Sydney eScholarship
Not a member yet
31878 research outputs found
Sort by
Development of a Multi-functional Nanoparticle Platform for Disease Detection, Diagnosis, and Targeted Therapy
No full textMolecular imaging and nanotechnology offer new opportunities for medicine, with great promise for improving disease detection, diagnosis and treatment. Applications include enhanced imaging contrast, advanced drug delivery, and more effective radiation therapies, often combined into a theranostic (therapeutic and diagnostic) agent. However, the vast array of nanomaterials and their complex biological interactions present scientific complexities hindering the translation of nanotheranostics into clinical reality. This thesis explores three commercial nanoparticle platforms: two superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs), PrecisionMRX and Feraheme, and the gadolinium-based nanoparticle AGuIX. Feraheme and AGuIX are computationally evaluated for enhancing radiotherapeutic effects in internal and external beam therapies, respectively, extending their function beyond MRI contrast agents. PrecisionMRX’s performance as an MRI contrast agent is assessed at conventional and ultra-low fields (ULF), in addition to its in vivo biodistribution and clearance. Geant4-based Monte Carlo simulations showed that clustered Feraheme SPIONs significantly amplify secondary electron production when radiolabelled with copper-67, demonstrating that the specific spatial configuration of nanoparticles has a large impact on the degree of radio-enhancement provided. AGuIX also produced substantial radio-enhancement from its unique geometry, particularly
when clustered or doped with bismuth. In vivo, PrecisionMRX SPIONs showed rapid uptake in the liver, spleen and renal system, providing effective conventional MRI contrast in addition to a novel bright contrast enhancement based on susceptibility gradient mapping (SGM). It also generated strong positive contrast in ultra-low field MRI, outperforming conventional agents. These findings show the potential of these nanoplatforms to enhance advanced medical imaging and augment advanced techniques in radiation therapy
Soil moisture probe data from 15 probes within the Liverpool Plains region and Muttama in NSW
No full textSoil moisture probe measurements from 15 different probes in the Liverpool Plains and Muttama, NSW. There are 15 files, with one for each probe and each is named after the location. These measurements are taken as ground-truth soil moisture data (%VWC) at depths from 30-110 cm, with a measurement every 10 cm, that is used to validate predictive modelling.
A file named "USYD PROBE INFO.csv" contains the name of each probe, the corresponding API, and the coordinates.
All data is obtained using the irrimaxlive API. This file is stored as "USYD API.py" and uses the "USYD PROBE INFO.csv" file as input. Once run, it outputs an up-to-date soil moisture probe measurement file named after its location.
This data is uncalibrated.
Each probe measurement file has the following columns: Date Time, A (soil moisture (%VWC) readings), and T (soil temperature (degrees Celsius) readings. The number inside the bracket after "A" or "T" is the depth (cm) of the measurement.
"USYD PROBE INFO.csv" has the following columns: API Probe Name (Name of the site in the API database, Product Name (what the site is known as in all documentation and in file names), Latitude, and Longitude.
The datasets are stored on the USYD-RDS at \\shared.sydney.edu.au\research-data\PRJ-soilwaternowarchive. This data is available under terms and conditions to be agreed by the University of Sydney and GRDC and/or under a data supply and licence agreement. Please contact Dr Patrick Filippi ([email protected]) to request access to the data
The risk of good intentions: How professional systems shape risk, respect, and outcomes for people with disability
No full textDisabled people frequently navigate systems that frame risk as something to be avoided or controlled. While often grounded in good intentions, these systems—through policy design, professional practices, and cultural assumptions, can restrict autonomy, stifle participation, and disrupt opportunities for ordinary flourishing.
In this qualitative study, I draw on Critical Disability Theory, Human Rights Approaches, and Hope Theory to explore how disabled people experienced and resisted risk-averse systems to live the lives they wanted. In-depth interviews with 24 people with physical disability aged 12-56 years, and 4 parents of adolescents with disability were included in the analysis.
