Digital Commons Network^™

Photocatalytic Degradation Of Cephalexin, Amoxicillin, And Phenol Red Using A Green-Synthesized Folic Acid–Zno–Bi2o3 Nanoporous System, M. Sarani, Haghighi, P. Tamaddon, A. Najafidoust, P. Faghani-Eskandarkolaei, N. Sattarahmady

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

The persistent presence of pharmaceutical pollutants like amoxicillin (AMX) and cephalexin (CPX), and industrial dyes such as phenol red (PR) in wastewater poses serious ecological and public health risks, including antibiotic resistance. It necessitates efficient and low-cost remediation technologies. Photocatalysts employing innovative and engineered nanomaterials such as bismuth oxide (Bi2O3) and zinc oxide (ZnO) nanostructures exhibit considerable potential for eliminating pollutants. This study focused on the photodegradation of AMX, CPX, and PR utilizing green-synthesized folic acid–ZnO–Bi2O3 nanoparticles (F-Zn-Bi NPs) under visible light irradiation. Characterization of the synthesized photocatalyst was conducted using various techniques of powder x-ray diffraction (PXRD), field emission …

Refuelling Behaviour And Electric Vehicle Uptake: Evidence From A Behavioural Transition Framework In Western Australia, Navid Hashemi Taba, Khatavakhotan

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

This study examined how refuelling routines, price responsiveness and discount expectations relate to readiness to replace a conventional petrol vehicle with an electric vehicle in Western Australia. A structured survey of nonelectric vehicle owners was administered in Perth (n = 442; conventional petrol n = 408; hybrid n = 34). Protocol-based cleaning and distributional diagnostics guided nonparametric inference and segmentation. Refuelling frequency comparisons between conventional and hybrid vehicle owners indicated higher visit frequency and monthly consumption among the former (monthly consumption: median 150 L vs. 92 L; U = 6963.5, z = 4.48, p < 0.001), whereas within conventional vehicle owners, no significant association was observed between monthly consumption and stated willingness to adopt an electric vehicle (U = 6633.0, p = 0.671). Expected petrol price discounts were tightly centred (median 10%; interquartile range 5%–15%), yet cluster analysis revealed a distinct segment combining high discount expectations (≈22%) and higher monthly consumption (∼211 L). Correlation between consumption and discount expectations was negligible (r ≈ 0.03, p > 0.05). These findings suggest that adoption-related …

On Burden Of Diseases, Prevention, Medical Research And Health Service Delivery: Grampian Case Study, Seshadri S. Vasan, Sudarshan Anand, Miae Lee, Nicholas C. Fluck

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Burden of diseases measured as disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) per 100,000 people can be mined from public domain data, when they are made available by population health surveillance systems. This can be analysed to allow insightful comparisons with the national average, and to understand differences in trends between the sexes, age groups, time periods, geographic regions, and sub-regions. In this illustrative case study, we have analysed the Scottish burden of disease database to understand what ailed the population of the Grampian region before the COVID-19 pandemic. We have identified that selected cancers, ischaemic heart disease, Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias …

Beyond Assumptions: What Students Really Think About School Wellbeing Programs, Amanda Madden

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

The study examined students’ perceptions of effective components in school-based wellbeing programs, addressing a critical gap where adolescent voices are absent. Data was gathered through a questionnaire, individual interviews, and focus groups conducted with 36 Year 12 students across three independent co-educational schools in Western Australia. Thematic analysis identified seven key components essential for effective wellbeing programming: targeted content providing respite from academic pressures, engaging and relatable presenters, strategic timing, developmental appropriateness, meaningful measurement, genuine teacher engagement, and authentic incorporation of student voice. Students valued practical, non-academic content and expressed scepticisms about teacher-delivered programs. Timing emerged as a previously underexplored …

