Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

Understanding The Α-Crystallin Cell Membrane Conjunction, Shih-Ping Su, Jason D. Mcarthur, Michael G. Friedrich, Roger J. W Truscott, J. A. Aquilina

Faculty of Science - Papers (Archive)

PURPOSE. It is well established that levels of soluble α-crystallin in the lens cytoplasm fall steadily with age, accompanied by a corresponding increase in the amount of membrane-bound α-crystallin. Less well understood, is the mechanism driving this age-dependent membrane association. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of the membrane and its associated proteins and peptides in the binding of α-crystallin.

METHODS. Fibre cell membranes from human and bovine lenses were separated from soluble proteins by centrifugation. Membranes were stripped of associated proteins with successive aqueous, urea and alkaline solutions. Protein constituents of the respective membrane isolates …

Revealing Indigenous Indonesian Traditional Medicine: Anti-Infective Agents, Paul A. Keller, Ari Satia Nugraha

Faculty of Science - Papers (Archive)

Indonesia is rich in medicinal plants which the population has used traditionally from generation to generation for curing diseases. Our interest in the treatment of infectious diseases has lead to the investigation of traditional Indonesian treatments. In this review, we present a comprehensive review of ethnopharmacologically directed screening in Indonesian medicinal plants to search for new anti-viral, antimalarial, anti-bacterial and anti-fungal agents. Some potent drug leads have been isolated from Indonesian medicinal plants. Further research is still required for the lead development as well as the search for new bioactive compounds from the enormous medicinal plant resources.

Isolation Of Linobiflavonoid, A Novel Biflavonoid From Linostoma Pauciflorum Griff, Tawesin Navarat, Stephen G. Pyne, Uma Prawat, Pittaya Tuntiwachwuttikul

Faculty of Science - Papers (Archive)

A novel biflavonoid, that we have named linobiflavonoid, and the known biscoumarin ether, daphnoretin, were isolated from the root extracts of Linostoma pauciflorum Griff. The structure of linobiflavonoid was determined from interpretation of its NMR spectroscopic data and from a comparison of this data with those of known biflavonoids and biflavones. The known flavones, 5,4'-dihydroxy- 7,3',5'-trimethoxyflavone and 5,4'-dihydroxy-7-methoxyflavone along with stigmasterol were isolated from the vines of the same plant. 4'-Dihydroxy-7,3'-5'-trimethoxyflavone was active against Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MIC 3.13 mu M) and KB-oral cavity cancer (IC₅₀ 17.41 mu M). (C) 2011 Phytochemical Society of Europe. Published by Elsevier B.V. All …

Global Co(2) Fluxes Inferred From Surface Air-Sample Measurements And From Tccon Retrievals Of The Co(2) Total Column, Frederic Chevallier, Nicholas M. Deutscher, T J. Conway, P Ciais, L Ciattaglia, S Dohe, M Frohlich, A J. Gomez-Pelaez, David W. Griffith, F Hase, L Haszpra, Paul Krummel, E Kyro, C Labuschagne, R Lagenfelds, T Machidda, F Maignan, H Matsueda, I Morino, Justus Notholt, M Ramonet, Y Sawa, M Schmidt, V Sherlock, P Steele, K Strong, R Sussmann, Paul O. Wennberg, Steven C. Wofsy, D Worthy, Debra Wunch, M Zimnoch

Faculty of Science - Papers (Archive)

"We present the first estimate of the global distribution of CO(2) surface fluxes from 14 stations of the Total Carbon Column Observing Network (TCCON). The evaluation of this inversion is based on 1) comparison with the fluxes from a classical inversion of surface air-sample-measurements, and 2) comparison of CO(2) mixing ratios calculated from the inverted fluxes with independent aircraft measurements made during the two years analyzed here, 2009 and 2010. The former test shows similar seasonal cycles in the northern hemisphere and consistent regional carbon budgets between inversions from the two datasets, even though the TCCON inversion appears to be …

Envisioning The Archipelago, Elizabeth Mcmahon, Carol Farbotko, Godfrey Baldacchino, Andrew Harwood, Elaine Stratford

Faculty of Science - Papers (Archive)

