Objective To examine associations between cardiovascular system medication use with cognition function and diagnosis of dementia in older adults living in nursing homes in Australia. Methods As part of a cross-section...Objective To examine associations between cardiovascular system medication use with cognition function and diagnosis of dementia in older adults living in nursing homes in Australia. Methods As part of a cross-sectional study of 17 Australian nursing homes examining quality of life and resource use, we examined the association between cognitive impairment and cardiovascular medication use （identified using the Anatomical Therapeutic Classification System） using general linear regression and logistic regression models. People who were receiving end of life care were excluded. Results Participants included 541 residents with a mean age of 85.5 years （± 8.5）, a mean Psychogeriatric Assessment Scale–Cognitive Impairment （PAS-Cog） score of 13.3 （± 7.7）, a prevalence of cardiovascular diseases of 44% and of hypertension of 47%. Sixty-four percent of participants had been diagnosed with dementia and 72% had received cardiovascular system medications within the previous 12 months. Regression models demonstrated the use of cardiovascular medications was associated with lower （better） PAS-Cog scores [Coefficient （β） = -3.7; 95% CI： -5.2 to -2.2; P 〈 0.0001] and a lower probability of a dementia diagnosis （OR = 0.44; 95% CI： 0.26 to 0.75, P = 0.0022）. Analysis by subgroups of medications showed cardiac therapy medications （C01）, beta blocking agents （C07）, and renin-angiotensin system agents （C09） were associated with lower PAS-Cog scores （better cognition） and lower dementia diagnosis probability. Conclusions This analysis has demonstrated an association between greater cardiovascular system medication use and better cognitive status among older adults living in nursing homes. In this population, there may be differential access to health care and treatment of cardiovascular risk factors. This association warrants further investigation in large cohort studies.展开更多
This paper mainly explores the Australian Aboriginal-white relationship in two novels： The Secret River （2005） by non-Indigenous writer Kate Grenville, and Carpentaria （2006） by Indigenous novelist Alexis Wright,...This paper mainly explores the Australian Aboriginal-white relationship in two novels： The Secret River （2005） by non-Indigenous writer Kate Grenville, and Carpentaria （2006） by Indigenous novelist Alexis Wright, and compares the discursive strategies and narrative devices the authors have adopted to represent whiteness and Indigeneity, one from the European settlers＇ point of view, the other from the standpoint of an Aboriginal author. In The Secret River, Grenville resorts to the genre of historical novel as a way of reconciling the past. Though the novel challenges the racialised stereotypes of the Aboriginal people by adopting a double perspective （a reconfigured white perspective to refute the colonists＇ views）, the moral ambiguity of the settler identity is still complicit with the colonial discourse. On the other hand, Carpentaria rejects a narrow, essentialist categorization of the Aboriginal people and defamiliarises the concept of whiteness by foregrounding it in a critique rather than as the default norm. Set in a narrative related to the oral tradition, the novel brings Aboriginal cosmology into full play A comparison of the two novels provides a panoramic view of how the Aboriginal-white relationships are presented through the literary imaginary in Australia.展开更多
I am an Australian living in Quanzhou, Fujian Province. I am employed as an English conversation teacher in a local middle school. I enjoy reading China Today and would be interested in writing an article on my impres...I am an Australian living in Quanzhou, Fujian Province. I am employed as an English conversation teacher in a local middle school. I enjoy reading China Today and would be interested in writing an article on my impression of Quanzhou, or my experiences as a teacher in middle school or other topics that may be of interest to your readers.展开更多
As an active trader in international crude oil and petroleum product markets, Australia＇s human welfare is affected by oil crisis and contagion from the perspectives of economic growth, income inequality, and environ...As an active trader in international crude oil and petroleum product markets, Australia＇s human welfare is affected by oil crisis and contagion from the perspectives of economic growth, income inequality, and environmental sustainability. This paper investigates the impacts of oil price shocks upon Australia＇s gross domestic product （GDP） growth, Gini coefficients, and carbon dioxide emissions per capita from 1970 to 2012 with yearly frequency. Hypotheses concerning whether Australia＇s economic immunity against oil crisis is affected after the