Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Systematic Enso-Driven Nutrient Variability Recorded By Central Equatorial Pacific Corals, Michele Lavigne, Intan S. Nurhati, Kim M. Cobb, Helen V. Mcgregor, Daniel Sinclair, Robert M. Sherrell

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

[1] Variations in ocean productivity are driven largely by nutrient supply to the photic zone, but temporal records of nutrient variability are sparse. Here we show scleractinian coral P/Ca proxy records of variations in phosphate concentrations during El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) cycles in the central equatorial Pacific. Covarying P/Ca records in Porites corals from Christmas and Fanning Islands show a regional ~40% decrease during the upwelling relaxation of the 1997–1998 El Niño, consistent with less frequent nutrient measurements from this area. Similar ~35–45% skeletal P/Ca decreases occur during the 1982–1983 and 1986–1987 El Niño events, which predate satellite color …

Rapid Cascade Synthesis Of Poly-Heterocyclic Architectures From Indigo, Alireza Shakoori Ghasabi, John Bremner, Anthony C. Willis, Rachada Haritakun, Paul A. Keller

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

The base-induced propargylation of the dye indigo results in the rapid and unprecedented one-pot synthesis of highly functionalized representatives of the pyrazino[1,2-a:4,3-a′]diindole, pyrido[1,2-a:3,4-b′]diindole and benzo[b]indolo[1,2-h]naphthyridine heterocyclic systems, with the last two reflecting the core skeleton of the anticancer/antiplasmodial marine natural products fascaplysin and homofascaplysins and a ring B-homologue, respectively. The polycyclic compounds 6–8, whose structures were confirmed through single-crystal X-ray crystallographic analysis, arise from sequential inter/intramolecular substitution–addition reactions, and in some cases, ring rearrangement reactions. Preliminary studies on controlling the reaction path selectivity, and the potential reaction mechanisms, are also described. Initial biological activity studies with these new heterocyclic derivatives …

Rates Of Shoreline Change Along The Coast Of Bangladesh, Md. Golam Mahabub Sarwar, Colin D. Woodroffe

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

Bangladesh, at the confluence of the sediment-laden Ganges and Brahmaputra Rivers, supports an enormous and rapidly growing population (>140 million in 2011), across low-lying alluvial and delta plains that have accumulated over the past few thousand years. It has been identified as one of the most vulnerable places in the world to the impacts of climate change and sea-level rise. Although abundant sediment supply has resulted in accretion on some parts of the coast of Bangladesh, others are experiencing rapid erosion. We report a systematic assessment of rates of shoreline change over a 20-year period from 1989 to 2009, …

Concise Synthesis Of (-)-Steviamine And Analogues And Their Glycosidase Inhibitory Activities, Nadechanok Jiangseubchatveera, Marc E. Bouillon, Boonsom Liawruangrath, Saisunee Liawruangrath, Robert J. Nash, Stephen G. Pyne

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

A concise synthesis of (−)-steviamine is reported along with the synthesis of its analogues 10-nor-steviamine, 10-nor-ent-steviamine and 5-epi-ent-steviamine. These compounds were tested against twelve glycosidases (at 143 μg mL−1 concentrations) and were found to have in general poor inhibitory activity against most enzymes. The 10-nor analogues however, showed 50–54% inhibition of α-L-rhamnosidase from Penicillium decumbens while one of these, 10-nor-steviamine, showed 51% inhibition of N-acetyl-β-D-glucosaminidase (from Jack bean) at the same concentration (760 μM).

