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Tag: University of South Australia

  • Supports help keep Aussie firefighters safe

    Supports help keep Aussie firefighters safe

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    Newswise — House fires, road crashes and emergency rescues – they’re all part of the job for Aussie firefighters. And in such physically demanding roles, maintaining a high level of fitness and movement quality is essential.

    Now, new research from health and fitness experts at the University of South Australia shows that professional firefighters have reduced movement quality as they age, which could put them at greater risk of injury.

    Conducted by UniSA masters researcher, Alex Redshaw, in partnership with the South Australian Metropolitan Fire Service (MFS), the findings indicate that firefighters over the age of 50 generally have lower movement quality than their younger counterparts, and would benefit from additional functional strength training to maintain a fit and healthy workforce.

    Good movement quality underpins all essential movements required to safely perform critical components of physical function, including balance, stability, and muscular strength. It is developed through functional strength training using exercises that replicate body movements and patterns seen in daily activities (such as lunging, squatting, bracing, pressing).

    This is the first study on the effect of age on movement quality in Australian firefighters, and largest firefighter cohort in the world.

    Statistics shows that firefighters have an injury rate more than three times that of the non-tactical workforce. It is well-established that movement quality deteriorates with age in the general population, but there is conflicting evidence in older tactical populations.

    With an ageing population and more than 40% of South Australian firefighters aged over 50, the MFS was keen to understand how they could best support their members to maintain a safe and healthy career for as long as possible.

    Assessing movement quality, physical activity, injury history and body mass index (BMI) among 324 South Australian MFS firefighters, researchers found that firefighters older than 50 were more likely to have poor movement quality.

    It also found that firefighters with a high BMI, who participate in less than 150 minutes of physical exercise per week, and have had a musculoskeletal injury in the past 12 months, have lower movement quality, and may be at an increased risk of injury.

    UniSA researcher, Dr Hunter Bennett, says exercise interventions could be offered as part of a supportive workplace health and safety program.

    “Firefighters are routinely exposed to unique physiological and physical hazards, including extreme temperatures, heavy personal protective gear and unstable workspaces, all of which contribute to an increased risk of injury,” Dr Bennett says.

    “Good movement quality supports well-coordinated performance within these environments, but ageing can deteriorate these functions, which may put older firefighters at risk.

    “The MFS deploys a range of supports to maintain a fit and healthy workforce but is always on the lookout for additional improvements to benefit their members.

    “In this study we found that older firefighters had poorer movement quality than their younger counterparts, and that this increased with age. Additionally, firefighters who did more exercise (more than five hours a week) had better movement quality.

    “Knowing this, the MFS can support their members by offering specific movement quality programs to better maintain their physical capabilities as they age.”

    Notes to editors:

    The University of South Australia would like to thank the South Australian Metropolitan Fire Service for supporting this UniSA postgraduate research project.

    The research paper can be accessed here: Redshaw, Alex & Carrick-Ranson, Graeme & Bennett, Hunter & Norton, Kevin & Walker, Anthony. (2023). Effect of Aging on Movement Quality in Australian Urban Firefighters. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research. 37. e601-e608. 10.1519/JSC.0000000000004528

     

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  • Blending the school curriculum to create eco warriors

    Blending the school curriculum to create eco warriors

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    Newswise — They’re among our youngest citizens, but when children learn about sustainability in their own backyard, they’re more likely to protect the environment, say University of South Australia researchers.

    In a citizen science project, UniSA researchers found that when students investigate local sustainability issues, they engage deeply with learning and develop meaningful connections to the environment.

    It’s a vital skill for the next generation, particularly as the world deals with the negative impacts of climate change, waste, and scarcity of resources.

    Now, a new research project, ‘Being Heard: Remixing Critical Literacy for Active Citizenship’, is introducing Year 5 and 6 students to a variety of climate issues through the Climate Ready Schools initiative.

    Conducted at Burton Primary School, the transdisciplinary nature of the project enabled teachers to embed core competencies from the school curriculum, ensuring students achieved required academic outcomes while concurrently developing skills as an environmentally and socially responsible citizen.

    UniSA researchers and Burton Primary School teachers, Bernadette Haggerty and Michelle Miller, say connecting students with local issues is key to building students’ motivation and learning.

    “By working on projects that are close to the students – both physically and emotionally – they’re better able to grasp what the issues are and develop solutions,” Haggerty says.

    “The breadth of projects was amazing – we had students working on beeswax lunch wraps to replace single use plastic, no waste cooking classes to stop food landfill, climate change mitigation by expanding local tree canopy, and even a machine to help plants and animals survive in the desert.

    “Learning about climate change is important for everyone. When we explore sustainability issues in a school setting, we engage the young brain to investigate and find solutions to bigger problems.

    “Students are scaffolded to understand the origins of some of our major disasters like ocean pollution, food waste, plastic pollution. The realisation that pollution starts in their own community, inspires them to take action at the grass roots – at home and the school community.”

    The Burton Primary School project is part of a literacy initiative from UniSA’s Associate Professor Joel Windle, Dr Melanie Baak and Dr David Caldwell, with the Primary Education Teaching Association Australia.

    “Our project encourages student voice and active citizenship. But by tapping into literacy skills from the English curriculum, students concurrently learn multiple skills,” Miller says.

    “It’s all part of creating a transdisciplinary unit of work that enables students to develop knowledge from multiple perspectives. For example, using maths to construct maps, biology to understand the relationship between plants and animals, technology to design solutions, art for sketching, and English for reporting.

    “In this project, students communicated their ideas using literacy skills such as slam poetry, podcasts and YouTube clips. By experimenting with news media, poetry, and film, they learnt different language techniques, skills, and communication approaches.

    “At the same time, they learn how to communicate powerful messages to reduce their ecological footprint, and how to present positive messages to the community.

    “Students have learnt to notice nature, investigate the science, and engineer solutions. They know they can make changes to the world through positive action.”

     

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  • High engagement, high return: the secret to student success

    High engagement, high return: the secret to student success

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    Newswise — High engagement, high return. That’s the advice from education experts at the University of South Australia for teachers looking to improve student outcomes.

    In a new study conducted in partnership with Flinders University and Melbourne Graduate School of Education, researchers found that less than a third of teachers are engaging students in complex learning, limiting student opportunities for building critical thinking and problem solving.

    Filming and assessing* the content of classrooms across South Australia and Victoria, researchers found that nearly 70% of student tasks involved superficial learning – simple question and answers, taking notes, or listening to teachers – rather than activities that engage students on a deeper level.

    UniSA researcher, Dr Helen Stephenson, says teachers need more support to plan interactive and constructive lessons that promote deep learning.

    “When we look at learning, the greater the engagement, the deeper the learning. But too often students are doing low-engagement, passive work,” Dr Stephenson says.

    “In our study, around 70% of classroom content was considered ‘passive’ (where students had little observable input) or ‘active’ where they may have been doing something simple, like answering questions on a fact sheet.

    “While there is certainly a place for such tasks in a classroom, student learning is much improved when students spent more time engaging in complex activities that promote deep and conceptual learning.

    “Deep learning requires the organisation of knowledge into conceptual structures, which we know improves the retention of information and therefore improves learning outcomes. Deep learning also supports knowledge that’s needed for innovations.

