Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

Boundary Layer New Particle Formation Over East Antarctic Sea Ice - Possible Hg-Driven Nucleation?, Ruhi S. Humphries, Robyn Schofield, Melita Keywood, J Ward, J R. Pierce, C M. Gionfriddo, M T. Tate, David P. Krabbenhoft, Ian E. Galbally, S B. Molloy, A R. Klekociuk, P V. Johnston, K Kreher, A J. Thomas, Andrew D. Robinson, Neil R. P Harris, R Johnson, Stephen R. Wilson

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

Aerosol observations above the Southern Ocean and Antarctic sea ice are scarce. Measurements of aerosols and atmospheric composition were made in East Antarctic pack ice on board the Australian icebreaker Aurora Australis during the spring of 2012. One particle formation event was observed during the 32 days of observations. This event occurred on the only day to exhibit extended periods of global irradiance in excess of 600 W m−2. Within the single air mass influencing the measurements, number concentrations of particles larger than 3 nm (CN3) reached almost 7700 cm−3 within a few hours of clouds clearing, and grew at …

Single-Molecule Imaging At High Fluorophore Concentrations By Local Activation Of Dye, Hylkje J. Geertsema, Aartje Schulte, Lisanne Spenkelink, William Mcgrath, Seamus R. Morrone, Jungsan Sohn, Walter Mangel, Andrew Robinson, Antoine M. Van Oijen

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

Single-molecule fluorescence microscopy is a powerful tool for observing biomolecular interactions with high spatial and temporal resolution. Detecting fluorescent signals from individual labeled proteins above high levels of background fluorescence remains challenging, however. For this reason, the concentrations of labeled proteins in in vitro assays are often kept low compared to their in vivo concentrations. Here, we present a new fluorescence imaging technique by which single fluo- rescent molecules can be observed in real time at high, physiologically relevant concentrations. The technique requires a protein and its macromolecular substrate to be labeled each with a different fluorophore. Making use of …

Stabilisation Of Laryngeal Al Amyloidosis With Long Term Curcumin Therapy, Terry Golombick, Terrence H. Diamond, Arumugam Manoharan, Raj Ramakrishna

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

Multiple myeloma (MM), smoldering myeloma (SMM), and monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS) represent a spectrum of plasma cell dyscrasias (PCDs). Immunoglobulin light chain amyloidosis (AL) falls within the spectrum of these diseases and has a mortality rate of more than 80% within 2 years of diagnosis. Curcumin, derived from turmeric, has been shown to have a clinical benefit in some patients with PCDs. In addition to a clinical benefit in these patients, curcumin has been found to have a strong affinity for fibrillar amyloid proteins. We thus administered curcumin to a patient with laryngeal amyloidosis and smoldering myeloma and …

Risk Factors For Coronary Heart Disease Among Asian Indians Living In Australia, Ritin Fernandez, John X. Rolley, Rohan Rajaratnam, Subbaram Sundar, Navin C. Patel, Patricia M. Davidson

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

The aim of this study was to assess the coronary heart disease risk factors in the Asian Indian community living in a large city in Australia. A cross-sectional survey was conducted at the Australia India Friendship Fair in 2010. All people of Asian Indian descent who attended the Fair and visited the health promotion stall were eligible to participate in the study if they self-identified as of Asian Indian origin, were aged between 18 and 80 years, and were able to speak English. Blood pressure, blood glucose, waist circumference, height, and weight were measured by a health professional. Smoking, cholesterol …

Spatial And Temporal Distribution And Pollution Assessment Of Trace Metals In Marine Sediments In Oyster Bay, Nsw, Australia, Yasir M. Alyazichi, Brian Jones, Errol Mclean

