Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

Do Green And Golden Bell Frogs Litoria Aurea Occupy Habitats With Fungicidal Properties?, C G. Threlfall, Dianne F. Jolley, N Evershed, R L. Goldingay, W A. Buttemer

Faculty of Science - Papers (Archive)

The Green and Golden Bell frog Utoria aurea is in major decline in Australia, where its distribution is now confined mainly to the east coast of New South Wales (NSW). Infection by the newly emerged amphibian fungal pathogen Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis has been identified as one of the main threats affecting L aureo. Surprisingly, some of the sites in NSW sustaining the largest populations of this species are industrial and urban habitats that are often disturbed and polluted, which could protect L aurea from chytrid infection if pollution had fungicidal capacity The aim of this study was to characterise the trace …

Deep-Sea Natural Products, Danielle Skropeta

Faculty of Science - Papers (Archive)

This review covers the 390 novel marine natural products described to date from deep-water (>50 m)marine fauna, with details on the source organism, its depth and country of origin, along with anyreported biological activity of the metabolites. Relevant synthetic studies on the deep-sea naturalproducts have also been included.

The Proofreading Exonuclease Subunit E Of Escherichia Coli Dna Polymerase Iii Is Tethered To The Polymerase Subunit A Via A Flexible Linker, Kiyoshi Ozawa, Slobodan Jergic, Ah-Young Park, Nicholas E. Dixon, Gottfried Otting

Faculty of Science - Papers (Archive)

Escherichia coli DNA polymerase III holoenzyme is composed of 10 different subunits linked by noncovalent interactions. The polymerase activity resides in the α-subunit. The ε-subunit, which contains the proofreading exonuclease site within its N-terminal 185 residues, binds to α via a segment of 57 additional C-terminal residues, and also to θ, whose function is less well defined. The present study shows that θ greatly enhances the solubility of ε during cell-free synthesis. In addition, synthesis of ε in the presence of θ and α resulted in a soluble ternary complex that could readily be purified and analyzed by …

Mechanisms Of Thermoregulation In Plants, Jennifer R. Watling, Nicole Grant, Rebecca E. Miller, Sharon A. Robinson

Faculty of Science - Papers (Archive)

Endothermic heating of floral tissues and even thermoregulation is known to occur in a number of plant species across a wide taxonomic range. The mechanisms by which flowers heat, however, are only just beginning to be understood, and even less is known about how heating is regulated in response to changes in ambient temperature. We have recently demonstrated that the alternative pathway of respiration, in which the alternative oxidase (AOX) rather than cytochrome C (COX) acts as terminal electron acceptor, is responsible for heat generation in one thermoregulating species, the sacred lotus (Nelumbo nucifera). In the March issue of the …

A Re-Examination Of A Human Femur Found At The Blind River Site, East London, South Africa: Its Age, Morphology, And Breakage Pattern, Zenobia Jacobs, Qian Wang, David L. Roberts, P V. Tobias

Faculty of Science - Papers (Archive)

ABSTRACT Modern human femoral features might have appeared in the early Middle Stone Age (156 ka to 20 ka) in South Africa, as demonstrated by the recent re-examination of a human femur fossil found at the Blind River Site, East London in the 1930s, if new dating results hold. Two optically stimulated luminescence dates from the relocated original Blind River shallow marine/estuarine deposits that contained the femur gave almost identical ages of ~120 ka, corresponding to the early part of the Last Interglacial (Oxygen Isotope Stage 5). Overall, the slender headless femur is of modern human form. The distal epiphysis …

Fabrication Of Chemical Sensors Using Inkjet Printing And Application To Gas Detection, Karl H. Crowley, Aoife Morrin, Malcolm R. Smyth, Anthony J. Killard, Roderick Shepherd, Marc In Het Panhuis, Gordon G. Wallace

Faculty of Science - Papers (Archive)

This work describes the fabrication of gas sensors using inkjet printing. Sensors were constructed by building up a film of sensing material, such as polyaniline, from aqueous nanoparticulate dispersions. These films were printed over patterned silver interdigitated array designs for the purposes of conductimetric analysis. Unlike screen printing or lithography, inkjet printing does not require stencils or masks, therefore allowing rapid design and prototyping. For this study, polyaniline and modified polyaniline sensors were inkjet printed and assessed for the purposes of gas sensing applications, specifically hydrogen sulfide monitoring.