deregulation of oil market and whether endogenous oil price shocks account for more variations in human welfare than exogenous oil price shocks are tested. The methodologies include a theoretic model and a series of econometric tests. For the short-run dynamics, oil price is integrated into the model both linearly and non-linearly. Oil price shocks are categorized into exogenous and endogenous shocks. The conclusions are that inflated oil prices exert mainly non-linear negative impacts upon human welfare indicators and exogenous shocks induce endogenous shocks through labor price, Consumer Price Index （CPI）, interest rate, and exchange rate. For the long-run equilibrium, non-linear shocks＇ effects decay more slowly than linear shocks and the impacts of endogenous shocks last longer than that of exogenous shocks. Finally, oil market policies are evaluated and proposed.展开更多
Due to the shortages of natural sands along the east coast of Australia in particular and the need to fully utilise fines produced in quarry operations, progress has been made in utilising blends of manufactured sands...Due to the shortages of natural sands along the east coast of Australia in particular and the need to fully utilise fines produced in quarry operations, progress has been made in utilising blends of manufactured sands and natural sands in concrete pavements. This paper documents some of the constraints in utilising larger proportions of manufactured sands in concrete pavements. These constraints are mainly caused by the current level of knowledge regarding the impact of manufactured sands on skid and abrasion resistance of concrete pavements. This paper presents a brief review of literature on this subject in the USA, France and UK. It also briefly documents work recently carried out in Australia by CCAA （Cement Concrete and Aggregates Australia）, referring to the skid and abrasion resistance of concrete pavements using manufactured sands. The paper concludes that there is no relationship between the free silica content and the skid resistance. With regard to the abrasion resistance, it is rather the curing conditions and the compressive strength that are more important in achieving good results.展开更多
This paper reports on seven years of collaborative research with the Department for Education and Child Development. The longitudinal study examines the impact ofa multilingual literacy approach as it has been applied...This paper reports on seven years of collaborative research with the Department for Education and Child Development. The longitudinal study examines the impact ofa multilingual literacy approach as it has been applied in the teaching of French, German, Indonesian, Italian, Japanese, and Spanish across 12 different schools in South Australia. The move to introduce the study of additional languages in Australian primary schools has yet to establish wide-ranging and on-going student engagement and often fails to progress students beyond simple pragmatic language use. It is argued that a new approach integrates languages in daily classroom literacy practices can redress this situation： a multilingual literacy approach. The theoretical framework that drives this approach draws from the notions of universality and transfer that are established in the literature. A critical realist paradigm provided a framework for integrating research methods： employing contingency theory and pragmatic methods of philosophy also ensured that values and hermeneutics were not sidelined in the explanation of the study＇s acts and outcomes. This longitudinal study demonstrates that when the aforementioned theoretical notions bridge the research-practice divide and are adopted into daily classroom teaching and learning activities, there is a qualitative and quantitative improvement in students＇ literacy learning展开更多
Song of The Chu, a novel written by LAN Zi-- a Chinese Australian writer, recounts the struggle in Australia over 20 years （1988-2008） of a group of Chinese young people. Cultural difference or even conflict is one ...Song of The Chu, a novel written by LAN Zi-- a Chinese Australian writer, recounts the struggle in Australia over 20 years （1988-2008） of a group of Chinese young people. Cultural difference or even conflict is one of the inevitable issues in terms of migration. The Chinese （Han） culture which belongs to the continental civilization and the Australian （Western） culture which belongs to the maritime one are both mighty and cannot be conquered or assimilated by each other. This means that the Chinese immigrants to Australia, compared to the ones from a less mighty culture, are more sensitive and resistant to the impact of an alien culture, which leads to a conscious or unconscious sense of security of the mother culture. Cultural security, not unidirectional, also refers to the worry by the locals of the impact brought by the immigrants. The protagonist resorts to converting to Buddhism as a solution to the cultural schizophrenia展开更多