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

The disposal of untreated urban and industrial wastewater has a deleterious effect on both the water and sediment quality of Oyster Bay located in south Sydney, Australia. The present investigation was undertaken to evaluate the potential pollution of marine sediments in Oyster Bay. The results of metals were compared with adverse biological effect values effect range low (ERL) and effect range median (ERM). Spatial distribution of trace metals was estimated by applying geographic information system. The results indicated that the sediments were polluted with Cu, Zn, As and Pb, which exceeded ERL levels. However, these metals were still below ERM …

Synthesis And X-Ray Structural Studies Of A Substituted 2,3,4,5-Tetrahydro-1h-3-Benzazonine And A 1,2,3,5-Tetrahydro-4,3-Benzoxazonine, Timothy S. Bailey, John B. Bremner, Brian Skelton, Allan White

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

Using a common 1-(1-phenylethenyl)-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinoline precursor to the required ylide or N-oxide intermediate, the Stevens [2,3] and analogous Meisenheimer [2,3] sigmatropic rearrangements have been applied to afford concise syntheses of phenyl -substituted representatives of each of the reduced 1H-3-benzazonine and 4,3-benzoxazonine systems, respectively. Single crystal X-ray structure determinations were employed to define the conformational characteristics for each ring type.

The Impact Of Elearning On Health Professional Educators' Attitudes To Information And Communication Technology, Victoria Neville, Mary K. Lam, Christopher J. Gordon

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

Background: The use of information and communication technology (ICT) in health professional education is increasing rapidly. Health professional educators need to be responsive to health professionals' information and communication technological needs; however, there is a paucity of information about educators' attitudes to, and capabilities with, ICT. Methods: Fifty-two health professional educators, enrolled in health professional education postgraduate studies, participated in an online subject with specific eLearning components requiring the use of ICT. They completed a pre- and postquestionnaire pertaining to ICT attitudes, confidence, and usage. Results: Participants reported significant increases in overall ICT confidence during the subject despite it being …

The Australian Medical Schools Assessment Collaboration: Benchmarking The Preclinical Performance Of Medical Students, Deborah A. O'Mara, Ben Canny, Imogene P. Rothnie, Ian Wilson, John Barnard, Llewelyn Davies

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

Objectives: To report the level of participation of medical schools in the Australian Medical Schools Assessment Collaboration (AMSAC); and to measure differences in student performance related to medical school characteristics and implementation methods. Design: Retrospective analysis of data using the Rasch statistical model to correct for missing data and variability in item difficulty. Linear model analysis of variance was used to assess differences in student performance. Setting and participants: 6401 preclinical students from 13 medical schools that participated in AMSAC from 2011 to 2013. Main outcome measures: Rasch estimates of preclinical basic and clinical science knowledge. Results: Representation of Australian …

The Brave New World Of Older Patients: Preparing General Practice Training For An Ageing Population, Andrew D. Bonney, Lyn Phillipson, Sandra C. Jones, Julie Hall, Rashmi Sharma

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

Aim Develop and pilot test evidence-based resources for general practice training practices to enhance older patients' (65+ years) interactions with General Practice Registrars (GPRs). Background In Australia, general practice trainees, referred to as GPRs, see fewer older patients and patients with chronic conditions than doctors who have completed their specialist GP training. This reduces learning opportunities for GPRs in the management of these important patient groups. Therefore, developing effective strategies to improve GPR-older patient interaction is critical to primary care training, to meet the current and future needs of an ageing population. Methods Adopting a social marketing approach, GPR practice …

Do Anaesthetists Believe Their Teaching Is Evidence-Based?, Damian J. Castanelli, Natalie Smith, Craig L. F Noonan

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

Background: Knowledge translation (KT) and evidence-based practice are widely referenced in clinical medicine, with parallel calls for clinical teaching to better reflect best educational practice. How clinical teachers use medical education theory and evidence is largely unknown. Aims: To explore anaesthetists' attitudes to clinical teaching and medical education theory and evidence: whether they use it, what sources they access and attitudes to possible barriers to its use. Methods: Data were collected from anaesthetists via on-line questionnaire. Results: 364 anaesthetists (19% response rate) completed the questionnaire. Respondents preferentially approach colleagues and access short courses or workshops to improve their teaching. Twenty-eight …

