Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

Earth Is (Mostly) Flat: Apportionment Of The Flux Of Continental Sediment Over Millennial Time Scales, Jane K. Willenbring, Alexandru T. Codilean, Brandon Mcelroy

Faculty of Science, Medicine and Health - Papers: part A

We use a new compilation of global denudation estimates from cosmogenic nuclides to calculate the apportionment and the sum of all sediment produced on Earth by extrapolation of a statistically significant correlation between denudation rates and basin slopes to watersheds without denudation rate data. This robust relationship can explain approximately half of the variance in denudation from quartz-bearing topography drained by rivers using only mean slopes as the predictive tool and matches a similar fit for large river basins. At slopes >200 m/km, topography controls denudation rates. Controls on denudation in landscapes where average slopes are 10 mm/k.y. We use …

High Muscle Mitochondrial Volume And Aerobic Capacity In A Small Marsupial (Sminthopsis Crassicaudata) Reveals Flexible Links Between Energy-Use Levels In Mammals, Terence Dawson, Koa Webster, Enhua Lee, William A. Buttemer

Faculty of Science, Medicine and Health - Papers: part A

We investigated the muscle structure–function relationships that underlie the aerobic capacity of an insectivorous, small (~15 g) marsupial, Sminthopsis crassicaudata (Family: Dasyuridae), to obtain further insight into energy use patterns in marsupials relative to those in placentals, their sister clade within the Theria (advanced mammals). Disparate hopping marsupials (Suborder Macropodiformes), a kangaroo (Macropus rufus) and a rat-kangaroo (Bettongia penicillata), show aerobic capabilities as high as those of ‘athletic’ placentals. Equivalent muscle mitochondrial volumes and cardiovascular features support these capabilities. We examined S. crassicaudata to determine whether highly developed aerobic capabilities occur elsewhere in marsupials, rather than being restricted to the …

2-Cyanoethyl N,N,N',N'-Tetraisopropylphosphorodiamidite, Jichao Zhang

Faculty of Science, Medicine and Health - Papers: part A

2-Cyanoethyl N,N,N′,N′-tetraisopropylphosphorodiamidite is a colorless viscous liquid, which is soluble in most organic solvents. It is a widely used phosphitylating reagent for the preparation of various phosphorylated biomolecules, such as nucleoside carbohydrate conjugates, phospholipids and glycopeptides. In particular, this reagent is highly effective for automated solid-phase DNA/RNA oligonucleotide synthesis. 2-Cyanoethyl N,N,N′,N′-tetraisopropylphosphorodiamidite has shown great utility in the coupling of nucleobases or carbohydrates via their phosphotriesters in the presence of activators such as 1H-tetrazole, in moderate yields under mild conditions. Additionally, 2-cyanoethyl N,N,N′,N′-tetraisopropylphosphorodiamidite is cheaper and more stable than 2- cyanoethyl N,N-diisopropylchlorophosphorodiamidite, the other commonly used phosphinylating reagent. 2-Cyanoethyl N,N,N′,N′-tetraisopropylphosphorodiamidite is …

Automated Surface Sampling Of Lipids From Worn Contact Lenses Coupled With Tandem Mass Spectrometry, Simon H. Brown, Liam H. Huxtable, Mark D. P Willcox, Stephen J. Blanksby, Todd W. Mitchell

Faculty of Science, Medicine and Health - Papers: part A

The deposition of biological material (biofouling) onto polymeric contact lenses is thought to be a major contributor to lens discomfort and hence discontinuation of wear. We describe a method to characterize lipid deposits directly from worn contact lenses utilizing liquid extraction surface analysis coupled to tandem mass spectrometry (LESA-MS/MS). This technique effected facile and reproducible extraction of lipids from the contact lens surfaces and identified lipid molecular species representing all major classes present in human tear film. Our data show that LESA-MS/MS is a rapid and comprehensive technique for the characterization of lipid-related biofouling on polymer surfaces.

