Adventures in software engineering : plugging HCI & acessibility gaps with open source solutions
- Authors: Lansley, Alastair
- Date: 2020
- Type: Text , Thesis , PhD
- Full Text:
- Description: There has been a great deal of research undertaken in the field of Human-Computer Interfaces (HCI), input devices, and output modalities in recent years. From touch-based and voice control input mechanisms such as those found on modern smart-devices to the use of touch-free input through video-stream/image analysis (including depth streams and skeletal mapping) and the inclusion of gaze tracking, head tracking, virtual reality and beyond - the availability and variety of these I/O (Input/Output) mechanisms has increased tremendously and progressed both into our living rooms and into our lives in general. With regard to modern desktop computers and videogame consoles, at present many of these technologies are at a relatively immature stage of development - their use often limited to simple adjuncts to the staple input mechanisms of mouse, keyboard, or joystick / joypad inputs. In effect, we have these new input devices - but we're not quite sure how best to use them yet; that is, where their various strengths and weaknesses lie, and how or if they can be used to conveniently and reliably drive or augment applications in our everyday lives. In addition, much of this technology is provided by proprietary hardware and software, providing limited options for customisation or adaptation to better meet the needs of specific users. Therefore, this project investigated the development of open source software solutions to address various aspects of innovative user I/O in a flexible manner. Towards this end, a number of original software applications have been developed which incorporate functionality aimed at enhancing the current state of the art in these areas and making that software freely available for use by any who may find it beneficial.
- Description: Doctor of Philosophy
- Authors: Lansley, Alastair
- Date: 2020
- Type: Text , Thesis , PhD
- Full Text:
- Description: There has been a great deal of research undertaken in the field of Human-Computer Interfaces (HCI), input devices, and output modalities in recent years. From touch-based and voice control input mechanisms such as those found on modern smart-devices to the use of touch-free input through video-stream/image analysis (including depth streams and skeletal mapping) and the inclusion of gaze tracking, head tracking, virtual reality and beyond - the availability and variety of these I/O (Input/Output) mechanisms has increased tremendously and progressed both into our living rooms and into our lives in general. With regard to modern desktop computers and videogame consoles, at present many of these technologies are at a relatively immature stage of development - their use often limited to simple adjuncts to the staple input mechanisms of mouse, keyboard, or joystick / joypad inputs. In effect, we have these new input devices - but we're not quite sure how best to use them yet; that is, where their various strengths and weaknesses lie, and how or if they can be used to conveniently and reliably drive or augment applications in our everyday lives. In addition, much of this technology is provided by proprietary hardware and software, providing limited options for customisation or adaptation to better meet the needs of specific users. Therefore, this project investigated the development of open source software solutions to address various aspects of innovative user I/O in a flexible manner. Towards this end, a number of original software applications have been developed which incorporate functionality aimed at enhancing the current state of the art in these areas and making that software freely available for use by any who may find it beneficial.
- Description: Doctor of Philosophy
A robust forgery detection method for copy-move and splicing attacks in images
- Islam, Mohammad, Karmakar, Gour, Kamruzzaman, Joarder, Murshed, Manzur
- Authors: Islam, Mohammad , Karmakar, Gour , Kamruzzaman, Joarder , Murshed, Manzur
- Date: 2020
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Electronics Vol. 9, no. 9 (2020), p. 1-22
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: Internet of Things (IoT) image sensors, social media, and smartphones generate huge volumes of digital images every day. Easy availability and usability of photo editing tools have made forgery attacks, primarily splicing and copy-move attacks, effortless, causing cybercrimes to be on the rise. While several models have been proposed in the literature for detecting these attacks, the robustness of those models has not been investigated when (i) a low number of tampered images are available for model building or (ii) images from IoT sensors are distorted due to image rotation or scaling caused by unwanted or unexpected changes in sensors' physical set-up. Moreover, further improvement in detection accuracy is needed for real-word security management systems. To address these limitations, in this paper, an innovative image forgery detection method has been proposed based on Discrete Cosine Transformation (DCT) and Local Binary Pattern (LBP) and a new feature extraction method using the mean operator. First, images are divided into non-overlapping fixed size blocks and 2D block DCT is applied to capture changes due to image forgery. Then LBP is applied to the magnitude of the DCT array to enhance forgery artifacts. Finally, the mean value of a particular cell across all LBP blocks is computed, which yields a fixed number of features and presents a more computationally efficient method. Using Support Vector Machine (SVM), the proposed method has been extensively tested on four well known publicly available gray scale and color image forgery datasets, and additionally on an IoT based image forgery dataset that we built. Experimental results reveal the superiority of our proposed method over recent state-of-the-art methods in terms of widely used performance metrics and computational time and demonstrate robustness against low availability of forged training samples.
- Description: This research was funded by Research Priority Area (RPA) scholarship of Federation University Australia.
- Authors: Islam, Mohammad , Karmakar, Gour , Kamruzzaman, Joarder , Murshed, Manzur
- Date: 2020
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Electronics Vol. 9, no. 9 (2020), p. 1-22
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: Internet of Things (IoT) image sensors, social media, and smartphones generate huge volumes of digital images every day. Easy availability and usability of photo editing tools have made forgery attacks, primarily splicing and copy-move attacks, effortless, causing cybercrimes to be on the rise. While several models have been proposed in the literature for detecting these attacks, the robustness of those models has not been investigated when (i) a low number of tampered images are available for model building or (ii) images from IoT sensors are distorted due to image rotation or scaling caused by unwanted or unexpected changes in sensors' physical set-up. Moreover, further improvement in detection accuracy is needed for real-word security management systems. To address these limitations, in this paper, an innovative image forgery detection method has been proposed based on Discrete Cosine Transformation (DCT) and Local Binary Pattern (LBP) and a new feature extraction method using the mean operator. First, images are divided into non-overlapping fixed size blocks and 2D block DCT is applied to capture changes due to image forgery. Then LBP is applied to the magnitude of the DCT array to enhance forgery artifacts. Finally, the mean value of a particular cell across all LBP blocks is computed, which yields a fixed number of features and presents a more computationally efficient method. Using Support Vector Machine (SVM), the proposed method has been extensively tested on four well known publicly available gray scale and color image forgery datasets, and additionally on an IoT based image forgery dataset that we built. Experimental results reveal the superiority of our proposed method over recent state-of-the-art methods in terms of widely used performance metrics and computational time and demonstrate robustness against low availability of forged training samples.
- Description: This research was funded by Research Priority Area (RPA) scholarship of Federation University Australia.
Positive attitude change to school - Narrative inquiry into adolescent students' lived experiences
- Authors: Wojtaszek, Sylwia
- Date: 2020
- Type: Text , Thesis , PhD
- Full Text:
- Description: This thesis reports on a qualitative research study that investigated adolescent students‟ experiences of positive attitude change to school. The literature review situates the research of students‟ attitude changes to school within the affective component of the multidimensional construct of student engagement and identifies this field and the phenomenon of positive attitude change to school as underresearched and under-theorised. Narrative inquiry methodology was applied in order to provide a detailed description of students‟ lived experiences and generate knowledge to fill the existing gap of how such an experience manifests itself. Eight students, who self-reported to have experienced positive attitude change to school, shared stories through in-depth semi-structured interviews of how the attitude change came about, who or what influenced it, and what meaning they attached to it in relation to its impact on their engagement and wellbeing. Students‟ attitudes to school are predominantly examined through quantitative research, whereas this study provided a unique and nuanced insight into attitude change based on the qualitative paradigm and a social constructionist view of the experience from the students‟ vantage point. Students‟ narrative accounts are compared and contrasted with each other to identify five resonant threads associated with the experience of positive attitude change to school. Data analysis suggests that positive attitude change to school has a significant impact on student engagement in learning and student wellbeing through its embodiment of perceived positive emotions associated with being at school. It consequently illustrates the relevance of broadening the understanding of such an experience to address the critical issue of disengagement in adolescent students. Key findings indicate that students develop a negative attitude to school when personal problems remain unresolved or have been insufficiently addressed within the school environment; no “helping hand” was there to assist these ambitious students who were struggling to engage in learning due to their experience of negative emotions at school. This research study has revealed that a negative attitude to school does not necessarily equate to a negative attitude to learning. Students‟ perception of the available support, both from the teachers and the services offered at school, is a critical factor in the transformation of their attitudes to school. Further, the students who participated in this study did not themselves feel that they were equipped with the required knowledge and skills to manage their personal problems effectively in order to maintain their engagement in learning. Only after having “hit rock bottom” and having sought help from outside the school environment were the students able to apply a different perspective to their circumstances that was associated with positive attitude change to school. From this research study it can be concluded that a student‟s positive attitude to school is a requirement for successful social and academic outcomes, and it is an educational goal in itself regarding the notion of developing lifelong learners. Personal problems and their impact on student engagement and wellbeing need to be acknowledged and catered for within the school environment. School support services must proactively extend a helping hand to students who have a negative attitude to school. Further, students need to develop selfefficacy regarding their personal wellbeing so that they become confident to act autonomously in solving their situations at school that are characterised by the difficult negative emotions that they are experiencing. Students‟ attitudes to school and the complexity of the multidimensional construct of student engagement need to be considered in the development of initiatives to address adolescent student disengagement and in the development of student wellbeing frameworks.