Selecting Australian Marine Macroalgae Based On The Fatty Acid Composition And Anti-Inflammatory Activity, Janice Mccauley, Barbara J. Meyer, Pia Winberg, Marie Ranson, Danielle Skropeta

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

Increasingly, macroalgae are being recognised as a growth opportunity for functional foods and nutritional security in the future. Dominating traits of interest are metabolites that function as anti-inflammatories and are antiproliferative. However, seaweeds from the northern hemisphere dominate this field of research. Australia has a unique flora of macroalgae, and it is poorly understood which species should be targeted for cultivation towards food and health markets. Here, six Australian marine macroalgae were selected for screening of one anti-inflammatory group; n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA). PUFA profiles were determined using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and multivariate analysis. Thirty-one fatty acids (FA) were …

Evaluation Of A Pilot Volunteer Feeding Assistance Program: Influences On The Dietary Intakes Of Elderly Hospitalised Patients And Lessons Learnt, Chi-Sheng Huang, Kim Dutkowski, Alexandra Fuller, Karen Walton

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

Objectives Malnutrition is a serious concern in hospitals and is known to be associated with increased complications for patients, increased hospital costs and length of stay. Trained volunteers that assist 'at risk' and malnourished patients at lunch meals have been shown to effectively increase nutritional intake in a suburban hospital in Sydney. The pilot study reported here aimed to evaluate and share learnings from a similar, newly implemented program, comparing energy and macronutrient intakes on days with no volunteer assistance, to days with volunteers. Design Dietary intakes were determined by visual estimation of meal trays before and after meals, for …

Fish Intake During Pregnancy And Foetal Neurodevelopment - A Systematic Review Of The Evidence, Phoebe Starling, Karen E. Charlton, Anne T. Mcmahon, Catherine Lucas

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

Fish is a source of several nutrients that are important for healthy foetal development. Guidelines from Australia, Europe and the USA encourage fish consumption during pregnancy. The potential for contamination by heavy metals, as well as risk of listeriosis requires careful consideration of the shaping of dietary messages related to fish intake during pregnancy. This review critically evaluates literature on fish intake in pregnant women, with a focus on the association between neurodevelopmental outcomes in the offspring and maternal fish intake during pregnancy. Peer-reviewed journal articles published between January 2000 and March 2014 were included. Eligible studies included those of …

Mixed Methods Research, Elizabeth J. Halcomb, Louise Hickman

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

Mixed methods research involves the use of qualitative and quantitative data in a single research project. It represents an alternative methodological approach, combining qualitative and quantitative research approaches, which enables nurse researchers to explore complex phenomena in detail. This article provides a practical overview of mixed methods research and its application in nursing, to guide the novice researcher considering a mixed methods research project.

"Stress Wasn't A Word": Australian Nurses' Recollections Of War-Related Trauma, Kylie M. Smith, Elizabeth J. Halcomb, Lorna Moxham

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

Aim: This research explores the recollections of Australian nurses in regards to psychological injury among those who served in World War II (WWII) and the Vietnamese conflict.

Methods: Existing oral histories from WWII and Vietnam held by the Australian War Memorial were explored for recollections of issues related to psychological injury. A constant comparative method was used to allow themes to emerge across both cohorts of interviews.