"It Could Probably Help Someone Else But Not Me": A Feasibility Study Of A Snack Programme Offered To Meals On Wheels Clients, K E. Charlton, K Walton, L Moon, K Smith, A T. Mcmahon, F Ralph, M Stuckey, F Manning, J Krassie

Faculty of Science, Medicine and Health - Papers: part A

Objectives Community-based services, such as Meals on Wheels (MOW), allow older adults to remain in their homes for as long as possible. Many MOW recipients experience decreased appetite that limits intake at mealtimes. This pilot study aimed to determine the feasibility of providing high protein high energy snacks to improve nutrient intakes of MOW clients in a regional centre of New South Wales, Australia.

Participants A convenience sample of 12 MOW clients.

Intervention Participants received snacks five times a week, in addition to their usual MOW order, for four weeks.

Measurements Nutritional status was assessed using the Mini Nutritional Assessment …

Mechanism Of Secondary Currents In Open Channel Flows, Shu-Qing Yang, Soon Keat Tan, Xi-Kun Wang

Faculty of Science, Medicine and Health - Papers: part A

This paper describes the conditions for initiation and maintenance of secondary currents in open channel flows. By analyzing the Reynolds equation in the wall-normal and wall-tangent directions, this study reveals that, like other types of vortices, the secondary currents are originated in the near-boundary region, and the magnitude (or strength) of secondary flow is proportional to the lateral gradient of near-wall velocity. The near-wall secondary flow always moves from the region with lower velocity (or lower boundary shear stress) to the location with higher velocity (or higher boundary shear stress). Subsequently, the near-boundary secondary flow creeps into the main flow …

Dietary Intake Of Fish And Pufa, And Clinical Depressive And Anxiety Disorders In Women, Felice N. Jacka, Julie A. Pascoe, Lana J. Williams, Barbara J. Meyer, Rebecca Digger, Michael Berk

Faculty of Science, Medicine and Health - Papers: part A

Fish and PUFA consumption are thought to play a role in mental health; however, many studies do not take into account multiple sources of PUFA. The present study analysed data from a sample of 935 randomly selected, population-based women aged 20-93 years. A validated and comprehensive dietary questionnaire ascertained the consumption of n-3 and n-6 PUFA. Another assessed fish and energy intake and provided data for a dietary quality score. The General Health Questionnaire-12 (GHQ-12) measured psychological symptoms and a clinical interview (Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV-TR Research Version, Non-patient edition) assessed depressive and anxiety disorders. Median dietary intakes of …

The Small Heat-Shock Protein Αb-Crystallin Uses Different Mechanisms Of Chaperone Action To Prevent The Amorphous Versus Fibrillar Aggregation Of Α-Lactalbumin, Melissa Kulig, Heath Ecroyd

Faculty of Science, Medicine and Health - Papers: part A

Stress conditions can destabilize proteins, promoting them to unfold and adopt intermediately folded states. Partially folded protein intermediates are unstable and prone to aggregation down off-folding pathways leading to the formation of either amorphous or amyloid fibril aggregates. The sHsp (small heat-shock protein) αB-crystallin acts as a molecular chaperone to prevent both amorphous and fibrillar protein aggregation; however, the precise molecular mechanisms behind its chaperone action are incompletely understood. To investigate whether the chaperone activity of αB-crystallin is dependent upon the form of aggregation (amorphous compared with fibrillar), bovine α-lactalbumin was developed as a model target protein that could be …

Earthly Indifference And Human Difference - Book Review, Lesley Head

Faculty of Science, Medicine and Health - Papers: part A

Inspired by, but also in reaction to the flattened topologies of Latourian relationality, Clark puts forward the notion of radical asymmetry. 'This is the bottom line of human being: we are utterly dependent on an earth and a cosmos that is, to a large degree, indifferent to us' (p. 50). With their disciplinary connection to the physical and natural sciences, geographers arguably need this lesson less than other social scientists. We should have learned it well from geologists who, spending their working lives in deepest time, tend to have a less anthropocentric perspective than others (perhaps accounting for their disproportionate …

Translocation Of The Eastern Bristlebird 2: Applying Principles To Two Case Studies, Jack Baker, David Bain, Jean Clarke, Kris French