At present, the world＇s aging population is developing at an unprecedented rate, how to deal with the community service for the elderly has become a top priority. For it not only relates to the community＇s harmony b...At present, the world＇s aging population is developing at an unprecedented rate, how to deal with the community service for the elderly has become a top priority. For it not only relates to the community＇s harmony but also to the whole social＇s stability. This paper summarized some experiences and practices from some typical foreign countries on their community endowment, such as the British community care model, the Japan＇s aged care at home, the PACE mode of United States, the Germany＇s long-term care services, the Australian＇s old-age community security. On the basis of a comparative analysis, this paper concluded some experience and enlightenment of serving the old in abroad urban community, this include： Give full play to the function and role of the community in the pension, take law as safeguard on the implementation of community endowment, professional services, government-led and multiple subject participation, provide comprehensive and diversified service, etc. Combined with China＇s national conditions, this paper puts forward some countermeasures and suggestions in the end to further perfect China＇s elderly community service.展开更多
文摘Objective To examine associations between cardiovascular system medication use with cognition function and diagnosis of dementia in older adults living in nursing homes in Australia. Methods As part of a cross-sectional study of 17 Australian nursing homes examining quality of life and resource use, we examined the association between cognitive impairment and cardiovascular medication use （identified using the Anatomical Therapeutic Classification System） using general linear regression and logistic regression models. People who were receiving end of life care were excluded. Results Participants included 541 residents with a mean age of 85.5 years （± 8.5）, a mean Psychogeriatric Assessment Scale–Cognitive Impairment （PAS-Cog） score of 13.3 （± 7.7）, a prevalence of cardiovascular diseases of 44% and of hypertension of 47%. Sixty-four percent of participants had been diagnosed with dementia and 72% had received cardiovascular system medications within the previous 12 months. Regression models demonstrated the use of cardiovascular medications was associated with lower （better） PAS-Cog scores [Coefficient （β） = -3.7; 95% CI： -5.2 to -2.2; P 〈 0.0001] and a lower probability of a dementia diagnosis （OR = 0.44; 95% CI： 0.26 to 0.75, P = 0.0022）. Analysis by subgroups of medications showed cardiac therapy medications （C01）, beta blocking agents （C07）, and renin-angiotensin system agents （C09） were associated with lower PAS-Cog scores （better cognition） and lower dementia diagnosis probability. Conclusions This analysis has demonstrated an association between greater cardiovascular system medication use and better cognitive status among older adults living in nursing homes. In this population, there may be differential access to health care and treatment of cardiovascular risk factors. This association warrants further investigation in large cohort studies.
文摘This paper mainly explores the Australian Aboriginal-white relationship in two novels： The Secret River （2005） by non-Indigenous writer Kate Grenville, and Carpentaria （2006） by Indigenous novelist Alexis Wright, and compares the discursive strategies and narrative devices the authors have adopted to represent whiteness and Indigeneity, one from the European settlers＇ point of view, the other from the standpoint of an Aboriginal author. In The Secret River, Grenville resorts to the genre of historical novel as a way of reconciling the past. Though the novel challenges the racialised stereotypes of the Aboriginal people by adopting a double perspective （a reconfigured white perspective to refute the colonists＇ views）, the moral ambiguity of the settler identity is still complicit with the colonial discourse. On the other hand, Carpentaria rejects a narrow, essentialist categorization of the Aboriginal people and defamiliarises the concept of whiteness by foregrounding it in a critique rather than as the default norm. Set in a narrative related to the oral tradition, the novel brings Aboriginal cosmology into full play A comparison of the two novels provides a panoramic view of how the Aboriginal-white relationships are presented through the literary imaginary in Australia.
文摘I am an Australian living in Quanzhou, Fujian Province. I am employed as an English conversation teacher in a local middle school. I enjoy reading China Today and would be interested in writing an article on my impression of Quanzhou, or my experiences as a teacher in middle school or other topics that may be of interest to your readers.