Results: Findings indicate that nurses from both conflicts witnessed trauma among their patients in the field and experienced it among themselves upon their return from service. Three main themes emerged which related …

Experimental Evidence For Competitive N-O And O-C Bond Homolysis In Gas-Phase Alkoxyamines, David L. Marshall, Ganna Gryn'ova, M Coote, Philip J. Barker, Stephen J. Blanksby

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

The extensive use of alkoxyamines in controlled radical polymerisation and polymer stabilisation is based on rapid cycling between the alkoxyamine (R1R2NO-R3) and a stable nitroxyl radical (R1R2NO•) via homolysis of the labile O-C bond. Competing homolysis of the alkoxyamine N-O bond has been predicted to occur for some substituents leading to production of aminyl and alkoxyl radicals. This intrinsic competition between the O-C and N-O bond homolysis processes has to this point been difficult to probe experimentally. Herein we examine the effect of local molecular structure on the competition between N-O and O-C bond cleavage in the gas phase by …

Improving Recombinant Rubisco Biogenesis, Plant Photosynthesis And Growth By Coexpressing Its Ancillary Raf1 Chaperone, Spencer M. Whitney, Rosemary Birch, Celine Kelso, Jennifer L. Beck, Maxim V. Kapralov

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

Enabling improvements to crop yield and resource use by enhancing the catalysis of the photosynthetic CO2-fixing enzyme Rubisco has been a longstanding challenge. Efforts toward realization of this goal have been greatly assisted by advances in understanding the complexities of Rubisco's biogenesis in plastids and the development of tailored chloroplast transformation tools. Here we generate transplastomic tobacco genotypes expressing Arabidopsis Rubisco large subunits (AtL), both on their own (producing tobAtL plants) and with a cognate Rubisco accumulation factor 1 (AtRAF1) chaperone (producing tobAtL-R1 plants) that has undergone parallel functional coevolution with AtL. We show AtRAF1 assembles as a dimer and …

Urban Water Governance Failure And Local Strategies For Overcoming Water Shortages In Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania, Richard Rugemalila, Leah Maree Gibbs

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

In Tanzania's largest city, Dar es Salaam, water supply does not meet the needs of the community. In response, people adopt multiple strategies to secure adequate water for their daily requirements. This paper investigates urban water provision and governance in Dar es Salaam, and has two aims: to investigate the causes of urban water failure; and to examine the full range of strategies employed by the local community to overcome water shortages. We critique the socioeconomic implications of both water shortages themselves and the methods used to overcome them. The paper draws on a household survey and key informant interviews …

A Cross-Sectional Analysis Of The Cost And Affordability Of Achieving Recommended Intakes Of Non-Starchy Fruits And Vegetables In The Capital Of Vanuatu, Holly A. Jones, Karen E. Charlton

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

Background The low-income Pacific Island nation of Vanuatu is experiencing a double burden of diet-related disease whereby micronutrient deficiencies and underweight occur at the same time as obesity related non-communicable diseases. Increasing intakes of nutrient dense, energy dilute foods such as fruits and vegetables will be important to address this issue. However, reduced access to agricultural land in urban areas provides limited opportunities for traditional subsistence fruit and vegetable production. Set in Port Vila, Vanuatu's capital and main urban centre, this study aimed to determine the cost and affordability of meeting international recommendations to consume at least 400 g of …

Iodine Status Not Associated With Cognitive Functioning In Older Australians, Li Min Buchanan, Karen E. Charlton, Steven J. Roodenrys, Delia Cocuz, Tammy Pendergast, Gary Ma

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

Objective: This study aims to investigate whether iodine status is associated with cognitive functioning and mood state in a sample of healthy older Australians. Design: Cross-sectional study. Setting: Illawarra region of New South Wales, Australia. Participants: Eighty-four men and women (25 males; 59 females) aged 60-95 years with normal cognitive function. Measurements: Three repeated fasting urine samples were collected a week apart to assess median urinary iodine concentration for the group. Usual dietary iodine intake was measured using an iodine-specific food frequency questionnaire and three repeated 24-hour dietary recalls while nutritional status was assessed using the Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA). …

The Transforming Practice Programme: Some Lessons Learned, Patrick A. Crookes

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

A presentation.

