University of South Australia

About: University of South Australia is a education organization based out in Adelaide, South Australia, Australia. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Context (language use). The organization has 10086 authors who have published 32587 publications receiving 913683 citations. The organization is also known as: The University of South Australia & UniSA.

Updated methodological guidance for the conduct of scoping reviews.

Abstract: OBJECTIVE: The objective of this paper is to describe the updated methodological guidance for conducting a JBI scoping review, with a focus on new updates to the approach and development of the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews (the PRISMA-ScR). INTRODUCTION: Scoping reviews are an increasingly common approach to informing decision-making and research based on the identification and examination of the literature on a given topic or issue. Scoping reviews draw on evidence from any research methodology and may also include evidence from non-research sources, such as policy. In this manner, scoping reviews provide a comprehensive overview to address broader review questions than traditionally more specific systematic reviews of effectiveness or qualitative evidence. The increasing popularity of scoping reviews has been accompanied by the development of a reporting guideline: the PRISMA-ScR. In 2014, the JBI Scoping Review Methodology Group developed guidance for scoping reviews that received minor updates in 2017 and was most recently updated in 2020. The updates reflect ongoing and substantial developments in approaches to scoping review conduct and reporting. As such, the JBI Scoping Review Methodology Group recognized the need to revise the guidance to align with the current state of knowledge and reporting standards in evidence synthesis. METHODS: Between 2015 and 2020, the JBI Scoping Review Methodology Group expanded its membership; extensively reviewed the literature; engaged via annual face-to-face meetings, regular teleconferences, and email correspondence; sought advice from methodological experts; facilitated workshops; and presented at scientific conferences. This process led to updated guidance for scoping reviews published in the JBI Manual for Evidence Synthesis. The updated chapter was endorsed by JBI's International Scientific Committee in 2020. RESULTS: The updated JBI guidance for scoping reviews includes additional guidance on several methodological issues, such as when a scoping review is (or is not) appropriate, and how to extract, analyze, and present results, and provides clarification for implications for practice and research. Furthermore, it is aligned with the PRISMA-ScR to ensure consistent reporting. CONCLUSIONS: The latest JBI guidance for scoping reviews provides up-to-date guidance that can be used by authors when conducting a scoping review. Furthermore, it aligns with the PRISMA-ScR, which can be used to report the conduct of a scoping review. A series of ongoing and future methodological projects identified by the JBI Scoping Review Methodology Group to further refine the methodology are planned.

Oxidative stress and male infertility—a clinical perspective

Abstract: Oxidative stress occurs when the production of potentially destructive reactive oxygen species (ROS) exceeds the bodies own natural antioxidant defenses, resulting in cellular damage. Oxidative stress is a common pathology seen in approximately half of all infertile men. ROS, defined as including oxygen ions, free radicals and peroxides are generated by sperm and seminal leukocytes within semen and produce infertility by two key mechanisms. First, they damage the sperm membrane, decreasing sperm motility and its ability to fuse with the oocyte. Second, ROS can alter the sperm DNA, resulting in the passage of defective paternal DNA on to the conceptus. This review will provide an overview of oxidative biochemistry related to sperm health and will identify which men are most at risk of oxidative infertility. Finally, the review will outline methods available for diagnosing oxidative stress and the various treatments available.

X-ray photoelectron spectroscopic chemical state quantification of mixed nickel metal, oxide and hydroxide systems

Abstract: Quantitative chemical state X-ray photoelectron spectroscopic analysis of mixed nickel metal, oxide, hydroxide and oxyhydroxide systems is challenging due to the complexity of the Ni 2p peak shapes resulting from multiplet splitting, shake-up and plasmon loss structures. Quantification of mixed nickel chemical states and the qualitative determination of low concentrations of Ni(III) species are demonstrated via an approach based on standard spectra from quality reference samples (Ni, NiO, Ni(OH)2, NiOOH), subtraction of these spectra, and data analysis that integrates information from the Ni 2p spectrum and the O 1s spectra. Quantification of a commercial nickel powder and a thin nickel oxide film grown at 1-Torr O2 and 300 °C for 20 min is demonstrated. The effect of uncertain relative sensitivity factors (e.g. Ni 2.67 ± 0.54) is discussed, as is the depth of measurement for thin film analysis based on calculated inelastic mean free paths. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Do Data Characteristics Change According to the Number of Scale Points Used? An Experiment Using 5-Point, 7-Point and 10-Point Scales:

Abstract: This study examined how using Likert-type scales with either 5-point, 7-point or 10-point format affects the resultant data in terms of mean scores, and measures of dispersion and shape. Three groups of respondents were administered a series of eight questions (group n’s = 300, 250, 185). Respondents were randomly selected members of the general public. A different scale format was administered to each group. The 5and 7-point scales were rescaled to a comparable mean score out of ten. The study found that the 5and 7-point scales produced the same mean score as each other, once they were rescaled. However, the 10-point format tended to produce slightly lower relative means than either the 5or 7point scales (after the latter were rescaled). The overall mean score of the eight questions was 0.3 scale points lower for the 10-point format compared to the rescaled 5and 7-point formats. This difference was statistically significant at p = 0.04. In terms of the other data characteristics, there was very little difference among the scale formats in terms of variation about the mean, skewness or kurtosis. This study is ‘good news’ for research departments or agencies who ponder whether changing scale format will destroy the comparability of historical data. 5and 7-point scales can easily be rescaled with the resultant data being quite comparable. In the case of comparing 5or 7-point data to 10-point data, a straightforward rescaling and arithmetic adjustment easily facilitates the comparison. The study suggests that indicators of customer sentiment – such as satisfaction surveys – may be partially dependent on the choice of scale format. A 5or 7-point scale is likely to produce slightly higher mean scores relative to the highest possible attainable score, compared to that produced from a 10-point scale. International Journal of Market Research Vol. 50 Issue 1