Faculty of Science, Medicine and Health - Papers: part A

The Eastern Bristlebird (Dasyornis brachypterus) is an endangered endemic passerine of south-eastern Australia. The re-establishment of extirpated populations through translocation was identified as a key action in New South Wales to address the threats to this species associated with habitat fragmentation and widespread and frequent fire. At Jervis Bay during 2003-2005, 50 birds were translocated from Bherwerre Peninsula to Beecroft Peninsula. In the Illawarra in 2008, 50 birds were translocated from Barren Grounds Nature Reserve to Cataract. At Jervis Bay, monitoring indicated that after 7 years, (i) there was no detectable impact on the source population from the removal of …

Simulation Study Of Ion Pairing In Concentrated Aqueous Salt Solutions With A Polarizable Force Field, Yun Luo, Wei Jiang, Haibo Yu, Alexander D. Mackerrell, Benoit Roux

Faculty of Science, Medicine and Health - Papers: part A

The accuracy of empirical force fields is critical for meaningful molecular dynamics simulations of concentrated ionic solutions. Current models are typically developed on the basis of single ion properties such as the monohydrate energy in the gas phase, or the absolute hydration free energy at infinite dilution. However, the failure of these models to represent accurately the properties of concentrated solutions cannot be excluded. Here, these issues are illustrated for a polarizable potential based on classical Drude oscillators. To model accurately concentrated ionic solutions, the parameters of the potential functions are optimized to reproduce osmotic pressure data. The sodium-chloride potential …

Polymorphic Male Color Morphs Visualized With Steroids In Monomorphic Females: A Tool For Designing Analysis Of Sex-Limited Trait Inheritance, Mats M. Olsson, Mo Healey, Mark Wilson, Michael Tobler

Faculty of Science, Medicine and Health - Papers: part A

In diploid animals, males and females share most of the genome (except sex-specific elements, such as sex chromosome genes), yet despite sharing the underlying genes that hard-wire traits, males and females may differ in their phenotypes when traits are controlled by proximate mechanisms, such as hormones. In color polymorphic species where coloration is only expressed in one sex, the design of studies of the inheritance of color and coevolved morph-specific traits (e.g. territorial vs sneaker strategies, skewed energetic investment in territorial defense vs sperm production, etc.) is compromised as the expression of morph-coding genes is only visualized in one sex. …

Effect Of 6 Weeks' Consumption Of Β-Glucan-Rich Oat Products On Cholesterol Levels In Mildly Hypercholesterolaemic Overweight Adults, Karen E. Charlton, Linda C. Tapsell, Marijka J. Batterham, Jane O'Shea, Rebecca Thorne, Eleanor Beck, Susan M. Tosh

Faculty of Science, Medicine and Health - Papers: part A

Several regulatory bodies have approved a health claim on the cholesterol-lowering effects of oat β-glucan at levels of 3·0 g/d. The present study aimed to test whether 1·5 g/d β-glucan provided as ready-to-eat oat flakes was as effective in lowering cholesterol as 3·0 g/d from oats porridge. A 6-week randomised controlled trial was conducted in eighty-seven mildly hypercholesterolaemic ( ≥ 5 mmol/l and < 7·5 mmol/l) men and women assigned to one of three diet arms (25 % energy (E%) protein; 45 E% carbohydrate; 30 E% fat, at energy requirements for weight maintenance): (1) minimal β-glucan (control); (2) low-dose oat β-glucan (1·5 g β-glucan; oats low – OL) or (3) higher dose oat β-glucan (3·0 g β-glucan; oats high – OH). Changes in total cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol (LDL-C) from baseline were assessed using a linear mixed model and repeated-measures ANOVA, adjusted for weight change. Total cholesterol reduced significantly in all groups ( − 7·8 (sd 13·8) %, − 7·2 (sd 12·4) % and − 5·5 (sd 9·3) % in the OH, OL and control groups), as did LDL-C ( − 8·4 (sd 18·5) %, − 8·5 (sd 18·5) % and − 5·5 (sd 12·4) % in the OH, OL and control groups), but between-group differences were not significant. In responders only (n 60), β-glucan groups had higher reductions in LDL-C ( − 18·3 (sd 11·1) % and − 18·1 (sd 9·2) % in the OH and OL groups) compared with controls ( − 11·7 (sd 7·9) %; P = 0·044). Intakes of oat β-glucan were as effective at doses of 1·5 g/d compared with 3 g/d when provided in different food formats that delivered similar amounts of soluble β-glucan.