Validation Of Sciamachy Hdo/H2o Measurements Using The Tccon And Ndacc-Musica Networks, R A. Scheepmaker, Christian Frankenberg, Nicholas M. Deutscher, Matthias Schneider, Sabine Barthlott, Thomas Blumenstock, Omar E. Garcia, Frank Hase, Nicholas B. Jones, Emmanuel Mahieu, Justus Notholt, Voltaire A. Velazco, J Landgraf, Ilse Aben

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

Measurements of the atmospheric HDO/H2O ratio help us to better understand the hydrological cycle and improve models to correctly simulate tropospheric humidity and therefore climate change. We present an updated version of the column-averaged HDO/H2O ratio data set from the SCanning Imaging Absorption spectroMeter for Atmospheric CHartographY (SCIAMACHY). The data set is extended with 2 additional years, now covering 2003-2007, and is validated against co-located ground-based total column δD measurements from Fourier transform spectrometers (FTS) of the Total Carbon Column Observing Network (TCCON) and the Network for the Detection of Atmospheric Composition Change (NDACC, produced within the framework of the …

Phosphomimics Destabilize Hsp27 Oligomeric Assemblies And Enhance Chaperone Activity, Blagojce Jovcevski, Megan A. Kelly, Anthea Rote, Tracey Berg, Heidi Y. Gastall, Justin Benesch, John Andrew Aquilina, Heath Ecroyd

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

Serine phosphorylation of the mammalian small heat-shock protein Hsp27 at residues 15, 78, and 82 is thought to regulate its structure and chaperone function; however, the site-specific impact has not been established. We used mass spectrometry to assess the combinatorial effect of mutations that mimic phosphorylation upon the oligomeric state of Hsp27. Comprehensive dimerization yielded a relatively uncrowded spectrum, composed solely of even-sized oligomers. Modification at one or two serines decreased the average oligomeric size, while the triple mutant was predominantly a dimer. These changes were reflected in a greater propensity for oligomers to dissociate upon increased modification. The ability …

Changes In Food Choice Patterns In A Weight Loss Intervention, Sara J. Grafenauer, Linda C. Tapsell, Eleanor Beck, Marijka Batterham

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

Aim Analyses of changes in food choice patterns made during weight loss may be informative for practice. In this research, food categorisation may be critical. The aim of the present study was to identify key changes in food choice patterns in weight loss trials. Methods Changes in dietary patterns between baseline and three months were analysed for 231 participants from two weight loss trials in terms of grams of food, kilojoules and the number of food serves consumed. Two food categorisation systems were applied using six more traditional food groups and 17 newly defined food categories considering national food guidance …

Regioselective And Diastereoselective Borono-Mannich Reactions With Pinacol Allenylboronate, Thanaphat Thaima, Stephen G. Pyne

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

The first documented study of the borono-Mannich (Petasis) reactions of pinacol allenylboronate is described. The reactions of salicylaldehyde and primary and secondary amines are highly regioselective and give homopropargylamine and α-allenylamine products, respectively. In contrast, glycoaldehyde and chiral α-hydroxyaldehydes give exclusively anti-β-amino-β-allenyl alcohol products, irrespective of the nature of the amine component. These reactions are highly regio- and diastereoselective and can be employed using an enantiomerically enriched α-hydroxyaldehyde without detectable racemization.

Identifying Fire Plumes In The Arctic With Tropospheric Ftir Measurements And Transport Models, C Viatte, Kimberly Strong, J W. Hannigan, E Nussbaumer, L K. Emmons, Stephanie Conway, Clare Paton-Walsh, J Hartley, Joshua Benmergui, J Lin

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

We investigate Arctic tropospheric composition using ground-based Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) solar absorption spectra, recorded at the Polar Environment Atmospheric Research Laboratory (PEARL, Eureka, Nunavut, Canada, 80°05' N, 86°42' W) and at Thule (Greenland, 76°53' N, −68°74' W) from 2008 to 2012. The target species, carbon monoxide (CO), hydrogen cyanide (HCN), ethane (C2H6), acetylene (C2H2), formic acid (HCOOH), and formaldehyde (H2CO) are emitted by biomass burning and can be transported from mid-latitudes to the Arctic. By detecting simultaneous enhancements of three biomass burning tracers (HCN, CO, and C2H6), ten and eight fire events are identified at Eureka and Thule, respectively, …

