Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

New Modelling On Bushfires Shows How They Really Burn Through An Area, Philip J. Zylstra

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

Bushfires in Australia can have a devastating impact on an environment and destroy homes and lives, so any effort to prevent them is a welcome move.

But the way that we have traditionally understood bushfires and forest flammability in Australia is not up to the challenges of our changing climate. Thankfully, a new approach is making sense of the confusion by looking at the plants themselves.

A Method Of Providing Engaging Formative Feedback To Large Cohort First-Year Physiology And Anatomy Students, Katrina Weston-Green, Margaret Christina Wallace

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

A growing body of evidence demonstrates a critical role for effective, meaningful feedback to enhance student learning. Effective feedback can become part of the learning cycle that is not only a learning opportunity for the student but can also be used to inform the teacher and ongoing curriculum development. Feedback is considered particularly important during the first year of university and can even be viewed as a retention strategy that can help attenuate student performance anxieties and solidify perceptions of academic support. Unfortunately, the provision of individualized, timely feedback can be particularly challenging in first-year courses as they tend to …

Flowers In Australia: Phytochemical Studies On The Illawarra Flame Tree And Alstonville, Rudi Hendra, Paul A. Keller

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

The first reported phytochemical studies on two species of flowers in Australia enabled the identification of six secondary metabolites from Illawarra flame tree flower (Brachychiton acerifolius) and seven secondary metabolites from the flowers of the Alstonville (Tibouchina lepidota). Pelargonidin 3-(6-coumarylglucoside)-5-(6-acetylglucoside) was found to be responsible for the red colour of B. acerifolius, whereas malvidin 3-(coumarylglucoside)-5-(acetylxyloside) was responsible for the purple colour of (T. lepidota) flowers. (2S)-4,5-Dihydroxyflavanone 7-O-β-d-glucuronide methyl ester was isolated for the first time from B. acerifolius, and its absolute configuration was determined by circular dichroism spectroscopy. Some of the traditional uses of B. acerifolius could also be correlated …

Disinhibition-Like Behavior In A P301s Mutant Tau Transgenic Mouse Model Of Frontotemporal Dementia, Magdalena Przybyla, Claire H. Stevens, Julia Van Der Hoven, Anne Harasta, Mian Bi, Arne Ittner, Annika Van Hummel, John R. Hodges, Olivier Piguet, Tim Karl, Michael Kassiou, Gary D. Housley, Yazi D. Ke, Lars M. Ittner, Janet Van Eersel

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

Frontotemporal dementia (FTD) presents clinically with behavioral changes including disinhibition. Mutations in the tau-encoding MAPT gene identified in familial cases of FTD have been used to generate transgenic mouse models of the human condition. Here, we report behavioral changes in a recently developed P301S mutant tau transgenic mouse, including disinhibition-like behavior in the elevated plus maze and hyperactivity in the open field arena. Furthermore, histological analysis revealed the amygdala as a primary and early site of pathological tau deposition in these mice. Taken together, neuropathological and behavioral changes in P301S tau transgenic mice resemble features of human FTD.

Toward A Chemical Reanalysis In A Coupled Chemistry-Climate Model: An Evaluation Of Mopitt Co Assimilation And Its Impact On Tropospheric Composition, B Gaubert, A F. Arellano, J Barré, H M. Worden, Louisa Emmons, S Tilmes, Rebecca R. Buchholz, F Vitt, K Raeder, N Collins, J L. Anderson, Christine Wiedinmyer, S Martinez Alonso, D P. Edwards, M Andreae, James W. Hannigan, Christof Petri, Kimberly Strong, Nicholas B. Jones

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

We examine in detail a 1 year global reanalysis of carbon monoxide (CO) that is based on joint assimilation of conventional meteorological observations and Measurement of Pollution in The Troposphere (MOPITT) multispectral CO retrievals in the Community Earth System Model (CESM). Our focus is to assess the impact to the chemical system when CO distribution is constrained in a coupled full chemistry-climate model like CESM. To do this, we first evaluate the joint reanalysis (MOPITT Reanalysis) against four sets of independent observations and compare its performance against a reanalysis with no MOPITT assimilation (Control Run). We then investigate the CO …

Compositional Data Analysis As A Robust Tool To Delineate Hydrochemical Facies Within And Between Gas-Bearing Aquifers, D D.R Owen, V Pawlowsky-Glahn, J J. Egozcue, A Buccianti, John M. Bradd