    “Small changes to teachers’ existing lesson plans and teaching can significantly increase student engagement and consequently their overall results.

    “At a base level, teachers need to consider how they can adjust their existing classroom activities so that more tasks are on the deeper end of the learning scale.

    “Take for example, watching a video. Students can silently watch a video (which is ‘passive’); watch a video and take notes using the presenter’s words (which is considered ‘active’); write questions that arise for them while watching the video (which is ‘constructive’); or watch a video and discuss it with another student to generate different ideas (which is ‘interactive’).

    “Interactive engagement in classrooms is where students are involved in activities with other students that stimulate them to develop deeper understanding. They’re making judgements, proposing and critiquing arguments and opinions, and working out solutions to problems. These activities can also help them to develop critical thinking and reasoning skills…all of which are predictors of improved learning.”

    Interestingly, one of the main findings of the research was that many teachers seemed not to know or fully appreciate the importance of how their lesson tasks could stimulate different modes of student engagement.

    “Even changing class activities from ‘active’ to ‘constructive’ can go a long way towards improving student learning,” Dr Stephenson says.

    “Teachers should be supported to undertake professional development to shift their thinking towards practices that support deeper learning and better outcomes for students.”

    Notes to editors:

    * Using ­­the ‘ICAP’ framework to qualify teaching activities, learning content was assigned to one four categories: 1) passive (listening to a lecture); 2) active (underlining text or writing a summary); 3) constructive (raising questions or creating concept maps that expand knowledge); or 4) interactive (constructive learning that takes place between two or more learners to generate new ideas or perspectives). Each level of the framework delivers deeper learning.

     

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  • Weight loss? ‘Nuting’ to worry about with almonds

    Weight loss? ‘Nuting’ to worry about with almonds

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    Newswise — When it comes to weight loss, nuts can get a bad rap – while they’re high in protein, they’re also high in fats, and this often deters those looking to shed a few kilos. But new research from the University of South Australia shows that you can eat almonds and lose weight too.

    In the largest study of its kind, researchers found that including almonds in an energy restricted diet not only helped people to lose weight, but also improved their cardiometabolic health.

    Examining the effects of energy restricted diets supplemented with Californian almonds or with carbohydrate- rich snacks, researchers found that both diets successfully reduced body weight by about 7kg.

    Globally, more than 1.9 billion adults are overweight (650 million with obesity). In Australia, two in three people (approximately 12.5 million adults) are overweight or have obesity.

    UniSA researcher Dr Sharayah Carter says the study demonstrates how nuts can support a healthy diet for weight management and cardiometabolic health.

    “Nuts, like almonds, are a great snack. They’re high in protein, fibre, and packed with vitamins and minerals, but they also have a high fat content which people can associate with increased body weight,” Dr Carter says.

    “Nuts contain unsaturated fats – or healthy fats – which can improve blood cholesterol levels, ease inflammation, and contribute to a healthy heart.

    “In this study we examined the effects of an almond-supplemented diet with a nut-free diet to identify any influence on weight and cardiometabolic outcomes.

    “Both the nut and nut free diets resulted in approximately 9.3% reduction in body weight over the trial.

    “Yet the almond-supplemented diets also demonstrated statistically significant changes in some highly atherogenic lipoprotein subfractions, which may lead to improved cardiometabolic health in the longer term.

    “Additionally, nuts have the added benefit of making you feel fuller for longer, which is always a pro when you’re trying to manage your weight.”

    The study (funded by the Almond Board of California) saw 106 participants complete a nine-month eating program (a three-month energy-restricted diet for weight loss, followed by a six-month energy-controlled diet for weight maintenance). In both phases, 15% of participants’ energy intake comprised unsalted whole almonds with skins (for the nut diet) or 15% carbohydrate-rich snacks -– such as rice crackers or baked cereal bars ­(for the nut-free diet).

    These findings provide further evidence that dietitians and nutritionists can recommend almonds as part of a balanced weight loss diet.

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  • Labour laws need updating now remote work is here to stay

    Labour laws need updating now remote work is here to stay

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    Newswise — Australia’s employment laws and regulations must be updated to reflect the changing nature of work, with many people continuing to work from home long after the COVID-19 pandemic.

    That’s according to University of South Australia Associate Professor of Organisational Behaviour Dr Ruchi Sinha who says labour laws and protections should be updated to clarify issues related to work hours, overtime, and breaks in a remote work context, now that almost half of all employees are working from home at least once a week.

    The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) report on the welfare and wellbeing of Australians launched yesterday found that prior to the pandemic, 13% of people aged 18 and over with a job reported working from home most days, according to the ABS Household Impacts of COVID-19 Survey.

    By April 2022, 46% of people had worked from home at least once per week in the previous four weeks.

    Dr Sinha says the changing nature of work has brought about a need to ensure remote workers have access to the same employment protections as in-office workers and are provided the same training and development and health and wellbeing opportunities.

    “We need to ensure that remote work policies are inclusive and provide reasonable accommodations for employees, including employees with disabilities,” she says.

    “Employers should be promoting the adoption of technologies that enable people to work from home, this includes essential equipment like laptops, webcams and audio tools. Such investment in digital infrastructure and resources for remote workers should be encouraged in rural areas too, to reduce digital poverty.”

    Other findings in the two-yearly AIHW report included life satisfaction, psychological distress, and loneliness among Australians.

    The report found that although people’s satisfaction with life in general has shown recovery since the pandemic, it has not returned to pre-pandemic levels, with the average life satisfaction in August 2023 recorded at a 6.6 out of 10, compared to 7.5 in 2019.

    The proportion of adults experiencing psychological distress has also failed to return to pre-pandemic levels, with 12.9% of adults reporting severe psychological distress in August 2023 compared to 8.4% in 2017.

    Almost 40% of Australians also report having experienced loneliness recently.

    Dr Sinha says employers can play an important role in helping to promote health and wellbeing in peoples’ lives, particularly if employees are working from home.

    “Employers can recognise the potential challenges of remote work on mental health and establish policies that promote wellbeing including encouraging regular check-ins between managers and remote workers, and providing access to mental health resources and support,” she says.

    “It’s important too to balance remote and in-office work by considering hybrid work models that meet the needs of both employees and employers. Things like face-to-face events and meetings arranged at cafes and restaurants can help with loneliness as well as culture building.”

     

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  • Escaping exploitation with nowhere to go: Barriers in accommodating survivors of human trafficking and modern slavery

    Escaping exploitation with nowhere to go: Barriers in accommodating survivors of human trafficking and modern slavery

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    Newswise — Survivors of human trafficking and modern slavery are struggling to find places to live with some people becoming homeless and facing risks of re-entering exploitative environments.

    This is the harsh reality for people in Australia who have escaped serious exploitation such as forced labour, sex trafficking or forced marriage.

    A review by the University of South Australia and the Australian Red Cross has found that human trafficking and modern slavery survivors face several barriers accessing housing or accommodation after escaping exploitation.

    These include their immigration status, with more than half of human trafficking and modern slavery survivors supported by the Red Cross on a temporary visa.

    UniSA PhD candidate Kyla Raby says Australia has seen an increase in the number of people formally identified as survivors of human trafficking and slavery during the same period as Australia’s housing crisis has intensified.