Reversal Of Human Multi-Drug Resistance Leukaemic Cells By Stemofoline Derivatives Via Inhibition Of P-Glycoprotein Function, Sonthaya Umsumarng, Pornsiri Pitchakarn, Kwankamol Sastraruji, Supachai Yodkeeree, Alison T. Ung, Stephen G. Pyne, Pornngarm Limtrakul

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

Our previous study reported multi-drug resistance (MDR) reversing properties of synthetic stemofoline derivatives (STFD), OH-A1, NH-B6 and NH-D6 on P-glycoprotein (P-gp) overexpressing leukaemic cells (K562/Adr); however, the mechanism was unclear. In this study, we further investigated whether the STFD reverse MDR through either the inhibition of P-gp function or expression in K562/Adr cells, or both. The P-gp functional studies showed that the STFD increased the accumulation of calcein-AM, rhodamine 123 and [14C]-doxorubicin in K562/Adr cells, while the effects have not been seen in their parental sensitive cancer cell line (K562). Further, the STFD did not alter the P-gp expression as …

Construction Of A 'Global Standardised Growth Curve' (Gsgc) For Infrared Stimulated Luminescence Dating Of K-Feldspar, Bo Li, Richard G. Roberts, Zenobia Jacobs, Sheng-Hua Li, Yujie Guo

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

We investigated the infrared stimulated luminescence (IRSL) and post-infrared IRSL (pIRIR) signals emitted by K-feldspars from sedimentary samples from Asia, Europe and Africa using a single-aliquot multiple elevated temperature (MET) stimulation procedure. For separate aliquots of the same sample, we show that variation among the dose response curves (DRCs), or growth curves, constructed from the regenerative dose signal (Lx), the test dose signal (Tx, an indicator of luminescence sensitivity) and the sensitivity-corrected signal (Lx/Tx) can be largely eliminated by normalising the DRCs using one of the regenerative dose signals; we call this procedure 'regenerative-dose normalisation' or re-normalisation. Furthermore, for the …

Time-Averaged Copper Concentrations From Continuous Exposures Predicts Pulsed Exposure Toxicity To The Marine Diatom, Phaeodactylum Tricornutum: Importance Of Uptake And Elimination, Brad M. Angel, Stuart L. Simpson, Anthony A. Chariton, Jenny Stauber, Dianne F. Jolley

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

Intermittent, fluctuating and pulsed contaminant discharges result in organisms receiving highly variable contaminant exposures. Current water quality guidelines are predominantly derived using data from continuous exposure toxicity tests, and most frequently applied by regulators with the assumption that concentrations from a single sampling event will provide a meaningful approach to assessing potential effects. This study investigated the effect of single and multiple (daily) dissolved copper pulses on the marine diatom, Phaeodactylum tricornutum, including measurements of copper uptake and elimination to investigate the toxic mechanism. Copper pulses of between 0.5 and 24 h and continuous exposures with equivalent 72-h time-averaged concentrations …

Contrasting Topoclimate, Long-Term Macroclimatic Averages, And Habitat Variables For Modelling Ant Biodiversity At Landscape Scales, John R. Gollan, Daniel Ramp, Michael B. Ashcroft

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

Spatial modelling is part of the solution for incorporating insects into conservation policy. Uptake, however, rests on identifying robust environmental predictors. Coarse-grained climate models based on long-term averages and similarly coarse environmental features may not be adequate, especially at regional scales where most planning is done. Here, we test whether topoclimatic variables, which are derived from local-scale climate forcing factors, are more important for structuring ant assemblages.

We quantified ant richness and species composition at 86 sites across a large (200 x 300 km) temperate region of southeast Australia, and tested the explanatory power of three groups of environmental variables: …