Certain limitations arise from the persistent consideration of two common relationsof islands in the humanities and social sciences: land and sea, and island andcontinent/mainland. What remains largely absent or silent are ways of being, knowing anddoing¿ontologies, epistemologies and methods¿that illuminate island spaces as inter-related,mutually constituted and co-constructed: as island and island. Therefore, this paper seeks tomap out and justify a research agenda proposing a robust and comprehensive exploration ofthis third and comparatively neglected nexus of relations. In advancing these aims, the paper¿sgoal is to (re)inscribe the theoretical, metaphorical, real and empirical power and potential ofthe archipelago: of seas studded with …

Light Interception And Utilisation, Sharon A. Robinson, J. R. Watling

Faculty of Science - Papers (Archive)

Initial steps of photosynthesis involve interception and absorption of photons by photosynthetic organs; subsequent steps are involved with utilisation or dissipation of quantum energy so derived. Interception of light varies according to size, angle, orientation and surface features of the photosynthetic organ(s) and is also influenced by changes in the arrangement of photosynthetic tissue within those organs.

Lutein From De-Epoxidation Of Lutein Epoxide Replaces Zeaxanthin To Sustain An Enhanced Capacity For Non-Photochemical Chlorophyll Fluorescence Quenching In Avocado Shade Leaves In The Dark, Britta Forster, Barry James Pogson, Charles Barry Osmond

Faculty of Science - Papers (Archive)

Leaves of avocado (Persea americana Mill.) that develop and persist in deep shade canopies have very low rates of photosynthesis but contain high concentrations of lutein epoxide (Lx) that are partially de-epoxidized to lutein (L) after one hour exposure to 120 to 350 μmol photons m-2 s-1 increasing the total L pool by 5-10% (ΔL). De-epoxidation of Lx to L was near stoichiometric and similar in kinetics to de-epoxidation of violaxanthin (V) to antheraxanthin (A) and zeaxanthin (Z). Although the V pool was restored by epoxidation of A and Z overnight, the Lx pool was not. Depending on leaf age …

Gellan Gum Doped Polypyrrole Neural Prosthetic Electrode Coatings, Thomas M. Higgins, Simon E. Moulton, Kerry J. Gilmore, Gordon G. Wallace, Marc In Het Panhuis

Faculty of Science - Papers (Archive)

Surface modification of neural prosthetic electrodes with polymeric materials, in particular, conducting polymers and hydrogels, has the potential to circumvent many problems associated with currently used electrode platforms. These problems include the disparity in mechanical properties between implanted electrodes and host neural tissue and the lack of biofunctionality at the electrode surface, both of which dissuade favourable reception of the implanted device. We have developed conducting polymer electrode coatings doped with the polysaccharide gellan gum, as a platform for improved functionality of neural prosthetic electrodes. Our electrode coatings, prepared by galvanostatic electropolymerisation, significantly reduced the impedance magnitude at frequencies relevant …

Chemically Activated Reactions On The C7h5 Energy Surface: Propargyl + Diacetylene, I-C5h3 + Acetylene, And N-C5h3 + Acetylene, Gabriel Da Silva, Adam J. Trevitt

Faculty of Science - Papers (Archive)

This study uses computational chemistry and statistical reaction rate theory to investigate the chemically activated reaction of diacetylene (butadiyne, C4H2) with the propargyl radical (C •H2CCH) and the reaction of acetylene (C 2H2) with the i-C5H3 (CH 2CCCC•H) and n-C5H3 (CHCC •HCCH) radicals. A detailed G3SX-level C7H 5 energy surface demonstrates that the C3H3 + C4H2 and C5H3 + C2H 2 addition reactions proceed with moderate barriers, on the order of 10 to 15 kcal mol-1, and form activated open-chain C 7H5 species that can isomerize to the fulvenallenyl radical with the highest barrier still significantly below the entrance channel …

Reactions Of Simple And Peptidic Alpha-Carboxylate Radical Anions With Dioxygen In The Gas Phase, Tony Ly, Benjamin B. Kirk, Pramesh I. Hettiarachchi, Berwyck L. Poad, Adam J. Trevitt, Gabriel Da Silva, Stephen J. Blanksby

Faculty of Science - Papers (Archive)