Uv Photodissociation Action Spectroscopy Of Haloanilinium Ions In A Linear Quadrupole Ion Trap Mass Spectrometer, Christopher S. Hansen, Benjamin B. Kirk, Stephen J. Blanksby, Richard A. J O'Hair, Adam J. Trevitt

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

UV-vis photodissociation action spectroscopy is becoming increasingly prevalent because of advances in, and commercial availability of, ion trapping technologies and tunable laser sources. This study outlines in detail an instrumental arrangement, combining a commercial ion-trap mass spectrometer and tunable nanosecond pulsed laser source, for performing fully automated photodissociation action spectroscopy on gas-phase ions. The components of the instrumentation are outlined, including the optical and electronic interfacing, in addition to the control software for automating the experiment and performing online analysis of the spectra. To demonstrate the utility of this ensemble, the photodissociation action spectra of 4-chloroanilinium, 4-bromoanilinium, and 4-iodoanilinium cations …

Switching Radical Stability By Ph-Induced Orbital Conversion, Ganna Gryn'ova, David L. Marshall, Stephen J. Blanksby, Michelle L. Coote

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

In most radicals the singly occupied molecular orbital (SOMO) is the highest-energy occupied molecular orbital (HOMO); however, in a small number of reported compounds this is not the case. In the present work we expand significantly the scope of this phenomenon, known as SOMO–HOMO energy-level conversion, by showing that it occurs in virtually any distonic radical anion that contains a sufficiently stabilized radical (aminoxyl, peroxyl, aminyl) non-π-conjugated with a negative charge (carboxylate, phosphate, sulfate). Moreover, regular orbital order is restored on protonation of the anionic fragment, and hence the orbital configuration can be switched by pH. Most importantly, our theoretical …

Five Practical Uses Of Spatial Autocorrelation For Studies Of Coral Reef Ecology, S Hamylton

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

The organisation of benthic communities across coral reefs is underpinned by spatially structured ecological processes and neighbourhood interactions such as larval dispersal, migration, competition and the spread of disease. These give rise to spatial autocorrelation in reef communities. This paper demonstrates how the measurement of spatial autocorrelation can profitably be incorporated into studies of coral reef ecology through a series of 5 simple statistical exercises: for the generation of maps depicting the strength of spatial relationships between ecological communities, as an indicator of optimal dimensions for sampling ecological communities on coral reefs, as a diagnostic tool for model misspecification, as …

Biofabrication: An Overview Of The Approaches Used For Printing Of Living Cells, Cameron J. Ferris, Kerry G. Gilmore, Gordon G. Wallace, Marc In Het Panhuis

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

The development of cell printing is vital for establishing biofabrication approaches as clinically relevant tools. Achieving this requires bio-inks which must not only be easily printable, but also allow controllable and reproducible printing of cells. This review outlines the general principles and current progress and compares the advantages and challenges for the most widely used biofabrication techniques for printing cells: extrusion, laser, microvalve, inkjet and tissue fragment printing. It is expected that significant advances in cell printing will result from synergistic combinations of these techniques and lead to optimised resolution, throughput and the overall complexity of printed constructs.

Carbon Dioxide Rebreathing In Respiratory Protective Devices: Influence Of Speech And Work Rate In Full-Face Masks, Carmen L. Smith, Jane L. Whitelaw, Brian Davies

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

Carbon dioxide (CO2) rebreathing has been recognised as a concern regarding respirator use and is related to symptoms of discomfort, fatigue, dizziness, headache, muscular weakness and drowsiness. Previous investigations are limited by small sample size and have not evaluated the relationship between CO2 inhalation and phonic respiration (breathing during speech) in respiratory protective devices (RPDs). A total of 40 workers trained in the use of RPDs performed a graded exercise test on a cycle ergonometer that increased in workload every 5 min. During the third minute of each stage, participants read aloud a prepared text. Measures of mixed expired CO2 …

Diversifying Ethnicity In Australia's Population And Environment Debates, Natascha Klocker, Lesley Head