    A recent article published by The Conversation and co-authored by Raby and UniSA’s Dr Nerida Chazal reflects on the rapidly growing issue, with the number of people living in modern slavery more than doubling in the past four years, rising to an estimated 41,000.

    “Access to stable housing has a significant impact on survivors – it’s crucial to their recovery but there is a shortage of available and suitable accommodation” says Raby.

    “We know we are in the middle of a severe housing crisis, worsened by the COVID-19 pandemic, which has affected housing affordability and the availability of rental properties and accommodation services.”

    Research conducted by the Australian Red Cross in collaboration with UniSA involved a survey of more than 100 accommodation providers across the country operating in homelessness, domestic violence, youth, and refugee settlement sectors, as well as modern slavery case workers supporting survivors.

    It found the most significant barriers that survivors face when trying to find accommodation or housing after escaping exploitation are related to their immigration status and their inability to secure an ongoing income through either employment or social benefits.

    The wait time for social housing in many states is more than 10 years and there are strict guidelines on who can apply. In New South Wales, Victoria, Tasmania and the Australia Capital Territory, applicants must be permanent residents or Australian citizens to be eligible, with a few exceptions. Survivors on a temporary visa or those with an irregular immigration status cannot apply.

    UniSA’s Dr Nerida Chazal says the government’s Human Trafficking Visa Framework (HTVF) is intended to support survivors who are foreign nationals, but its design is limited.

    “Survivors are only eligible for longer term visas and support if they participate in the investigation of a human trafficking or slavery offence,” she says.

    “This leaves behind survivors who are unwilling to engage with authorities due to their trauma – leaving them unsupported and vulnerable to homelessness.”

    Immigration status was also a barrier for survivors being able to access a stable income to pay for accommodation or housing services.

    Three quarters of the surveyed accommodation providers require no proof of immigration status.

    However, a survivor’s immigration status may not allow them to legally work in Australia, meaning they can’t demonstrate ongoing income to pay for the accommodation.

    Some survivors of modern slavery and workplace exploitation might also not be ready to re-enter the workforce after being forced to work excessive overtime, having restricted freedom, or threats or severe violence made against them.

    This can manifest in symptoms of depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder. For many survivors, workplaces are simply not neutral spaces, but reminders of previous mental and physical violence.

    Lina Garcia-Daza, Australian Red Cross’ Acting Lead for Trafficking, Forced Marriage, and Forced Labour says it’s a complex issue that requires a holistic approach to supporting survivors in their recovery.

    “We need an approach that includes accommodation services, but also ties in other supports tailored to survivors’ needs that help with their recovery,” she says.

    “The lack of accommodation for survivors of modern slavery cannot be addressed in a vacuum. Homelessness is the result of multiple variables including lack of income, immigration status, the lack of specialised trauma informed and person centre accommodation services, and limited resources available.

    “Ongoing partnerships and collaborative work between the housing, migrant and modern slavery civil society sectors is vital in overcoming identified barriers in accommodating survivors of modern slavery and working towards safe, suitable and sustainable housing.”

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  • Serious monkey business: chimpanzee heart check via digital camera

    Serious monkey business: chimpanzee heart check via digital camera

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    Newswise — A world-first experiment to measure chimpanzee heart rates via a digital camera could help curb cardiovascular disease in great apes in captivity and provide valuable insights into how their brain develops from an early age.

    Using a contact-free technique to extract cardiac signals from chimpanzees by filming subtle movements in their face or thorax, and monitoring their emotional response to different stimuli, a team of researchers led by the University of South Australia (UniSA) has made some startling discoveries.

    Chimpanzees – our closest living relatives – show similar responses to human babies when they experience fear, excitement, or joy, causing their heart rate to increase or decrease.

    Their response to videos of nature scenes is also the same as humans, relaxing them and lowering their heart rate significantly, despite not being familiar with the environment.

    By monitoring their heart rates from a distance, researchers are confident they can pinpoint early signs of cardiac disease in chimpanzees – one of the main causes of mortality in captive great apes – and flag these endangered animals for treatment.

    Seven chimpanzees were filmed in captivity from a short distance at the Wolfgang Koehler Primate Research Centre in Leipzig, Germany, for the study. UniSA engineers were sent the footage and used artificial intelligence to determine the heart rates.

    Remote sensing engineer UniSA Professor Javaan Chahl says it is the first time that chimpanzee heart rates have been recorded by a digital camera, extracting cardiac signals from their facial hues using image-processing algorithms.

    Previous studies have either relied on sensors attached to the chimpanzee’s body, requiring primates in captivity to be trained to tolerate them, or ensuring the animal is anaesthetised before undertaking basic health checks.

    The researchers not only recorded chimpanzee heart rates using the new technology, but also compared how the apes’ heart rates changed when shown videos of aggressive behaviour between chimpanzees from different groups, scenes of chimpanzees eating, and nature videos.

    Lead author, UniSA PhD student Danyi Wang, says the apes’ heart rate increased when viewing video footage of chimps fighting and feeding, and slowed when looking at nature scenes.

    “Heart rate changes can be linked to emotional responses, mental effort, attention and focus,” Danyi says. “Babies show emotional responses early in development, which can be observed by physiological changes that help them adapt and integrate into their environment. We observed the same in the chimpanzees we monitored.

    “Their responses to viewing nature scenes could be an innate physiological response to the natural world. We know that when humans spend time in nature, or view nature-related stimuli, it has a calming effect. It appears nature has the same effect on chimpanzees, and this could be deeply rooted in our evolutionary history.”

    Because primates have similar DNA to humans, monitoring their physiological changes may provide vital information about the development of their thinking, attention, language, learning, memory and perception.

    Prof Chahl says, as with human infants, heart rate measures could be used to test recognition memory and therefore help reveal mental processes in different contexts.

    “This would not only complement existing efforts to understand the evolution of cognition, but it would also enable us to test populations that otherwise do not engage in cognitive tasks, such as very young or untrained primates.”

    Cardiovascular disease is very common in captive great apes, typically due to age-related changes, thickening of the heart muscles and reduced elasticity. By monitoring their heart, researchers believe they will be able to detect abnormal heart rhythms and potential signs of cardiac disease earlier.

    “Our contact-free technique opens up new routes to study primates’ emotional and cognitive states and may also greatly enhance the health management of a wide range of animal species,” Prof Chahl says.

    The study is published in Behaviour Research Methods, one of the world’s leading journals in experimental psychology.

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  • Getting adults on board with messy nature play

    Getting adults on board with messy nature play

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    Newswise — Climbing trees, making mud pies, or simply playing outside, parents and educators know that being in nature is an important part of every childhood. But when it comes to messy or risky play, it’s a whole different story according to new research from the University of South Australia.

    Talking to parents and early childhood educators, researchers found that parents and educators will happily open the door to ‘safe’ or ‘clean’ nature play but are more reluctant to let children engage in ‘messy’ activities or play that may be perceived as ‘risky’.

    UniSA researcher and PhD candidate Kylie Dankiw says that parents and educators act as important gatekeepers when it comes to nature play.

    “Nature play is well known for its positive effects on children’s health, development, and wellbeing,” Dankiw says, “and this was a common theme when interviewing parents and carers alike.