α-Carboxylate radical anions are potential reactive intermediates in the free radical oxidation of biological molecules (e.g., fatty acids, peptides and proteins). We have synthesised well-defined α-carboxylate radical anions in the gas phase by UV laser photolysis of halogenated precursors in an ion-trap mass spectrometer. Reactions of isolated acetate (CH2CO 2-) and 1-carboxylatobutyl (CH3CH 2CH2CHCO2-) radical anions with dioxygen yield carbonate (CO3-) radical anions and this chemistry is shown to be a hallmark of oxidation in simple and alkyl-substituted cross-conjugated species. Previous solution phase studies have shown that Cα-radicals in peptides, formed from free radical damage, combine with dioxygen to form …

Rocky Intertidal Temperature Variability Along The Southeast Coast Of Australia: Comparing Data From In Situ Loggers, Satellite-Derived Sst And Terrestrial Weather Stations, Justin Adam Lathlean, David J. Ayre Prof, Todd E. Minchinton

Faculty of Science - Papers (Archive)

Predicting how both spatial and temporal variation in sea and air temperature influence the distribution of intertidal organisms is a pressing issue. We used data from satellites, weather stations and in situ loggers to test the hypothesis that satellite-derived sea surface temperatures (SSTs) and weather station air temperatures provide accurate estimates of ambient temperature variability on rocky intertidal shores for temporal (hourly for 1 yr) and spatial (10 m to 400 km) variation along the southeast coast of Australia. We also tested whether satellites and weather stations accurately detect the duration, frequency and number of extreme temperature events. Daily mean …

Synthesis Of Novel Sugar Diamino Acids, M Thillakan, A Katsifis, D Skropeta

Faculty of Science - Papers (Archive)

Sugar amino acids (SAAs) are found in nature as good construction elements for the preparation of peptide mimetics and oiigosaccharides in drug design and development. The synthesis of SAAs is readily accomplished in few steps and more than 40 SAAs have been synthesised to date.2 Sugar amino acids with an additional amino group, the sugar diamino acid (SDAs) would represent a useful expansion to the library of SAAs available because one of the amino group and carboxylic acid is available for peptide coupling and the another amino/azide group allow to do further derivatisation via peptide or click chemistry such as …

Membrane Biological Reactors, F I. Hai, K Yamamoto

Faculty of Science - Papers (Archive)

Membrane biological reactors combine the use of biological processes and membrane technology to treat wastewater. The use of biological treatment can be traced back to the late nineteenth century. It became a standard method of wastewater treatment by the 1930s (Rittmann, 1987). Both aerobic and anaerobic biological treatment methods have been extensively used to treat domestic and industrial wastewater (Visvanathan et al., 2000). After removal of the soluble biodegradable matter in the biological process, any biomass formed needs to be separated from the liquid stream to produce the required effluent quality. In the conventional process, a secondary settling tank is …

Importance Of Secondary Sources In The Atmospheric Budgets Of Formic And Acetic Acids, Fabien Paulot, Debra Wunch, John D. Crounse, G C. Toon, Dylan B. Millet, Peter F. Decarlo, C Vigouroux, Nicholas M. Deutscher, G Gonzalez Abad, Justus Notholt, Thorsten Warneke, J Hannigan, Carsten Warneke, Joost A. De Gouw, Edward Dunlea, M De Maziere, David W. Griffith, P Bernath, J L. Jimenez, Paul O. Wennberg

Faculty of Science - Papers (Archive)

We present a detailed budget of formic and acetic acids, two of the most abundant trace gases in the atmosphere. Our bottom-up estimate of the global source of formic and acetic acids are ~1200 and ~1400 Gmol yr−1, dominated by photochemical oxidation of biogenic volatile organic compounds, in particular isoprene. Their sinks are dominated by wet and dry deposition. We use the GEOS-Chem chemical transport model to evaluate this budget against an extensive suite of measurements from ground, ship and satellite-based Fourier transform spectrometers, as well as from several aircraft campaigns over North America. The model captures the seasonality of …

Temporal Stability Of A Hybrid Swarm Between The Migratory Marine And Estuarine Fishes Acanthopagrus Australis And A. Butcheri, David G. Roberts, Charles A. Gray, Ronald J. West, David J. Ayre

Faculty of Science - Papers (Archive)