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

Population–environment debates in Australia are at an impasse. While the ability of this continent to sustain more migrants has attracted persistent scrutiny, nuanced explorations of diverse migrant cultures and their engagements with Australian landscapes have scarcely begun. Yet as we face the challenges of a climate changing world we would undoubtedly benefit from the most varied knowledges we can muster. This paper brings together three arenas of environmental debate circulating in Australia—the immigration/carrying capacity debate, comparisons between Indigenous and Anglo-European modes of environmental interaction, and research on household sustainability dilemmas—to demonstrate the exclusionary tendencies of each. We then attempt to …

Welcome To Bogan-Ville: Reframing Class And Place Through Humour, Chris Gibson

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

On August 4, 2009, Australian online news commentary website the Punch announced that Albion Park, in the Australian industrial city of Wollongong, was one of the nation's top ten “most bogan” places. This paper explores what it means to be bogan in Australia, tracing historical antecedents, local debate at the time of this media event, and the manner in which the politics of class and place identity are negotiated through humour. Some local residents railed against associations with “lower-class” culture or feared damaged reputations for their neighbourhoods; others responded in sometimes unexpected and creative ways—through humour, and by claiming bogan …

Effects Of Atmospheric Light Scattering On Spectroscopic Observations Of Greenhouse Gases From Space. Part 2: Algorithm Intercomparison In The Gosat Data Processing For Co2 Retrievals Over Tccon Sites, Sergey Oshchepkov, Andrey Bril, Tatsuya Yokota, Paul O. Wennberg, Nicholas M. Deutscher, Debra Wunch, Geoffrey C. Toon, Yukio Yoshida, Christopher W. O'Dell, David Crisp, Charles E. Miller, Christian Frankenberg, Andre Butz, Ilse Aben, Sandrine Guerlet, Otto Hasekamp, Hartmut Boesch, Austin Cogan, Robert Parker, David Griffith, Ronald Macatangay, Justus Notholt, Ralf Sussmann, Markus Rettinger, Vanessa Sherlock, John Robinson, Esko Kyro, Pauli Heikkinen, Dietrich G. Feist, Isamu Morino, Nikolay Kadygrov, Dmitry Belikov, Shamil Maksyutov, Tsuneo Matsunaga, Osamu Uchino, Hiroshi Watanabe

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

This report is the second in a series of companion papers describing the effects of atmospheric light scattering in observations of atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) by the Greenhouse gases Observing SATellite (GOSAT), in orbit since 23 January 2009. Here we summarize the retrievals from six previously published algorithms; retrieving column-averaged dry air mole fractions of CO2 (XCO2) during 22 months of operation of GOSAT from June 2009. First, we compare data products from each algorithm with ground-based remote sensing observations by Total Carbon Column Observing Network (TCCON). Our GOSAT-TCCON coincidence criteria select satellite observations within a 5° radius of 11 …

Dinosaur Lactation?, Paul L. Else

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

Lactation is a process associated with mammals, yet a number of birds feed their newly hatched young on secretions analogous to the milk of mammals. These secretions are produced from various sections (crop organ, oesophageal lining and proventriculus) of the upper digestive tract and possess similar levels of fat and protein, as well as added carotenoids, antibodies and, in the case of pigeons and doves, epidermal growth factor. Parental care in avian species has been proposed to originate from dinosaurs. This study examines the possibility that some dinosaurs used secretory feeding to increase the rate of growth of their young, …

Sequential Extraction Procedures For The Determination Of Phosphorus Forms In Sediment, Changyou Wang, Yong Zhang, Hongli Li, R John Morrison

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

This article summarizes the main extraction methods for sedimentary phosphorus (P) determination. With sequential chemical extractions, P is supposed to be selectively removed from different compounds in the sediments. Extraction schemes using strong acids and alkaline solutions have been tested on different sediments and found not to extract well-defined fractions. In addition, several systematic errors in these schemes have been detected. Thus, these schemes have been modified and simplified accordingly. The Standards Measurements and Testing Program of the European Commission (SMT) method is a popular modification of these extraction schemes, as it is simple to handle, allows laboratories to achieve …