    “Nature play helps improve emotional regulation, physical skills, and learning outcomes, and can encourage children to develop their creativity and imagination.

    “Parents and educators also identified that nature play can help children form a connection with the natural world and learn about sustainable practices.

    “Importantly, parents and carers felt that nature play experiences could be used to offset technology use such as TV and screens.

    “But despite the known benefits, parents and carers can find it difficult when it comes to engaging children in nature play, especially if activities are messy or dirty (such as water or mud play) or are thought of as being risky (such as climbing).

    “Educators tell us that safety regulations and time restrictions can limit what they choose as outdoor activities, especially when they need to change children’s clothes after muddy play, or when parents expect for their child to come home clean from childcare.

    “There can be a conflict between encouraging children to experience nature, and what adults need to deal with in the so-called aftermath.”

    Nearly 50% of Australia’s children aged 0-12 years (two million) spend time in formal or informal early childhood education care, with long day care being the most common type of care for children aged 0-4 years.

    Paediatric expert UniSA’s Dr Margarita Tsiros says given the large number of children in care, further education and training for both  early childhood educators and parents could help overcome some of the challenges that might be linked with nature play.

    “Our research highlights that opportunities for young children to engage in nature play is influenced by other people in their lives,” Dr Tsiros says.

    “While parents and educators recognise the benefits of nature play, they can struggle with certain aspects of being in nature, particularly risk.

    “Understanding these barriers can help inform strategies to promote nature play for different age groups. It can also help inform policies and practices to promote enabling factors.

    “A key move will be to boost educators’ knowledge about nature-based learning, what constitutes nature play, and how they can use natural resources to facilitate nature play experiences.

    “In a time where screens threaten to consume children’s interest, it’s vital that we present opportunities for them to engage in nature play, and to achieve this, we need to have parents and educators on board.” 

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  • ‘Queue jumpers’ who opt to retire early are catching companies off guard

    ‘Queue jumpers’ who opt to retire early are catching companies off guard

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    A new Australian study has identified a shift in retirement intentions among many healthy older adults who are ‘jumping ship’ from the workforce earlier than expected.

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  • Humanising international education requires 360-degree support

    Humanising international education requires 360-degree support

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    Newswise — As university students settle into semester one, education experts at the University of South Australia are calling for broader community supports to prioritise the health, wellbeing, and social connection of international students as they live and study in Australia.

    The call follows the Australian Government’s Australian Universities Accord which aims to align a quality higher education system with the nation’s needs, with one priority area being international students.

    International education is among Australia’s most valuable exports and an important economic driver. It is South Australia’s largest services export and is acknowledged to support 11,800 jobs. At a national level prior to COVID-19 it contributed +$37.6B to the economy.

    The latest data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics confirms almost 143,000 students arrived in February, 93,270 more than in the same month last year.

    Now, new research from UniSA education sociologist Dr Hannah Soong shows that there is a need for universities to find for a more divergent and coherent way of supporting international students and, importantly, prioritising their wellbeing.

    Synthesising the voices of onshore international students across multiple education institutes, the study provided a range of insights into their experiences during the pandemic which are still relevant today. They include: 

    • 90% voiced financial stress and anxiety due to job loss/reduced support from home
    • 70% felt isolated and craved additional interaction
    • 65% felt a loss of ‘affiliation’ usually gained from their families
    • 60% made conscious choices to eat less to make ends meet.

    “When international students come to study in Australia, they’re taking a leap into a new country and culture. Understandably, they’re often out of their comfort zone and need all the support they can get,” Dr Soong says.

    “Adjusting to life overseas is challenging. Students try to make friends, find a house or a job, and sometimes even need to learn a new language. So, it’s a challenge from the get-go.

    “But amid the pandemic, things were far worse. Many students had to drastically cut back on food, others struggled to pay rent or lost their jobs, and many more felt guilty about using their family finances to cover their study. This is where we really saw the gaps in the overall international student experience.

    “Ultimately, our study points to international students being only somewhat supported with lots of room to improve, especially when it comes to managing general living, expenses, socialisation, and belonging.”

    The study has instigated a new UniSA-led initiative – the International Student Wellbeing Network (ISWN) team – a group of education leaders and community partners to help international students better access, navigate, and make sense of Australian education, culture, and society.

    UniSA Business Development Manager, Dino Rossi says the ISWN aims to deliver greater cross-cultural engagement, increased opportunities for domestic-international interactions and understanding, and closer connections with community networks outside the university.

    “Student wellbeing is a key part of a first-class education and overseas experience, but it must have a holistic focus,” Mr. Rossi says.

    “By prioritising current onshore international students’ wellbeing – through a model of ‘university-community partnership’ – we can increase the opportunities for international students to connect with, lean on, and get advice from our community networks.

    “With the support of like-minded, community-driven partners we can improve the experience of our international students through establishing stronger ties with community and society. An outcome that offers to deliver a broad range of benefits for everyone.”

    The ISWN currently comprises: UniSA, Flinders University, University of Adelaide, TAFE SA, City of Adelaide, Trinity Church Adelaide, Scots Church Adelaide, EQUALS International, and Uniting Communities.

    More partners are welcome. To find out more, please contact Dr Hannah Soong.

     

    Notes to editors

     

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  • Time out: We all need a three-day weekend

    Time out: We all need a three-day weekend

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    Newswise — As a four-day work week is trialled in countries across the globe, health researchers at the University of South Australia say they’re ‘all in’ when it comes to a long weekend, especially as new empirical research shows that the extra time off is good for our health.

    Assessing changes in daily movements before, during and after holidays, researchers found that people displayed more active, healthy behaviours when they were on holiday, even when they only had a three-day break.

    Across the 13-month study period, people generally took an average two to three holidays, each being around 12 days. The most common holiday type was ‘outdoor recreation’ (35 per cent), followed by ‘family/social events’ (31 per cent), ‘rest and relaxation’ (17 per cent) and ‘non-leisure pursuits’ such as caring for others or home renovations (17 per cent).

    Specifically, it showed that on holiday people:

    • engaged in 13 per cent more moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) each day (or five min/day more)
    • were five per cent less sedentary each day (or 29 min/day less)
    • slept four per cent more each day (or 21 min/day more).

    UniSA researcher Dr Ty Ferguson says that the research indicates that people display healthier behaviours when they are on holiday.

    “When people go on holiday, they’re changing their everyday responsibilities because they’re not locked down to their normal schedule,” Dr Ferguson says.

    “In this study, we found that movement patterns changed for the better when on holiday, with increased physical activity and decreased sedentary behaviour observed across the board.

    “We also found that people gained an extra 21 minutes of sleep each day they were on holiday, which can have a range of positive effects on our physical and mental health. For example, getting enough sleep can help improve our mood, cognitive function, and productivity. It can also help lower our risk of developing a range of health conditions, such as obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and depression.

    “Interestingly, the size of these changes increased in line with the length of the holiday – so the longer the holiday, the better the health benefits.”

    The study used data from the Annual rhythms in adults’ lifestyle and health (ARIA) study where 308 adults (mean age 40.4 years) wore fitness trackers 24 hours a day for 13 months. Minute-by-minute movement behaviour data were aggregated into daily totals to compare movement behaviours pre-holiday, during holiday and post-holiday.