- Description: Doctor of Philosophy
- Authors: Wojtaszek, Sylwia
- Date: 2020
- Type: Text , Thesis , PhD
- Full Text:
- Description: This thesis reports on a qualitative research study that investigated adolescent students‟ experiences of positive attitude change to school. The literature review situates the research of students‟ attitude changes to school within the affective component of the multidimensional construct of student engagement and identifies this field and the phenomenon of positive attitude change to school as underresearched and under-theorised. Narrative inquiry methodology was applied in order to provide a detailed description of students‟ lived experiences and generate knowledge to fill the existing gap of how such an experience manifests itself. Eight students, who self-reported to have experienced positive attitude change to school, shared stories through in-depth semi-structured interviews of how the attitude change came about, who or what influenced it, and what meaning they attached to it in relation to its impact on their engagement and wellbeing. Students‟ attitudes to school are predominantly examined through quantitative research, whereas this study provided a unique and nuanced insight into attitude change based on the qualitative paradigm and a social constructionist view of the experience from the students‟ vantage point. Students‟ narrative accounts are compared and contrasted with each other to identify five resonant threads associated with the experience of positive attitude change to school. Data analysis suggests that positive attitude change to school has a significant impact on student engagement in learning and student wellbeing through its embodiment of perceived positive emotions associated with being at school. It consequently illustrates the relevance of broadening the understanding of such an experience to address the critical issue of disengagement in adolescent students. Key findings indicate that students develop a negative attitude to school when personal problems remain unresolved or have been insufficiently addressed within the school environment; no “helping hand” was there to assist these ambitious students who were struggling to engage in learning due to their experience of negative emotions at school. This research study has revealed that a negative attitude to school does not necessarily equate to a negative attitude to learning. Students‟ perception of the available support, both from the teachers and the services offered at school, is a critical factor in the transformation of their attitudes to school. Further, the students who participated in this study did not themselves feel that they were equipped with the required knowledge and skills to manage their personal problems effectively in order to maintain their engagement in learning. Only after having “hit rock bottom” and having sought help from outside the school environment were the students able to apply a different perspective to their circumstances that was associated with positive attitude change to school. From this research study it can be concluded that a student‟s positive attitude to school is a requirement for successful social and academic outcomes, and it is an educational goal in itself regarding the notion of developing lifelong learners. Personal problems and their impact on student engagement and wellbeing need to be acknowledged and catered for within the school environment. School support services must proactively extend a helping hand to students who have a negative attitude to school. Further, students need to develop selfefficacy regarding their personal wellbeing so that they become confident to act autonomously in solving their situations at school that are characterised by the difficult negative emotions that they are experiencing. Students‟ attitudes to school and the complexity of the multidimensional construct of student engagement need to be considered in the development of initiatives to address adolescent student disengagement and in the development of student wellbeing frameworks.
- Description: Doctor of Philosophy
The rare richardsitas betsch (collembola, symphypleona, sminthuridae) : a new species from Australia with comments on the genus and on the sminthurinae
- Medeiros, Gleyce, Greenslade, Penelope, Bellini, Bruno
- Authors: Medeiros, Gleyce , Greenslade, Penelope , Bellini, Bruno
- Date: 2020
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Insects Vol. 11, no. 8 (2020), p. 1-16
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: Richardsitas Betsch is a small genus of Sminthurinae with only two species described so far, both from Madagascar. It resembles other Sminthurinae with long antennae, especially Temeritas Richards. Here we provide the first record of Richardsitas from Australia, Richardsitas subferoleum sp. nov., which is similar to R. najtae Betsch and R. griveaudi Betsch in males’ large abdomen chaetotaxy and presence of tenent-hairs on tibiotarsi II–III, but lacks mucronal chaeta and has 28 segments on the fourth antennal segment plus a unique pair of sensilla on the second. We also provide an updated genus diagnosis to Richardsitas, a key to its species, a discussion of the affinities of Temeritas and Richardsitas to other Sminthurinae, and an updated key to this subfamily. © 2020 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.
- Description: This research was supported by UFRN. B.C.B. was granted by CAPES and CNPq (PROTAX II, process #156828/2016-01 and PQ2018, process # 305426/2018-4, respectively); G.S.M. was granted by CAPES (Master scholarship).
- Authors: Medeiros, Gleyce , Greenslade, Penelope , Bellini, Bruno
- Date: 2020
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Insects Vol. 11, no. 8 (2020), p. 1-16
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: Richardsitas Betsch is a small genus of Sminthurinae with only two species described so far, both from Madagascar. It resembles other Sminthurinae with long antennae, especially Temeritas Richards. Here we provide the first record of Richardsitas from Australia, Richardsitas subferoleum sp. nov., which is similar to R. najtae Betsch and R. griveaudi Betsch in males’ large abdomen chaetotaxy and presence of tenent-hairs on tibiotarsi II–III, but lacks mucronal chaeta and has 28 segments on the fourth antennal segment plus a unique pair of sensilla on the second. We also provide an updated genus diagnosis to Richardsitas, a key to its species, a discussion of the affinities of Temeritas and Richardsitas to other Sminthurinae, and an updated key to this subfamily. © 2020 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.
- Description: This research was supported by UFRN. B.C.B. was granted by CAPES and CNPq (PROTAX II, process #156828/2016-01 and PQ2018, process # 305426/2018-4, respectively); G.S.M. was granted by CAPES (Master scholarship).
The consequences of general medication beliefs measured by the Beliefs about Medicine Questionnaire on medication adherence : A systematic review
- Shahin, Wejdan, Kennedy, Gerard, Stupans, Ieva
- Authors: Shahin, Wejdan , Kennedy, Gerard , Stupans, Ieva
- Date: 2020
- Type: Text , Journal article , Review
- Relation: Pharmacy Vol. 8, no. 3 (2020), p. 1-15
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: (1) Background: Medication adherence is a key determinant of patient health outcomes in chronic illnesses. However, adherence to long-term therapy remains poor. General beliefs about medicine are considered factors influencing medication adherence. It is essential to address the gap in the literature regarding understanding the impact of general beliefs about medicine on medication adherence to promote adherence in chronic illnesses. (2) Methods: PubMed, CINHAL, and EMBASE databases were searched. Studies were included if they examined medication beliefs using the Beliefs about Medicine Questionnaire in one of four chronic illnesses: hypertension, diabetes, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and/or asthma. (3) Results: From 1799 articles obtained by the search, only 11 met the inclusion criteria. Hypertension and diabetes represented 91% of included studies, while asthma represented 9%. Higher medication adherence was associated with negative general medication beliefs; 65% of the included studies found a negative association between harm beliefs and adherence, while 30% of studies found a negative association with overuse beliefs. (4) Conclusions: This review evaluated the impact of harm and overuse beliefs about medicines on medication adherence, highlighting the gap in literature regarding the impact of harm and overuse beliefs on adherence. Further research is needed to fully identify the association between general beliefs and medication adherence in people with different cultural backgrounds, and to explore these beliefs in patients diagnosed with chronic illnesses, particularly asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Healthcare providers need to be aware of the impact of patients' cultural backgrounds on general medication beliefs and adherence.