Single Molecule Characterization Of The Interactions Between Amyloid-Β Peptides And The Membranes Of Hippocampal Cells, Priyanka Narayan, Kristina A. Ganzinger, James Mccoll, Laura Weimann, Sarah Meehan, Seema Qamar, John A. Carver, Mark R. Wilson, Peter St George-Hyslop, Christopher M. Dobson, David Klenerman

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

Oligomers of the 40 and 42 residue amyloid-β peptides (Aβ40 and Aβ42) have been implicated in the neuronal damage and impaired cognitive function associated with Alzheimer’s disease. However, little is known about the specific mechanisms by which these misfolded species induce such detrimental effects on cells. In this work, we use single-molecule imaging techniques to examine the initial interactions between Aβ monomers and oligomers and the membranes of live cells. This highly sensitive method enables the visualization of individual Aβ species on the cell surface and characterization of their oligomerization state, all at biologically relevant, nanomolar concentrations. The results indicate …

Maternal Obesity Is Associated With The Formation Of Small Dense Ldl And Hypoadiponectinemia In The Third Trimester, Barbara J. Meyer, Frances M. Stewart, Elizabeth A. Brown, Josephine Cooney, Solveig Nilsson, Gunilla Olivecrona, Jane E. Ramsay, Bruce A. Griffin, Muriel J. Caslake, Dilys J. Freeman

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

CONTEXT: Maternal obesity is associated with high plasma triglyceride, poor vascular function, and an increased risk for pregnancy complications. In normal-weight pregnant women, higher triglyceride is associated with increased small, dense low-density lipoprotein (LDL). HYPOTHESIS: In obese pregnancy, increased plasma triglyceride concentrations result in triglyceride enrichment of very low-density lipoprotein-1 particles and formation of small dense LDL via lipoprotein lipase. DESIGN: Women (n = 55) of body mass index of 18-46 kg/m(2) were sampled longitudinally at 12, 26, and 35 weeks' gestation and 4 months postnatally. SETTING: Women were recruited at hospital antenatal appointments, and study visits were in a …

Food Synergy: The Key To A Healthy Diet, David R. Jacobs Jr, Linda C. Tapsell

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

Food synergy is the concept that the non-random mixture of food constituents operates in concert for the life of the organism eaten and presumably for the life of the eater. Isolated nutrients have been extensively studied in well-designed, long-term, large randomised clinical trials, typically with null and sometimes with harmful effects. Therefore, although nutrient deficiency is a known phenomenon, serious for the sufferer, and curable by taking the isolated nutrient, the effect of isolated nutrients or other chemicals derived from food on chronic disease, when that chemical is not deficient, may not have the same beneficial effect. It appears that …

Synthesis, Characterization, And Photophysics Of Oxadiazole- And Diphenylaniline-Substituted Re(I) And Cu(I) Complexes, Raphael Horvath, Michael G. Fraser, Scott A. Cameron, Allan G. Blackman, Pawel Wagner, David L. Officer, Keith C. Gordon

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

Transition-metal complexes of the types [Re(CO)3Cl(NN)], [Re(CO)3py(NN)]+, and [Cu(PPh3)2(NN)]+, where NN = 4,4′-bis(5-phenyl-1,3,4-oxadiazol-2-yl)-2,2′-bipyridine (OX) and 4,4′-bis(N,N-diphenyl-4-[ethen-1-yl]-aniline)-2,2′-bipyridine (DPA), have been synthesized and characterized. Crystal structures for [Re(CO)3Cl(DPA)] and [Cu(PPh3)2(OX)]BF4 are presented. The crystal structure of the rhenium complex shows a trans arrangement of the ethylene groups, in agreement with density functional theory calculations. The structure of the copper complex displays the planar aromatic nature of the bpy–oxadiazole ligand. Density functional theory modeling of the complexes was supported by comparison of calculated and experimental normalized Raman spectra; the mean absolute deviations of the complexes were <10 cm–1. The Franck–Condon state was investigated using UV–vis and resonance Raman spectroscopic as well as density functional theory computational techniques. It was shown that the lowest energy absorption peaks are metal to ligand charge transfer and ligand-centered charge transfer for the oxadiazole- and diphenylaniline-substituted bipyridine ligands, respectively. The lowest energy excited states were characterized using transient emission and absorption spectroscopic techniques in conjunction with density functional theory calculations. These showed that the DPA complexes had ligand-centered nonemissive “dark” states with lifetimes ranging from 300 to 2000 ns.