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

Isometric log ratios of proportions of major ions, derived from intuitive sequential binary partitions, are used to characterize hydrochemical variability within and between coal seam gas (CSG) and surrounding aquifers in a number of sedimentary basins in the USA and Australia. These isometric log ratios are the coordinates corresponding to an orthonormal basis in the sample space (the simplex). The characteristic proportions of ions, as described by linear models of isometric log ratios, can be used for a mathematical-descriptive classification of water types. This is a more informative and robust method of describing water types than simply classifying a water …

Three Arcs: Observations On The Archaeology Of The Elands Bay And Northern Cederberg Landscapes, Alex Mackay

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

The area around Elands Bay and the adjacent interior landscapes west of the Doring River have been subject to intense archaeological investigation over the last ~50 years. The result is a region with great depth and diversity of archaeological information. In this paper I discuss three general observations that arise from the integration of data across this region. The first is that redundancy in site occupation is limited: even where many sites are excavated in a small area, understanding of the regional sequence cannot be assumed to be complete. The second is that humans did not live in rock shelters: …

Master Athletes Are Extending The Limits Of Human Endurance, Romuald Lepers, Paul J. Stapley

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

Theincreasedparticipationofmasterathletes(i.e.,>40yearsold)inenduranceandultra-enduranceevents(>6hduration)overthepastfewdecadeshasbeenaccompaniedbyanimprovementintheirperformancesatamuchfasterratethantheiryoungercounterparts.Agingdoeshoweverresultinadecreaseinoverallenduranceperformance.Suchage-relateddeclinesinperformancedependuponthemodesoflocomotion,eventduration,andgenderoftheparticipant.Forexample,smallerage-relateddeclinesincyclingperformancethaninrunningandswimminghavebeendocumented.Therelativestabilityofgenderdifferencesobservedacrosstheagessuggeststhattheage-relateddeclinesinphysiologicalfunctiondidnotdifferbetweenmalesandfemales.Amongthemainphysiologicaldeterminantsofenduranceperformance,themaximaloxygenconsumption(VO2max)appearstobetheparameterthatismostalteredbyage.ExerciseeconomyandtheexerciseintensityatwhichahighfractionofVO2maxcanbesustained(i.e.,lactatethreshold),seemtodeclinetoalesserextentwithadvancingage.Theabilitytomaintainahighexercise-trainingstimuluswithadvancingageisemergingasthesinglemostimportantmeansoflimitingtherateofdeclineinenduranceperformance.Byconstantlyextendingthelimitsof(ultra)-endurance,masterathletesthereforerepresentanimportantinsightintotheabilityofhumanstomaintainphysicalperformanceandphysiologicalfunctionwithadvancingage.

First Tephrostratigraphic Results Of The Deep Site Record From Lake Ohrid (Macedonia And Albania), Niklas Leicher, Giovanni Zanchetta, Roberto Sulpizio, Biagio Giaccio, Bernd Wagner, Sebastien Nomade, Alexander Francke, Paola Del Carlo

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

A tephrostratigraphic record covering the Marine Isotope Stages (MIS) 1-15 was established for the DEEP site record of Lake Ohrid (Macedonia and Albania). Major element analyses (energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) and wavelength-dispersive spectroscopy (WDS)) were carried out on juvenile fragments extracted from 12 tephra layers (OH-DP-0115 to OH-DP-2060). The geochemical analyses of the glass shards of all of these layers suggest an origin in the Italian volcanic provinces. They include the Y-3 (OH-DP-0115, 26.68-29.42 ka cal BP), the Campanian Ignimbrite-Y-5 (OH-DP-0169, 39.6 ± 0.1 ka), and the X-6 (OH-DP-0404, 109 ± 2 ka) from the Campanian volcanoes, the P-11 of …

Environmental Control On The Occurrence Of High-Coercivity Magnetic Minerals And Formation Of Iron Sulfides In A 640 Ka Sediment Sequence From Lake Ohrid (Balkans), Janna Just, Norbert R. Nowaczyk, Leonardo Sagnotti, Alexander Francke, Hendrik Vogel, Jack H. Lacey, Bernd Wagner

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

The bulk magnetic mineral record from Lake Ohrid, spanning the past 637 kyr, reflects large-scale shifts in hydrological conditions, and, superimposed, a strong signal of environmental conditions on glacial-interglacial and millennial timescales. A shift in the formation of early diagenetic ferrimagnetic iron sulfides to siderites is observed around 320 ka. This change is probably associated with variable availability of sulfide in the pore water. We propose that sulfate concentrations were significantly higher before  ∼  320 ka, due to either a higher sulfate flux or lower dilution of lake sulfate due to a smaller water volume. Diagenetic iron minerals appear more …