- Authors: Shahin, Wejdan , Kennedy, Gerard , Stupans, Ieva
- Date: 2020
- Type: Text , Journal article , Review
- Relation: Pharmacy Vol. 8, no. 3 (2020), p. 1-15
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: (1) Background: Medication adherence is a key determinant of patient health outcomes in chronic illnesses. However, adherence to long-term therapy remains poor. General beliefs about medicine are considered factors influencing medication adherence. It is essential to address the gap in the literature regarding understanding the impact of general beliefs about medicine on medication adherence to promote adherence in chronic illnesses. (2) Methods: PubMed, CINHAL, and EMBASE databases were searched. Studies were included if they examined medication beliefs using the Beliefs about Medicine Questionnaire in one of four chronic illnesses: hypertension, diabetes, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and/or asthma. (3) Results: From 1799 articles obtained by the search, only 11 met the inclusion criteria. Hypertension and diabetes represented 91% of included studies, while asthma represented 9%. Higher medication adherence was associated with negative general medication beliefs; 65% of the included studies found a negative association between harm beliefs and adherence, while 30% of studies found a negative association with overuse beliefs. (4) Conclusions: This review evaluated the impact of harm and overuse beliefs about medicines on medication adherence, highlighting the gap in literature regarding the impact of harm and overuse beliefs on adherence. Further research is needed to fully identify the association between general beliefs and medication adherence in people with different cultural backgrounds, and to explore these beliefs in patients diagnosed with chronic illnesses, particularly asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Healthcare providers need to be aware of the impact of patients' cultural backgrounds on general medication beliefs and adherence.
Burden and preparedness amongst informal caregivers of adults with moderate to severe traumatic brain injury
- Lieshout, Kirsten, Oates, Joanne, Baker, Anne, Unsworth, Carolyn, Cameron, Ian, Schmidt, Julia, Lannin, Natasha
- Authors: Lieshout, Kirsten , Oates, Joanne , Baker, Anne , Unsworth, Carolyn , Cameron, Ian , Schmidt, Julia , Lannin, Natasha
- Date: 2020
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health Vol. 17, no. 17 (2020), p. 1-12
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: This study examined the patterns of informal (unpaid) caregiving provided to people after moderate to severe traumatic brain injury (TBI), explore the self-reported burden and preparedness for the caregiving role, and identify factors predictive of caregiver burden and preparedness. A cross-sectional cohort design was used. Informal caregivers completed the Demand and Difficulty subscales of the Caregiving Burden Scale; and the Mutuality, Preparedness, and Global Strain subscales of the Family Care Inventory. Chi-square tests and logistic regression were used to examine the relationships between caregiver and care recipient variables and preparedness for caregiving. Twenty-nine informal caregivers who reported data on themselves and people with a moderate to severe TBI were recruited (referred to as a dyad). Most caregivers were female (n = 21, 72%), lived with the care recipient (n = 20, 69%), and reported high levels of burden on both scales. While most caregivers (n = 21, 72%) felt “pretty well” or “very well” prepared for caregiving, they were least prepared to get help or information from the health system, and to deal with the stress of caregiving. No significant relationships or predictors for caregiver burden or preparedness were identified. While caregivers reported the provision of care as both highly difficult and demanding, further research is required to better understand the reasons for the variability in caregiver experience, and ultimately how to best prepare caregivers for this long-term role. © 2020 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.
- Description: Data collection for this project was supported by the NSW Lifetime Care and Support Scheme (now iCare Foundation). N.A.L. is supported by a Future Leader Fellowship (Award ID 102055) from the National Heart Foundation of Australia.
- Authors: Lieshout, Kirsten , Oates, Joanne , Baker, Anne , Unsworth, Carolyn , Cameron, Ian , Schmidt, Julia , Lannin, Natasha
- Date: 2020
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health Vol. 17, no. 17 (2020), p. 1-12
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: This study examined the patterns of informal (unpaid) caregiving provided to people after moderate to severe traumatic brain injury (TBI), explore the self-reported burden and preparedness for the caregiving role, and identify factors predictive of caregiver burden and preparedness. A cross-sectional cohort design was used. Informal caregivers completed the Demand and Difficulty subscales of the Caregiving Burden Scale; and the Mutuality, Preparedness, and Global Strain subscales of the Family Care Inventory. Chi-square tests and logistic regression were used to examine the relationships between caregiver and care recipient variables and preparedness for caregiving. Twenty-nine informal caregivers who reported data on themselves and people with a moderate to severe TBI were recruited (referred to as a dyad). Most caregivers were female (n = 21, 72%), lived with the care recipient (n = 20, 69%), and reported high levels of burden on both scales. While most caregivers (n = 21, 72%) felt “pretty well” or “very well” prepared for caregiving, they were least prepared to get help or information from the health system, and to deal with the stress of caregiving. No significant relationships or predictors for caregiver burden or preparedness were identified. While caregivers reported the provision of care as both highly difficult and demanding, further research is required to better understand the reasons for the variability in caregiver experience, and ultimately how to best prepare caregivers for this long-term role. © 2020 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.
- Description: Data collection for this project was supported by the NSW Lifetime Care and Support Scheme (now iCare Foundation). N.A.L. is supported by a Future Leader Fellowship (Award ID 102055) from the National Heart Foundation of Australia.
TIMP-2 regulates proliferation, invasion and STAT3-mediated cancer stem cell-dependent chemoresistance in ovarian cancer cells
- Escalona, Ruth, Bilandzic, Maree, Western, Patrick, Kadife, Elif, Kannourakis, George, Findlay, Jock, Ahmed, Nuzhat
- Authors: Escalona, Ruth , Bilandzic, Maree , Western, Patrick , Kadife, Elif , Kannourakis, George , Findlay, Jock , Ahmed, Nuzhat
- Date: 2020
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: BMC Cancer Vol. 20, no. 1 (2020), p.
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: Background: The metzincin family of metalloproteinases and the tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMPs) are essential proteins required for biological processes during cancer progression. This study aimed to determine the role of TIMP-2 in ovarian cancer progression and chemoresistance by reducing TIMP-2 expression in vitro in Fallopian tube secretory epithelial (FT282) and ovarian cancer (JHOS2 and OVCAR4) cell lines. Methods: FT282, JHOS2 and OVCAR4 cells were transiently transfected with either single or pooled TIMP-2 siRNAs. The expression of different genes after TIMP-2 knock down (T2-KD) or in response to chemotherapy was determined at the mRNA level by quantitative real time PCR (qRT-PCR) and at the protein level by immunofluorescence. Sensitivity of the cell lines in response to chemotherapy after TIMP-2 knock down was investigated by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) and 5-Ethynyl-2′-deoxyuridine (EdU) assays. Cell invasion in response to TIMP-2 knockdown was determined by xCELLigence. Results: Sixty to 90 % knock down of TIMP-2 expression was confirmed in FT282, OVCAR4 and JHOS2 cell lines at the mRNA and protein levels. TIMP-2 knock down did not change the mRNA expression of TIMP-1 or TIMP-3. However, a significant downregulation of MMP-2 in T2-KD cells occurred at both the protein and activation levels, compared to Control (Cont; scrambled siRNA) and Parental cells (P, transfection reagent only). In contrast, membrane bound MT1-MMP protein levels were significantly upregulated in T2-KD compared to Cont and P cells. T2-KD cells exhibited enhanced proliferation and increased sensitivity to cisplatin and paclitaxel treatments. Enhanced invasion was observed in the T2-KD-JOSH2 and OVCAR4 cells but not in T2-KD-FT282 cells. Treatment with cisplatin or paclitaxel significantly elevated the expression of TIMP-2 in Cont cells but not in T2-KD cells, consistent with significantly elevated expression of chemoresistance and CSC markers and activation of STAT3. Furthermore, a potent inhibitor of STAT3 activation, Momelotinib, suppressed chemotherapy-induced activation of P-STAT3 in OVCAR4 cells with concomitant reductions in the expression of chemoresistance genes and CSC markers. Conclusions: The above results suggest that TIMP-2 may have a novel role in ovarian cancer proliferation, invasion and chemoresistance. © 2020 The Author(s).
- Authors: Escalona, Ruth , Bilandzic, Maree , Western, Patrick , Kadife, Elif , Kannourakis, George , Findlay, Jock , Ahmed, Nuzhat
- Date: 2020
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: BMC Cancer Vol. 20, no. 1 (2020), p.