Innovativeness And Self-Efficacy In Lecturers’ Intentions To Use Cloud Computing Services In Teaching And Learning In South African Higher Education, John Mangundu, Laizah Sashah Mutasa, Senali Madugoda Gunaratnege, Martin Ujakpa

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

There has been an acceleration of the adoption of cloud computing in higher education institutions (HEIs), especially in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. This shift to virtual and blended learning environments, led to a migration of HEIs’ information management processes to cloud-based systems. Despite its advantages, cloud computing adoption in South African HEIs remains low. This study applies the Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB) to examine how self-efficacy and innovativeness influence lecturers’ intentions to use cloud computing services. A quantitative design was applied, and stratified random sampling ensured representation across the lecturer population. Data were collected through an online questionnaire …

Putting Lived Experience At The Centre: A Critical Review Of Multidisciplinary, Person-Centred Mental Health Care, Laura Grattidge, Darren Haywood, Nicolas H. Hart, Bridget Elizabeth Hamilton, Ellie Fossey, Melissa Petrakis, David J. Castle

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Purpose: Person-centred care is widely endorsed in mental health policy yet remains inconsistently enacted in multidisciplinary practice, particularly where services default to diagnostic dominance, risk management, and service-led priorities. This critical review examines what is required to operationalise person-centred, rights-based care across disciplines and settings, positioning lived and living experience as core expertise rather than a supplementary perspective and considering implications for suicide prevention. Methods: A critical review of peer-reviewed and grey literature was undertaken, focusing on person-centred and multidisciplinary mental health care. Five commonly used approaches were compared: the Optimal Health Program, the Strengths Model, Open Dialogue, traditional case …

Towards Transgressive Inclusion In Physical Education? The Experiences And Perspectives Of People With Disabilities In Western Australia, Steven Connelly, Dawn Penney, David Aldous

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

This paper foregrounds the voices of people with disabilities (PwD) and their experiences of Physical Education (PE) in Western Australia (WA) in exploring interests in transgressive inclusion that are grounded in social justice and equity for PwD (DeLuca, 2013). Towards an interdisciplinary framework for educational inclusivity. Canadian Journal of Education, 36(1), 305–348. https://journals.sfu.ca/cje/index.php/cje-rce/article/view/1157/1475). The study employed a questionnaire method to pursue the perspectives of PwD in relation to (i) their experiences of lower secondary PE (years 7-10), (ii) teacher support in PE classes, (iii) experiences beyond PE in sport and physical activity, and (iv) their views regarding ways to improve …

Converging Demands, Diverging Experiences: Gendered Leadership In The Australian Mining, Oil And Gas Sector During A Prolonged Crisis, Michael Mayom Ajith, Andrei Alexander Lux, Michelle Striepe, Tim Bentley

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Purpose: Effective leadership during a prolonged crisis requires significant emotional and moral labour. Prior literature has examined gendered differences in leadership behaviour and performance during a crisis, yet less is known about how leaders experience gendered expectations during a prolonged crisis. This study therefore examines gender differences in middle-level leaders’ experiences during a protracted crisis in the Australian extractive industry.

Design/methodology/approach: The authors used a sequential qualitative design. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 32 middle-level leaders in the Australian mining, oil and gas industry. The full data set was first analysed thematically to establish a broad account of leadership experiences. …

Analysis Of Geosynthetic-Reinforced Tailings Dam Slopes Subjected To Surface Loads, Francis Otieno, Sanjay Kumar Shukla

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

This study presents an extensive numerical investigation of the stability of a geosynthetic-reinforced tailings dam embankment slope subjected to surface loads from retained pyrite tailings slurry upstream of the dam. The analysis was performed on an embankment with an inclination of 1V:2.5H on the upstream slope and 1V:2H on the downstream slope. The dam embankment rests directly on previously deposited pyrite tailings that have dried over time and are sufficiently consolidated to support the embankment. The variable parameters considered in this study include the geosynthetic reinforcement length across the failure zone, effective cohesion (c′), effective angle of internal friction (ϕ′), …