Access To Rehabilitation Services: A 'Fair Go' For Individuals Living With A Dementia, Victoria Traynor, Loren De Vries

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

Similar to other Western countries, approximately nine per cent of Australians aged over 65 are living with a dementia and for those aged over 85 the prevalence rate rises to up to 30 per cent. As the ageing population increases, the prevalence of dementia will increase (Guideline Adaptation Committee, 2016). It is doubtless an important healthcare issue. In the past 10 years, since the Australian Government published its first National Framework for Action on Dementia and the nomination of dementia as a National Health Priority, dementia care has achieved never imagined improvements. Dementiaspecific research and educational initiatives by the Dementia …

A New Species Of Celebochoerus (Suidae, Mammalia) From The Philippines And The Paleobiogeography Of The Genus Celebochoerus Hooijer, 1948, Thomas Ingicco, Gerrit D. Van Den Bergh, John De Vos, Abigael Castro, Noel Amano, Angel Bautista

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

Celebochoerus is a unique suid having extremely large upper tusks, and which was to date only known from the Pliocene-Pleistocene of Sulawesi Island in Indonesia. Here, we report on the discovery of a canine fragment referable to Celebochoerus from the Cagayan Valley of Luzon, Northern Philippines. We name a new species, Celebochoerus cagayanensis nov. sp., which differs from the Sulawesi species Celebochoerus heekereni in having mesial and distal enamel bands on the upper canines. We see these characteristics as symplesiomorphic in suids and propose a migration route from the Philippines to Sulawesi, possibly out of Taiwan, which would have occurred …

Making Sense Of Critical Participatory Action Research. Reflections On The Action Research Planner: Doing Critical Participatory Action Research, Maria T. Mackay

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

After immersing myself in The Research Planner: Doing Critical Participatory Action Research, I believe I have a better understanding of participatory action research and its relationship to the work of Habermas. I feel it has enabled me to align my values and beliefs with Habermas and action research's philosophical underpinnings within the critical theory paradigm. For me this book has clarified how communicative spaces, the theory of communicative action and public spheres are related to participatory methodologies.

Energetics Of Communal Roosting In Chestnut-Crowned Babblers: Implications For Group Dynamics And Breeding Phenology, Mark A. Chappell, William A. Buttemer, Andrew Russell

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

For many endotherms, communal roosting saves energy in cold conditions, but how this might affect social dynamics or breeding phenology is not well understood. Using chestnut-crowned babblers (Pomatostomus ruficeps), we studied the effects of nest use and group size on roosting energy costs. These 50 g cooperatively breeding passerine birds of outback Australia breed from late winter to early summer and roost in huddles of up to 20 in single-chambered nests. We measured babbler metabolism at three ecologically relevant temperatures: 5°C (similar to minimum nighttime temperatures during early breeding), 15°C (similar to nighttime temperatures during late breeding) and 28°C (thermal …

A Rapid Burst In Hotspot Motion Through The Interaction Of Tectonics And Deep Mantle Flow, Rakib Hassan, R Dietmar Muller, Michael Gurnis, Simon E. Williams, Nicolas Flament

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

Volcanic hotspot tracks featuring linear progressions in the age of volcanism are typical surface expressions of plate tectonic movement on top of narrow plumes of hot material within Earth's mantle1. Seismic imaging reveals that these plumes can be of deep origin2-probably rooted on thermochemical structures in the lower mantle3, 4, 5, 6. Although palaeomagnetic and radiometric age data suggest that mantle flow can advect plume conduits laterally7, 8, the flow dynamics underlying the formation of the sharp bend occurring only in the Hawaiian-Emperor hotspot track in the Pacific Ocean remains enigmatic. Here we present palaeogeographically constrained numerical models of thermochemical …

An Investigation Of Future Fuel Load And Fire Weather In Australia, Hamish Clarke, Andy Pitman, Jatin Kala, Claire C. Carouge, Vanessa E. Haverd, Jason P. Evans

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

We present an assessment of the impact of future climate change on two key drivers of fire risk in Australia, fire weather and fuel load. Fire weather conditions are represented by the McArthur Forest Fire Danger Index (FFDI), calculated from a 12-member regional climate model ensemble. Fuel load is predicted from net primary production, simulated using a land surface model forced by the same regional climate model ensemble. Mean annual fine litter is projected to increase across all ensemble members, by 1.2 to 1.7 t ha-1 in temperate areas, 0.3 to 0.5 t ha-1 in grassland areas and 0.7 to …