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: Background: The metzincin family of metalloproteinases and the tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMPs) are essential proteins required for biological processes during cancer progression. This study aimed to determine the role of TIMP-2 in ovarian cancer progression and chemoresistance by reducing TIMP-2 expression in vitro in Fallopian tube secretory epithelial (FT282) and ovarian cancer (JHOS2 and OVCAR4) cell lines. Methods: FT282, JHOS2 and OVCAR4 cells were transiently transfected with either single or pooled TIMP-2 siRNAs. The expression of different genes after TIMP-2 knock down (T2-KD) or in response to chemotherapy was determined at the mRNA level by quantitative real time PCR (qRT-PCR) and at the protein level by immunofluorescence. Sensitivity of the cell lines in response to chemotherapy after TIMP-2 knock down was investigated by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) and 5-Ethynyl-2′-deoxyuridine (EdU) assays. Cell invasion in response to TIMP-2 knockdown was determined by xCELLigence. Results: Sixty to 90 % knock down of TIMP-2 expression was confirmed in FT282, OVCAR4 and JHOS2 cell lines at the mRNA and protein levels. TIMP-2 knock down did not change the mRNA expression of TIMP-1 or TIMP-3. However, a significant downregulation of MMP-2 in T2-KD cells occurred at both the protein and activation levels, compared to Control (Cont; scrambled siRNA) and Parental cells (P, transfection reagent only). In contrast, membrane bound MT1-MMP protein levels were significantly upregulated in T2-KD compared to Cont and P cells. T2-KD cells exhibited enhanced proliferation and increased sensitivity to cisplatin and paclitaxel treatments. Enhanced invasion was observed in the T2-KD-JOSH2 and OVCAR4 cells but not in T2-KD-FT282 cells. Treatment with cisplatin or paclitaxel significantly elevated the expression of TIMP-2 in Cont cells but not in T2-KD cells, consistent with significantly elevated expression of chemoresistance and CSC markers and activation of STAT3. Furthermore, a potent inhibitor of STAT3 activation, Momelotinib, suppressed chemotherapy-induced activation of P-STAT3 in OVCAR4 cells with concomitant reductions in the expression of chemoresistance genes and CSC markers. Conclusions: The above results suggest that TIMP-2 may have a novel role in ovarian cancer proliferation, invasion and chemoresistance. © 2020 The Author(s).
Pulmonary deposition of radionucleotide-labeled palivizumab : proof-of-concept study
- Rajapaksa, Anushi, Do, Lien, Suryawijaya Ong, Darren, Sourial, Magdy, Bischof, Robert
- Authors: Rajapaksa, Anushi , Do, Lien , Suryawijaya Ong, Darren , Sourial, Magdy , Bischof, Robert
- Date: 2020
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Frontiers in Pharmacology Vol. 11, no. (2020), p.
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: Objective: Current prevention and/or treatment options for respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infections are limited as no vaccine is available. Prophylaxis with palivizumab is very expensive and requires multiple intramuscular injections over the RSV season. Here we present proof-of-concept data using nebulized palivizumab delivery as a promising new approach for the prevention or treatment of severe RSV infections, documenting both aerosol characteristics and pulmonary deposition patterns in the lungs of lambs. Design: Prospective animal study. Setting: Biosecurity Control Level 2-designated large animal research facility at the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute, Melbourne, Australia. Subjects: Four weaned Border-Leicester/Suffolk lambs at 5 months of age. Interventions: Four lambs were administered aerosolized palivizumab conjugated to Tc-99m, under gaseous anesthesia, using either the commercially available AeroNeb Go® or the investigational HYDRA device, placed in-line with the inspiratory limb of a breathing circuit. Lambs were scanned in a single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT/CT) scanner in the supine position during the administration procedure. Measurements and Main Results: Both the HYDRA and AeroNeb Go® produced palivizumab aerosols in the 1–5 µm range with similar median (geometric standard deviation and range) aerosol droplet diameters for the HYDRA device (1.84 ± 1.40 μm, range = 0.54–5.41μm) and the AeroNeb Go® (3.07 ± 1.56 μm, range = 0.86–10 μm). Aerosolized palivizumab was delivered to the lungs at 88.79–94.13% of the total aerosolized amount for all lambs, with a small proportion localized to either the trachea or stomach. No difference between devices were found. Pulmonary deposition ranged from 6.57 to 9.25% of the total dose of palivizumab loaded in the devices, mostly in the central right lung. Conclusions: Aerosolized palivizumab deposition patterns were similar in all lambs, suggesting a promising approach in the control of severe RSV lung infections. © Copyright © 2020 Rajapaksa, Do, Suryawijaya Ong, Sourial, Veysey, Beare, Hughes, Yang, Bischof, McDonnell, Eu, Yeo, Licciardi and Mulholland. ***Please note that there are multiple authors for this article therefore only the name of the first 5 including Federation University Australia affiliate “Robert Bishof” is provided in this record***
- Description: The authors thank Rebecca Sutton for her technical assistance on lamb management, and Kera Pethybridge and Ellie Wright for her technical assistance on nuclear imaging. This study is?supported by a Jack Brockhoff Foundation Early Career Research Grant and a National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) Early Career Fellowship (GNT1123030) awarded to AR, and the Victorian Government?s Operational Infrastructure Support Program. PL is supported by an NHMRC Career Development Fellowship (GNT1165084).
- Authors: Rajapaksa, Anushi , Do, Lien , Suryawijaya Ong, Darren , Sourial, Magdy , Bischof, Robert
- Date: 2020
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Frontiers in Pharmacology Vol. 11, no. (2020), p.
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: Objective: Current prevention and/or treatment options for respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infections are limited as no vaccine is available. Prophylaxis with palivizumab is very expensive and requires multiple intramuscular injections over the RSV season. Here we present proof-of-concept data using nebulized palivizumab delivery as a promising new approach for the prevention or treatment of severe RSV infections, documenting both aerosol characteristics and pulmonary deposition patterns in the lungs of lambs. Design: Prospective animal study. Setting: Biosecurity Control Level 2-designated large animal research facility at the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute, Melbourne, Australia. Subjects: Four weaned Border-Leicester/Suffolk lambs at 5 months of age. Interventions: Four lambs were administered aerosolized palivizumab conjugated to Tc-99m, under gaseous anesthesia, using either the commercially available AeroNeb Go® or the investigational HYDRA device, placed in-line with the inspiratory limb of a breathing circuit. Lambs were scanned in a single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT/CT) scanner in the supine position during the administration procedure. Measurements and Main Results: Both the HYDRA and AeroNeb Go® produced palivizumab aerosols in the 1–5 µm range with similar median (geometric standard deviation and range) aerosol droplet diameters for the HYDRA device (1.84 ± 1.40 μm, range = 0.54–5.41μm) and the AeroNeb Go® (3.07 ± 1.56 μm, range = 0.86–10 μm). Aerosolized palivizumab was delivered to the lungs at 88.79–94.13% of the total aerosolized amount for all lambs, with a small proportion localized to either the trachea or stomach. No difference between devices were found. Pulmonary deposition ranged from 6.57 to 9.25% of the total dose of palivizumab loaded in the devices, mostly in the central right lung. Conclusions: Aerosolized palivizumab deposition patterns were similar in all lambs, suggesting a promising approach in the control of severe RSV lung infections. © Copyright © 2020 Rajapaksa, Do, Suryawijaya Ong, Sourial, Veysey, Beare, Hughes, Yang, Bischof, McDonnell, Eu, Yeo, Licciardi and Mulholland. ***Please note that there are multiple authors for this article therefore only the name of the first 5 including Federation University Australia affiliate “Robert Bishof” is provided in this record***
- Description: The authors thank Rebecca Sutton for her technical assistance on lamb management, and Kera Pethybridge and Ellie Wright for her technical assistance on nuclear imaging. This study is?supported by a Jack Brockhoff Foundation Early Career Research Grant and a National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) Early Career Fellowship (GNT1123030) awarded to AR, and the Victorian Government?s Operational Infrastructure Support Program. PL is supported by an NHMRC Career Development Fellowship (GNT1165084).
An investigation of Surf Life Saving Australia's Junior Development Program for Nippers
- Authors: Higgerson, Amanda
- Date: 2020
- Type: Text , Thesis , Masters
- Full Text:
- Description: The primary aim of Surf Life Saving Australia (SLSA), through their State and Territory bodies is to provide safe coastal environments for Australian beach goers. With over 312 affiliated clubs across Australia, SLSA provides an opportunity for primary school aged children (Nippers) to experience water safety and aquatic education in an open water environment. Nippers in the Under 8-Under 13 years age groups are involved in a participation-based education program known as the Junior Development Program (JDP), which aims to develop skills required for future lifesaving (Giles & Slade, 2012). The overall aim of this research was to identify and explore the barriers and enablers to involvement in SLSA’s JDP from the perspective of the participants, their parents/carers and those involved in the delivery of the program. Utilising a multiphase mixed method design, 341 Nippers from eight surf lifesaving clubs in New South Wales completed a questionnaire and 30 interviews were conducted – 19 with parents/carers from seven of the eight participating lifesaving clubs, and 11 Age Managers from six of the eight clubs. The findings indicated that the Nippers perceived most lifesaving skills were important and were happy/very happy to be learning about safety of themselves and how to assist others in the surf. Most concerns related to unknowns in terms of sea creatures and adverse weather conditions like storms and lightening. Interviewees believed Nipper participation was based on interpersonal and intrapersonal reasons, with socialisation a positive aspect of the program. In line with common fears reported by Nippers, interviewees reported unfavourable environmental conditions, including big surf, cold weather, weed and stingers, as barriers to participation. The findings and opinions from those involved in the JDP provide insights into barriers and enablers to participation in the program, which is intended to provide important guidance for future delivery of the JDP across Australia.