    Senior researcher UniSA’s Prof Carol Maher says that the study offers support for the growing movement for a four-day week.

    “A shorter working week is being trialled by companies all over the world. Not surprisingly, employees reported less stress, burnout, fatigue, as well as better mental health and improved work-life balance,” Prof Maher says.

    “This study provides empirical evidence that people have healthier lifestyle patterns when they have a short break, such as a three-day weekend. This increase in physical activity and sleep is expected to have positive effects on both mental and physical health, contributing to the benefits observed with a four-day work week.

    “Importantly, our study also showed that even after a short holiday, people’s increased sleep remained elevated for two weeks, showing that the health benefits of a three-day break can have lasting effects beyond the holiday itself.

    “As the world adapts to a new normal, perhaps it’s time to embrace the long weekend as a way to boost our physical and mental health.”

     

    Contact for interview: Dr Ty Ferguson E: [email protected] Media contact: Annabel Mansfield M: +61 479 182 489 E: [email protected] 

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  • Out of the shadows and into the Light: UniSA reopens historic haunt as new Enterprise Hub

    Out of the shadows and into the Light: UniSA reopens historic haunt as new Enterprise Hub

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    Newswise — From publicans and pawnbrokers to vampires and exotic dancers, Light Square has a long and colourful history of interesting residents.

    Now, a new breed of business will occupy the north-western corner of Light Square as UniSA unveils its new state-of-the-art enterprise and innovation facility.

    Aptly named the UniSA Enterprise Hub, this collaborative space is a far cry from its heydays as the raucous Le Rox nightclub, or the ghoulish Night Train Theatre restaurant.

    Instead, the Enterprise Hub is designed to help businesses thrive by connecting them to UniSA’s renowned researchers and knowledge experts to help solve complex challenges and produce mutually beneficial outcomes for industry and society.

    Located in the heritage-listed premises of 9-19 Light Square, the Enterprise Hub officially opens on Friday 24 March.

    UniSA Deputy Vice Chancellor: Research and Enterprise, Professor Marnie Hughes-Warrington, says the  Enterprise Hub is South Australia’s ‘front door’ for industry to develop, and to extend partnerships, with the University community.

    “Industry professionals can come into the Hub with problems, projects and ideas, and our team will collaborate with them to produce cutting-edge solutions,” Hughes-Warrington says.

    “Our goal is to accelerate the strengthening and diversification of the South Australian economy, and to export SA innovations across Australia and the world.”

    UniSA currently collaborates with more than 6500 partners from industries including space, defence, manufacturing, agriculture, health and medicine.

    The re-build and refurbishment of the Light Square premises has transformed the iconic red brick building into a modern two-story hub, boasting workshop areas, laboratories, 3D printing facilities and co-working spaces.

    Enterprise Hub Director, Peter Stevens, says while the Enterprise Hub has undergone a significant facelift, the new facility pays tribute to the building’s legacy.

    “Nine Light Square has a rich, colourful history, and we wanted to memorialise this as much as possible,” Stevens says.

    “Of course, the red brick and vast arch windows have remained, but we have also incorporated iconic relics into the final design

    “We’ve kept the huge ‘bird cage’ that adorned the entrance to the nightclub, the eccentric vampire artwork from the 90’s Night Train scene and the original loading beam from the building’s construction in 1912.”

    Australia’s Managing Director of Operations at the Fortune 500 company Accenture, Michelle Cox, says the opening of UniSA’s Enterprise Hub is a historic milestone for industry and research alike.

    “We have been collaborating with UniSA since 2021 and in that time, we have worked with UniSA to disrupt the business sector, and, more recently, the technology and space industry,” Cox says.

    “By connecting Accenture with UniSA staff, we’re able to generate innovative solutions for our company, and wider industry, while also creating new jobs. 

    “This ‘outside-in’ approach will pave the way for significant industrial development thanks to its unique focus on enterprising research capabilities.”

    The UniSA Enterprise Hub at 9 Light Square opened with a launch event on Thursday March 23, where key industry partners and government stakeholders attended. This event also had a Kaurna smoking ceremony and a naming ceremony and official welcome. The building officially re-opens to the public on March 24.

     

    Notes to editors:

    • UniSA has high-res photos available for request. Email [email protected] for access or call +61 457 289 282.
    • Further background and history on the Enterprise Hub can be found here

     

    Contacts for interview:

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  • The grassroots support that’s Taking Stock of farmers’ mental health

    The grassroots support that’s Taking Stock of farmers’ mental health

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    Newswise — The University of South Australia is ensuring that mental health and wellbeing remain a top priority in rural communities as a grassroots wellbeing and suicide prevention tool is launched today to support Australian farmers.

    The free online multimedia site – Taking Stock – has been designed by and for Australian farmers, to help them tackle the everyday struggles of living on the land.

    The outcome of a three-year nationally funded research project – ‘Tailoring Suicide Prevention Strategies to Men in Farming’ – Taking Stock helps farmers break down barriers for seeking help and provides information about community-based support services. Importantly, the website hosts resources tried by other rural groups that communities can download and use or adapt.

    It also helps farmers recognise that the distress, mental ill health and/or suicide ideation they may have experienced is also experienced by other farmers, helping them understand that they are not alone.

    This is the first time farmers have been asked about what they feel would help, and how they want to be supported.

    In Australia, suicide rates among farmers are alarming high. The rate of suicide in famers is nearly 59 per cent higher than non-farmers, and was up to 94 per cent higher in 2018.

    Project lead and Director of the National Enterprise for Rural Community Wellbeing, UniSA’s Professor Lia Bryant, says the needs of rural communities are at the heart of the Taking Stock initiative.

    “Rural people have tremendous knowledge about the challenges and opportunities that they face in rural areas, so working with farmers and support groups was absolutely essential to create strategies that have meaning and are more likely to be used,” Prof Bryant says.

    “In this project, we interviewed more than 50 farmers and three local suicide prevention groups – SOS Yorkes, Mellow in the Yellow, and Riverina Bluebell – to better understand the complexities of farmer distress and the local supports those farmers felt they needed.

    “We found that on top of key stress factors that affect farmers in general ­– things like weather extremes, physical isolation, intergenerational issues, and financial pressures, to name a few – there were additional shared risk factors that farmers in the same region (or farming the same commodity) experienced.

    “If we want suicide prevention strategies and early prevention to hit home then it was critical that we worked together to co-design a resource that directly addressed the key needs raised by farmers.

    “Wellbeing is more than an individual experience. It is created by strong community connections and having local support. Rural communities understand reciprocity: the giving and receiving of support in good times and in difficult times.

    “Taking Stock shares the stories and lived experiences of farmers and explains their journeys from different perspectives. And, because it’s created by farmers and rural communities, for farmers and rural communities, the content is relevant and specific to their needs.”

    Taking Stock hosts multiple resources including films, interviews and podcasts of farmer experiences, how to set up a local suicide prevention group, and how to connect and engage with communities for early approaches to suicide prevention.

    The new website aligns with World Health Organization recommendations to adopt a whole-of-community strategy for suicide prevention. Place-based suicide prevention strategies are also central to Australia’s national response to suicide.