Distribution And Sources Of Organic Carbon, Nitrogen And Their Isotopic Signatures In Sediments From The Ayeyarwady (Irrawaddy) Continental Shelf, Northern Andaman Sea, V Ramaswamy, Birgit Gaye, P V. Shirodkar, P S. Rao, Allan Chivas, David J. Wheeler, Swe Thwin

Faculty of Science - Papers (Archive)

Total organic carbon (TOC), total nitrogen (TN) and their δ¹³C and δ¹⁵N values were determined from 110 sediment samples from the Ayeyarwady (Irrawaddy) continental shelf, northern Andaman Sea to decipher the concentration and source of organic matter. Comparatively higher TOC and TN concentrations are found in the inner-shelf mud belt, and on the continental slope sediments, whereas the outer-shelf sediments, composed mostly of relict sands, are low in TOC. The TOC contents are positively correlated with the abundance of fine-grained sediments. The TOC:TN ratios and δ¹³C and δ¹⁵N values show low variability …

Exploiting The Borono-Mannich Reaction In Bioactive Alkaloid Synthesis, Stephen G. Pyne, Christopher Au, Andrew S. Davis, Ian R. Morgan, Thunwadee Ritthiwigrom, Arife Yazici

Faculty of Science - Papers (Archive)

We have demonstrated that the borono-Mannich reaction is a versatile and efficient reaction for the diastereoselective preparation of chiral 1,2-amino alcohols. These Mannich products are valuable starting materials as shown in this report by the synthesis of bioactive polyhydroxylated pyrrolizidine and indolizidine alkaloids. Initial studies, directed at the more complex Stemona alkaloids, using the borono-Mannich reaction on cyclic N-acyliminium ions are encouraging as demonstrated by the synthesis of the pyrido[1,2-a]azepine core structure of stemocurtisinol.

Enhanced Performance Of Dye Sensitized Solar Cells Utilizing Platinum Electrodeposit Counter Electrodes, Attila J. Mozer, George Tsekouras, Gordon G. Wallace

Faculty of Science - Papers (Archive)

Enhanced performance was observed for dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) utilizing counter electrodes based on Pt electrodeposits compared to counter electrodes based on sputtered Pt. Scanning electron microscopy of Pt electrodeposits revealed that the use of an initial cathodic overpotential pulse followed by steady electrodeposition at a mild cathodic potential yielded ∼40nm particles, compared to ∼600nm particles when no such pulse was used. Cyclic voltammetry and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) of electrode materials suggested that Pt electrodeposits would give enhanced performance as DSSC counter electrodes compared to sputtered Pt, and this was confirmed by device testing. EIS characterization of DSSCs under …

Assessing Soil Remobilisation In Catchments Using A 137 Cs-Sediment Hillslope Model, Ava D. Simms, Colin D. Woodroffe, Brian G. Jones, Henk Heijnis, Jennifer Harrison, Rob Mann

Faculty of Science - Papers (Archive)

Soil redistribution studies are important, especially in water supply catchments, because the rate at which denudation is occurring has implications for offsite water quality. However, the extent to which soil is redistributed within the landscape can be difficult to determine. This challenge can be overcome using fallout caesium-137 (¹³⁷Cs). This paper describes the rates of soil loss and remobilisation in two sub-catchments within the Sydney Basin region, namely Kembla and Kentish Creeks, which drain to the Cordeaux reservoir. The total inventories of ¹³⁷Cs in catchment soils were determined, a 137Cs-regression equation and a theoretical diffusion and migration …

Management Implications Of Recent Research Into The Effect Of Bitou Bush Invasion, Kristine O. French, Emilie-Jane Ens, Carl Gosper, Elizabeth Lindsay, Tanya J. Mason, Ben Owers, Natalie A. Sullivan

Faculty of Science - Papers (Archive)

We review recent research into the impact of bitou bush (Chrysanthemoides monilifera spp. rotundata (DC.) Norl.) on coastal ecosystems which suggest this weed is having widespread impacts on ecosystem services, flora and fauna. Increased decomposition rates and altered nutrient cycling accompany changes in plant community structure and composition. Changes in invaded habitats influence invertebrate and bird assemblages. We summarise research that shows that the establishment phase of seedlings is the key phase where bitou bush outcompetes native species through both resource and interference competition mechanisms.