- Description: Masters by Research
- Authors: Higgerson, Amanda
- Date: 2020
- Type: Text , Thesis , Masters
- Full Text:
- Description: The primary aim of Surf Life Saving Australia (SLSA), through their State and Territory bodies is to provide safe coastal environments for Australian beach goers. With over 312 affiliated clubs across Australia, SLSA provides an opportunity for primary school aged children (Nippers) to experience water safety and aquatic education in an open water environment. Nippers in the Under 8-Under 13 years age groups are involved in a participation-based education program known as the Junior Development Program (JDP), which aims to develop skills required for future lifesaving (Giles & Slade, 2012). The overall aim of this research was to identify and explore the barriers and enablers to involvement in SLSA’s JDP from the perspective of the participants, their parents/carers and those involved in the delivery of the program. Utilising a multiphase mixed method design, 341 Nippers from eight surf lifesaving clubs in New South Wales completed a questionnaire and 30 interviews were conducted – 19 with parents/carers from seven of the eight participating lifesaving clubs, and 11 Age Managers from six of the eight clubs. The findings indicated that the Nippers perceived most lifesaving skills were important and were happy/very happy to be learning about safety of themselves and how to assist others in the surf. Most concerns related to unknowns in terms of sea creatures and adverse weather conditions like storms and lightening. Interviewees believed Nipper participation was based on interpersonal and intrapersonal reasons, with socialisation a positive aspect of the program. In line with common fears reported by Nippers, interviewees reported unfavourable environmental conditions, including big surf, cold weather, weed and stingers, as barriers to participation. The findings and opinions from those involved in the JDP provide insights into barriers and enablers to participation in the program, which is intended to provide important guidance for future delivery of the JDP across Australia.
- Description: Masters by Research
Blood and saliva-derived exomes from healthy Caucasian subjects do not display overt evidence of somatic mosaicism
- Hall, Nathan, Mamrot, Jared, Frampton, Chris, Read, Prue, Steele, Edward, Bischoff, Robert, Lindley, Robyn
- Authors: Hall, Nathan , Mamrot, Jared , Frampton, Chris , Read, Prue , Steele, Edward , Bischoff, Robert , Lindley, Robyn
- Date: 2020
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Mutation Research - Fundamental and Molecular Mechanisms of Mutagenesis Vol. 821, no. (2020), p.
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: Somatic mosaicism is a normal occurrence during development in the tissues and organs. As part of establishing a “healthy population “(HP) background or base-line, we investigated whether such mosaicism can be routinely detected in the circulating DNA secured from a rigorously designed healthy human liquid biopsy clinical trial (saliva, blood). We deployed next generation (NG) whole exome sequencing (WES) at median exome coverage rates of 97.2 % (-to-30x) and 70.0 % (-to-100x). We found that somatic mosaicism is not detectable by such standard bulk WES sequencing assays in saliva and blood DNA in 24 normal healthy Caucasians of both sexes from 18 to 60 years of age. We conclude that for circulating DNA using standard WES no novel somatic mutational variants can be detected in protein-coding regions of normal healthy subjects. This implies that the extent within normal tissues of somatic mosaicism must be at a lower level, below the detection threshold, for these circulating DNA WES read depths. © 2020 The Author(s)
- Authors: Hall, Nathan , Mamrot, Jared , Frampton, Chris , Read, Prue , Steele, Edward , Bischoff, Robert , Lindley, Robyn
- Date: 2020
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Mutation Research - Fundamental and Molecular Mechanisms of Mutagenesis Vol. 821, no. (2020), p.
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: Somatic mosaicism is a normal occurrence during development in the tissues and organs. As part of establishing a “healthy population “(HP) background or base-line, we investigated whether such mosaicism can be routinely detected in the circulating DNA secured from a rigorously designed healthy human liquid biopsy clinical trial (saliva, blood). We deployed next generation (NG) whole exome sequencing (WES) at median exome coverage rates of 97.2 % (-to-30x) and 70.0 % (-to-100x). We found that somatic mosaicism is not detectable by such standard bulk WES sequencing assays in saliva and blood DNA in 24 normal healthy Caucasians of both sexes from 18 to 60 years of age. We conclude that for circulating DNA using standard WES no novel somatic mutational variants can be detected in protein-coding regions of normal healthy subjects. This implies that the extent within normal tissues of somatic mosaicism must be at a lower level, below the detection threshold, for these circulating DNA WES read depths. © 2020 The Author(s)
A survey dataset to evaluate the changes in mobility and transportation due to COVID-19 travel restrictions in Australia, Brazil, China, Ghana, India, Iran, Italy, Norway, South Africa, United States
- Barbieri, Diego, Lou, Baowen, Passavanti, Marco, Hui, Cang, Lam, Louisa
- Authors: Barbieri, Diego , Lou, Baowen , Passavanti, Marco , Hui, Cang , Lam, Louisa
- Date: 2020
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Data in Brief Vol. 33, no. (2020), p.
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: COVID-19 pandemic has heavily impacted the global community. To curb the viral transmission, travel restrictions have been enforced across the world. The dataset documents the mobility disruptions and the modal shifts that have occurred as a consequence of the restrictive measures implemented in ten countries: Australia, Brazil, China, Ghana, India, Iran, Italy, Norway, South Africa and the United States. An online questionnaire was distributed during the period from the 11st to the 31st of May 2020, with a total of 9 394 respondents. The first part of the survey has characterized the frequency of use of all transport modes before and during the enforcement of the restrictions, while the second part of the survey has dealt with perceived risks of contracting COVID-19 from different transport modes and perceived effectiveness of travel mitigation measures. Overall, the dataset (stored in a repository publicly available) can be conveniently used to quantify and understand the modal shifts and people's cognitive behavior towards travel due to COVID-19. The collected responses can be further analysed by considering other demographic and socioeconomic covariates. © 2020 The Author(s). *Please note that there are multiple authors for this article therefore only the name of the first 5 including Federation University Australia affiliate “Louisa Lam” is provided in this record*
- Authors: Barbieri, Diego , Lou, Baowen , Passavanti, Marco , Hui, Cang , Lam, Louisa
- Date: 2020
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Data in Brief Vol. 33, no. (2020), p.
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: COVID-19 pandemic has heavily impacted the global community. To curb the viral transmission, travel restrictions have been enforced across the world. The dataset documents the mobility disruptions and the modal shifts that have occurred as a consequence of the restrictive measures implemented in ten countries: Australia, Brazil, China, Ghana, India, Iran, Italy, Norway, South Africa and the United States. An online questionnaire was distributed during the period from the 11st to the 31st of May 2020, with a total of 9 394 respondents. The first part of the survey has characterized the frequency of use of all transport modes before and during the enforcement of the restrictions, while the second part of the survey has dealt with perceived risks of contracting COVID-19 from different transport modes and perceived effectiveness of travel mitigation measures. Overall, the dataset (stored in a repository publicly available) can be conveniently used to quantify and understand the modal shifts and people's cognitive behavior towards travel due to COVID-19. The collected responses can be further analysed by considering other demographic and socioeconomic covariates. © 2020 The Author(s). *Please note that there are multiple authors for this article therefore only the name of the first 5 including Federation University Australia affiliate “Louisa Lam” is provided in this record*
Development of cluster-based energy management scheme for residential usages in the smart grid community
- Ur Rashid, Md Mamun, Granelli, Fabrizio, Hossain, Md Alamgir, Alam, Md Shafiul, Al-Ismail, Fahad, Shah, Rakibuzzaman
- Authors: Ur Rashid, Md Mamun , Granelli, Fabrizio , Hossain, Md Alamgir , Alam, Md Shafiul , Al-Ismail, Fahad , Shah, Rakibuzzaman
- Date: 2020
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Electronics (Switzerland) Vol. 9, no. 9 (2020), p. 1-25
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: Several efforts have been taken to promote clean energy towards a sustainable and green economy. Existing sources of electricity present some complications concerning consumers, utility owners, and the environment. Utility operators encourage household applicants to employ residential energy management (REM) systems. Renewable energy sources (RESs), energy storage systems (ESS), and optimal energy allocation strategies are used to resolve these difficulties. In this paper, the development of a cluster-based energy management scheme for residential consumers of a smart grid community is proposed to reduce energy use and monetary cost. Normally, residential consumers deal with household appliances with various operating time slots depending on consumer preferences. A simulator is designed and developed using C++ software to resolve the residential consumer’s REM problem. The benefits of the RESs, ESS, and optimal energy allocation techniques are analyzed by taking in account three different scenarios. Extensive case studies are carried out to validate the effectiveness of the proposed cluster-based energy management scheme. It is demonstrated that the proposed method can save energy and costs up to 45% and 56% compared to the existing methods. © 2020 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.