文摘As an active trader in international crude oil and petroleum product markets, Australia＇s human welfare is affected by oil crisis and contagion from the perspectives of economic growth, income inequality, and environmental sustainability. This paper investigates the impacts of oil price shocks upon Australia＇s gross domestic product （GDP） growth, Gini coefficients, and carbon dioxide emissions per capita from 1970 to 2012 with yearly frequency. Hypotheses concerning whether Australia＇s economic immunity against oil crisis is affected after the deregulation of oil market and whether endogenous oil price shocks account for more variations in human welfare than exogenous oil price shocks are tested. The methodologies include a theoretic model and a series of econometric tests. For the short-run dynamics, oil price is integrated into the model both linearly and non-linearly. Oil price shocks are categorized into exogenous and endogenous shocks. The conclusions are that inflated oil prices exert mainly non-linear negative impacts upon human welfare indicators and exogenous shocks induce endogenous shocks through labor price, Consumer Price Index （CPI）, interest rate, and exchange rate. For the long-run equilibrium, non-linear shocks＇ effects decay more slowly than linear shocks and the impacts of endogenous shocks last longer than that of exogenous shocks. Finally, oil market policies are evaluated and proposed.
文摘Due to the shortages of natural sands along the east coast of Australia in particular and the need to fully utilise fines produced in quarry operations, progress has been made in utilising blends of manufactured sands and natural sands in concrete pavements. This paper documents some of the constraints in utilising larger proportions of manufactured sands in concrete pavements. These constraints are mainly caused by the current level of knowledge regarding the impact of manufactured sands on skid and abrasion resistance of concrete pavements. This paper presents a brief review of literature on this subject in the USA, France and UK. It also briefly documents work recently carried out in Australia by CCAA （Cement Concrete and Aggregates Australia）, referring to the skid and abrasion resistance of concrete pavements using manufactured sands. The paper concludes that there is no relationship between the free silica content and the skid resistance. With regard to the abrasion resistance, it is rather the curing conditions and the compressive strength that are more important in achieving good results.
文摘This paper reports on seven years of collaborative research with the Department for Education and Child Development. The longitudinal study examines the impact ofa multilingual literacy approach as it has been applied in the teaching of French, German, Indonesian, Italian, Japanese, and Spanish across 12 different schools in South Australia. The move to introduce the study of additional languages in Australian primary schools has yet to establish wide-ranging and on-going student engagement and often fails to progress students beyond simple pragmatic language use. It is argued that a new approach integrates languages in daily classroom literacy practices can redress this situation： a multilingual literacy approach. The theoretical framework that drives this approach draws from the notions of universality and transfer that are established in the literature. A critical realist paradigm provided a framework for integrating research methods： employing contingency theory and pragmatic methods of philosophy also ensured that values and hermeneutics were not sidelined in the explanation of the study＇s acts and outcomes. This longitudinal study demonstrates that when the aforementioned theoretical notions bridge the research-practice divide and are adopted into daily classroom teaching and learning activities, there is a qualitative and quantitative improvement in students＇ literacy learning
文摘Song of The Chu, a novel written by LAN Zi-- a Chinese Australian writer, recounts the struggle in Australia over 20 years （1988-2008） of a group of Chinese young people. Cultural difference or even conflict is one of the inevitable issues in terms of migration. The Chinese （Han） culture which belongs to the continental civilization and the Australian （Western） culture which belongs to the maritime one are both mighty and cannot be conquered or assimilated by each other. This means that the Chinese immigrants to Australia, compared to the ones from a less mighty culture, are more sensitive and resistant to the impact of an alien culture, which leads to a conscious or unconscious sense of security of the mother culture. Cultural security, not unidirectional, also refers to the worry by the locals of the impact brought by the immigrants. The protagonist resorts to converting to Buddhism as a solution to the cultural schizophrenia
文摘At present, the world＇s aging population is developing at an unprecedented rate, how to deal with the community service for the elderly has become a top priority. For it not only relates to the community＇s harmony but also to the whole social＇s stability. This paper summarized some experiences and practices from some typical foreign countries on their community endowment, such as the British community care model, the Japan＇s aged care at home, the PACE mode of United States, the Germany＇s long-term care services, the Australian＇s old-age community security. On the basis of a comparative analysis, this paper concluded some experience and enlightenment of serving the old in abroad urban community, this include： Give full play to the function and role of the community in the pension, take law as safeguard on the implementation of community endowment, professional services, government-led and multiple subject participation, provide comprehensive and diversified service, etc. Combined with China＇s national conditions, this paper puts forward some countermeasures and suggestions in the end to further perfect China＇s elderly community service.