Unravelling The Glass Trade Bead Sequence From Magoro Hill, South Africa: Separating Pre-Seventeenth-Century Asian Imports From Later European Counterparts, Farahnaz Koleini, Linda C. Prinsloo, Wim M. Biemond, Philippe Colomban, Anh T. Ngo, Jan C. Boeyens, Maria M. Van Der Ryst, Koos Van Brakel

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

Excavations conducted between 2010 and 2012 at Magoro Hill, a site in South Africa's Limpopo Province frequented or intermittently occupied by African farming communities since the first millennium AD, yielded a substantial glass bead assemblage. A selection of the beads was studied non-destructively by classifying them according to morphological attributes, supplemented by Raman analyses and XRF measurements. It became evident that a morphological classification of beads recovered from sites that include imports into Africa after the seventeenth century AD could be problematic due to apparent morphological similarities between earlier and later beads. This paper demonstrates the use and archaeological application …

Exaggerations And Caveats In Press Releases And Health-Related Science News, Petroc Sumner, Solveiga Vivian Griffiths, Jacky Boivin, Andrew Williams, Lewis Bott, Rachel Adams, Christos Venetis, Leanne Whelan, Bethan Hughes, Christopher D. Chambers

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

Background: Exaggerated or simplistic news is often blamed for adversely influencing public health. However, recent findings suggested many exaggerations were already present in university press releases, which scientists approve. Surprisingly, these exaggerations were not associated with more news coverage. Here we test whether these two controversial results also arise in press releases from prominent science and medical journals. We then investigate the influence of mitigating caveats in press releases, to test assumptions that caveats harm news interest or are ignored.

Methods and Findings Using: quantitative content analysis, we analyzed press releases (N = 534) on biomedical and health-related science issued …

Cell Culture Techniques Essential For Toxicity Testing Of Inhaled Materials And Nanomaterials In Vitro, Shahnaz Bakand

Faculty of Social Sciences - Papers (Archive)

Human tissue is bombarded by a huge range of chemicals. Our lungs are inhaling pollution from both stationary and mobile sources as well as inhaled nanoparticles (NPs) and therapeutic products designed to provide new and innovative medical solutions. Our challenge is to identify what exposures are putting us at risk and balance the risk against benefits that we may receive from these chemicals and new products. Advances inin vitrocell culture technology may provide some of the answers. Regulatory toxicologists and health and safety professionals need rapid and reliable information on hazard profiles of chemicals to be able to assess the …

An Organisational Change Intervention For Increasing The Delivery Of Smoking Cessation Support In Addiction Treatment Centres: Study Protocol For A Randomized Controlled Trial, Billie Bonevski, Ashleigh Guillaumier, Anthony Shakeshaft, Michael P. Farrell, Flora Tzelepis, Scott Walsberger, Catherine A. D'Este, Christine L. Paul, Adrian Dunlop, Andrew Searles, Peter James Kelly, Rae Fry, Robert Stirling, Carrie Fowlie, Eliza Skelton

Faculty of Social Sciences - Papers (Archive)

Background: The provision of smoking cessation support in Australian drug and alcohol treatment services is sub-optimal. This study examines the cost-effectiveness of an organisational change intervention to reduce smoking amongst clients attending drug and alcohol treatment services. Methods/design: A cluster-randomised controlled trial will be conducted with drug and alcohol treatment centres as the unit of randomisation. Biochemically verified (carbon monoxide by breath analysis) client 7-day-point prevalence of smoking cessation at 6 weeks will be the primary outcome measure. The study will be conducted in 33 drug and alcohol treatment services in four mainland states and territories of Australia: New South …

Policy Translation For Early Childhood Education And Care: The Growing Up In New Zealand Approach, Amy L. Bird, Polly E. Atatoa Carr, Elaine Reese, Susan Morton

Faculty of Social Sciences - Papers (Archive)

Longitudinal cohort studies have significant potential to inform policy across a range of child and family areas, including early childhood education and care. Here we describe the relationship between policy-makers and New Zealand’s contemporary pre-birth cohort study. We outline a model for policy interaction that highlights the relationship between Growing Up and policy across study design, implementation and analysis. We then describe key policy-relevant questions in the early childhood education and care area that Growing Up has addressed when children were age 2. We used parent-report data for 6242 children to consider: whether socio-economic factors and ethnicity are related to …

'30-Minute City'? Not In My Backyard! Smart Cities Plan Must Let People Have Their Say, Crystal Legacy, Dallas Rogers, Kristian J. Ruming, Nicole T. Cook

Faculty of Social Sciences - Papers (Archive)

The federal government's Smart Cities Plan is framed around the "30-minute city". In this city, journeys will take no more than half an hour, regardless of your location. The recently released plan has significant implications for population, transport provision and land-use intensity in neighbourhoods - the places where people live and how they get around. The realisation of its goals will require ongoing densification of Australian suburbs.