- Authors: Ur Rashid, Md Mamun , Granelli, Fabrizio , Hossain, Md Alamgir , Alam, Md Shafiul , Al-Ismail, Fahad , Shah, Rakibuzzaman
- Date: 2020
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Electronics (Switzerland) Vol. 9, no. 9 (2020), p. 1-25
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: Several efforts have been taken to promote clean energy towards a sustainable and green economy. Existing sources of electricity present some complications concerning consumers, utility owners, and the environment. Utility operators encourage household applicants to employ residential energy management (REM) systems. Renewable energy sources (RESs), energy storage systems (ESS), and optimal energy allocation strategies are used to resolve these difficulties. In this paper, the development of a cluster-based energy management scheme for residential consumers of a smart grid community is proposed to reduce energy use and monetary cost. Normally, residential consumers deal with household appliances with various operating time slots depending on consumer preferences. A simulator is designed and developed using C++ software to resolve the residential consumer’s REM problem. The benefits of the RESs, ESS, and optimal energy allocation techniques are analyzed by taking in account three different scenarios. Extensive case studies are carried out to validate the effectiveness of the proposed cluster-based energy management scheme. It is demonstrated that the proposed method can save energy and costs up to 45% and 56% compared to the existing methods. © 2020 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.
The non-smooth and bi-objective team orienteering problem with soft constraints
- Estrada-Moreno, Alejandro, Ferrer, Albert, Juan, Angel, Panadero, Javier, Bagirov, Adil
- Authors: Estrada-Moreno, Alejandro , Ferrer, Albert , Juan, Angel , Panadero, Javier , Bagirov, Adil
- Date: 2020
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Mathematics Vol. 8, no. 9 (2020), p.
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: In the classical team orienteering problem (TOP), a fixed fleet of vehicles is employed, each of them with a limited driving range. The manager has to decide about the subset of customers to visit, as well as the visiting order (routes). Each customer offers a different reward, which is gathered the first time that it is visited. The goal is then to maximize the total reward collected without exceeding the driving range constraint. This paper analyzes a more realistic version of the TOP in which the driving range limitation is considered as a soft constraint: every time that this range is exceeded, a penalty cost is triggered. This cost is modeled as a piece-wise function, which depends on factors such as the distance of the vehicle to the destination depot. As a result, the traditional reward-maximization objective becomes a non-smooth function. In addition, a second objective, regarding the design of balanced routing plans, is considered as well. A mathematical model for this non-smooth and bi-objective TOP is provided, and a biased-randomized algorithm is proposed as a solving approach. © 2020 by the authors.
- Description: This work has been partially supported by the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness & FEDER (SEV-2015-0563), the Spanish Ministry of Science (PID2019-111100RB-C21, RED2018-102642-T), and the Erasmus+ Program (2019-I-ES01-KA103-062602).
- Authors: Estrada-Moreno, Alejandro , Ferrer, Albert , Juan, Angel , Panadero, Javier , Bagirov, Adil
- Date: 2020
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Mathematics Vol. 8, no. 9 (2020), p.
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: In the classical team orienteering problem (TOP), a fixed fleet of vehicles is employed, each of them with a limited driving range. The manager has to decide about the subset of customers to visit, as well as the visiting order (routes). Each customer offers a different reward, which is gathered the first time that it is visited. The goal is then to maximize the total reward collected without exceeding the driving range constraint. This paper analyzes a more realistic version of the TOP in which the driving range limitation is considered as a soft constraint: every time that this range is exceeded, a penalty cost is triggered. This cost is modeled as a piece-wise function, which depends on factors such as the distance of the vehicle to the destination depot. As a result, the traditional reward-maximization objective becomes a non-smooth function. In addition, a second objective, regarding the design of balanced routing plans, is considered as well. A mathematical model for this non-smooth and bi-objective TOP is provided, and a biased-randomized algorithm is proposed as a solving approach. © 2020 by the authors.
- Description: This work has been partially supported by the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness & FEDER (SEV-2015-0563), the Spanish Ministry of Science (PID2019-111100RB-C21, RED2018-102642-T), and the Erasmus+ Program (2019-I-ES01-KA103-062602).
The influences of low protein diet on the intestinal microbiota of mice
- Masuoka, Hiroaki, Suda, Wataru, Tomitsuka, Eriko, Shindo, Chie, Takayasu, Lena, Horwood, Paul, Greenhill, Andrew, Hattori, Masahira, Umezaki, Masahiro, Hirayama, Kazuhiro
- Authors: Masuoka, Hiroaki , Suda, Wataru , Tomitsuka, Eriko , Shindo, Chie , Takayasu, Lena , Horwood, Paul , Greenhill, Andrew , Hattori, Masahira , Umezaki, Masahiro , Hirayama, Kazuhiro
- Date: 2020
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Scientific Reports Vol. 10, no. 1 (2020), p.
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: Recent research suggests that protein deficiency symptoms are influenced by the intestinal microbiota. We investigated the influence of low protein diet on composition of the intestinal microbiota through animal experiments. Specific pathogen-free (SPF) mice were fed one of four diets (3, 6, 9, or 12% protein) for 4 weeks (n = 5 per diet). Mice fed the 3% protein diet showed protein deficiency symptoms such as weight loss and low level of blood urea nitrogen concentration in their serum. The intestinal microbiota of mice in the 3% and 12% protein diet groups at day 0, 7, 14, 21 and 28 were investigated by 16S rRNA gene sequencing, which revealed differences in the microbiota. In the 3% protein diet group, a greater abundance of urease producing bacterial species was detected across the duration of the study. In the 12% diet protein group, increases of abundance of Streptococcaceae and Clostridiales families was detected. These results suggest that protein deficiency may be associated with shifts in intestinal microbiota. © 2020, The Author(s).
- Authors: Masuoka, Hiroaki , Suda, Wataru , Tomitsuka, Eriko , Shindo, Chie , Takayasu, Lena , Horwood, Paul , Greenhill, Andrew , Hattori, Masahira , Umezaki, Masahiro , Hirayama, Kazuhiro
- Date: 2020
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Scientific Reports Vol. 10, no. 1 (2020), p.
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: Recent research suggests that protein deficiency symptoms are influenced by the intestinal microbiota. We investigated the influence of low protein diet on composition of the intestinal microbiota through animal experiments. Specific pathogen-free (SPF) mice were fed one of four diets (3, 6, 9, or 12% protein) for 4 weeks (n = 5 per diet). Mice fed the 3% protein diet showed protein deficiency symptoms such as weight loss and low level of blood urea nitrogen concentration in their serum. The intestinal microbiota of mice in the 3% and 12% protein diet groups at day 0, 7, 14, 21 and 28 were investigated by 16S rRNA gene sequencing, which revealed differences in the microbiota. In the 3% protein diet group, a greater abundance of urease producing bacterial species was detected across the duration of the study. In the 12% diet protein group, increases of abundance of Streptococcaceae and Clostridiales families was detected. These results suggest that protein deficiency may be associated with shifts in intestinal microbiota. © 2020, The Author(s).
Modelling hydrological performance of a bauxite residue profile for deposition management of a storage facility
- Shaygan, Mandana, Usher, Brent, Baumgartl, Thomas
- Authors: Shaygan, Mandana , Usher, Brent , Baumgartl, Thomas
- Date: 2020
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Water (Switzerland) Vol. 12, no. 7 (2020), p.