Nutrition & Dietetics: Gaining Momentum, Moving Forward, Eleanor Beck

Faculty of Science, Medicine and Health - Papers: part A

Nutrition & Dietetics is known as the journal of the Dietitians Association of Australia (DAA), including Dietitians New Zealand. However, while always providing a forum for promotion of nutrition and dietetic research in Australia in particular, it has had a number of previous incarnations. Before 1987, the Australian Commonwealth Department of Health published Food & Nutrition: Notes and Reviews. At various times, this was managed by the Australian Institute of Anatomy, the Australian Department of Health Nutrition Section and the Department of Health Food and Nutrition Section. In 1987, DAA took over the journal and it became the Australian Journal …

Nature, Culture And Time: Contested Landscapes Among Environmental Managers In Skane, Southern Sweden, Lesley Head, Joachim Regnell

Faculty of Science, Medicine and Health - Papers: part A

Our increased understanding of 'Man's Role in Changing the Face of the Earth' (Thomas 1956) is one of the key scientific achievements of the second half of the 20th century. Human activities now appropriate more than one third of the Earth's terrestrial ecosystem production, and between a third and a half of the land surface of the planet has been transformed by human development (Vitousek et al. 1997). Humans are inextricably embedded in all earth surface processes, and often dominate them. These findings are increasingly being recognised in political and policy spheres, most notably in contemporary debates about climate change …

The Significance Of Carbon-Enriched Dust For Global Carbon Accounting, Nicholas P. Webb, Adrian Chappell, Craig L. Strong, Samuel K. Marx, Granth Mctainsh

Faculty of Science, Medicine and Health - Papers: part A

Soil carbon stores amount to 54% of the terrestrial carbon pool and twice the atmospheric carbon pool, but soil organic carbon (SOC) can be transient. There is an ongoing debate about whether soils are a net source or sink of carbon, and understanding the role of aeolian processes in SOC erosion, transport and deposition is rudimentary. The impacts of SOC erosion by wind on the global carbon budget, and its importance for carbon accounting remain largely unknown. Current understanding of SOC losses to wind erosion is based on the assumption that the SOC content of eroded material is the same …

Streptokinase Variants From Streptococcus Pyogenes Isolates Display Altered Plasminogen Activation Characteristics - Implications For Pathogenesis, Simon M. Cook, Amanda Skora, Christine M. Gillen, Mark J. Walker, Jason D. Mcarthur

Faculty of Science, Medicine and Health - Papers: part A

Streptococcus pyogenes (group A streptococcus, GAS) secretes streptokinase, a potent plasminogen activating protein. Among GAS isolates, streptokinase gene sequences (ska) are polymorphic and can be grouped into two distinct sequence clusters (termed cluster type-1 and cluster type-2) with cluster type-2 being further divided into sub-clusters type-2a and type-2b. In this study, far-UV circular dichroism spectroscopy indicated that purified streptokinase variants of each type displayed similar secondary structure. Type-2b streptokinase variants could not generate an active site in Glu-plasminogen through non-proteolytic mechanisms while all other variants had this capability. Furthermore, when compared with other streptokinase variants, type-2b variants displayed a 29- …

Antioxidant And Anticancer Activities From Aerial Parts Of Acalypha Indica Linn, Duangsuree Sanseera, Wirat Niwatananun, Boonsom Liawruangrath, Saisunee Liawruangrath, Apiwat Baramee, Kongkiat Trisuwan, Stephen G. Pyne

Faculty of Science, Medicine and Health - Papers: part A

Extracts of Acalypha indica Linn. (aerial parts) were investigated for antioxidant activity, anticancer activity, and cytotoxicity. The extracts showed a non-cytotoxic response against Vero cells (African green monkey kidney). The anticancer activity of the extracts was tested using the Resazurin Microplate Assay (REMA). The methanol extract showed anticancer activity against NCIH187-Small Cell Lung Cancer with an IC50 of 25.00 μgmL-1. In addition, the hexane, chloroform, and methanol extracts also showed significant antioxidant activities with an IC50 of 6.19, 5.70, and 7.79 mg/mL, respectively, by means of the DPPH radical scavenging assay. The hexane, chloroform, and methanol extracts also showed significant …

