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Characterising the Interactions Between HSV and HIV During Coinfection of the Anogenital Mucosa
No full textType II anogenital mucosa are host to a variety of mononuclear phagocytes (MNPs; Langerin+ cells, CD11c+ Dendritic Cells (DCs)) and T lymphocytes (CD3+), which play a role in the sexual transmission of HIV. While it is well known that prior infection with HSV increases the risk of acquiring HIV, likely by inducing a proinflammatory state and ulcerating the mucosal barrier, the precise mechanisms through which this happens during early mucosal infection have not yet been well defined.
We first took a well-optimised HSV1 ex vivo inner foreskin tissue explant model and quantified the impact of HSV1 infection on the migration and densities of epidermal Langerin+ cells, epidermal CD11c+ DCs, subsets of dermal CD3+ T cells, dermal Langerin+ MNPs and dermal CD11c+ DCs. At sites of HSV1 infection, there is potentially migration of epidermal MNPs into the dermis, while dermal MNPs and T lymphocytes are concentrated directly under sites of HSV infection. We also found that several key inflammatory cytokines and chemokines are upregulated in HSV1 infected tissue. The formation of a cell relay to carry virus into a dermis enriched with HIV target cells and a proinflammatory environment could be significant mechanisms by which HSV increases HIV acquisition.
We made substantial progress towards the completion of novel HSV2-HIV coinfection explant. We demonstrated HSV2 infection in vaginal tissue which showed similar T lymphocyte redistributions as observed in the HSV1 foreskin explant. We identified that using a cloning cylinder to deliver HIV 18 hours after HSV2 infection at a TCID50 70 000, and leaving HIV in culture for 24 hours, resulted in optimal HIV infection. Ultimately, although we were not able to achieve true overlapping HSV2-HIV coinfection, we were able to produce an explant that contained both HSV2 and HIV infection, and where we reported HSV2 uptake by a langerin+ cell lining the basement membrane and HIV uptake by an epidermal CD4+ T cell infected with HIV
Essays on Market Frictions
No full textThis thesis investigates market frictions arising from technologies and tools designed to enhance efficiency and convenience in financial markets. In the first chapter, entitled “Visual Deception in Financial Markets”, I examine how the widely used auto-scaled digital charts distort investors’ risk evaluations, thereby affecting risk premium in the cross-section of stock returns. In the second chapter, entitled “Rating Driven Risk Shifting by Mutual Funds”, we demonstrate how the discrete nature of star ratings leads to deliberate risk shifting. Due to the widespread use of star ratings, rating-driven risk shifting accounts for 21% of the market-wide risk shifting, which has previously been shown to hurt performance. In the third chapter, entitled “Luck and Skill in the World of Diseconomies of Scale”, we find that most of the variation in mutual funds’ realized alphas is driven by luck. We show that lucky funds tend to underperform, raising concerns about performance-based, backward-looking metrics such as star ratings.
The results indicate that forward-looking qualitative metrics provide better insights and are neutral to luck
Improving productivity through effective communication and well-being in distributed project teams
No full textThis study examines effective communication and wellbeing in distributed project teams, aiming to identify the key factors that drive productivity. The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated the adoption of remote and hybrid work, reshaping collaboration and emphasising the importance of strong virtual communication and employee wellbeing. Guided by three research questions, the study investigates the factors that influence productivity, the alignment between theory and practice, and how communication and wellbeing interact in distributed teams—where members may have different levels of social connection while working towards shared goals.
Using a qualitative approach, the research combines a PRISMA-guided systematic literature review with Thematic Analysis and the Gioia Method, drawing on 41 interviews across five Australian organisations. Findings highlight three key points: effective communication includes both structured practices, such as clear roles, knowledge sharing, and feedback, and informal interactions that build trust; wellbeing underpins productivity through workload balance, psychological support, self-aware leadership, and collaboration; and organisational context, including culture, planning, and leadership, shapes how these factors operate. Together, these elements interact to influence productivity. The study offers practical guidance for managing distributed teams and contributes a framework linking communication, wellbeing, and organisational context
Characterising a Clinical and Laboratory Patient Profile that Predicts Relapse in Myelin Oligodendrocyte Glycoprotein Antibody-Associated Disease
No full textMyelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein antibody-associated disease (MOGAD) is an inflammatory demyelinating pathology of the central nervous system (CNS) diagnosed by the detection of antibodies targeting oligodendrocyte-expressed MOG (MOG-IgG). Disease course is monophasic or relapsing and neurological disability accumulates with relapse. Laboratory biomarkers have the potential to predict disease course and activity, thus, ensuring early initiation of immunosuppression in individuals at risk of relapse-associated disability accrual, while minimising unnecessary immunosuppression in monophasic individuals. A challenge of MOGAD research is the rarity of its incidence, often translating to limited sample sizes. For these reasons, we first summarized the literature on biomarkers of prognosis and pathological mechanisms of disease. We then conducted a systematic review with meta-analysis to investigate the capability of laboratory biomarkers to predict disease course, as well as differentiate remission compared to attack disease activity. 106 studies with ≥1710 individuals were included in the systematic review. Relapsing course was associated with persistent seropositivity (OR 2.7 (95%CI 1.8–4.0), p<0.0001), lower likelihood of seroreversion to negative status (HR 0.19 (95%CI 0.14–0.26), p<0.0001), and delayed seroreversion compared to monophasic participants (median 19 years versus 2.5 years, p<0.0001). ADEM was not associated with relapsing course (OR 0.049 (95%CI 0.0029–0.84), p=0.037). Serum MOG-IgG titre – negative, low positive, or clear positive – discriminated disease state. Attack was associated with clear positive titre (OR 3.6 (95%CI 2.6–5.0), p<0.0001), but not negative titre (OR 0.073 (95%CI 0.028–0.19), p<0.0001). CSF leukocytosis (≥5 cells/uL) was associated with attack (OR 3.1 (95%CI 1.7-5.9), p=0.0004). The findings support serial serum MOG-IgG testing at 3-6 month intervals in the first 12 months of disease to assist in relapse risk stratification
Standardised Outcomes in Nephrology – Chronic Kidney Disease (SONG-CKD): Establishing a core outcome set in chronic kidney disease
No full textThe global median prevalence of chronic kidney disease (CKD) is estimated to be 9.5%.
