economic activities and social life. With the development of information technology, intelligent control methods and technologies have gradually updated and grown. Intelligent control has rapidly moved to various professional fields and applied to different complex controlled objects' control problems.CITIC 2021 is an international forum for scientists, engineers, and practitioners to present their latest research and development results in all areas of Information Technology and Intelligent Control. Conference topics mainly include but are not limited to the Application of Information Technology; Artificial Intelligence; Programming Languages; Digital Devices and Computer Components; Health and Medical Science and Technology; GIS; Data Mining and Data Warehousing; Intelligent system. CITIC 2021 welcomes all high-quality research papers and presentations from related research fields.This scientific event brings together more than 200 national and international researchers in Information Technology and Intelligent Control. On top of the local participants coming from different national universities, international participants are also registered from different countries, namely Singapore, Australia, and USA. During the conference, the conference model was divided into three sessions, including oral presentations, keynote speeches, and online Q&A discussion. In the first part, some scholars, whose submissions were selected as the excellent papers, were given about 5-10 minutes to perform their oral presentations one by one. Then in the second part, keynote speakers were each allocated 30-45 minutes to hold their speeches.In the second part, we invited five professors as our keynote speakers. Prof. Hui Bi, Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics (NUAA), China performed a speech: Sparse SAR Imaging: From Theory to Practical Application. And then we had Prof. Weinan Gao, from Florida Institute of Technology, USA. He presented an insightful speech: Learning-Based Adaptive Optimal Control and Applications to Connected and Autonomous Vehicles. Prof. Bingkun Bao, from Nanjing University of Posts and Telecommunications. She delivered a wonderful speech: Analysis and Perception of Multimedia Data. Prof. Farhad Shahnia, from Murdoch University, Australia, performed a speech: Recent and Future Research on Microgrid Clusters. Prof. Zhihong Man, as our finale keynote speaker, from Swinburne University of Technology, Australia. He delivered a wonderful speech: A new theoretical framework of parameter estimation of linear systems. Their insightful speeches had triggered heated discussion in the third session of the conference. Every participant praised this conference for disseminating useful and insightful knowledge.The proceedings are a compilation of the accepted papers and represent an interesting outcome of the conference. Topics include but are not limited to the following areas: Aerospace Technology, Automation technology and equipment, Data Mining and Data Warehousing, Information Systems, Robotics and more related topics. All the papers have been through rigorous review and process to meet the requirements of International publication standard.We would like to acknowledge all of those who supported CITIC 2021. The help and contribution of each individual and institution was instrumental in the success of the conference. In particular, we would like to thank the organizing committee for its valuable inputs in shaping the conference program and reviewing the submitted papers.List of titles Committee member, TPC Chair, Publication Chair, Organizing Committee, International Technical Program Committee are available in this Pdf.

New Melbourne Pedagogics: A Virtual Web of Actions

AbstractThe educational approach of the School of Design at Swinburne University of Technology in Melbourne is predicated on peer learning and integration with the building industry and the wider architectural profession, and is also deeply embedded in creating solutions to urban design issues. This praxis gives students a platform from which to develop their skill in real and complex environments. The school's Dean, Jane Burry, reveals some examples of their work and expands on its aims and objectives.

Deepening futures methods to face the civilisational crisis

Richard Slaughter has argued for many years that we face a ‘civilisational crisis’, particularly in the context of climate change and the environment. Slaughter felt that traditional futures methods were too superficial and lacking in depth to address the civilisational challenge ahead of us. He provided frameworks and concepts to deepen futures methods and strategies and to build social foresight capacity. His significant practical contribution was the establishment of the Australian Foresight Institute and postgraduate studies at Swinburne University of Technology in Melbourne. It is suggested that the foresight field in Australia needs to reestablish supportive structures such as these and take steps to obtain social and professional legitimation in order to promote an advanced futures discourse to take us toward better futures.

A priceless gift – Reflections on Richard Slaughter’s influence on working and living with the future

Richard Slaughter’s approach to understanding and teaching futures studies is foundational to the thinking and practice of the more than 160 students that went through the Master of Strategic Foresight program at Swinburne University of Technology in Melbourne, Australia. I studied with Richard, worked with him and have been guided by his approach in my foresight practice for over 15 years. Richard’s contribution to the futures field is exemplified by his understanding of the role the interior development of the foresight practitioner plays in creating images of the future, his articulation of the civilizational challenges we face and his weaving of integral theory and futures thinking. This piece is a reflection on the impact Richard’s ideas about possible futures and the practice of foresight has had on the work I, and many others, deliver across numerous contexts and industries.