Influence Of Plantlet Age And Different Soilless Culture On Acclimatization Of Stemona Curtisii Hook.F., Jiraporn Palee, Srisulak Dheeranupattana, Araya Jatisatienr, Sunanta Wangkarn, Pitchaya Mungkornasawakul, Stephen Pyne, Alison Ung, Thanapat Sastraruji

Faculty of Science, Medicine and Health - Papers: part A

The aim of this experiment was to study the optimal age of Stemona curtisii plantlets for acclimatization. The in vitro shoots of S. curtisii were cultured on Murashige and Skoog solid medium supplemented with 1 mg L-1 naphthalene acetic acid to induce roots. Then, the plantlets from in vitro culture of 4, 8 and 12 week-old were transferred into the soil and their survival rate during the acclimatization process in the greenhouse was investigated. It was found that the 8 week-old plantlets had the highest survival rate of 80%. However, to enhance the survival rate of these plantlets, a soilless …

Synthesis Of Spirocyclic Azacycles From The Cyclization Of Furan Tethered N-Acyliminium Ions, Sudhir R. Shengule, Anthony Willis, Stephen G. Pyne

Faculty of Science, Medicine and Health - Papers: part A

The protic and Lewis acid promoted cyclization reactions of tethered furan-4,5-dihydroxypiperid-2-ones, furan-4,5-diacetoxypiperid-2-ones and furan-3,4-diacetoxypyrrolid-2-ones, via their corresponding N-acyliminium ion intermediates, have been studied. In the case of the furan-4,5-dihydroxypiperid-2-one 2a and its diacetate derivative 2b, macrocyclic products were formed from an initial intermolecular reaction between 2a or 2b, via the nucleophilic C5 furan carbon, and their corresponding N-acyliminium ion intermediates. When the furan C5 position of 2b was blocked by substitution with bromine then TFA or Sc(OTf)3 catalysed cyclization reactions gave a spirotricyclic product (a 5-6-6-tricycle) in a highly diastereoselective manner. Cyclization of the analogous C5-Br-furan-pyrrolidone 29 with TFA resulted …

Determining The Cooling Age Using Luminescence-Thermochronology, Bo Li, Sheng-Hua Li

Faculty of Science, Medicine and Health - Papers: part A

Luminescence technique has been shown to have great potential in low-temperature (< 100 °C) themochronology. This study investigates the kinetic process of luminescence in a cooling system. We present a new formula that can be used for determining the cooling age based on luminescence-thermochronology. The cooling rate can be obtained directly from a plot of luminescence age versus the present temperature. We show that the application and capacity of luminescence-thermochronology are significantly controlled by the saturation of luminescence and environmental dose rate.

Using Learning Objects To Provide Context In Simulation, Patrea Andersen, Kay Crookes, Victoria Traynor, Siobhan Wragg

Faculty of Science, Medicine and Health - Papers: part A

Incorporating simulation in curricula is a strategy that provides innovative opportunities to address the challenges of preparing learners for the complexities of clinical practice (Jefferies, 2007). However, where students have had limited exposure to clinical practice their understanding of the context of this may impact on the quality of the learning experience. This is especially so when students are expected to engage in simulation activities that include role play. Using learning objects as a teaching tool and embedding these within the structure of simulation can enhance the quality of the learning experience through facilitating an understanding of the practice context, …

Gender Differences In Cognitive Function Of Patients With Chronic Schizophrenia, Mei Han, Xu-Feng Huang, Da Chun Chen, Mei Hong Xiu, Li Hui, Haibo Liu, Thomas R. Kosten, Xiang Yang Zhang

Faculty of Science, Medicine and Health - Papers: part A

Schizophrenic patients have cognitive impairments, but gender differences in these cognitive deficits have had limited study. This study assessed cognitive functioning in 471 subjects including 122 male and 78 female schizophrenic patients and 141 male and 130 female healthy controls. We found that immediate memory, language, delayed memory and total RBANS scores were significantly decreased in schizophrenia compared with healthy controls for both genders. Male patients had significant lower immediate memory, delayed memory and total RBANS scores than female patients, and healthy controls showed a similar gender difference. The RBANS showed modest correlations with PANSS scores, duration of illness and …