Belonging-With Country: Diffracting Equity, Inclusion And Care In Australian Early Childhood Education, Amanda J. Binns, Elizabeth Jackson-Barrett

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

This article revisits the widely used yet underexamined concepts of equity, inclusion and belonging in Australian early childhood education. Building on Sumsion and Wong's interrogation of ‘belonging’ in the original Early Years Learning Framework (EYLF) for Australia V2.0, it traces how the concept has been taken up across policy, practice and scholarship, including EYLF V2.0 and contemporary work on care, book sharing and cultural responsiveness. It argues that these approaches, while well intentioned, often individualise belonging, obscure ongoing colonial relations and privilege Euro-Western, human-centred ontologies that normalise some children, families and places while marginalising others, particularly Aboriginal and Torres Strait …

Neurophysiological And Neuromuscular Responses Associated With The Repeated Bout Effect Following Eccentric Exercise In Healthy Adults: A Systematic Review And Meta-Analysis, Oliver Hayman, Abdulrahman T. Alsowail, Benjamin Griffiths, Stuart R. Gray, Glyn Howatson, Ken Nosaka, Stuart Goodall, Ashlyn K. Frazer, Dawson J. Kidgell

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Muscle damage severity decreases after repeated eccentric exercise bouts (the repeated bout effect [RBE]), but whether accompanying neural and neuromuscular changes contribute to protection or arise secondary to reduced damage remains unclear. This systematic review and meta-analysis compared neurophysiological and neuromuscular responses between initial and repeated eccentric bouts in healthy adults. Eight databases were searched from November 1990 to January 2025, and Hedges’ g was calculated where outcomes were comparable. Given the small number of contributing studies, all pooled analyses were considered exploratory. Twelve studies met the inclusion criteria. Twitch/evoked force showed recovery-compatible point estimates at 24 h (g = …

Raising Children In Precarious Spaces: Coping Strategies Of Young Mothers In Urban Slums Of Accra, Ghana, Portia Nana Ama Brempong, Samuel Eduaful, Kwabena Frimpong-Manso, Phoebe Afram

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

This study examined coping strategies of young mothers raising children in urban slum communities in Accra, Ghana. Guided by Jack’s Ecological Influences Framework and Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis, interviews were conducted with 20 young mothers aged 18–35 in Old Fadama and African Eleven. The findings revealed five strategies: spiritual coping and religious reliance; adaptive food management strategies; psychological endurance and emotional regulation; community-based support networks; and informal financial management and credit utilization. Environmental stressors, including crime and social disorder, shaped mothers’ parenting experiences and created tensions in transmitting values to their children. These findings suggest that young mothers’ coping strategies are …

Re-Thinking Bodies In Cross-Border Physical Education Teacher Education Policies: A Posthuman Perspective, Valeria Varea, Erik Backman

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

While posthumanist studies have increased in Physical Education Teacher Education (PETE), traditional analytical approaches are still often employed for the analysis of policy documents, which limits the ways that we can understand policy work. The aim of this paper is to explore how bodies are conceptualised and assembled in PETE policies in one institution from Sweden and one from Australia using a posthumanist perspective. We understand these policies as material doings and enactments of the world that can allow us to think differently about PETE. By using the concepts of assemblage and plugging in, three result categories are presented: (1) …

When Dying Patients Fall Silent: How Nurses Navigate Decision-Making In The Last Days Of Life—A Qualitative Study, Tricia O'Connor, Aileen Collier, Karen Strickland, Carla Thamm, Catherine Paterson

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Aim: To explore nurses' perspectives on decision-making processes and influencing factors when caring for unresponsive dying patients in the last days of life. Design: A qualitative interpretive study.

Methods: Using purposive recruitment and informal peer referral, twenty-one nurses from a specialist palliative care service in a metropolitan city in Australia were interviewed between July 2024 and January 2025. Data were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis. Decision-making theory was used as an interpretive lens.