Testosterone Effects On Avian Basal Metabolic Rate And Aerobic Performance: Facts And Artefacts, W A. Buttemer, S Warne, C Bech, Lee Astheimer

Faculty of Science - Papers (Archive)

We examined the effects of cage size and testosterone (T) levels on basal and peak metabolic rates (BMR and PMR, respectively) and on pectoral and leg muscle masses of male house sparrows (Passer domesticus). Birds were housed either in small birdcages or in flight aviaries for at least 2 weeks prior to the initial metabolic evaluations. They were then implanted with either empty or T-filled silastic capsules and remeasured 5-6 weeks later. Birds treated with single T implants achieved breeding levels (4-6 ng/mL) and one group given double implants reached 10 ng/mL. There was no effect of T on BMR …

The Mitochondrial Genome Of The Stingless Bee Melipona Bicolor (Hymenoptera, Apidae, Meliponini): Sequence, Gene Organization And A Unique Trna Translocation Event Conserved Across The Tribe Meliponini, Daniela Silvestre, Mark P. Dowton, Maria C. Arias

Faculty of Science - Papers (Archive)

No abstract provided.

Base-Induced Decomposition Of Alkyl Hydroperoxides In The Gas Phase. Part 3. Kinetics And Dynamics In Ho + Ch3ooh, C2h5ooh, And Tert-C4h9ooh Reactions, Shuji Kato, G Barney Ellison, Veronica Bierbaum, Stephen J. Blanksby

Faculty of Science - Papers (Archive)

The E_CO2 elimination reactions of alkyl hydroperoxides proceed via abstraction of an α-hydrogen by a base: X⁻ + R¹R²HCOOH → HX + R¹R²CO + HO⁻. Efficiencies and product distributions for the reactions of the hydroxide anion with methyl, ethyl, and tert-butyl hydroperoxides are studied in the gas phase. On the basis of experiments using three isotopic analogues, HO⁻ + CH₃OOH, HO⁻ + CD₃OOH, and H¹⁸O⁻ + CH₃OOH, the overall intrinsic reaction efficiency is determined to …

Inkjet Printing: A Viable Tool For Processing Polymer Carbon Nanotube Composites, Marc In Het Panhuis, William R. Small

Faculty of Science - Papers (Archive)

The inkjet processing of water dispersable polymer carbon nanotube composite materials is reported. Single printed layers displayed good optical transparency, sheet resistance, and conductivity. It is demonstrated that an alcohol sensor based on a single printed layer of polymer carbon nanotube composite could operate at a lower voltage compared to a sensor based on a single printed layer of the polymer.

Validation Of Ace-Fts V2.2 Methane Profiles From The Upper Troposphere To Lower Mesosphere, M De Maziere, C Vigouroux, P F. Bernath, P Baron, T Blumenstock, C Boone, C Brogniez, V Catoire, M Coffey, P Duchatelet, David W. Griffith, J Hannigan, Y Kasai, I Kramer, Nicholas B. Jones, E Mahieu, G L. Manney, C Piccolo, C Randall, C Robert, C Senten, K Strong, J R. Taylor, C Tetard, K A. Walker, S Wood

Faculty of Science - Papers (Archive)

The ACE-FTS (Atmospheric Chemistry Experiment Fourier Transform Spectrometer) solar occultation instrument that was launched onboard the Canadian SCISAT-1 satellite in August 2003 is measuring vertical profiles from the upper troposphere to the lower mesosphere for a large number of atmospheric constituents. Methane is one of the key species. The version v2.2 data of the ACE-FTS CH4 data have been compared to correlative satellite, balloon-borne and ground-based Fourier transform infrared remote sensing data to assess their quality. The comparison results indicate that the accuracy of the data is within 10% in the upper troposphere lower stratosphere, and within 25% in the …