Advancing leadership in Australasian emergency medicine: Taking stock and looking ahead.

Since 2018, the Australasian College for Emergency Medicine has collaborated with the Swinburne University of Technology on a research project to understand and enhance the leadership capacity of emergency physicians, beginning with Australasian Directors of Emergency Medicine (DEMs). Over the last 3 years, this research programme has revealed the complexity of leadership in emergency medicine, illuminating the strengths and limitations of extant research and suggesting promising new directions for emergency medicine leadership and leadership development research. This programme has also shed new light on the knowledge, skills and abilities that DEMs need to develop to catalyse change in the systems where DEMs practice both medicine and leadership. We propose that an approach to leadership development that reflects the diversity of DEMs' leadership challenges and the complexity of leadership in emergency medicine would go a long way to enhancing the sophistication, effectiveness and impact of the leadership in emergency medicine.

Multi-axis testing of concrete-filled steel tube columns forming ductile soft-story in multi-story buildings

In regions of low-to-moderate seismicity, the design of multi-story buildings with strong-beams weak-columns are quite common, which triggers the formation of a soft-story collapse mechanism during rare ground motions. A design approach to overcome this issue is introducing a ductile soft-story at the first level, such that the damage is controlled, while the above stories remain in the elastic response range. In this approach, the ductile soft-story acts as an isolator and limits the damage at only the first-level, thereby reducing the cost and time of repair and improving the safety and resilience of these buildings. The use of concrete-filled steel tube (CFT) columns can be considered as an attractive solution to construct such ductile soft-stories. To validate this concept, the multi-axis substructure testing (MAST) system at Swinburne University of Technology is used to conduct a set of 3D quasi-static cyclic tests on CFT columns with both circular (CCFT) and square (SCFT) cross-section shapes. A combination of bidirectional horizontal load protocol with vertical load variation is applied to the specimens. The data obtained from these experiments are used to study the physical damage progression and hysteresis response of CCFT and SCFT columns under complex 6-DOF boundary forces. The obtained experimental data are then used to calibrate FE numerical models to conduct performance-based fragility analysis of the soft-story buildings, at the system level, and vulnerability assessment of CFT columns, at the component level. The results show confidence in the superior seismic performance of CFT columns and highlight the advantages of using these elements in the construction of seismic resilience and sustainable buildings.

Breaking Boundaries: Effectiveness of Gamification and Student Co‐Creation for Anatomy Remote Learning

Introduction An international reform on anatomy education has witnessed a transition from traditional cadaveric teaching, often reliant on rote-learning, toward visualization-based learning approaches. Multimodality of the learning preferences of Generation Z and the steep threshold learning curve in anatomy has led to the conception of gamification as a means of improving anatomy engagement, with reference to the Ebbinghaus (1880) forgetting curve. The aim of this study was to quantify student engagement using Quitch®, a gamified mobile learning platform and assess the impact of the app on student academic performance in an undergraduate Musculoskeletal Anatomy unit. Method 157 students enrolled in undergraduate Health and Science degrees at Swinburne University Australia were invited to download Quitch® during the COVID-19 remote learning period. In a student-faculty partnership project, a Quitch® unit with learning modules segregated for six regional anatomy topics, featuring 12 sections, was developed for Musculoskeletal Anatomy by 3rd year past students. Engagement was quantified using a 4-stage ordinal scale (1-4), based on access time from quiz release. The correlation between engagement, retention and academic performance for two virtual ‘spotter’ examinations was analysed. Results Preliminary results indicate that ‘highly engaged’ students who completed the quizzes within 14 days, quantified with a mode ordinal score of 1, scored an average grade of 67.05±0.18% on virtual spotter examinations; 21.37% higher than those who did not engage with Quitch®. Students who did not attempt the majority of quizzes (63.92%), quantified with an ordinal score of 4, received an average of 45.68±0.22% in their examinations. Completion and accuracy data from the Quitch® leaderboard indicated that the top 20 users received an average grade of 77.50%, in comparison to 49.86% for students with low engagement. Student retention increased from 88.7% in 2019 to 96.7% in 2020; while 79% of students reported an ‘increased sense of belonging'in the unit. Conclusion Quitch® offers personalized learning capabilities, mobility with notification capacity, tracking of at-risk students and allows the delivery of high-quality case-based, radiology and virtual spotter questions. We showcase the accommodation of multimodal learning preferences of students through content co-creation by students-as-partners in a platform that uses competitive leaderboards and badges to improve student engagement. Our analytics validate the efficacy of spaced repetition to consolidate long-term retention for improved performance in practical examinations. Implications The results on the efficacy of Quitch for improved student engagement in Anatomy is presented, demonstrating how student-centred virtual learning can be cultivated in remote learning, with the benefits of students-as-partners and the social constructivism theory in content design discussed as an approach to improve engagement and performance.