Findings: Two themes were generated: ‘The patient as an absent presence’ and ‘Enacting agency through embodied cognition and relational attunement’, together with five interconnected subthemes. The analysis …

Application Of Generative Artificial Intelligence By Nurse Academics In Higher Education: A Scoping Review, Jennifer Hamilton, Martina Costello, Lesley Barr, Simon Cooper, Martin Jones

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Aim: To systematically map existing research on nurse academics incorporation of generative artificial intelligence when developing teaching and learning resources in higher education and to identify knowledge gaps and future research. Background: Generative artificial intelligence technology is rapidly evolving in healthcare and it's use in nursing higher education is developing. However, concerns regarding its adoption in higher education relate to academic integrity and ethical considerations, including privacy, confidentiality, bias and critical thinking development. Generative artificial intelligence tools present new pedagogy possibilities in nursing higher education; however, the scope and impact of its adoption is unclear. Methods: The Joanna Briggs Institute …

Between Guidelines And Guilt: Parenting Through The Chaos Of Screen-Time Discourse, Stephanie C. Milford

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Digital parenting today is shaped by shifting guidelines, moralised discourse, and often unstable institutional advice, leaving families navigating uncertainty without meaningful support. Drawing on governmentality theory and media studies, this piece examines how screentime discourse can position parents as primarily responsible for risks that are in part, produced by systems outside the home. Using the Australian policy reversal on YouTube as a case study, it highlights how inconsistent guidance can erode parental confidence and at times sustain cycles of shame and surveillance. Rather than consistently addressing structural factors such as platform design and algorithmic amplification, media and policy narratives displace …

Culture, Community, And Development: Unpacking The ‘Socio-Cultural Milieu Dynamics’ Of Solomon Islands And Their Influence On Australia's Aid Localisation, Mark Opoku Amankwa, Gladys Nangira Murruka, Kwadwo Adusei-Asante, Vicki Frances Banham, Clement Amponsah, Emmanuel Enyinful

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Using public ethnography anchored in the post-development theory and interpretivist epistemological paradigm, this study examines what we term the ‘socio-cultural milieus dynamics’ (SCMD) of the Solomon Islands (SI) and how these shape meaning, discourse, and practice in ways that influence Australia's aid localisation efforts and aid outcomes. The findings indicate that local communities are deeply entrenched in complex SCMD with heterogeneous networks of decision-makers within the ecosystem. These SCMD, we argue, are evident in the structural and contested roles associated with the gendered composition of local committees, the power asymmetries between dominant local elites and subalternised groups, and the relationalities …

Effectiveness Of Prophylactic Foam Dressings In The Prevention Of Sacral Pressure Injuries In At-Risk Hospitalised Patients (Eepoc): A Randomised Control Trial, Rachel M. Walker, Wendy Chaboyer, Lukman Thalib, Sharon Latimer, Haitham Tuffaha, Marie Cooke, Brigid M. Gillespie

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Background: Hospital-acquired pressure injuries are a serious patient safety issue with the sacrum the most common location. Silicone foam border dressings are increasingly used in hospitalised patients, yet their clinical and cost-effectiveness in preventing pressure injuries is unclear in some patient cohorts. Objective: To determine the clinical and cost-effectiveness of a silicone foam border dressing in preventing sacral hospital acquired pressure injuries in at-risk medical-surgical patients. Methods: A prospective, multi-site, parallel group, pragmatic, superiority randomised controlled trial was conducted in Southeast Queensland, Australia. Medical-surgical adult patients (≥ 18 years) at-risk of pressure injury were recruited and randomly allocated to either …

Drone Endurance In Hydrogen Fuel Cell Hybrid Technologies: Power Architectures And Design Strategies, Yaw Chong Tak, Tarek Abedin, Johnny Koh Siaw Paw, Jagadeesh Pasupuleti, Tan Jian Ding, Tiong Sieh Kiong, K. Kadirgama, F. Benedict, Mohammad Nur-E-Alam