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: Accurate scheduling of bauxite residue (red mud) deposition time is required in order to prevent the risk of storage facility failure. This study was conducted to precisely determine the hydraulic parameters of bauxite residue and investigate the capability of HYDRUS to accurately estimate the residue moisture profile and the timing for its deposition. The hydraulic properties of the bauxite residue profile were determined by solving an inverse problem. A one-dimensional hydrological model (HYDRUS-1D) was validated using a 300 mm long column filled with bauxite residue and exposed to a dynamic lower boundary condition. After numerical validation, the model was used to simulate the moisture profile of bauxite residue under the climatic conditions of an alumina refinery site in Queensland, Australia, as well as other scenarios (i.e., high (300 mm) and small (1.7 mm) rainfall events of the site). This study showed that the HYDRUS model can be used as a predictive tool to precisely estimate the moisture profile of the bauxite residue and that the timing for the re-deposition of the bauxite residue can be estimated by understanding the moisture profile and desired shear strength of the residue. This study revealed that the examined bauxite residue approaches field capacity (water potential-10 kPa) after three days from a low rainfall event (<1.7 mm) and after eight days from an intense rainfall event (300 mm) at the time of disposal. This suggests that the bauxite residue can be deposited every four days after low rainfall events (as low as 1.7 mm) and every nine days after high rainfall events (as high as 300 mm) at the time of deposition, if bauxite residue experiences an initial drying period following deposition. © 2020 by the authors.
- Authors: Shaygan, Mandana , Usher, Brent , Baumgartl, Thomas
- Date: 2020
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Water (Switzerland) Vol. 12, no. 7 (2020), p.
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: Accurate scheduling of bauxite residue (red mud) deposition time is required in order to prevent the risk of storage facility failure. This study was conducted to precisely determine the hydraulic parameters of bauxite residue and investigate the capability of HYDRUS to accurately estimate the residue moisture profile and the timing for its deposition. The hydraulic properties of the bauxite residue profile were determined by solving an inverse problem. A one-dimensional hydrological model (HYDRUS-1D) was validated using a 300 mm long column filled with bauxite residue and exposed to a dynamic lower boundary condition. After numerical validation, the model was used to simulate the moisture profile of bauxite residue under the climatic conditions of an alumina refinery site in Queensland, Australia, as well as other scenarios (i.e., high (300 mm) and small (1.7 mm) rainfall events of the site). This study showed that the HYDRUS model can be used as a predictive tool to precisely estimate the moisture profile of the bauxite residue and that the timing for the re-deposition of the bauxite residue can be estimated by understanding the moisture profile and desired shear strength of the residue. This study revealed that the examined bauxite residue approaches field capacity (water potential-10 kPa) after three days from a low rainfall event (<1.7 mm) and after eight days from an intense rainfall event (300 mm) at the time of disposal. This suggests that the bauxite residue can be deposited every four days after low rainfall events (as low as 1.7 mm) and every nine days after high rainfall events (as high as 300 mm) at the time of deposition, if bauxite residue experiences an initial drying period following deposition. © 2020 by the authors.
On the Aubin property of solution maps to parameterized variational systems with implicit constraints
- Gfrerer, Helmut, Outrata, Jiri
- Authors: Gfrerer, Helmut , Outrata, Jiri
- Date: 2020
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Optimization Vol. 69, no. 7-8 (2020), p. 1681-1701
- Relation: http://purl.org/au-research/grants/arc/DP160100854
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: In the paper, a new sufficient condition for the Aubin property to a class of parameterized variational systems is derived. In these systems, the constraints depend both on the parameter as well as on the decision variable itself and they include, e.g. parameter-dependent quasi-variational inequalities and implicit complementarity problems. The result is based on a general condition ensuring the Aubin property of implicitly defined multifunctions which employs the recently introduced notion of the directional limiting coderivative. Our final condition can be verified, however, without an explicit computation of these coderivatives. The procedure is illustrated by an example. © 2019, © 2019 The Author(s). Published by Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.
- Description: The research of the first author was supported by the Austrian Science Fund (FWF) under grant P29190-N32. The research of the second author was supported by the Grant Agency of the Czech Republic, Project 17-04301S and the Australian Research Council, Project 10.13039/501100000923DP160100854.
- Authors: Gfrerer, Helmut , Outrata, Jiri
- Date: 2020
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Optimization Vol. 69, no. 7-8 (2020), p. 1681-1701
- Relation: http://purl.org/au-research/grants/arc/DP160100854
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: In the paper, a new sufficient condition for the Aubin property to a class of parameterized variational systems is derived. In these systems, the constraints depend both on the parameter as well as on the decision variable itself and they include, e.g. parameter-dependent quasi-variational inequalities and implicit complementarity problems. The result is based on a general condition ensuring the Aubin property of implicitly defined multifunctions which employs the recently introduced notion of the directional limiting coderivative. Our final condition can be verified, however, without an explicit computation of these coderivatives. The procedure is illustrated by an example. © 2019, © 2019 The Author(s). Published by Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.
- Description: The research of the first author was supported by the Austrian Science Fund (FWF) under grant P29190-N32. The research of the second author was supported by the Grant Agency of the Czech Republic, Project 17-04301S and the Australian Research Council, Project 10.13039/501100000923DP160100854.
A good sheep run. Letters from New South Wales in Scottish newspapers between 1820 and 1850 with potential to influence decisions on emigration
- Authors: Hannaford, Graham
- Date: 2020
- Type: Text , Thesis , PhD
- Full Text:
- Description: The primary aim of this thesis is to contribute to ongoing historical research into migration to and settlement in Australia by Scots. It achieves this by identifying and examining letters sent from the colonies in New South Wales which were printed in historic Scottish newspapers between 1820 and 1850. In examining the material, this thesis argues that the letters had potential to influence emigration decisions by Scots. The study shows some of the ways in which New South Wales was reported in the Scottish press and compares those reports with conditions in Scotland at the time. The comparisons and analyses of the letters, with consideration of their authors and likely readers as well as the newspapers in which they were printed demonstrate that the letters did have potential to influence emigration decisions. Its particular contribution to knowledge arises from demonstrating how mostly private letters which became publicly available through publication in newspapers had potential to influence emigrants’ decisions about moving to Australia. Rather than claiming direct evidence of the publication of particular letters as having influenced emigration, it shows how reporting of conditions in Australia when set into a context of contemporary events and conditions in Scotland had potential to influence decisions. It is grounded in the body of historical research about colonial Australia and sits within this Australian historiographical context. Given the motivations and attractions of Scots to colonial Australia this thesis also engages with techniques and theoretical approaches associated with Scottish diaspora studies, an area of research that often emphasises other Scottish migration patterns to Canada, New Zealand and the USA. When considered together both of these historiographical approaches lend themselves to primary source material analysis and a methodological approach that this doctoral study uses to examine the motivations of Scots who migrated to colonial Australia.
- Description: Doctor of Philosophy
- Authors: Hannaford, Graham
- Date: 2020
- Type: Text , Thesis , PhD
- Full Text:
- Description: The primary aim of this thesis is to contribute to ongoing historical research into migration to and settlement in Australia by Scots. It achieves this by identifying and examining letters sent from the colonies in New South Wales which were printed in historic Scottish newspapers between 1820 and 1850. In examining the material, this thesis argues that the letters had potential to influence emigration decisions by Scots. The study shows some of the ways in which New South Wales was reported in the Scottish press and compares those reports with conditions in Scotland at the time. The comparisons and analyses of the letters, with consideration of their authors and likely readers as well as the newspapers in which they were printed demonstrate that the letters did have potential to influence emigration decisions. Its particular contribution to knowledge arises from demonstrating how mostly private letters which became publicly available through publication in newspapers had potential to influence emigrants’ decisions about moving to Australia. Rather than claiming direct evidence of the publication of particular letters as having influenced emigration, it shows how reporting of conditions in Australia when set into a context of contemporary events and conditions in Scotland had potential to influence decisions. It is grounded in the body of historical research about colonial Australia and sits within this Australian historiographical context. Given the motivations and attractions of Scots to colonial Australia this thesis also engages with techniques and theoretical approaches associated with Scottish diaspora studies, an area of research that often emphasises other Scottish migration patterns to Canada, New Zealand and the USA. When considered together both of these historiographical approaches lend themselves to primary source material analysis and a methodological approach that this doctoral study uses to examine the motivations of Scots who migrated to colonial Australia.