The findings are presented through three interconnected results chapters. Chapter 4 reveals how policy enacted through the everyday decisions of professionals created barriers that limited choice, undermined autonomy, and disrupted opportunities for ordinary flourishing. Chapter 5 identifies four interrelated strategies—becoming proud, understanding rights, reframing risk, and building wise networks—used to reclaim agency and forge pathways in risk-averse environments. Chapter 6 distinguishes operational respect from genuine respect. In the final chapter, I conclude with a fresh theoretical model of risk and respect in disability practice and call for structural reform grounded in rights, recognition, and lived expertise
Energy allocation trade-offs in a changing world
No full textLife-history trade-offs occur because of finite resources and often are the consequence of organisms attempting to cope with environmental stressors during important life-history events such as growth and reproduction. nthropogenic activity has increased global temperatures and the leaching of endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) into aquatic habitats, both of which can affect energetics of animals. Movement includes a significant proportion of organisms’ energy budgets and is likely to produce trade-offs with other fitness-related traits. Individuals of the same species can differ substantially in the efficiency with which they move (cost of transport; COT), and these differences
may contribute to different strengths of trade-offs between individuals. Here, we show that energy allocation trade-offs between movement and reproduction in female zebrafish (Danio rerio) are partly driven by differences in COT. Increases in temperature, water flow, and exposure to the chemical pollutant bisphenol S (BPS) increase COT. BPS exposure also reduced the maximal movement capacities of adults, and fertilisation rate of eggs. High temperature and water flow caused less efficient individuals to move faster but remain more cohesive when traveling as a group. Additionally, increased temperature and water flow reduced reproductive output, and offspring survival was
reduced at high temperatures. We found that thyroid hormones (THs) determined observed differences in COT and most likely facilitated the effects of increased temperatures and BPS. Together, the data show that combinations of environmental stressors may operate simultaneously on different components of movement and reproductive physiology and cause trade- offs that compromise the fitness of aquatic ectotherms. The influence of BPS on movement and reproduction suggests that predicted increases in bisphenol pollution are likely to change population dynamics in fish, which would be exacerbated at higher temperatures
Analysis of Women's Rugby 7s Match Demands
No full textRugby 7s has evolved into a dynamic sport now featured at major global events like the Olympic and Commonwealth Games. The women’s game, in particular, has grown rapidly, reflecting broader advancements in women’s sport. With this growth, the use of microtechnology devices has become widespread, offering objective insights into player demands and informing athlete preparation.
This thesis aimed to evaluate how match demands are assessed in women’s rugby 7s and examine novel contextual factors influencing running outputs. A scoping review revealed limited research on peak match demands—key for understanding intensity fluctuations often masked by whole-game averages. It also noted a lack of positional detail beyond forwards and backs, overlooking hybrid roles with distinct movement and tactical profiles.
Peak running demand analysis showed high variability depending on aggregation method (maximum, mean, percentile) and modelling approach (e.g., power-law), each capturing different match elements. A novel method was developed to assess international match demands, accounting for inter- and intra-athlete differences and position-specific outputs.
The analysis explored the influence of tournament and opposition ranking on match demands across four categories: absolute/relative time and distance. Utility/ball players consistently covered more ground than backs and forwards. Backs covered less distance at 4–6 m·s⁻¹ than other roles. Matches against invitational teams saw reduced output in the 40–60% speed range, while games against lower-ranked teams involved more low-speed running. These findings emphasise the role of positional classification—particularly the addition of a third ‘utility’ group—in understanding the distinct running demands in women’s rugby 7s. This thesis provides a framework for future research to examine match demands across competitive levels and advance female-specific classifications
Development of new ligation methodologies to access challenging protein targets
No full textProtein ligation methodologies have advanced protein engineering by enabling the synthesis of
larger, more complex proteins with precise site-specific modifications. These developments have
improved control, efficiency, and selectivity—crucial for drug development, the study of protein
interactions, and the design of therapeutic proteins. Despite substantial progress, further innovations
in ligation chemistry remain essential to drive breakthroughs in biotechnology and synthetic
biochemistry.
A novel DEAMC photolabile protecting group for selenocysteine (Sec) was developed, allowing
efficient LED-induced deprotection at 450 nm under mild, reagent-free conditions. This enabled an
iterative DSL approach for one-pot protein assembly. Incorporation of DEAMC-Sec into peptides
yielded clean deprotection and facilitated the four-step synthesis of ApoCIII in 60% yield. A selenium-based ligation strategy was also employed for synthesizing lipoprotein and glycolipoprotein vaccine
candidates for tuberculosis (TB), with lipidated LprA and Mpt83 variants exhibiting potent TLR2
agonism.
To enhance expressed protein ligation (EPL), a continuous flow chemistry platform was established,
improving yields and reaction rates relative to batch methods. This was demonstrated by the
semisynthesis of the sulfoprotein ACA-01. A one-pot EPL–photodesulfurization strategy was further
applied to the synthesis of unmodified and phosphorylated β-synuclein using a demulsifying buffer,
enabling investigation of serine phosphorylation in β-Syn inhibition of α-Syn aggregation.