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

This study delivers an exhaustive exploration of novel and hybrid power systems for Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) aimed at improving endurance, efficiency, and mission performance. In the wake of increasing requirements for long-endurance and high-performance UAVs, traditional battery systems are limited by their energy density and lifetime. To overcome this, the research compares four primary power sources: hydrogen fuel cells, lithium-based batteries, photovoltaic cells, and supercapacitors, with a focus on their hybrid architecture integration. The originality of this research is in the relative comparison of these power sources in multi-mode UAV operations, with an emphasis on their performance, energy management …

Examining The Factors Influencing Citizen Adoption Of E-Government Chatbot Services In Jordan: A Longitudinal Survey Study, Ibrahim Mohamad, Laurie Hughes, Ali Abdallah Alalwan, Tegwen Malik, Yogesh K. Dwivedi

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Many governments are focusing on adopting Artificial Intelligence (AI)-based chatbot technology to enhance work efficiency and improve e-government services. Jordan was among the first Middle Eastern countries to implement AI chatbots to offer various e-services to its citizens. While previous studies have examined the adoption of AI chatbots, they have not explored citizen adoption within the Jordanian context. This research investigates the key factors influencing citizen adoption of e-government chatbot services in Jordan by extending the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology 2 (UTAUT2) theory with additional external variables. A longitudinal survey of 319 Jordanian citizens was conducted, …

Insulin Resistance As A Mediator Of Physical Activity's Effects On Beta-Amyloid Accumulation And Tau Phosphorylation: A Scoping Review, Michael G. Slee, Joanne Scotney, Stephanie R. Rainey-Smith, Kirk I. Erickson, Hamid R. Sohrabi, Giuseppe Verdile, Belinda M. Brown

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Background Type 2 diabetes is associated with increased Alzheimer’s disease risk and brain beta amyloid (Aβ) burden, suggesting an underlying mechanistic relationship between Alzheimer’s disease and type 2 diabetes. Animal studies show exercise reduces levels of brain Aβ and tau, and while human studies are somewhat limited, some studies have reported physical activity is associated with lower brain Aβ and tau levels. Exercise has well established links to reductions in insulin resistance; thus, as physical activity can impact both insulin resistance and Alzheimer’s disease pathology and/or biomarkers, it is reasonable to hypothesise that a mediating relationship may exist. The objective …

Lack Of Increase In Mercury Contamination In Coastal Western Australia Since European Settlement, Martin Dahl, Larissa Schneider, Harald Biester, Richard Bindler, Antonio Martinez Cortizas, Paul S. Lavery, Miguel A. Mateo, Oscar Serrano

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Current knowledge of long-term mercury (Hg) deposition is predominantly based on studies from the Northern Hemisphere, leading to a geographical bias in the comprehension of the global Hg cycle. Aiming to contribute to fill this knowledge gap, our study presents a high-resolution Hg record of a seagrass Posidonia australis sedimentary archive encompassing the last 3300 years in the Waychinicup estuary (Western Australia, WA). This setting is an ideal site for studying the natural Hg cycle, as it is located in the southwest of the state, outside the prevailing wind patterns that transport emissions from major Hg sources. Our results show …

Satellite Observations Reveal Ecosystem Resistance And Resilience To Short-Term Water Stress Driven By Dominant Vegetation Along A Rainfall Gradient In Australia, Huanhuan Wang, Qiaoyun Xie, Sally E. Thompson, Caitlin E. Moore, David L. Miller, Erik J. Veneklaas, Richard P. Silberstein, Xing Li, Jingfeng Xiao, Belinda E. Medlyn, William K. Smith