Patients with CKD have an increased risk of progression to kidney failure requiring kidney replacement therapy in the form of dialysis or kidney transplant, life-threatening comorbidities, and impaired quality of life. Advances in care and outcomes may be limited, in part, by problems with the selection and reporting of outcomes in trials in CKD. The aim of the Standardised Outcomes in Nephrology – Chronic Kidney Disease (SONG-CKD) project is to establish a core outcome set for trials in adults with chronic kidney disease not yet requiring kidney replacement therapy. The core outcomes set will be based on the shared priorities of patients, caregivers, and health professionals. This will help to ensure that trials include outcomes that are of critical importance to all stakeholders to support shared decisionmaking.
The SONG-CKD projects included in this these are: focus groups with nominal group technique to identify and rank patient-important outcomes; interviews with clinicians in caring for patients with CKD; an international two-round Delphi survey to develop consensus among patients and caregivers to identify, rank, and describe reasons for their choice of outcomes; and two stakeholder workshops (in English and Spanish) to discuss and endorse the proposed core outcomes. The thesis also includes the report of the SONG-CKD Life participation workshop as this outcome was identified as a core patient-reported outcome. The SONG-CKD core outcome set will ultimately improve the evidence base for shared decisionmaking regarding treatment among patients, caregivers, and health professionals
Knowledge and multimodal interaction in textbooks of Chinese as a foreign language: A multimodality perspective
No full textThis thesis conducted a comparative study of two series of CFL textbooks, which was undertaken to explore the textbook content and its effectiveness using a two-dimensional framework developed from Weninger’s work (2021). This multimodal framework integrates processability theory (Pienemann & Kessler, 2011), metafunctions (Bezemer & Kress, 2008; Kress & Van Leeuwen, 2021), and cognitive theories (Chen et al., 2023; Wickens, 2008) with the goal of enhancing the utilisation of modes in CFL textbooks. The analytic focus is on multimodal interactions between texts and visual images of varying complexity and on the ways in which the meanings of modes are integrated into cognition, in order to examine the impact of these modes on learners.
The findings reveal clear differences between a series of China-produced CFL textbooks (Developing Chinese—DC) and a series of U.S.-produced CFL textbooks (Integrated Chinese—IC). The DC series focuses heavily on grammar rules, offering only superficial engagement with Chinese culture and minimal examination of language and cultural intersectionality. In contrast, the IC strikes a balance between grammar and cultural knowledge and emphasises the importance of self-identity (gender and ethnicity) rather than social identities (institutional and relational), which are emphasised in the DC textbooks. The analysis also identifies and evaluates the visual strategies (schematic elements, layering and integration patterns) employed by textbook authors to shape learners’ perceptual and cognitive experiences
Improving Cardiometabolic Outcomes in the Psoriasis Cohort
No full textPsoriasis is a chronic inflammatory skin disease increasingly recognised as a systemic condition linked with elevated cardiometabolic risk. Despite strong evidence connecting psoriasis with adverse cardiovascular outcomes, this risk remains under-recognised in routine practice. This thesis addresses key knowledge and practice gaps among clinicians and patients, evaluates the cardiometabolic impact of systemic therapies, and tests a behavioural intervention designed to improve cardiovascular risk management in people with psoriasis.
The thesis incorporates peer-reviewed publications, including narrative and systematic reviews, retrospective cohort studies, cross-sectional surveys, and a randomised controlled trial. Early chapters examine clinician and patient perspectives, revealing limited awareness and suboptimal screening. Subsequent chapters report real-world analyses of biologic therapies and a systematic review and meta-analysis of major adverse cardiovascular events. A concise overview of systemic treatments highlights the limited evidence guiding therapy selection from a cardiovascular standpoint.