Mindfulness-Based Online Intervention to Improve Quality of Life in Late-Stage Bipolar Disorder a Randomised Clinical Trial

Background: Adjunctive psychological interventions improve outcomes in bipolar disorder (BD), but people in latter, more refractory illness stages likely have different clinical needs. The objective here was to test the hypothesis that for people with >‾ 10 episodes of BD, an online mindfulness-based intervention improves quality of life (QoL) relative to a quality-matched psychoeducation control. Methods: A rater-blind, pragmatic superiority randomised clinical trial compared Mindfulness with active control (Psychoeducation). Both interventions were 5-week coach-supported self-management programs with treatment as usual continued. Key inclusion criteria were age 18 to 65 years, confirmed diagnosis of BD, and history of >‾ 10 episodes. Measures were collected at baseline, immediate post-intervention, and 3- and 6- month follow-ups. Main outcome was QoL, measured on the self-report Brief Quality of Life in Bipolar Disorder (Brief QoL.BD) at 5 weeks, using intention-to-treat analyses. The study setting was online, and randomisation was automated into the platform. The trial was prospectively registered on 23 June 2017 through ClinicalTrials.gov (http://www.clinicaltrials.gov, NCT03197974). Findings: Recruitment commenced 19 th September 2017, randomisation target reached 28 th November 2018 (N = 302 randomised) and follow-up data collection completed 6 th July 2019. The primary hypothesis of significant improvement in QoL with Mindfulness relative to Psychoeducation was not supported (Treatment X Time β = -0.69, 95% CI: -2·69, 1·31, p = 0·50). Recruitment was feasible, the platform was safe, both interventions were highly acceptable, but usage was suboptimal. Post hoc analyses found both interventions effective for participants not in remission from depression at baseline. Interpretation: In people with latter-stage BD, an online Mindfulness intervention was not superior to Psychoeducation. More effective future variants could combine mindfulness with psychoeducation content, improve engagement via personalised tailoring of QoL goals, and target more symptomatic individuals. Trial Registration: The trial was prospectively registered on 23 June 2017 through ClinicalTrials.gov (http://www.clinicaltrials.gov, NCT03197974). Funding: Supported by Australian National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC; APP1102097). Declaration of Interest: GM has received Grant/Research support from National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC), BeyondBlue Barbara Dicker Foundation, Readiness P/L, SiSU Wellness P/L – unrelated to this work, with the exception of the NHMRC funding for the project described here. MB has received Grant/Research Support from the NIH, Cooperative Research Centre, Simons Autism Foundation, Cancer Council of Victoria, Stanley Medical Research Foundation, Medical Benefits Fund, National Health and Medical Research Council, Medical Research Futures Fund, Beyond Blue, Rotary Health, A2 milk company, Meat and Livestock Board, Woolworths, Avant and the Harry Windsor Foundation, has been a speaker for Abbot, Astra Zeneca, Janssen and Janssen, Lundbeck and Merck and served as a consultant to Allergan, Astra Zeneca, Bioadvantex, Bionomics, Collaborative Medicinal Development, Janssen and Janssen, Lundbeck Merck, Pfizer and Servier – all unrelated to this work. NT has received Grant/Research Support from the Australian Government Department of Health, Australian Government Department of Veterans Affairs, Barbara Dicker Brain Sciences Foundation, NHMRC, Mental Health Commission, VicHealth and Victorian State Government Department of Health and Human Services, all unrelated to this work. LB has received Grant/Research Support from the NIH, Australasian Society for Bipolar & Depressive Disorders Ltd, GMHBA, National Health and Medical Research Council, and Servier – all unrelated to this work. SJ has received Grant/Research support from NIHR HTA, EME, RfPB and PGfAR streams all unrelated to this work. Ethical Approval: Swinburne University of Technology Human Research Ethics Committee approved the online trial (2016/289) with international recruitment.