These developments offer robust and versatile tools for the generation of engineered and native
proteins, with broad utility in both research and therapeutic contexts
Three Essays on Empirical Corporate Finance
No full textThis thesis consists of three empirical corporate finance studies. The first examines the impact of
U.S. EPA enforcement on corporate green innovation. We find that EPA-enforced firms significantly
increase green innovation output due to higher efficiency and greater hiring of green inventors. This
effect is stronger in states for firms headquartered in states with stronger environmental enforcement
intensity, firms with higher institutional ownership, and those with fewer financial constraints. Green
innovations further help firms avoid future EPA actions and reduce toxic emissions.
The second study employs FinBERT to develop a labor-shortage exposure measure. We validate
this measure by showing that states with higher labor-shortage exposure experience lower future
unemployment but higher wage growth and labor market tightness. while firms with higher exposure
have greater growth in future per-employee staff expenses. Firms with labor-shortage exposure
experience lower earnings call CARs, lower stock returns, and reduced operating performance. Firms
mitigate these effects by substituting labor with capital and R&D investments, and by producing more
process patents, which help offset negative performance impacts.
The third study constructs a novel patent utilization measure using FastText, capturing the extent to
which a firm’s patent portfolio contributes to new product development. We find that new products
backed by more patents yield higher announcement returns, while firms with higher patent utilization
rates experience future better new product development, market share growth, profitability, and
valuation. These effects are primarily driven by high-value patents and are stronger in competitive
markets. We address endogeneity concerns using R&D tax credits as instruments and demonstrate
robust findings across various tests
Resolving Statutory Overlap in the Superannuation System
No full textAustralia's national superannuation system enlivens a complex collage of Commonwealth and State laws and regulatory regimes. It therefore provides an opportunity to explore the operation of legislative devices designed to resolve issues of overlap in a practical setting of considerable consequence. This article assesses two of these devices: s 350 of the Superannuation Industry (Supervision) Act 1993 (Cth) and s 5E of the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth), and identifies the crucial role played by s 109 of the Australian Constitution in the curatorial process governed by those provisions. The article is also concerned with the potential for less obvious examples of regulatory overlap to go unnoticed, and examines specific examples that illustrate this potential
Sensorimotor Developments in PCC-Based Soft Pneumatic Actuators
No full textSoft pneumatic actuators (SPAs) offer notable advantages in various applications due to their compliance and ease of manufacturing. However, accurately predicting their response remains challenging due to their non-linearity and viscoelastic behaviour.
This study, focusing on the piecewise constant curvature (PCC) model, addresses three interconnected challenges in SPA sensorimotor functionality: inverse kinematics (IK), twist motion modelling, and EGaIn-based soft sensor modelling. By tackling these limitations, the study enhances SPA adaptability, leading to improved manipulation, sensing, and control accuracy.
To achieve these objectives, IK simulations were conducted, a length model based on geodesics and covering spaces was proposed and validated, and a regression-based numerical model was developed for soft sensor behaviour. Custom experimental tests generated datasets for training and validation.
Key findings include a quadratic IK solver outperforming the linear solver and resolving singularity issues in the PCC model, a length model achieving 1.5% accuracy under twist, and a highly accurate soft sensor model demonstrating sub-millimetre precision despite hysteresis.
This research advances soft robotics by addressing key limitations, contributing to the development of more capable and adaptable machines for diverse applications
Multisectoral action to address child malnutrition at a district level in Aceh, Indonesia
No full textChild malnutrition remains a significant issue in many low-and -middle-income countries, including Indonesia, where stunting is prevalent. Multisectoral interventions combining nutrition-specific and nutrition-sensitive components are considered the most effective approach to addressing child malnutrition, though their success varies. There are still gaps in our understanding of the contextual factors influencing the effective implementation of these interventions.
To support efforts in improving child well-being in Aceh, UNICEF Indonesia implemented a three-year multisectoral systems strengthening intervention between 2019 and 2021 in eight districts in the province. The contents presented in this thesis utilised the data collected to evaluate this intervention.
The aim of this thesis is to understand how multisectoral systems strengthening interventions can drive changes in the prevention of child malnutrition at a district level in Aceh Province, Indonesia. It focuses on the contextual factors and experiences of stakeholders engaged in the intervention that shaped its implementation. This thesis employed quantitative and qualitative methods to explore this.
This thesis found that there was increased will and capacity at a local level to address child malnutrition in a multisectoral way, but that a number of contextual factors, such as human resourcing issues, and service delivery issues in village-level health services could have limited the potential of the intervention.
Multisectoral interventions for child malnutrition show considerable promise in Indonesia. The findings in this thesis extend our understanding of the diverse ways in which context can influence an intervention across several key stakeholder groups and strategies for how this might be managed to strengthen the intervention design and implementation