Concise Synthesis Of Α-Substituted 2-Benzofuranmethamines And Other 2-Subsituted Benzofurans Via Α-Substituted 2-Benzofuranmethyl Carbocation Intermediates, Nikhom Wongsa, Ubonta Sommart, Thunwadee Ritthiwigrom, Arife Yazici, Somdej Kanokmedhakul, Kwanjai Kanokmedhakul, Anthony C. Willis, Stephen G. Pyne

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

Propargyl amines 4, where R3 is aryl, undergo 5-exo-dig cyclization reactions under relatively mild conditions (AgNO3, DMF, 60 °C, 1 h) to give 3-amino-2,3-dihydro-2-arylmethylidenebenzofurans 5 (R3 = aryl). In contrast, substrates where R3 is alkyl undergo competing 6-endo-dig and 5-exo-dig cyclization processes. The hydroxymethyl substrate 4 (R3 = CH2OH), however, was smoothly converted to its corresponding 5-exo-dig cyclization product 5, likely due to the assistance of the primary hydroxyl group in the 5-exo-dig cyclization process by silver cation coordination. Under more enforcing conditions (AgNO3, DMF, 100 °C, 18 h), the initially formed products 5 undergo a 1,3-allylic rearrangement to their …

Bottles, Bores, And Boats: Agency Of Water Assemblages In Post/Colonial Inland Australia, Leah Maree Gibbs

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

Australian water politics is marked by conceptual and bureaucratic separation of water as discrete matter. The source of this politics of separation is colonial relations with water and the Australian continent. Yet, analysis of the materiality of water illuminates the agency of water as part of an assemblage. This paper seeks to unsettle the treatment of water as separate, discrete matter. It asks how political responses to the public problem of water would change were we to take seriously the vitality of nonhuman bodies. In order to investigate this question, the paper presents an analysis of six objects from the …

Transmembrane Domain Nrg1 Mutant Mice Show Altered Susceptibility To The Neurobehavioural Actions Of Repeated Thc Exposure In Adolescence, Leonora E. Long, Rose Chesworth, Xu-Feng Huang, Iain S. Mcgregor, Jonathon C. Arnold, Tim Karl

Faculty of Health and Behavioural Sciences - Papers (Archive)

Heavy cannabis abuse increases the risk of developing schizophrenia. Adolescents appear particularly vulnerable to the development of psychosis-like symptoms after cannabis use. To test whether the schizophrenia candidate gene neuregulin 1 (NRG1) modulates the effects of cannabinoids in adolescence, we tested male adolescent heterozygous transmembrane domain Nrg1 mutant (Nrg1 TM HET) mice and wild type-like littermates (WT) for their neurobehavioural response to repeated Δ⁹-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC, 10 mg/kg i.p. for 21 d starting on post-natal day 31). During treatment and 48 h after treatment withdrawal, we assessed several behavioural parameters relevant to schizophrenia. After behavioural testing we measured autoradiographic …

Lipid Anti-Lipid Antibody Responses Correlate With Disease Activity In Systemic Lupus Erythematosus, Vojislav Jovanovic, Nurhuda Abdul Aziz, Yan Ting Lim, Amanda Ng Ai Poh, Sherlynn Jin Hui Chan, Eliza Ho Xin Pei, Fei Chuin Lew, Guanghou Shui, Andrew M. Jenner, Li Bowen, Eoin F. Mckinney, Paul A. Lyons, Michael D. Kemeny, Kenneth G.C. Smith, Markus R. Wenk, Paul A. Macary