We predict estuaries to be hotspots of hybridisation between migratory marine and estuary-restricted species, although hybridisation rates may vary in space and time, reflecting the dynamic nature of estuaries and potentially widespread but erratic dispersal of marine taxa. Within estuaries, genotype frequencies may reflect past hybridisation events, with genetically intermediate and backcrossed individuals contributing to persistent hybrid swarms. In southeastern Australia, hybridisation has occurred between estuarine black bream Acanthopagrus butcheri and marine yellowfin bream A. australis, but it is unclear whether this reflects a contemporary process. We recently found that, within lakes and lagoons at the southern range limit of …

The Art Of Learning: Wildfire, Amenity Migration And Local Environmental Knowledge, Christine Eriksen, T Prior

Faculty of Science - Papers (Archive)

Communicating the need to prepare well in advance of the wildfire season is a strategic priority for wildfire management agencies worldwide. However, there is considerable evidence to suggest that although these agencies invest significant effort towards this objective in the lead up to each wildfire season, landholders in at-risk locations often remain under-prepared. One reason for the poor translation of risk information materials into actual preparation may be attributed to the diversity of people now inhabiting wildfire-prone locations in peri-urban landscapes. These people hold widely varying experiences, beliefs, attitudes and values relating to wildfire, which influence their understanding and interpretation …

Integrated Coastal Zone Management Research In Australia And China, X H. Wang, X Xu, S G. Pearson, G Xue, Robert J. Morrison, D Liu, P Shi

Faculty of Science - Papers (Archive)

This paper reviews the current Integrated and Coastal Zone Management (ICZM) research in coastal zone science and policy for Australia and China. It seeks to make a coherent contribution to understanding the Chinese and Australian research and management through a brief description of the similarities and differences in an integrated way. The paper draws together the research needs for the ICZM in both countries with the aim of justifying the research investments needed in the future. Based on this review, we recommend five research programs: Coastal Ocean Observing and Forecasting System and its Socio-economic Impact; Review and Utilization of Space-borne …

Oxidation Of 4-Substituted Tempo Derivatives Reveals Modifications At The 1- And 4-Positions, David Marshall, M L. Christian, G Gryn'ova, M L. Coote, Philip J. Barker, Stephen J. Blanksby

Faculty of Science - Papers (Archive)

Potenital pathways for the deactivation of hindered amine light stabilisers (HALS) have been investigated by observing reactions of model compounds - based on 4-substituted derivatives of 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine-N-oxyl (TEMPO) - with hydroxyl radicals. In these reactions, dilute aqueous suspensions of photocatalytic nanoparticulate titanium dioxide were irradiated with UV light in the presence of water-soluble TEMPO derivatives. Electron spin resonance (ESR) and electrospray ionisation mass-spectrometry (ESI-MS) data were acquired to provide complementary structural elucidation of the odd- and even-electron products of these reactions and both techniques show evidence for the formation of 4-oxo-TEMPO (TEMPONE). TEMPONE formation from the 4-substituted TEMPO compounds is …

Binding Of The Molecular Chaperone Alphab-Crystallin To Abeta Amyloid Fibrils Inhibits Fibril Elongation, Sarah L. Shammas, Christopher A. Waudby, Shuyu Wang, Alexander K. Buell, Tuomas P. Knowles, Heath W. Ecroyd, Mark E. Welland, John A. Carver, Christopher M. Dobson, Sarah Meehan

Faculty of Science - Papers (Archive)

The molecular chaperone αB-crystallin is a small heat-shock protein that is upregulated in response to a multitude of stress stimuli, and is found colocalized with Aβ amyloid fibrils in the extracellular plaques that are characteristic of Alzheimer's disease. We investigated whether this archetypical small heat-shock protein has the ability to interact with Aβ fibrils in vitro. We find that αB-crystallin binds to wild-type Aβ₄₂ fibrils with micromolar affinity, and also binds to fibrils formed from the E22G Arctic mutation of Aβ₄₂. Immunoelectron microscopy confirms that binding occurs along the entire length …

Rotationally Resolved Infrared Spectrum Of The Na+-D2 Complex: An Experimental And Theoretical Study, Berwyck L. Poad, V Dryza, J Klos, A A. Buchachenko, E J. Bieske

Faculty of Science - Papers (Archive)