    Riverina Bluebell President, Stephen Matthews, says Taking Stock can also help communities create local suicide prevention groups.

    “Local knowledge and understanding are vital for supporting farmers, especially when it comes to mental health” Matthews says.

    “Early interventions are critical, but they must be tailored to the specific factors that give rise to farmer distress, while also capturing the culture of farming and rural communities.

    “By sharing how community-based support groups can make a difference to the lives of farmers doing it tough, and how communities can set up their own support groups, Taking Stock is covering all possible bases to improve mental health in rural and farming communities.

    “We’re very pleased to partner with UniSA to develop Taking Stock, and hope that the resource will not only provide immediate support for farmers in need, but also the resources to empower local communities to take positive action.”

    Notes to editors:

    • The study was undertaken across the Yorke Peninsula and Eyre Peninsula (SA), Tatyoon (VIC), and Wagga Wagga (NSW).
    • Taking Stock is the outcome of a 3 year nationally-funded research project with the following organisations funding the projection: Department of Primary Industries NSW • Agriculture Victoria, Department of Jobs, Precincts and Regions • Office of the Chief Psychiatrist SA (SA Health) • Wellbeing SA • National Mental Health Commission • Department of Primary Industries and Regions SA (PIRSA) • Superfriend and Queensland Mental Health Commission and Country SA Primary Health Network (for Stage 1 of the project).

     

     

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  • New UniSA-Teamgage initiative tackles workplace bullying from the ground up

    New UniSA-Teamgage initiative tackles workplace bullying from the ground up

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    Newswise — World-first research is at the heart of a new workplace bullying prevention program, launched today by the University of South Australia and Australian software business, Teamgage.

    The new program – Healthy Workplaces by Design – identifies and mitigates the root causes of bullying, extending beyond more obvious interpersonal triggers into psychosocial hazards, such as workplace environments, workload demands, and working practices.

    As a risk audit and prevention program it will help businesses meet new work health and safety (WHS) obligations to proactively risk manage psychosocial hazards, especially workplace bullying.

    About 1.1 million Australian workers experience serious workplace bullying, with 39 percent of mental disorder claims caused by workplace bullying, harassment, or violence.

    Psychological health and safety are foremost on the agenda of Australian WHS policymakers, statutory agencies, and peak bodies, particularly since Safe Work Australia published the Model Code of Practice: Managing psychosocial hazards at work.

    UniSA researcher Professor Michelle Tuckey says the UniSA-Teamgage partnership will deliver a risk management process that uses work redesign to prevent workplace bullying and other psychosocial hazards.

    “Every employer has a legal responsibility to provide a safe workplace, but there’s an increasing pressure for businesses to better manage psychosocial risks, including workplace bullying and sexual harassment,” Prof Tuckey says.

    “Workplace bullying already causes up to $36 billion of lost productivity in each year. And with Safe Work Australia recording a 75 per cent increase in the frequency of bullying claims over the past ten years, it’s a problem that is not slowing down.

    “The amended legislation will require businesses to proactively address workplace bullying (and other psychosocial risks) with the same rigour as physical health and safety hazards, which means they’ll need to go above and beyond administrative controls like policies and training.

    “The UniSA + Teamgage partnership will enable businesses to undertake a tailored risk audit of their workplace and generate specific recommendations, actions, and evaluations to remedy any concerns.

    “It shifts the emphasis from responding to interpersonal bullying behaviour, to proactively identifying and mitigating the root causes of bullying embedded within work environments.”

    Trialled across 85 sites, Healthy Workplaces by Design has proven results, including:

    • 34 per cent reduction in exposure to bullying behaviour
    • 46 per cent reduction in workplace bullying complaints
    • 73 per cent reduction in sexual harassment complaints.

    Teamgage CEO and Co-Founder, Noelle Smit, says the UniSA-Teamgage partnership will ensure people have safer, healthier workplaces, in Australia, and around the world.

    “Teamgage is committed to helping organisations deliver strategic outcomes by creating highly effective teams,” Smit says.

    “We achieve this by empowering teams to continuously improve how they work together, and a part of this is by ensuring a safe and healthy workplace.

    “For this to happen, we need organisations to be constantly alive to the risk of workplace harassment, toxic cultures and mistrust between staff and management – all of which can affect performance, customer outcomes, profit and most importantly people’s wellbeing.

    “We’re thrilled to be partnering with the University of South Australia to deliver the new Healthy Workplaces by Design program and look forward to delivering safe, healthy workplaces for all.”

     

     

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  • ChatGPT: the AI tech that’s revolutionising teaching

    ChatGPT: the AI tech that’s revolutionising teaching

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    Newswise — As Artificial Intelligence-powered chatbots edge into the education sector, UniSA experts are encouraging teachers to take an active role in testing and using these cutting-edge tools to maintain a competitive edge in their profession.

    The call follows a strict banning of ChatGPT in WA, NSW, Queensland, and Tasmania. Internationally, ChatGPT is banned in school districts across the US, France, and India.

    ChatGPT (and similar technology) is part of a new wave of AI that can generate highly cohesive, human-like responses to questions and prompts. ChatGPT continues to be criticised because of concerns about student learning and the potential for plagiarism.

    International expert in Artificial Intelligence (AI) and education, UniSA’s Professor George Siemens, says generative AI will create opportunities for teachers.

    “Chatbots, such as ChatGPT, are innovations that are here to stay. But rather than avoiding or banning them, it’s far more beneficial for teachers to explore and experiment with them to get a better sense of what is possible,” Prof George Siemens says.

    “For example, if you ask ChatGPT to produce a sample lesson plan for grade 5 algebra, the platform creates a set of objectives, any materials you’ll need, plus a range of suitable activities for students at that maths level. Or if you’re teaching programming, ChatGPT can create and debug code.

    “If you’re a teacher, you can see how this tool could help you plan, generate ideas, and organise your weekly lessons. Importantly it frees time for you to connect and engage with your students so that you can create more personal and meaningful learning opportunities.

    “Teaching is rapidly changing. By embracing new technologies, and learning how AI can complement teaching, we can prepare students for a future where they will be able to compete with the best and brightest.”

    As teaching innovations grow in sophistication and complexity, Prof Siemens says it will be vital for assessment and teaching models to keep up.

    “Existing assessment models that only test the product, but not the process of learning, will not fare well under an AI-shaped future,” Prof Siemens says.

    “We already know that managing AI for out-of-class assignments could be challenging, but perhaps it’s indicative of the need to change traditional assessment models so that they better match modern learning needs?”

    Prof Siemens says that AI can help reduce teacher administration, boost personalised learning experiences for students, and encourage real-world knowledge application. But to do so, the education sector must be open to change.

    “We are on the cusp of a massive explosion of innovation and creativity in the education sector and AI is at the very centre of it,” Prof Siemens says.

    “Teachers must start connecting with their peers around the impact of AI on their teaching; schools will need to advise parents about how they’re using AI in the classroom; school leadership teams must consider future options for professional development for their staff; and State and national education departments should be actively evaluating how AI will affect policy, technology needs, and teachers supports.

    “AI presents a tremendous new technology that opens a whole new opportunity for knowledge generation and idea creation to improve teaching practices.