A Commentary On Ritual And The Production Of Crime Control Policy In New Zealand, Juan M. Tauri

Faculty of Social Sciences - Papers (Archive)

This commentary highlights the way(s) that ritual plays a significant role in the development of crime control policy in New Zealand. The actions of New Zealand's crime control policy sector is chosen as the focus for the commentary because of its ability to significantly impact individuals and communities through its close relationship with Cabinet, the development and implementation of legislation, and access to significant financial resources. A further motivation is the authors' desire to demystify the heavily ritualised, mythological context that surrounds the policy process and that aids in screening their work from critical scrutiny. The importance of ritual in …

Investigating University Educators' Design Thinking And The Implications For Design Support Tools, Sue Bennett, Shirley Agostinho, Lori Lockyer

Faculty of Social Sciences - Papers (Archive)

All university educators perform design work as they prepare and plan learning experiences for their students. How such design work is undertaken, conceptualised, and optimally supported is the focus of ongoing research for the authors. The purpose of this article is to present the results of a research study that sought to gain a richer understanding of university educators' design work; investigate how the idea of Learning Design could support design work; and examine how learning designs could be made available within a Learning Management System (LMS) as a design support tool. An overview of the outcomes from the entire …

Fathering In The Context Of Incarceration, Elisabeth Duursma, Natalia K. Hanley, Amy Conley Wright

Faculty of Social Sciences - Papers (Archive)

Abstract presented at The Future of Fathering conference, 7-8 November 2016, Wollongong, Australia

Respiratory Protection - Are Our Standards Protecting Worker Health Or Providing A False Sense Of Security?, Kerrie Burton, Jane L. Whitelaw, Alison L. Jones, Brian Davies

Faculty of Social Sciences - Papers (Archive)

To determine whether currently utilised respirator filters effectively filter out Diesel Particulate Matter and provide worker protection; by testing respirator filters used in mining workplaces against DPM, and by measuring the sizes of particles that are penetrating the filters to determine whether that poses an additional health risk for workers.

Why Are We Still Scared Of Seeing Two Men Kissing?, Scott J. Mckinnon

Faculty of Social Sciences - Papers (Archive)

Although details remain uncertain, the father of Omar Mateen has claimed that his son's murderous acts in Orlando's Pulse nightclub last Saturday may have been inspired by the sight of two men kissing. In response, a twitter campaign with the hashtag #TwoMenKissing has encouraged men to tweet photographs of themselves kissing another man. This is an act of pride and defiance in the face of violent oppression. It also reveals the ongoing politics of men kissing in public.

Practices Of Emotional And Affective Geographies Of Sound, Karolina Doughty, Michelle Duffy, Theresa Harada

Faculty of Social Sciences - Papers (Archive)

The articles that comprise this special issue reflect the growing scholarship that investigates the role of sound in understandings of self, others and place.

Fostering Effective Early Learning: A Review Of The Current International Evidence Considering Quality In Early Childhood Education And Care Programmes - In Delivery, Pedagogy And Child Outcomes, Iram Siraj, Denise Kingston, Cathrine Marguerite Neilsen-Hewett, Steven J. Howard, Edward Melhuish, Marc De Rosnay, Elisabeth Duursma, Betty Luu

Faculty of Social Sciences - Papers (Archive)

Executive Summary There is a large body of international academic research literature which examines the relationship between (i) early childhood education and care (ECEC) and (ii) children's developmental and learning outcomes. Decades of sustained international research by many different research groups demonstrate that children who attend ECEC are likely to experience better behavioural and learning outcomes than those who do not attend. The research findings are, of course, not always consistent, and are more robust over shorter measurement periods. Nevertheless, major national surveys (e.g. OECD, 2011) and ambitious longitudinal research projects (e.g. the EPPSE study, Sylva et al., 2014) document …

Young Children's Identity Formation In The Context Of Open Adoption In Nsw: Summary And Key Findings, Marc De Rosnay, Betty Luu, Amy Conley Wright

Faculty of Social Sciences - Papers (Archive)

A review into how open adoption can support developmental outcomes and establish healthy identity formation of children was commissioned by Barnardos Australia. The focus is on children who are up to 5 years of age in out-of-home care (OOHC) for whom there is no realistic chance of restoration to their birth family or kinship care. The options facing such children, according to recent amendments in late 2014 to the Children and Young Persons (Care and Protection) Act 1998, are either for adoption or parental responsibility of the Minister (i.e., foster care) until they are 18 years of age. Healthy identity …