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Climate change is projected to intensify water stress in many ecosystems and poses threats to their stability, which can be quantified through ecosystem resistance and resilience. Relevant studies mostly focused on multi-year or annual droughts, and in spatially homogeneous or species-specific ecosystems. However, resilience and resistance within complex ecosystems, where different plants exhibit different adaptations and recovery behaviours, are less understood. Using productivity data from satellite-derived GOSIF (Global Orbiting Carbon Observatory-2 Solar-Induced Fluorescence) and flux towers, we examined vegetation responses to short-term (<1 year) water stress events from 2000 to 2018 along the North Australia Tropical Transect, which spans a 1600 mm rainfall gradient and transitions from seasonal mesic to non-seasonal arid ecosystems. We define resistance as productivity maintained during stress relative to a multi-year average baseline, and resilience as the extent to which productivity recovered one year after stress relative to the same baseline. Our results show that ecosystem resistance to water stress was lowest in semi-arid regions but higher in both arid and mesic regions, while ecosystem resilience showed the opposite pattern. These spatial patterns occurred regardless of seasonality and were mainly associated with dominant vegetation type. Woody savanna-dominated mesic regions exhibited highest resistance (0.82 ± 0.13, p < 0.001) and lowest resilience (0.26 ± 0.19, p < 0.001), shrublands in arid areas had intermediate values of both resistance (0.81 ± 0.14, p < 0.001) and resilience (0.27 ± 0.22, p < 0.001), while the grasslands in semi-arid regions had low resistance (0.78 ± 0.15, p < 0.001) and high resilience (0.38 ± 0.24, p < 0.001). The highest likelihood (>75.0 %) of full recovery (i.e., exceeding baseline after one year) occurred during the wet season in …

Towards Carbon Geosequestration: Comparing The Wettability Performance Of Western Australian Altered Basaltic Rock/Co2/Water Systems, Seyi Philemon Akanji, Rossen Sedev, Lionel Esteban, Ausama Giwelli, Trevor Beardsmore, Heather Howard, Joel Sarout, Alireza Keshavarz, Stefan Iglauer

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Geosequestration of carbon dioxide in basaltic rock formations is considered to have the potential to safely and permanently store significant quantities of this greenhouse gas and thereby mitigate its potential global warming effect. The success of this storage method is primarily dependent on the wettability behaviour of the rock-water-CO2 system, which significantly affects fluid distribution, fluid transport, storage capacity and containment security. This study investigates the wettability performance of several Western Australian altered basaltic rocks, of similar geochemistry, porosity and inter-connection. The wettability behaviour of the basaltic materials is assessed using water containing ions that have been leached from the …

Under-Five Mortality Estimation Methods: A Methodological Systematic Review, Bereket Kefale, Jonine Jancey, Amanuel T. Gebremedhin, Daniel Gashaneh Belay, Gavin Pereira, Gizachew A. Tessema

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Purpose This methodological systematic review aimed to identify and synthesise the existing under-five mortality (U5M) estimation methods globally. Methods We searched seven databases including Medline, Embase, Scopus, Web of Science, CINAHL, Global Health, and ProQuest Central, as well as grey literature sources from inception to September 25, 2025. The review protocol was prospectively registered in the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO) (CRD42023465476). Results Fifty-six studies were included in this review. The most frequently employed child mortality estimation method was the indirect method (n = 16), followed by the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) study method (n = 12) …

Unraveling The Significance Of Fecal Microrna Profile In Alzheimer’S Disease, Kavisha Katuwawala, Prashant Bharadwaj, Ian Martins, B. G.D.N.K. De Silva, Vincent Ho, Asiri Dissanayake, Ralph N. Martins, W. M.A.D.Binosha Fernando

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Alzheimer’s disease (AD), a complex neurodegenerative disorder characterised by progressive cognitive decline, affects millions globally. With no current cure, treatment focuses on symptom management and slowing disease progression. Early identification is therefore crucial. Fecal microRNA (miRNA) analysis is emerging as a promising non-invasive diagnostic tool. Evidence suggests that miRNAs present in fecal samples may regulate gene expression linked to AD pathology, impacting cellular functions and disease progression. Dietary factors critically influence gut microbiota composition and diversity, affecting brain health via the gut brain axis. Macronutrients such as carbohydrates, proteins, and fats modulate miRNA expression and gut microbiota, influencing AD risk. …