    “This convergence of humans and AI working together is the future. Getting started now will ensure teachers and students build the familiarity they need to excel in this new space.”

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  • ‘Lights out’ for antibiotic-resistant superbugs

    ‘Lights out’ for antibiotic-resistant superbugs

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    Newswise — It’s ‘lights out’ for antibiotic-resistant superbugs as next-generation light-activated nanotech proves it can eradicate some of the most notorious and potentially deadly bacteria in the world.

    Developed by the University of South Australia and published in Pharmaceutics, the new light therapy can eliminate antibiotic-resistant superbugs golden staph and pseudomonas aeruginosa by 500,000-fold and 100,000-fold respectively.

    Golden staph (staphylococcus aureus) and pseudomonas aeruginosa are among the most deadly superbugs in the world. Globally, about 1.27 million people die as a result of antibiotic-resistant bacteria.

    Lead researcher, UniSA’s Dr Muhammed Awad, says the new light therapy will be a game-changer for millions of people worldwide.

    “Golden staph and pseudomonas aeruginosa are both highly transmissible bacteria, commonly found on people’s skin. But if they get into the blood, they can lead to sepsis or even death,” Dr Awad says.

    “Patients in hospitals – particularly those with wounds or catheters, or those on ventilators – have a higher risk of getting these bacteria, and while antibiotics may help, their extensive use has led to waves of microbial resistance, often making them ineffective.

    “Our photodynamic technology works differently, harnessing the energy of light to generate highly reactive oxygen molecules that eradicate microbial cells and kill deadly bacteria, without harming human cells.”

    The researchers tested the antimicrobial photodynamic therapy on recalcitrant bacterial infections caused by antibiotic resistant strains of golden staph and pseudomonas aeruginosa.

    Senior researcher, UniSA’s Professor Clive Prestidge, says that the technology has some key advantages over conventional antibiotics and other light therapies.

    “The new therapy is created in an oil that that is painted on a wound as a lotion. When laser light is applied to the lotion, it creates reactive oxygen species which act as an alternative to conventional antibiotics,” Prof Prestidge says.

    “Current photoactive compounds also suffer from poor water-solubility which mean that they have limited clinical application.

    “Our approach uses food grade lipids to construct nanocarriers for the photoactive compound which improves its solubility and antibacterial efficiency far beyond that of an unformulated compound.

    “These molecules target multiple bacterial cells at once, preventing bacteria from adapting and becoming resistant. So, it’s a far more effective and robust treatment.

    “Importantly, the human skin cells involved in the wound healing process showed enhanced viability, while the antibiotic resistant bacteria were entirely eradicated.”

    The consequences of not managing superbugs are high. Already, antibiotic resistant microbials cost millions of lives and trillions of dollars to the global economy each year.

    “This technology is very promising and is gaining the attention of scientists worldwide,” Prof Prestidge says.

    “The next step is to commence clinical trials and develop this technology further to be available in clinics. With the support of funding bodies, we hope that Australians will have access to this technology as soon as possible.”

     

    Notes to editors:

    Multiple papers are available upon request: 

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  • Wastewater samples show the dramatic effects of tough love on codeine addicts as consumption plunges

    Wastewater samples show the dramatic effects of tough love on codeine addicts as consumption plunges

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    Newswise — Switching the painkiller codeine to a prescription-only medicine in 2018 led to a 37 per cent overall drop in its consumption across Australia, according to new findings from wastewater sampling published in the journal Addiction.

    The samples, taken from 49 wastewater treatment plants, which cover catchment areas for 10.6 million Australians, show the dramatic effect of withdrawing the country’s most misused legal opioid from pharmacy counters, cutting dependency, and potentially saving lives.

    Scientists from the University of South Australia and University of Queensland compared wastewater samples taken between 2016 and 2019, 18 months before and after codeine was rescheduled and low-dose formulations removed from over-the-counter (OTC).

    Codeine concentrations were converted to per capita consumption estimates, revealing an immediate decrease of 37 per cent nationally after the rescheduling and between 24 per cent and 51 per cent in all states and territories.

    UniSA scientist Associate Professor Cobus Gerber says the samples – representing 45 per cent of the country’s population – demonstrate the effectiveness of the Federal Government’s decision to take tough measures on the popular painkiller.

    Opioids are among the most widely used analgesic medicines globally, with more than 61 million people using them in 2018.

    Their misuse is responsible for two thirds of all drug-related deaths, due to abuse and dependence.

    Codeine has been the most widely used legal opioid in Australia, with its per capita use steadily increasing. 2013 data showed Australia took more codeine as a country than the United States, despite having roughly seven per cent of the population.

    In 2013, the proportion of OTC codeine products was estimated at 40 per cent of total painkillers stocked in pharmacies.

    The Therapeutic Goods Administration estimated that, prior to 2018, OTC codeine sales were responsible for more than 100 deaths each year, taking a lead from many other countries to remove codeine from pharmacy counters, given the significant medical issues associated with its use.

    Lead author, University of Queensland researcher Dr Ben Tscharke, says “less availability not only means less chance for codeine to be misused, but also changing the perception of codeine being a harmless drug. Making it prescription-only sends a clear message about how dangerous it is.”

    “Codeine is typically prescribed for short-term, acute pain management but there was anecdotal evidence that many people used it as a first-line treatment and for extended periods, without consulting a doctor.”

    The wastewater samples showed that regional areas decreased by a smaller margin than cities, possibly because more people in rural and regional locations obtained a script after the change, and patients in metropolitan areas had more pain alternatives to choose from, including non-medicinal treatments.

    South Australia and Tasmania had the smallest decreases – averaging 25 per cent – and the Northern Territory the largest decrease of 51 per cent.

    Prior to rescheduling, codeine rates of use were approximately 25 per cent higher in regional areas.

    National sales of codeine during the study period were not as close to wastewater estimates, showing a combined 50 per cent decrease in total packs of codeine sold nationally (high strength 37 per cent drop and low strength 80 per cent drop).

    Researchers attribute the difference to consumption delays due to stockpiling.

    Similar reductions were observed in monthly calls to poison call centres, where poisonings halved after the rescheduling of codeine.

    Colder climates (ACT, Victoria and Tasmania) had a greater variance between winter and summer codeine consumption before rescheduling. This may be attributed to more chronic and age-related ailments in winter, causing pain.

    “Wastewater monitoring is not able to provide conclusive reasons for consumer behaviour, but it does show the effectiveness of interventions, such as codeine rescheduling,” the researchers say.

    The study is the first to evaluate a national drug policy change via wastewater sampling.

    Notes for editors

    “A wastewater-based evaluation of the effectiveness of codeine control measures in Australia” is published in Addiction.

    It can be accessed at: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/add.16083?af=R#:~:text=Wastewater%20analysis%20shows%20that%20codeine,to%20changes%20in%20drug%20scheduling.

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  • Walnuts the new super food for stressed university students

    Walnuts the new super food for stressed university students

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    Newswise — Stressed university students might want to add walnuts to their daily diet in the weeks leading up to their next exam.

    A new clinical trial of undergraduate students during their university studies has shown positive effects of walnut consumption on self-reported measures of mental health and biomarkers of general health.  

    The University of South Australia study, published in the journal Nutrients, also suggests that walnuts may counteract the effects of academic stress on the gut microbiota during periods of stress, especially in females.