Competitive Markov decision processes

Abstract: 1 Introduction.- 1.0 Background.- 1.1 Raison d'Etre and Limitations.- 1.2 A Menu of Courses and Prerequisites.- 1.3 For the Cognoscenti.- 1.4 Style and Nomenclature.- I Mathematical Programming Perspective.- 2 Markov Decision Processes: The Noncompetitive Case.- 2.0 Introduction.- 2.1 The Summable Markov Decision Processes.- 2.2 The Finite Horizon Markov Decision Process.- 2.3 Linear Programming and the Summable Markov Decision Models.- 2.4 The Irreducible Limiting Average Process.- 2.5 Application: The Hamiltonian Cycle Problem.- 2.6 Behavior and Markov Strategies.- 2.7 Policy Improvement and Newton's Method in Summable MDPs.- 2.8 Connection Between the Discounted and the Limiting Average Models.- 2.9 Linear Programming and the Multichain Limiting Average Process.- 2.10 Bibliographic Notes.- 2.11 Problems.- 3 Stochastic Games via Mathematical Programming.- 3.0 Introduction.- 3.1 The Discounted Stochastic Games.- 3.2 Linear Programming and the Discounted Stochastic Games.- 3.3 Modified Newton's Method and the Discounted Stochastic Games.- 3.4 Limiting Average Stochastic Games: The Issues.- 3.5 Zero-Sum Single-Controller Limiting Average Game.- 3.6 Application: The Travelling Inspector Model.- 3.7 Nonlinear Programming and Zero-Sum Stochastic Games.- 3.8 Nonlinear Programming and General-Sum Stochastic Games.- 3.9 Shapley's Theorem via Mathematical Programming.- 3.10 Bibliographic Notes.- 3.11 Problems.- II Existence, Structure and Applications.- 4 Summable Stochastic Games.- 4.0 Introduction.- 4.1 The Stochastic Game Model.- 4.2 Transient Stochastic Games.- 4.2.1 Stationary Strategies.- 4.2.2 Extension to Nonstationary Strategies.- 4.3 Discounted Stochastic Games.- 4.3.1 Introduction.- 4.3.2 Solutions of Discounted Stochastic Games.- 4.3.3 Structural Properties.- 4.3.4 The Limit Discount Equation.- 4.4 Positive Stochastic Games.- 4.5 Total Reward Stochastic Games.- 4.6 Nonzero-Sum Discounted Stochastic Games.- 4.6.1 Existence of Equilibrium Points.- 4.6.2 A Nonlinear Compementarity Problem.- 4.6.3 Perfect Equilibrium Points.- 4.7 Bibliographic Notes.- 4.8 Problems.- 5 Average Reward Stochastic Games.- 5.0 Introduction.- 5.1 Irreducible Stochastic Games.- 5.2 Existence of the Value.- 5.3 Stationary Strategies.- 5.4 Equilibrium Points.- 5.5 Bibliographic Notes.- 5.6 Problems.- 6 Applications and Special Classes of Stochastic Games.- 6.0 Introduction.- 6.1 Economic Competition and Stochastic Games.- 6.2 Inspection Problems and Single-Control Games.- 6.3 The Presidency Game and Switching-Control Games.- 6.4 Fishery Games and AR-AT Games.- 6.5 Applications of SER-SIT Games.- 6.6 Advertisement Models and Myopic Strategies.- 6.7 Spend and Save Games and the Weighted Reward Criterion.- 6.8 Bibliographic Notes.- 6.9 Problems.- Appendix G Matrix and Bimatrix Games and Mathematical Programming.- G.1 Introduction.- G.2 Matrix Game.- G.3 Linear Programming.- G.4 Bimatrix Games.- G.5 Mangasarian-Stone Algorithm for Bimatrix Games.- G.6 Bibliographic Notes.- Appendix H A Theorem of Hardy and Littlewood.- H.1 Introduction.- H.2 Preliminaries, Results and Examples.- H.3 Proof of the Hardy-Littlewood Theorem.- Appendix M Markov Chains.- M.1 Introduction.- M.2 Stochastic Matrix.- M.3 Invariant Distribution.- M.4 Limit Discounting.- M.5 The Fundamental Matrix.- M.6 Bibliographic Notes.- Appendix P Complex Varieties and the Limit Discount Equation.- P.1 Background.- P.2 Limit Discount Equation as a Set of Simultaneous Polynomials.- P.3 Algebraic and Analytic Varieties.- P.4 Solution of the Limit Discount Equation via Analytic Varieties.- References.