Synthesis Of Castanospermine, Theeraphan Machan, Andrew S. Davis, Boonsom Liawruangrath, Stephen G. Pyne

Faculty of Science - Papers (Archive)

The diastereoselective synthesis of castanospermine is described in 11 synthetic steps from L-xylose. The borono-Mannich reaction between L-xylose, allylamine and (E)-styrene boronic acid gives a tetrahydroxy amine with the desired configurations for C-6, C-7, C-8 and C-8a in the target molecule. A novel pyrrolo[1,2-c]oxazol-3-one precursor was employed to allow for the control of pi-facial diastereoselectivity in an osmium(VIII)-catalysed syn-dihydroxylation (DH) reaction. A regioselective ring-opening of the cyclic sulfate derivative of the resulting diol then secured the C-1 hydroxyl group of castanospermine with the correct configuration. A Mitsunobu cyclization then provided di-O-benzyl castanospermine and …

Scaling The Rural: Reflections On Rural Cultural Studies, Christopher R. Gibson, Andrew W. Gorman-Murray, Kate Darian-Smith

Faculty of Science - Papers (Archive)

How can cultural analysis be brought to bear on the rural? This central question for rural cultural studies prompts our exploration of how the rural has been delineated and interpreted in the developed West, as a departure for thinking about new intellectual approaches to rurality that span spaces, times and academic disciplines. In this paper we adopt a broad schema, discussing insights from rural studies, cultural geography and history. As Michael Woods ( Rural Geography ) has handily pointed out, 'rural' is

one of those curious words which everyone thinks they know what it means, but which is actually very …

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Evaluation Of A Low Cost Wireless Chemical Sensor Network For Environmental Monitoring, Jer Hayes, Stephen Beirne, King-Tong Lau, Dermot Diamond

Faculty of Science - Papers (Archive)

We present work on the development and testing of a low-cost wireless chemical sensor network (WCSN) for monitoring irritant/toxic gases in the environment. The WCSN used in this work takes advantage of recent advances in low power wireless communication platforms and uses colorimetric sensors to detect the presence of certain target gases. This sensor network adopts a star configuration and performs one way RF communications from individual sensor nodes to the base-station. Each node in the network is composed of a multiple sensor platform that measures light intensity, temperature and motion. The light sensor was used as the chemical sensing …

Applying Seed Germination Studies In Fire Management For Biodiversity Conservation In South-Eastern Australia., Tony D. Auld, Mark K.J Ooi

Faculty of Science - Papers (Archive)

We examine the patterns of germination response to fire in the fire-prone flora of the Sydney basin, south-eastern Australia, using examples from several decades of research. The flora shows a strong response to fire-related germination cues. Most species show an interaction between heat and smoke, a number respond only to heat, whilst a few are likely to respond only to smoke. Many recruit in the first 12 months after fire and show no obvious seasonal patterns of recruitment, whilst several species have a strong seasonal germination requirement, even in this essentially aseasonal rainfall region. Key challenges remaining include designing future …

Attachment Of Molecular Hydrogen To An Isolated Boron Cation: An Infrared And Ab Initio Study, Viktoras Dryza, Berwyck L. J Poad, Evan J. Bieske

Faculty of Science - Papers (Archive)

Structural properties of the B⁺−H₂ electrostatic complex are investigated through its rotationally resolved infrared spectrum in the H−H stretch region (3905−3975 cm⁻¹). The spectrum, which was obtained by monitoring B⁺ photofragments while the IR wavelength was scanned, is consistent with the complex having a T-shaped structure and a vibrationally averaged intermolecular separation of 2.26 Å, which decreases by 0.04 Å when the H₂ subunit is vibrationally excited. The H−H stretch transition of B⁺−H₂ is red-shifted by 220.6 ± 1.5 cm⁻¹ from that of the free H₂ molecule, much …

