Western Sydney University

Prevalence and Factors Associated With Illicit Drug Use Among Older Australians: A Cross-Sectional Study Using a Nationally Representative Household-Based Survey (HILDA)

Background: Illicit drug use among older adults (aged 45+ years) is increasing globally. Despite the growing impact on older adults, studies examining illicit drug use in this population remain limited. Method: Data were drawn from Wave 21 (2021) of the Household, Income and Labo...

Model-Based Multiframe Radiometric Spatial Reconstruction for Optical Satellite Video

Satellite video provides repeated observations of the same ground scene within short acquisition intervals, but blur, detector sampling, radiometric differences, noise, and registration errors complicate joint reconstruction. This study presents mixed sparse representation-based...

Integrated crop residue return, film mulching, and irrigation enhance climate resilience of maize production and soil carbon storage in cold regions

Climate change is expected to intensify changes in soil freeze–thaw processes, thereby affecting water availability and agricultural productivity. However, the mechanistic links among climate-induced changes in seasonal freeze–thaw conditions, maize productivity, and soil organic...

Auxetic tubes to internal loading: Experiments and analytical modelling

A tube is a common structural component for energy absorption and structural protection against loads, such as pressure vessels in engineering. Auxetic design may improve the performance of tubes in this regard. Little research has been conducted on the responses of auxetic tubes...

HITH4HIPs: a feasibility trial of hospital in the home after hip fracture

In Australia, as in many other jurisdictions, people with low-trauma hip fractures often stay in hospital for extended periods, even when medically stable, increasing risk of hospital-related complications and increasing healthcare costs. In this context, we sought to determine t...

Hybrid deep learning approaches for photovoltaic fault detection: From supervised CNNs to self-supervised masked autoencoders

Photovoltaic (PV) fault diagnosis is challenged by severe class imbalance and the limited availability of labeled fault data. However, existing studies typically evaluate individual learning paradigms under different experimental protocols, making direct comparison difficult. Thi...

Shared book reading and the home literacy environment: a worldwide study using Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library

Abstract We investigated the impact of Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, a program that distributes age-appropriate books monthly to children from birth to age five, on the home literacy environment (HLE). Caregivers enrolled in the program in the United States, Australia, Cana...

Leisure-time physical activity for middle-aged and older people with spinal cord injuries: beyond physical gains and individual responsibility

Abstract Study design We conducted a descriptive qualitative study. Objective To identify strategies to enhance access to and engagement in leisure-time physical activity (LTPA) for Australians aged ≥45 years of age with spinal cord injury, with the view to address the high rate...

Knowledge graph-enhanced carbon impact assessment of construction and demolition waste with large language model-based decision support

Construction and demolition waste sector generates substantial carbon emissions across sorting, transportation, and disposal phases. However, existing assessment approaches often generate static numerical results that offer limited traceability, regulatory interpretation, and dec...

Eucalypt bark thickness and density are explained more by landscape aridity and species than by fire frequency

Context Bark thickness and density are key traits protecting tree cambium from lethal fire temperatures, and may become increasingly important for tree survival as fire frequency and landscape aridity shift under climate change. However, it is unknown how these traits vary with f...

A serum protein–to–bilirubin ratio predicts immune-mediated hepatotoxicity in lung cancer patients treated with immune-checkpoint inhibitors

Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have transformed outcomes for patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) but are associated with immune-related adverse events, including hepatotoxicity. Immune-mediated liver injury can necessitate treatment interruption and imm...

Appointment adherence, weight reduction, and retention at 9 months in Australian clinical obesity services: a retrospective cohort study

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to compare demographic, clinical, and early engagement characteristics between participants retained and not retained at 9 months in specialist obesity services. METHODS: This retrospective cohort study analysed 235 records of patients (mean body mass...

Prioritizing sustainable practices for decarbonizing construction SMEs: an actionable roadmap for capability development in developing economies

Purpose As the construction sector strives to meet global climate targets, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in developing economies represent a critical yet often overlooked frontier for decarbonization. Despite their significant role, construction SMEs face barriers suc...

Higher growth temperatures compound heatwave recovery of photosynthesis in different populations of Corymbia calophylla

Global temperature rise is leading to increased stress and mortality in forests globally and is driving more frequent and intense heatwaves; however, the interaction between growth temperatures and heatwave events on tree populations remains poorly understood. We aimed to determi...

Intersectionality and Its Influence on PrEP Uptake and Adherence Among MSM: A Scoping Review

Oral pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is an effective human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) biomedical intervention. However, men who have sex with men (MSM) continue to experience disproportionately high HIV prevalence due to intersecting marginalised identities and systemic inequit...

Single-leg squat knee biomechanics at 4 months post-operation predicts 6- and 12-month outcomes after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction: a cohort study

Persistent functional deficits frequently complicate recovery following anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR). This prospective cohort study investigated whether sagittal-plane knee biomechanics during a single-leg squat at 4 months post-ACLR predict functional outcome...

From Taxonomy to Causality: Exploring Construction Dispute Factors Using a Gaussian KGE, CN, and DEMATEL-Based Approach

Abstract Despite advances in construction project management and technology, disputes remain a persistent challenge that significantly undermines project quality, cost, and schedule performance. A major reason is that dispute causes are often multifaceted and interdependent, yet...

Critical analysis of the suitability of blockchain for procurement and management issues in building services systems

Purpose Building Services Systems (BSS) accounts for up to 60% of the cost of a construction project with multiple stakeholders, lengthy life cycles and high financial investment, making their procurement and management (P&M) more challenging than structural or architectural...

Bodies out of place? A reflexive autoethnographic account of women's cricket spectatorship in India

Women's cricket in India is increasingly celebrated as a symbol of national progress and gender inclusion, yet women's experiences as spectators remain underexamined. Drawing on postcolonial feminist theory and reflexive autoethnographic observations, this article presents a situ...

Factors Associated with Extreme Waiting Times for Child Developmental Diagnostic Assessments: A Mixed-Methods Service Evaluation in Sydney

Background: Previous Australian child developmental assessment service (CDAS) cohorts have identified a small proportion of children experiencing extreme waiting times (≥730 days) for standardised developmental assessments. However, factors associated with these extreme waits rem...