    Lead researchers, PhD student Mauritz Herselman and Associate Professor Larisa Bobrovskaya, say the results add to the growing body of evidence linking walnuts with improved brain and gut health.

    “Students experience academic stress throughout their studies, which has a negative effect on their mental health, and they are particularly vulnerable during exam periods,” Herselman says.

    Eighty undergraduate students split into treatment and control groups were clinically assessed in three intervals, at the beginning of a 13-week university semester, during the examination period and two weeks after the examination period. Those in the treatment group were given walnuts to consume daily for 16 weeks over these three intervals.

    “We found that those who consumed about half a cup of walnuts every day showed improvements in self-reported mental health indicators.  Walnut consumers also showed improved metabolic biomarkers and overall sleep quality in the longer term.”

    Students in the control group reported increased stress and depression levels in the leadup to exams but those in the treatment group did not. The walnut consumers also reported a significant drop in feelings associated with depression between the first and final visits, compared to the controls.

    Previous research has shown that walnuts are full of omega-3 fatty acids, antioxidants, as well as melatonin (sleep inducing hormone), polyphenols, folate and vitamin E, all of which promote a healthy brain and gut.

    “The World Health Organization has recently stated that at least 75 per cent of mental health disorders affect people under the age of 24 years, making undergraduate students particularly vulnerable to mental health problems,” Herselman says.

    Assoc Prof Larisa Bobrovskaya says mental health disorders are common in university students and can adversely affect students’ academic performance and long-term physical health.

    “We have shown that consuming walnuts during stressful periods can improve mental health and general wellbeing in university students, as well as being a healthy and delicious snack and a versatile ingredient in many recipes, to fight some negative effects of academic stress,” Assoc Prof Bobrovskaya says.

    “Due to fewer numbers of males in the study, more research is needed to establish sex-dependent effects of walnuts and academic stress in university students. It’s also possible that a placebo effect might have come into play as this was not a blind study.”

    Notes for editors

    “The Effects of Walnuts and Academic Stress on Mental Health, General Well-Being and the Gut Microbiota in a Sample of University Students: A Randomised Clinical Trial” is published in Nutrients.

    It is co-authored by UniSA PhD student Mauritz Herselman, and colleagues from the Clinical and Health Sciences and Allied Health and Human Performance academic units at the University of South Australia.

    The study was co-funded by the California Walnut Commission.

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  • A handy lesson about pain and the brain in stroke survivors

    A handy lesson about pain and the brain in stroke survivors

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    Newswise — A world-first study of stroke survivors shows how chronic pain can alter body perception, with the brain tricking patients into believing their affected hand is a different size, increasing the risk of accidents.

    Australian and US researchers found there’s a strong likelihood in stroke patients with persistent pain to mistakenly believe their stroke-affected hand is either bigger or smaller than it really is. The findings are published in a landmark paper in Brain Sciences.

    Researchers, including international pain expert Professor Lorimer Moseley AO from the University of South Australia, surveyed 523 stroke survivors, finding that those living with chronic pain were almost three times as likely as pain free survivors to experience altered body perception.

    The results suggest that rehabilitation to address distorted body perception in stroke survivors may improve outcomes, given that stroke is a leading cause of disability worldwide and accurate perception of hand size is critical to holding or manipulating objects.

    “There are two striking findings in our study,” Professor Moseley says.

    “First, that three out of five stroke sufferers are living with chronic pain, which is up to 300 per cent higher than in the general population.

    “Second, that those with pain are also more likely to perceive major changes in how their body feels to them. This is a potential double whammy, making daily activities more difficult and affecting quality of life,” Prof Moseley says.

    Both stroke and persistent pain (lasting longer than three months) are associated with impaired cognition, more fatigue, anxiety and depression, and distortions in body perception might amplify these conditions, he says.

    Distorted body perception has been reported in a range of conditions – after amputation, severe chronic pain and eating disorders – but has not previously been linked to pain after stroke.

    “The next step is to identify whether body perception disturbance is contributing to pain in these patients. If it is, we need to devise treatments to address this.”

    Distorted body perception was twice as likely when post-stroke pain was in the hand, which is consistent with other chronic pain populations such as knee osteoarthritis, where up to 30 per cent of people believe their knee is swollen when it isn’t.

    “These remarkable findings show us that we are perhaps more complex creatures than we previously thought,” Prof Moseley says.

    The researchers did not find any link between chronic pain and strokes occurring on a specific side of the body.

    Notes for editors

    “My Hand is Different”: Altered body perception in stroke survivors with chronic pain” is published in Brain Sciences. It is authored by researchers from the University of Melbourne, La Trobe University, the University of South Australia and University of California, San Francisco.

    The paper is available at: https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3425/12/10/1331

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  • Checking blood pressure in a heartbeat, using artificial intelligence and a camera

    Checking blood pressure in a heartbeat, using artificial intelligence and a camera

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    Newswise — Australian and Iraqi engineers have designed a system to remotely measure blood pressure by filming a person’s forehead and extracting cardiac signals using artificial intelligence algorithms.

    Using the same remote-health technology they pioneered to monitor vital health signs from a distance, engineers from the University of South Australia and Baghdad’s Middle Technical University have designed a non-contact system to accurately measure systolic and diastolic pressure.

    It could replace the existing uncomfortable and cumbersome method of strapping an inflatable cuff to a patient’s arm or wrist, the researchers claim.

    In a new paper published in Inventions, the researchers describe the technique, which involves filming a person from a short distance for 10 seconds and extracting cardiac signals from two regions in the forehead, using artificial intelligence algorithms.

    The systolic and diastolic readings were around 90 per cent accurate, compared to the existing instrument (a digital sphygmomanometer) used to measure blood pressure, that is itself subject to errors.

    Experiments were performed on 25 people with different skin tones and under changing light conditions, overcoming the limitations reported in previous studies.

    “Monitoring blood pressure is essential to detect and manage cardiovascular diseases, the leading cause of global mortality, responsible for almost 18 million deaths in 2019,” UniSA remote sensing engineer Professor Javaan Chahl says.

    “Furthermore, in the past 30 years, the number of adults with hypertension has risen from 650 million to 1.28 billion worldwide.

    “The health sector needs a system that can accurately measure blood pressure and assess cardiovascular risks when physical contact with patients is unsafe or difficult, such as during the recent COVID outbreak.

    “If we can perfect this technique, it will help manage one of the most serious health challenges facing the world today,” Prof Chahl says.

    The cutting-edge technology has come a long way since 2017, when the UniSA and Iraqi research team demonstrated image-processing algorithms that could extract a human’s heart rate from drone video.

    In the past five years the researchers have developed algorithms to measure other vital signs, including breathing rates from 50 metres away, oxygen saturation, temperature, and jaundice in newborns.

    Their non-contact technology was also deployed in the United States during the pandemic to monitor for signs of COVID-19 from a distance.

    Notes for editors

    “Contactless blood pressure estimation system using a computer vision system” is published in Inventions. It is authored by Professor Javaan Chahl from the University of South Australia, and Dr Ali Al-Naji, Ahmed Bashar Fakhri and Mustafa F. Mahmood from Middle Technical University, Baghdad.

     

     

     

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