Fouling Resistant Compact Hollow-Fiber Module With Spacer For Submerged Membrane Bioreactor Treating High Strength Industrial Wastewater, Faisal I. Hai, Kazuo Yamamoto, Kensuke Fukushi, Fumiyuki Nakajima

Faculty of Science - Papers (Archive)

Long-term investigations carried out in a submerged membrane fungi reactor treating textile wastewater revealed the excellent fouling prevention capacity of spacer-filled hollow-fiber modules. The type and arrangement of the spacers governed the overall rigidity of the modules and played the critical role in avoidance of sludge intrusion and retrieval of the original state (cleaning). A hybrid module (fiber packing density = 61.5%, surface area = 1.07 m2) obtained by winding a rigid spacer (thickness = 1 mm, opening = 7 mm × 7 mm) on the surface of a module originally containing a flexible thin spacer (opening = 1 mm …

Removal Of Structurally Different Dyes In Submerged Membrane Fungi Reactor—Biosorption/Pac-Adsorption, Membrane Retention And Biodegradation, Faisal I. Hai, Kazuo Yamamoto, Fumiyuki Nakajima, Kensuke Fukushi

Faculty of Science - Papers (Archive)

The long-term performance of a submerged membrane fungi reactor was observed while a synthetic textile wastewater containing either or both of the two structurally different azo dyes was continuously fed. Compared to the Acid Orange II dye (simpler structure), higher biosorption but slower biodegradation of the polymeric dye (Poly S119) was observed in sterile batch tests. In the membrane bioreactor (MBR), although a relative abundance of fungi (66%) without any specific control of bacterial contamination could be maintained, unlike in pure fungus culture, enzymatic activity was below detection limit. Nevertheless, >99% removal of Poly S119 was consistently achieved under a …

Growth Of Atomically Flat Nanofilms And Surface Superstructures Of Intrinsic Liquid Alloys, Toshiro Yamanaka, Jianli Wang, Tadaaki Nagao, Shin Yaginuma, Canhua Liu, Andrey Tupkalo, Toshio Sakurai

Faculty of Science - Papers (Archive)

Atomically flat nanofilms were formed during growth of Ga on a Si(111) surface using an In surfactant above the melting point of Ga (and In–Ga eutectic) throughout Ga coverages of 0.17 to 5 monolayers (0.17 ≤ ΘGa ≤5). Unique superstructures such as a quasisquare-lattice (QS) structure at ΘGa=3 to 4 and a 5x5 structure at 0Ga=5 appeared as ΘGa increased. The QS structure had Ga dimer layers similar to the square lattices of an alpha-Ga(100) plane but also maintained the 1x1 structure of Si(111). As dimer layers transformed into a monoatomic layer, QS transformed into a 5x5 structure that no …

A Framework For Comparing Remotely Sensed And In-Situ Co2 Concentrations, Ronald Macatangay, Thorsten Warneke, C. Gerbig, S. Korner, R. Ahmadov, M. Heimann, Justus Notholt

Faculty of Science - Papers (Archive)

A framework has been developed that allows validating CO2 column averaged volume mixing ratios (VMRs) retrieved from ground-based solar absorption measurements using Fourier transform infrared spectrometry (FTS) against measurements made in-situ (such as from aircrafts and tall towers). Since in-situ measurements are done frequently and at high accuracy on the global calibration scale, linking this scale with FTS total column retrievals ultimately provides a calibration scale for remote sensing. FTS, tower and aircraft data were analyzed from measurements during the CarboEurope Regional Experiment Strategy (CERES) from May to June 2005 in Biscarrosse, France. Carbon dioxide VMRs from the MetAir Dimona …

Social Justice In The Forest: Aboriginal Engagement With Australia's Forest Industries, Sue Feary

Faculty of Science - Papers (Archive)