- Description: Doctor of Philosophy
Examining group differences in emotion regulation strategies and the state and trait anxiety of lifeguards and non-lifeguards in a real-world precompetitive situation
- Calverley, Hannah, Davis, Paul, Harvey, Jack, Mesagno, Christopher
- Authors: Calverley, Hannah , Davis, Paul , Harvey, Jack , Mesagno, Christopher
- Date: 2020
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: International Journal of Aquatic Research and Education Vol. 12, no. 2 (2020), p.
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: The purpose of this study was to investigate differences, between swimmer-lifeguards and swimmer-non-lifeguards, in trait and state anxiety and emotion regulation techniques in a real-life precompetitive situation with a secondary focus on gender differences. The Emotion Regulation Questionnaire, Sport Anxiety Scale - 2 and the Mental Readiness Form - 3 were distributed to 100 participants at university swimming competitions in the United Kingdom. Swimmer-lifeguards displayed significantly lower cognitive (p=.03) and somatic state (p=.05) anxiety and cognitive trait anxiety (p=.02) than swimmer-non-lifeguards. Males reported significantly lower levels of cognitive and somatic trait anxiety (p<.01) than females. There was also a gender-group interaction, with male swimmer-lifeguards showing significantly lower somatic trait anxiety than the other groups (p<.03). Males indicated significantly greater use of reappraisal than females (p=.01); no other effects were observed. These results support previous research regarding lifeguard characteristics, however the nature of these qualities and how they originate require further exploration. © 2020 Human Kinetics Publishers Inc.. All rights reserved.
- Authors: Calverley, Hannah , Davis, Paul , Harvey, Jack , Mesagno, Christopher
- Date: 2020
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: International Journal of Aquatic Research and Education Vol. 12, no. 2 (2020), p.
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: The purpose of this study was to investigate differences, between swimmer-lifeguards and swimmer-non-lifeguards, in trait and state anxiety and emotion regulation techniques in a real-life precompetitive situation with a secondary focus on gender differences. The Emotion Regulation Questionnaire, Sport Anxiety Scale - 2 and the Mental Readiness Form - 3 were distributed to 100 participants at university swimming competitions in the United Kingdom. Swimmer-lifeguards displayed significantly lower cognitive (p=.03) and somatic state (p=.05) anxiety and cognitive trait anxiety (p=.02) than swimmer-non-lifeguards. Males reported significantly lower levels of cognitive and somatic trait anxiety (p<.01) than females. There was also a gender-group interaction, with male swimmer-lifeguards showing significantly lower somatic trait anxiety than the other groups (p<.03). Males indicated significantly greater use of reappraisal than females (p=.01); no other effects were observed. These results support previous research regarding lifeguard characteristics, however the nature of these qualities and how they originate require further exploration. © 2020 Human Kinetics Publishers Inc.. All rights reserved.
Investigating the configuration of a flight training device for visual flight rules navigation
- Authors: Harvey, William
- Date: 2020
- Type: Text , Thesis , PhD
- Full Text:
- Description: The acquisition of pilot navigational skills utilising visual landmarks is a crucial skill that is required as part of Visual Flight Rules navigation towards obtaining a Private Pilot License. Due to the high cost of pilot training simulators, industry has identified a need for research in efficient utilisation of low-end, low cost personal compute flight simulators to assist in developing pilot skills. Analysis of the effectiveness of the use of such personal computer simulators depend on proper configuration determined by measurable errors to define simulator fidelity. To date, research has shown that the configuration of these simulators appears to have been done in an ad-hoc fashion and not in a scientific fashion. Therefore, the problem that needed to be solved was how to effectively configure such simulators. This thesis research attempted to solve this problem and present the process for effectively configuring a personal computer simulator, or flight training device, capable of successful Visual Flight Rules navigation. The simulator was configurated utilising a process that followed an interpretation of the Design Science research method, and an error correction model to determine the errors in the simulator configuration. This was done by comparing two probability distributions to measure the maximum error variable distance in order to configure a simulator suitable for the acquisition of Visual Flight Rules navigation piloting skills required for obtaining a Private Pilot Licence in Australia. This error identification method was then used to indicate simulator configuration efficiency and fidelity in order to achieve a minimum suitable configuration and setup. Further application of the findings of this research could potentially lead to the configuration of different types of non-aviation simulators, in particular Part-Task-Trainers and other training devices, including Virtual Reality Augmented Reality devices utilising various types of platforms such as Windows, Apple, and Android.
- Description: Doctor of Philosophy
- Authors: Harvey, William
- Date: 2020
- Type: Text , Thesis , PhD
- Full Text:
- Description: The acquisition of pilot navigational skills utilising visual landmarks is a crucial skill that is required as part of Visual Flight Rules navigation towards obtaining a Private Pilot License. Due to the high cost of pilot training simulators, industry has identified a need for research in efficient utilisation of low-end, low cost personal compute flight simulators to assist in developing pilot skills. Analysis of the effectiveness of the use of such personal computer simulators depend on proper configuration determined by measurable errors to define simulator fidelity. To date, research has shown that the configuration of these simulators appears to have been done in an ad-hoc fashion and not in a scientific fashion. Therefore, the problem that needed to be solved was how to effectively configure such simulators. This thesis research attempted to solve this problem and present the process for effectively configuring a personal computer simulator, or flight training device, capable of successful Visual Flight Rules navigation. The simulator was configurated utilising a process that followed an interpretation of the Design Science research method, and an error correction model to determine the errors in the simulator configuration. This was done by comparing two probability distributions to measure the maximum error variable distance in order to configure a simulator suitable for the acquisition of Visual Flight Rules navigation piloting skills required for obtaining a Private Pilot Licence in Australia. This error identification method was then used to indicate simulator configuration efficiency and fidelity in order to achieve a minimum suitable configuration and setup. Further application of the findings of this research could potentially lead to the configuration of different types of non-aviation simulators, in particular Part-Task-Trainers and other training devices, including Virtual Reality Augmented Reality devices utilising various types of platforms such as Windows, Apple, and Android.
- Description: Doctor of Philosophy
Grand designs, grim reality : political representation, competition and equity in regional Victoria
- Authors: Tischler, Catherine
- Date: 2020
- Type: Text , Thesis , PhD
- Full Text:
- Description: This work brings new understanding to the subtle ways in which the ability of one rural community to change is curtailed by self-reinforcement of an ideology not entirely of their own making. In a political environment where economic returns and population growth appear to be the true indicators of value and success, the struggle of some rural communities to change a long term and seemingly intractable trajectory of decline is well documented. The historical importance of rural communities as a place where food and fibre are grown has been challenged by market forces, climatic conditions and the relative growth of cities and service-based industries over the last three decades. To people in rural areas experiencing population stasis or decline, the situation appears to be a competition that is not being won at a local level. This thesis employs critical ethnography to understand a layered investigation of the ideological paradigms internalised by leaders in this community in a place-based setting to explore how this influences political advocacy and action. The work focusses on the Wimmera Southern Mallee region in Victoria, Australia with a particular emphasis on the city of Horsham as the major regional centre. The purpose of this work is to understand how ideology and behaviours are used to reinforce a system of power that is dominated by prestige leadership. The work also considers how external political and ideological influences may further reinforce on to leaders in the region a set of values and expectations which negatively impact on action and outcomes. The findings of this work have implications for rural community engagement, regional development, place-based initiatives and regional advocacy.
- Description: Doctor of Philosophy
- Authors: Tischler, Catherine
- Date: 2020
- Type: Text , Thesis , PhD
- Full Text:
- Description: This work brings new understanding to the subtle ways in which the ability of one rural community to change is curtailed by self-reinforcement of an ideology not entirely of their own making. In a political environment where economic returns and population growth appear to be the true indicators of value and success, the struggle of some rural communities to change a long term and seemingly intractable trajectory of decline is well documented. The historical importance of rural communities as a place where food and fibre are grown has been challenged by market forces, climatic conditions and the relative growth of cities and service-based industries over the last three decades. To people in rural areas experiencing population stasis or decline, the situation appears to be a competition that is not being won at a local level. This thesis employs critical ethnography to understand a layered investigation of the ideological paradigms internalised by leaders in this community in a place-based setting to explore how this influences political advocacy and action. The work focusses on the Wimmera Southern Mallee region in Victoria, Australia with a particular emphasis on the city of Horsham as the major regional centre. The purpose of this work is to understand how ideology and behaviours are used to reinforce a system of power that is dominated by prestige leadership. The work also considers how external political and ideological influences may further reinforce on to leaders in the region a set of values and expectations which negatively impact on action and outcomes. The findings of this work have implications for rural community engagement, regional development, place-based initiatives and regional advocacy.
- Description: Doctor of Philosophy