Preface

The 4th International Conference on Engineering Sciences (4th ICES) was held from 5th to 6th December, 2020 in Karbala, Iraq. The 4th ICES was organized by the College of Engineering at University of Kerbala in collaboration with the Swinburne University. The Engineering College at University of Kerbala which was established in 2006 encompasses seven scientific engineering departments: Civil, Mechanical, Electrical and Electronic, Petroleum, Orthotics and Prosthetics, Biomedical, and Architecture. The college aims to provide the society with skilled and qualified engineers specialized in various engineering disciplines.The conference was held virtually for about 200 guests hosted by Zoom video conference platform. On the first day of the conference, the opening session started at 9:30 am, Baghdad time and lasted for two hours. Then, eight sessions started at 12:30 pm simultaneously using breakout rooms. Each room represented specific topic and directed by the chairman of the session. On the second day of the conference, nine sessions were held at the same time. Each session started at 10:00 am Baghdad time using the same procedure of the first day. At each individual session, around ten papers were presented by the corresponding authors with the attendance of several interested researchers. Each presentation lasted for around 20 minutes.List of Scientific Committee, Organizing Committee are available in this pdf.

An elephant in the room: university chaplains cultivating healthy religious diversity through respectful dialogue

ABSTRACT Finding Common Ground (FCG) is an inter-belief dialogue program hosted in the Multi Faith Facility of Swinburne University of Technology. FCG is a voluntary program that offers Swinburne students a safe space to discuss their religious faith, or alternative value base, and to learn from those of others. Two iterations of this program were evaluated in 2018. We argue that nurturing healthy religious expression and cultivating respect for diverse religious and other belief frameworks is essential in today’s multi-religious and pluralist world. Furthermore, we suggest that such exploration in the diverse (secular) university context is addressing something of ‘an elephant in the room’ in student life and learning in contemporary universities. We also recognise the reality of unhealthy expressions and fundamentalist assertions that fuel wider community aversion to a focus on overt religious conversations that tilt towards controversial debate and polarisation. This article principally analyses the experience of one student participant ‘Antoni’ to highlight significant themes reflected in the overall student responses: why FCG was a ‘safe place’ for dialogue, and how it cultivated empathy and humility, inter-faith community and pastoral support, healthy religious outlooks (rather than ‘spiritual bypass’) and personal formation.

Loneliness, Social Anxiety, and Depression During the SARS-CoV-2 Pandemic: A Global Longitudinal Study Examining Social Restrictions Severity and Demographic Differences

Background: Social restrictions and government-mandated lockdowns implemented worldwide to curb the SARS-CoV-2 virus disrupt our social interactions, behaviours, and routines. While many studies have examined how the pandemic has influenced feelings of loneliness and poor mental health, such as depression and anxiety, few have focused on social anxiety symptomatology. Methods: We collected data on loneliness, social anxiety, depression, and social restrictions severity across three timepoints in the first six months of the pandemic, in 2665 participants across 121 countries. We later restricted our analyses to Australia, United States, and United Kingdom (n = 1562) to code from reliable sources of objective social restriction data. Longitudinal data were analysed using a multivariate latent growth curve model. Findings: Loneliness reduced, depression remained unchanged, and social anxiety symptoms increased as social restrictions severity eased in the first six months of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. Consistent with previous research, specific demographic factors (e.g., younger age, unemployment, lower wealth, and living alone) all influenced loneliness, depression, and social anxiety at the onset of the pandemic. No demographic factors influenced changes in levels over time for loneliness or depression, but being younger and being unemployed influenced change in levels over time for social anxiety. Loneliness, social anxiety, and depressive symptoms were highly related, but the course of social anxiety symptoms differed from loneliness and depression- those higher in social anxiety at baseline also increased in social anxiety quicker over time. Interpretation: Social anxiety remains an overlooked mental health symptom in SARS-CoV-2 pandemic research. Frontline practitioners may see increased social anxiety and avoidance even as social restrictions ease. Service delivery providers should focus on vulnerable groups, including those aged 18 to 25 years, unemployed, and with lower wealth, during this public health crisis. Funding: None to declare. Declaration of Interest: None to declare. Ethical Approval: Ethics approval was granted by Swinburne University Human Research Ethics Committee.