The infrared spectrum of mass-selected Na+-D2 complexes is recorded in the D-D stretch vibration region (2915-2972 cm−1) by detecting Na+ photofragments resulting from photo-excitation of the complexes. Analysis of the rotationally resolved spectrum confirms a T-shaped equilibrium geometry for the complex and a vibrationally averaged intermolecular bond length of 2.461 Å. The D-D stretch band centre occurs at 2944.04 cm−1, representing a −49.6 cm−1 shift from the Q1(0) transition of the free D2 molecule. Variational rovibrational energy level calculations are performed for Na+-D2 utilising an ab initio potential energy surface developed previously for investigating the Na+-H2 complex [B. L. J. …

Effects Of Aging On Organic Aerosol From Open Biomass Burning Smoke In Aircraft And Laboratory Studies, M J. Cubison, A M. Ortega, P L. Hayes, D K. Farmer, D Day, M J. Lechner, W H. Brune, E Apel, G S. Diskin, J A. Fisher, H E. Fuelberg, A Hecobian, D J. Knapp, T Mikoviny, D Riemer, G W. Sachse, W Sessions, R Weber, A J. Weinheimer, A Wisthaler, J L. Jimenez

Faculty of Science - Papers (Archive)

Biomass burning (BB) is a large source of primary and secondary organic aerosols (POA and SOA). This study addresses the physical and chemical evolution of BB organic aerosols. Firstly, the evolution and lifetime of BB POA and SOA signatures observed with the Aerodyne Aerosol Mass Spectrometer are investigated, focusing on measurements at high-latitudes acquired during the 2008 NASA ARCTAS mission, in comparison to data from other field studies and from laboratory aging experiments. The parameter f60 , the ratio of the integrated signal at m/z 60 to the total signal in the organic component mass spectrum, is used as a …

In The Heat Of The Night - Alternative Pathway Respiration Drives Thermogenesis In Philodendron Bipinnatifidum, Rebecca Miller, N. Grant, L. Giles, Miquel Ribas-Carbo, J. A. Berry, Jennifer Watling, Sharon A. Robinson

Faculty of Science - Papers (Archive)

Philodendron bipinnatifidum inflorescences heat up to 42ºC and thermoregulate. We investigated whether they generate heat via the cytochrome oxidase pathway uncoupled by uncoupling proteins (pUCPs), or the alternative oxidase (AOX). Contribution of AOX and pUCPs to heating in fertile (FM) and sterile (SM) male florets was determined using a combination of oxygen isotope discrimination, protein and substrate analyses. FM and SM florets thermoregulated independently for up to 30h ex planta. In both floret types, AOX contributed more than 90% of respiratory flux during peak heating. AOX protein increased 5-fold with the onset of thermogenesis in both floret types, whereas pUCP …

Digit Ratio, Color Polymorphism And Egg Testosterone In The Australian Painted Dragon, Michael Tobler, Mo Healey, Mats Olsson

Faculty of Science - Papers (Archive)

Variation in exposure to sex hormones during early development contributes to phenotypic plasticity in vertebrate offspring. As a proposed marker for prenatal sex hormone exposure and because of their association with various physiological and behavioral characteristics, digit ratio and/or digit length have received notable interest within the field of evolutionary ecology. However, the validity of digit measures as a proxy of prenatal sex hormone exposure is controversial and only few studies have provided direct evidence for the link between digit development and prenatal sex hormones. Here, we report morph- and sex-specific variation in digit ratio in wild painted dragon lizards …

Green Fluorescent Protein-Based Biosensor To Detect And Quantify Stress Responses Induced By Dna-Degrading Colicins, Sam Abraham, James Chin, Huub J. M. Brouwers, Bernadette Turner, Ren Zhang, Toni A. Chapman

Faculty of Science - Papers (Archive)

Here we report the development of a whole-cell biosensor to detect and quantify the induction of the SOS response activated by DNA-degrading colicins. This biosensor utilizes the SOS-responsive cda promoter to regulate the expression of green fluorescent protein. The biosensor assay revealed induction of stress for all DNA-degrading reference colicins (E2, E7, and E8).