C2p-M: Critical Connection Protection In Multiplex Graphs, Conggai Li, Wei Ni, Ming Ding, Youyang Qu, Jianjun Chen, Wenjie Zhang, Thierry Rakotoarivelo

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Multiplex graphs represent diverse real-world interactions among entities, where multiple relationship types coexist within the same set of entities. These graphs introduce privacy risks, as data collectors can exploit cross-layer dependencies to infer hidden and sensitive connections. In this work, we propose a C2P-M framework that identifies and protects critical connections while preserving the structural information in multiplex graphs. Unlike conventional methods for single-layer graphs that perturb all edges uniformly, C2P-M selectively protects critical connections, maintaining the analytical usability of the graph. To achieve this, we introduce the multiplex p-cohesion model, which incorporates new score functions that account for both …

Circulating Tumor Cells In Uveal Melanoma: Multi-Marker Detection And Association With Disease State, Daniel P. De Bruyn, Fabiana Lucia Bassil, Mike Wu, Aaron B. Beasley, Jolanda Vaarwater, Mai N. Van, Jaco Kraan, Robert M. Verdijk, Dion Paridaens, Caroline M. Van Rij, Nicole C. Naus, Annelies De Klein, Elin S. Gray, Erwin Brosens, Emine Kiliç

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Purpose. Uveal melanoma (UM) is primarily treated with eye-sparing radiotherapy, leaving limited tumor tissue for molecular analysis. Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) may offer a minimally invasive alternative for genomic tumor profiling. This pilot study evaluated the feasibility of a multi-marker CTC capture approach in UM patients at diagnosis, during fractionated stereotactic radiotherapy (fSRT), and at metastatic progression. Methods. Patients with localized or metastatic UM were prospectively enrolled. Peripheral blood samples were collected at baseline, during fSRT, and on detection of metastases. CTCs were captured and enumerated using a multi-marker approach and fluorescence microscopy. Results. A total of 76 patients were …

Decline In Offspring Quantity But Not Quality From Successive Matings In Male Rainforest Drosophila, With No Evidence For Genetic Divergence In Male Mating Behaviour Along Elevational And Density Gradients, Andrew D. Saxon, Eleanor K. O'Brien, Natalie E. Jones, Jon Bridle

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Fertilisation success is a major component of male fitness, meaning males should capitalise on all opportunities for mating. However, other sources of variation in fitness mean that males often evolve life histories that limit their ability to mate frequently. We quantified mating latency, mating duration, and offspring production in males of the tropical fly Drosophila birchii when presented with up to 4 females consecutively. Males were sourced from isofemale lines from the extremes of 2 elevational gradients (20–1100 m) that show substantial differences in population density, temperature, and humidity. Total offspring sired increased with number of matings achieved, demonstrating substantial …

Effects Of Electroshock Treatment On Microstructure Evolution And Mechanical Properties Of Ti-8al-1mo-1v Alloy, Jian Zhou, Yu Peng Yao, Hong Xin Sun, Chang Liu, Yan Wen, Li Qiang Wang, Lai Chang Zhang, Le Chun Xie, Lin Hua

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

The effect mechanism of electroshock treatment (EST) on microstructure evolution and mechanical property variations of Ti-8Al-1Mo-1V alloy was investigated. The results show that EST results in the phase transformation from the acicular secondary αs to β phase. While the EST time is 0.12 s, the acicular martensitic phase (αM) precipitates. The results of electron backscattered diffraction (EBSD) reveals that the average grain size decreases from 3.95 to 2.53 μm after EST, indicating that the grains are refined, and the significant recrystallization behavior and martensitic transformation occur. The orientation distribution reveals a more uniform distribution of texture, which is caused by …