Does A Low Glycaemic Index (Gi) Diet Cost More During Pregnancy?, Jane Cleary, Shelly Casey, Clare Hofsteede, Robert G. Moses, Marianna Milosavljevic, Jennie Brand-Miller

Faculty of Science, Medicine and Health - Papers: part A

The aim of this study was to examine the monetary cost of dietary change among pregnant women before and after receiving low glycaemic index (GI) dietary advice. The pregnant women in this study were a subgroup of participants in the Pregnancy and Glycaemic Index Outcomes (PREGGIO) study. Twenty women from the low GI dietary advice group, who had completed their pregnancies, were randomly chosen. All these women had completed three day food records at 12–16 weeks and again around 36 weeks of gestation. Consumer food prices were applied to recorded dietary intake data. The mean ± SD GI of the …

Lower Extremity Kinematics And Kinetics When Landing From Unloaded And Loaded Jumps, Ina Janssen, Jeremy M. Sheppard, Andrew A. Dingley, Dale W. Chapman, Wayne Spratford

Faculty of Science, Medicine and Health - Papers: part A

Countermovement jumps loaded with a weighted vest are often used for the training of lower body power to improve jump performance. However, it is currently unknown how this added load affects the lower extremity kinematics and kinetics, in particular whether this results in an increased injury risk. Therefore, the purpose of this investigation was to determine how lower extremity kinematics and kinetics during landing are affected by loaded jumps as demonstrated in a volleyball block jump landing. Ten elite male volleyball players performed block jump landings in an unloaded and loaded (9.89 kg) condition. Kinematic and kinetic landing data from …

Recovery And Mental Health Care: Views Of Ed Nurses, Donna Marynowski-Traczyk, Lorna Moxham, Marc Broadbent

Faculty of Science, Medicine and Health - Papers: part A

The demand for acute and emergency mental health care exceeds current supply of available services and it is well documented that registered nurses are increasingly caring for consumers with a mental illness as part of their daily work.

Schizophrenia And Resilience: What Does It Mean?, Susan Liersch, Lorna Moxham, Peter Caputi, Janette Curtis

Faculty of Science, Medicine and Health - Papers: part A

A doctoral research examined the meaning of resilience for someone who is living with schizophrenia. What it didn't examine was what makes people with schizophrenia resilient.

Getting Older, Feeling Safe, Taking Risks, Brenda Happell, Leonie Clancy, Lorna J. Moxham

Faculty of Science, Medicine and Health - Papers: part A

Risk has certainly become entrenched in the language of contemporary health care. Risk assessments are presented as part of good quality practice, reflecting the view that risk is a bad thing and should be avoided at all cost.

Rural Placements Are Effective For Teaching Medicine In Australia: Evaluation Of A Cohort Of Students Studying In Rural Placements, H H. Birden, I Wilson

Faculty of Science, Medicine and Health - Papers: part A

Introduction: Medical education in Australia is increasingly delivered through longitudinal placements in general practice and other community settings. Early meaningful exposure to patients has been shown to improve the transition from medical student to junior doctor. This study examines the experience of the first year cohort of the University of Western Sydney (UWS) Medical School long-term rural placement students. Results have been placed in the context of other published results for rural training schemes, comparing and contrasting the present results to those of others. Methods: Students undertaking a rural placement in their final year of the UWS medical program (n=21) …

Quality Of Life For People With Schizophrenia: A Literature Review, Amira Alshowkan, Janette Curtis, Yvonne White

Faculty of Science, Medicine and Health - Papers: part A

Objective: In recent years, there has been a growing interest in the study and evaluation of the quality of life for people with schizophrenia. The aim of this paper is to provide a comprehensive literature review on the quality of life for people with schizophrenia who are living in the community. Method: An integrative literature review was undertaken to review literature in the field of medical/mental health in relevant databases. Results: A total of 21 studies were reviewed and categorised according to three themes identified from the literature: the quality of life and socio-demographic characteristics of people with schizophrenia; the …