Identification Of Phospholipids In Human Meibum By Nano-Electrospray Ionisation Tandem Mass Spectrometry, Jennifer T. Saville, Zhenjun Zhao, Mark Dp Willcox, Manjula A. Ariyavidana, Stephen J. Blanksby, Todd W. Mitchell

Faculty of Science - Papers (Archive)

Meibum is believed to be the major source of tear !lm lipids, which are vital in the prevention of excessevaporation of the aqueous phase. The complete lipid composition of meibum has yet to be established.While earlier studies reported the presence of phospholipids in human meibum, recent mass spectrometricstudies have not detected them. In this study we use electrospray ionisation tandem massspectrometry to investigate the presence of phospholipids in meibum and provide comparison to thephospholipid pro!le of tears.Lipids were extracted from human meibum and tear samples using standard biphasic methods andanalysed by nano-electrospray ionisation tandem mass spectrometry using targeted ion scans. …

Speciation Of Dissolved Inorganic Arsenic By Diffusive Gradients In Thin Films: Selective Binding Of Asiii By 3-Mercaptopropyl-Functionalized Silica Gel, William W. Bennett, Peter R. Teasdale, Jarad G. Panther, David T. Welsh, Dianne F. Jolley

Faculty of Science - Papers (Archive)

A diffusive gradients in thin films (DGT) technique for selectively measuring AsIII utilizes commercially available 3-mercaptopropyl- functionalized silica gel. Deployment of the new technique alongside the Metsorb-DGT for total inorganic arsenic allows the calculation of As III directly and AsV by difference. Uptake of As III by mercapto-silica was quantitative and elution with a mixture of 1 mol L-1 HNO3 and 0.01 mol L-1 KIO 3 gave a recovery of 85.6 + 1.7%. DGT validation experiments showed linear accumulation of AsIII over time (R2 > 0.998). Accumulation was unaffected by varying ionic strength (0.0001-0.75 mol L-1 NaNO3) and pH (3.5-8.5). Deployment …

An Assessment Of Three Harpacticoid Copepod Species For Use In Ecotoxicological Testing, Daniel J. Ward, Victor Perez-Landa, David A. Spadaro, Stuart L. Simpson, Dianne F. Jolley

Faculty of Science - Papers (Archive)

The relatively short life cycles of harpacticoid copepods makes them appropriate animals for use in tests that rapidly assess the #180, sublethal, or chronic effects of sediment contaminants. In this study, four harpacticoid copepod species (Nitocra spinipes, Tisbe tenuimana, Robertgurneya hopkinsi, and Halectinosoma sp.) were isolated from clean marine sediments, and procedures for laboratory culturing were developed. Halectinosoma sp. was abandoned due to handling difficulties. For the remaining species, the influence of food type and quantity on life-cycle progression was assessed. A mixed diet, comprising two species of algae (Tetraselmis sp. and Isochrysis sp.) and fish food (Sera …

The Influence Of Sediment Particle Size And Organic Carbon On Toxicity Of Copper To Benthic Invertebrates In Oxic/Suboxic Surface Sediments, David Strom, Stuart L. Simpson, Graeme E. Batley, Dianne F. Jolley

Faculty of Science - Papers (Archive)

The use of sediment quality guidelines to predict the toxicity of metals in sediments is limited by an inadequate understanding of exposure pathways and by poor causal links between exposure and effects. For a 10-d exposure to Cu-spiked sediments, toxicity to the amphipod Melita plumulosa was demonstrated to occur through a combination of dissolved and dietary Cu exposure pathways, but for the bivalves Spisula trigonella and Tellina deltoidalis, toxicity occurred primarily by exposure to dissolved Cu. For relatively oxidized sediments that had moderate amounts of organic carbon (2.6-8.3% OC), silt (20-100%

How Well Do Predators Adjust To Climate-Mediated Shifts In Prey Distribution? A Study On Australian Water Pythons, Beata Ujvari, Rick Shine, Thomas Madsen

Faculty of Science - Papers (Archive)

Climate change can move the spatial location of resources critical for population viability, and a species resilience to such changes will depend upon its ability to flexibly shift its activities away from no-longer-suitable sites to exploit new opportunities. Intuition suggests that vagile predators should be able to track spatial shifts in prey availability, but our data on water pythons (Liasis fuscus) in tropical Australia suggest a less encouraging scenario. These pythons undergo regular long-range (to .10 km) seasonal migrations to follow flooding-induced migrations by their prey (native dusky rats, Rattus colletti ). However, when an extreme flooding event virtually eliminated …