Illawarra Health and Medical Research Institute

Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic autoimmune disorder characterized by broad clinical manifestations including cardiovascular and renal complications with periodic disease flares and significant morbidity and mortality. One of the main contributing factors to the pathology of SLE is the accumulation and impaired clearance of immune complexes of which the principle components are host auto-antigens and antibodies. The contribution of host lipids to the formation of these autoimmune complexes remains poorly defined. The aim of the present study was to identify and analyze candidate lipid autoantigens and their corresponding anti-lipid antibody responses in a well-defined SLE patient cohort using …

Neurotrophin Signaling And Alzheimer's Disease Neurodegeneration - Focus On Bdnf/Trkb Signaling, Jenny Wong

Illawarra Health and Medical Research Institute

Neurotrophins are small proteins vital for neuronal growth, differentiation, survival, and plasticity. Members of the mammalian neurotrophin family include nerve growth factor (NGF), brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), neurotrophin-3 (NT-3), and neurotrophin- 4/5 (NT-4/5). Their neurotrophic effects are mediated by the tropomyosin receptor kinase (Trk) receptors, membrane-bound receptor tyrosine kinases (NGF for TrkA, BDNF and NT4/5 for TrkB, and NT-3 for TrkC) which activate various cell signaling pathways linked to growth, differentiation, and survival. The importance of neurotrophin signaling in brain development is highlighted by findings showing that knockout mice for any one of the neurotrophins or their receptors are fatal …

Increased Apolipoprotein D Dimer Formation In Alzheimer's Disease Hippocampus Is Associated With Lipid Conjugated Diene Levels, Surabhi Bhatia, Andrew M. Jenner, Hongyun Li, Kalani Ruberu, Adena S. Spiro, Claire E. Shepherd, Jillian J. Kril, Nupur Kain, Anthony Don, Brett Garner

Illawarra Health and Medical Research Institute

Previous studies indicate that apolipoprotein D (apoD) may have a lipid antioxidant function in the brain. We have shown that apoD can reduce free radical-generating lipid hydroperoxides to inert lipid hydroxides in a reaction that involves conversion of surface exposed apoD methione-93 (Met93) residue to Met93-sulfoxide (Met93-SO). One consequence of this reaction is the formation of a stable dimerized form of apoD. As cerebral lipid peroxidation is associated with Alzheimer's disease (AD), in the present study we aimed to assess the possible presence of apoD dimers in postmortem hippocampal and cerebellar tissues derived from a cohort of pathologically defined cases …

Mouse Strain-Dependent Variation In Obesity And Glucose Homeostasis In Response To High-Fat Feeding, M K. Montgomery, N L. Hallahan, S H. Brown, M Liu, T W. Mitchell, G J. Cooney, N Turner

Illawarra Health and Medical Research Institute

Aims/hypothesis: Metabolic disorders are commonly investigated using knockout and transgenic mouse models. A variety of mouse strains have been used for this purpose. However, mouse strains can differ in their inherent propensities to develop metabolic disease, which may affect the experimental outcomes of metabolic studies. We have investigated strain-dependent differences in the susceptibility to diet-induced obesity and insulin resistance in five commonly used inbred mouse strains (C57BL/6J, 129X1/SvJ, BALB/c, DBA/2 and FVB/N). Methods: Mice were fed either a low-fat or a high-fat diet (HFD) for 8 weeks. Whole-body energy expenditure and body composition were then determined. Tissues were used to …

Structural And Functional Aspects Of Hetero-Oligomers Formed By The Small Heat Shock Proteins Αb-Crystallin And Hsp27, J Andrew Aquilina, Sudichhya Shrestha, Amie M. Morris, Heath Ecroyd