The final component presents the TEXTME PSO trial, which tested a mobile health intervention to support lifestyle modification and self-management. Baseline analyses and user feedback illustrate opportunities for patient-centred care and inform future prevention strategies.
Collectively, this work provides a multidimensional understanding of the psoriasis–cardiovascular disease interface, offering new insights into education, therapeutic impact, and prevention. The findings highlight the need for improved clinician education, routine cardiovascular risk assessment in dermatology, and scalable, patient-centred interventions for this high-risk population
Children’s Participation in Social Media Spaces: Tweens’ Content Creation Practices, Influencer-Generated Content and Educating for Active Digital Citizenship in the Upper Primary Years
No full textThis study explores pre-adolescent children’s performances of digital citizenship on social media (SM) through an examination of their content creation practices and how content generated by social media influencers (SMIs) shapes their roles as digital citizens when they engage in media production activities on SM. It has also aimed to consider how digital citizenship (DC) education focusing on SM content creation learning can be delivered in the upper primary years. These phenomena were investigated by undertaking a single-embedded case study in an independent primary school located in Sydney which involved 10, Stage 3 (Year 5/6) students and two, Stage 3 teachers.
Findings indicated that children exercise a mélange of rights and responsibilities through various ‘micro-practices of making’ associated with SM content creation. But, despite their independent initiation and accomplishment of these practices, children’s creative agency in SM spaces was revealed to be largely moderated by adults, most notably parents, but also educators and those responsible for designing platforms.
Data was also suggestive of SMIs mediating children’s content creation pursuits on SM, whereby children emulated SMIs' role as the ‘professional entertainer’. This was demonstrated through children's appropriation of SMIs' perceived online personas and motivations to create for self and others, alongside their adoption of similar design and production strategies modelled by influencers. However, these conclusions are only tentative with further research needed to verify the exacting effect SMIs exert on children’s DC competences tied to creating on SM.
Moreover, in Stage 3 classrooms, instruction on DC as relating to the topic of media production on SM was found to take responsible practices of making and sharing as its core focus. However, an explicit and meaningful teaching of DC was impacted by various pedagogical and structural dilemmas with accommodating learning on SM content creation
Mechanisms underlying homologous recombination DNA repair deficiency in ovarian cancer and association with treatment response
No full textHomologous recombination (HR) DNA repair deficiency (HRD) is a defining feature of high-grade serous ovarian carcinoma (HGSC) and canonically results from faults in BRCA1/2, which are
associated with genomic rearrangements known as a genomic scar. A major advance in ovarian cancer treatment is the use of poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase inhibitors (PARPi), which leverage synthetic lethality with HRD. However, efforts to identify patients with HRD for treatment with PARPi have only been partly successful and responses can be variable.
The aim of this project was therefore to determine the relationship between canonical and novel causes of HRD in altering genomic states and clinical outcomes in patients with epithelial ovarian cancer. Cases from the INOVATe cohort were tested with a genomic scar assay, next-generation sequencing and RAD51 foci staining. Treatment and survival outcomes were analysed.
While most cases with evidence of HRD on a genomic scar assay were associated with mutations or methylation of a gene with a known role in HRD, some cases appeared HR-deficient without an apparent lesion. Variants were identified which may contribute to HRD by destabilizing r-loop processing. Functional measurement suggested that many cases had low levels of HR repair, even in the absence of a pathway fault. Genomic scar scores and canonical gene variants were associated with improved survival. A classifier based on genomic features aligned to chemotherapy response identified three clusters with differing associations of genomic instability, BRCA-like features and treatment outcomes. In conclusion, variants in BRCA1/2 appear to drive a phenotype which includes, but is not limited to, HRD. Genotypic and phenotypic correlates of HRD only partially account for treatment responses. Faults in r-loop processing appear to drive some HRD and clinical responses. BRCA-independent HRD in HGSC is not necessarily associated with outcomes analogous to BRCA1/2 loss
Road User Charge Reform and the Political Shift in Interest in Australia: Some Thoughts to Contemplate
No full textThe 2024 electric vehicle distance-based charge introduced in Victoria, Australia, to recognise that such vehicles do not pay fuel excise tax, led to a high court challenge in which it was deemed unconstitutional for a State to introduce such a charge, which is the responsibility of the Federal government (through legislation amendment). This loss of fuel excise as a tax (not a charge) on electric cars whetted the appetite of the Federal Government to place road user charging on a round table in August 2025. We now have elevated the topic right into the political sphere where any change will require such support, and it opens up an opportunity to not only consider the fuel excise issue per se but the broader agenda on road pricing reform. For the first time, we have a political appetite to do something even if it is driven by a loss of fuel excise revenue which has never been earmarked back to roads but is a backbone revenue source for many Federal government initiatives. In this paper, we consider a number of ways in which we can begin the journey to satisfy the political appetite while achieving much broader efficiency and equity objectives