What remains of Australia’s native forests are important to Aboriginal people for environmental, cultural and economic reasons. Managers of forests in protected areas at State and Commonwealth levels have policies for involving Aboriginal people in forest management and for protecting the intangible and tangible values that Aboriginal people place on forests, but there are limited opportunities for significant economic returns to Aboriginal communities. Outside of conservation reserves, there are native timber production forests on crown land, plantations on private and public land and, forests on Aboriginal land, that offer a range of opportunities for Aboriginal people to engage with forest …

Three Years Of Greenhouse Gas Column-Averaged Dry Air Mole Fractions Retrieved From Satellite - Part 1: Carbon Dioxide, O. Schneising, M. Buchwitz, J. Burrows, H. Bovensmann, Markus Reuter, Justus Notholt, Ronald Macatangay, Thorsten Warneke

Faculty of Science - Papers (Archive)

Carbon dioxide (CO2) and methane (CH4) are the two most important anthropogenic greenhouse gases. SCIAMACHY on ENVISAT is the first satellite instrument whose measurements are sensitive to concentration changes of the two gases at all altitude levels down to the Earth’s surface where the source/sink signals are largest. We have processed three years (2003–2005) of SCIAMACHY near infrared nadir measurements to simultaneously retrieve vertical columns of CO2 (from the 1.58μm absorption band), CH4 (1.66μm) and oxygen (O2 A-band at 0.76μm) using the scientific retrieval algorithm WFM-DOAS. We show that the latest version of WFM-DOAS, version 1.0, which is used for …

Synthetic And Spectroscopic Studies On The Structures Of Uniflorines A And B: Structural Revision To 1,2,6,7-Tetrahydroxy-3-Hydroxymethylpyrrolizidine Alkaloids, Andrew S. Davis, Thunwadee Ritthiwigrom, Stephen G. Pyne

Faculty of Science - Papers (Archive)

The diastereoselective synthesis of the C-2 epimer and the C-1, C-2 di-epimers of the putative structure of the alkaloid uniflorine A has been achieved. The synthesis of the latter di-epimers employed a novel pyrrolo[1,2-c]oxazin-1-one precursor to allow for the reversal of π-facial diastereoselectivity in an osmium(VIII)-catalyzed syn-dihydroxylation (DH) reaction. The NMR spectral data of these epimeric compounds and that of related isomers did not match that of the natural product. From a comparison of the NMR data of uniflorines A and B with that of casuarine and the known synthetic 1,2,6,7-tetrahydroxy-3-hydroxymethylpyrrolizidine isomers we concluded unequivocally that uniflorine …

Post-Fire Recovery Of Eastern Bristlebirds (Dasyornis Brachypterus) Is Context-Dependent, D W. Bain, J R. Baker, K O. French, R J. Whelan

Faculty of Science - Papers (Archive)

In late December 2003, a wildfire in the Jervis Bay region of New South Wales burned through an area that previously supported a large population of the endangered eastern bristlebird (Dasyornis brachypterus). The eastern bristlebird has been described as fire-sensitive, and fire is implicated in the decline of the species. The frequency of occurrence of bristlebirds was investigated in the second week after the fire in a range of sites varying in fire intensity. Bristlebirds were found in burned habitats but were less common in the sites that were more intensely burnt. Bristlebirds had been surveyed along transects in this …

Complete Mitochondrial Genome Of The Frillneck Lizard (Chlamydosaurus Kingii, Reptilia; Agamidae), Another Squamate With Two Control Regions, Beata Ujvari, Thomas R. Madsen

Faculty of Science - Papers (Archive)

AbstractUsing PCR, the complete mitochondrial genome was sequenced in three frillneck lizards (Chlamydosaurus kingii).The mitochondria spanned over 16,761 bp. As in other vertebrates, two rRNA genes, 22 tRNA genes and 13 protein codinggenes were identified. However, similar to some other squamate reptiles, two control regions (CRI and CRII) were identified,spanning 801 and 812 bp, respectively. Our results were compared with another Australian member of the family Agamidae,the bearded dragon (Pogana vitticeps). The overall base composition of the light-strand sequence largely mirrored thatobserved in P. vitticeps. Furthermore, similar to P. vitticeps, we observed an insertion 801 bp long between the ND5 …