Illawarra Health and Medical Research Institute

Small heat shock proteins (sHSPs) exist as large polydisperse species in which there is constant dynamic subunit exchange between oligomeric and dissociated forms. Their primary role in vivo is to bind destabilized proteins and prevent their misfolding and aggregation. αB-Crystallin (αB) and HSP27 are the two most widely distributed and most studied sHSPs in the human body. They are coexpressed in different tissues, where they are known to associate with each other to form hetero-oligomeric complexes. In this study, we aimed to determine how these two sHSPs interact to form hetero-oligomers in vitro and whether, by doing so, there is …

Dha Prevents Altered 5-Ht1a, 5-Ht2a, Cb1 And Gabaa Receptor Binding Densities In The Brain Of Male Rats Fed A High-Saturated-Fat Diet, Yinghua Yu, Yizhen Wu, Craig Patch, Zhixiang Wu, Alexander Szabo, Duo Li, Xu-Feng Huang

Illawarra Health and Medical Research Institute

Low levels of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) have been linked to a number of mental illnesses such as memory loss, depression and schizophrenia. While supplementation of DHA is beneficial in improving memory and cognition, the influence of dietary fats on the neurotransmitters and receptors involved in cognitive function is still not known. The aim of this study was to investigate serotonin receptor (5-HT_1A and 5-HT_2A), cannabinoid receptor (CB1) and gamma-aminobutyric acid type A (GABA_A) receptor binding densities in the brain of male rats fed a high-saturated-fat (HF) diet, as well as the effect of DHA supplementation …

Cognitive, Affective And Social Processes Involved In Help-Negation After Critical Suicidal Thoughts, Coralie Wilson, Alexander Svenson, Peter Caputi

Illawarra Health and Medical Research Institute

Presentation at the National Suicide Prevention Conference, Melbourne Australia, July 2013

Help-negation is defined as the process of help withdrawal or avoidance found among those currently experiencing clinical and subclinical levels of different forms of psychological distress, including low and critical levels of suicidal ideation (Wilson, Bushnell, Caputi, 2011). Understanding the determinants of help-negation in suicidal samples that have not yet come to treatment provides a potent opportunity to target prevention and early intervention strategies to facilitate appropriate and timely help-seeking. Over 20 help-negation studies have ruled out variables that might explain the withdrawal process associated with suicidal thoughts. These …

Preventing Help-Negation For Suicidal Ideation: Implications For Thwarted Belongingness, Social Network Size And Frequency Of Social Interaction, Alexander Svenson, Coralie J. Wilson, Peter Caputi

Illawarra Health and Medical Research Institute

Poster presented at the National Suicide Prevention Conference, Melbourne Australia, July 2013

Help-negation is seen when the severity of an individual's suicidal ideation increases and they become less likely to seek help as a result of their condition. Research has implicated distorted affect regulation and perceptual processes related to social support in the development of help-negation among suicidal individuals (Wilson et al., 2013). Future research needs to focus on psycho-social factors that can be linked to neurological processes that differentiate suicidal individuals from controls and are directly implicated in the help-negation processes associated with suicidal ideation. As suicidal individuals have …

Reciprocity As Deliberative Capacity: Lessons From A Citizens Deliberation On Carbon Pricing Mechanisms In Australia, Alex Y. Lo, Kim S. Alexander, Wendy Proctor, Anthony Ryan

Illawarra Health and Medical Research Institute

Australia has seen a deep division in opinion in search of a carbon pricing mechanism. While concepts of carbon taxation and emission trading have comparable public support, climate scepticism is influencing the debates in political and public spheres in downplaying the need for carbon pricing. Public deliberation is a possible engagement option to address the conflict inherent in climate policy preferences. This research explores the way that a deliberative forum involving twenty-four Australians promoted effective communication between participants through which conflict between policy preferences became more tangible. While the forum did not eliminate disagreement in preferences in the choice of …