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Beyond 2025: Navigating Challenges and Opportunities in Global Nutrition
No full textWith ultra-processed foods increasingly at the heart of global nutrition debates, Professor Branca highlights emerging evidence and anticipates strengthened international guidance and policy measures. He will further address the complex challenge of managing powerful corporate influences within food systems, advocating for greater accountability and robust frameworks to tackle conflicts of interest in nutrition governance. Join us for a thought-provoking discussion on shaping a resilient and equitable global nutrition future
Short Text Clustering with Large Language Models
No full textThis thesis addresses the challenges of clustering short text data, focusing on human interpretability
and validation metrics. Employing Gaussian Mixture Models with embeddings from Large Language
Models, this thesis demonstrates that these methods produce clusters that are more interpretable
than traditional approaches. The thesis introduces the concept of multi-level clustering, an approach
that examines how clusters form and evolve as the number of clusters in an algorithm increases. It
also introduces a method to maximise the information conveyed in each cluster, while minimising the
cognitive load required to understand the clusters. The findings bridge the gap between automated
metrics and human evaluation, offering insights into optimal clustering techniques for short text. This
is then used to examine human identity in Twitter bios and create visualisations that provide a better
understanding of clusters, as well as employing linguistic methodology to identify key distinctions
between the clusters
Effect of lifestyle and non-traditional cardiovascular risk factors on cardiovascular disease in women
No full textSex disparities persist in the screening, prevention and management of cardiovascular disease (CVD) on a global scale. Yet, there is limited research into lifestyle and female-specific risk factors, such as past pregnancy complications and premature/early menopause, on women's cardiovascular health. A narrative review revealed that while studies have consistently favoured the Mediterranean diet (MD), the effect of a MD in female-specific populations was unclear. Our meta-analysis of >700,000 women found that higher MD adherence conferred a 24% lower risk for incident CVD and 23% lower risk for total mortality. A retrospective analysis of a middle-aged female cohort found that the highest versus lowest intake of ultra-processed foods was associated with 39% higher odds for incident hypertension, but not CVD. Another retrospective analysis found that women with premature and early menopause had higher odds for CVD by 36% and 15% respectively and lifestyle modification reduced this risk in all women by 23%. A prospective six-month Women Heart’s Clinic (WHC) intervention of women with past pregnancy complications found 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure (BP) monitoring detected incident hypertension in more than 60% and after the WHC, three-quarters of these women improved their BP control. The WHC study also revealed that only 19% of women were aware their CVD risk at baseline and over 75% improved their awareness after six-months. An open-labelled 1:1 randomised texting intervention did not significantly improve healthy lifestyles in either sexes over 12-weeks, but acceptability of the lifestyle-focused program was high. This thesis found that women with female-specific risk factors have increased CVD risk, yet majority are unaware of this risk. Lifestyle modification, particularly diet, and CVD risk screening are two key pillars of CVD prevention in high-risk women. Future studies should consider sex-specific interventions to redesign preventative CVD care for women
Evaluation of a test-and-cull strategy to control bovine paratuberculosis based on the detection of Mycobacterium avium ssp. paratuberculosis DNA using the high-throughput Johne’s fecal polymerase chain reaction test
No full textBovine Johne’s disease (BJD) is a chronic, debilitating enteritis caused by Mycobacterium avium ssp. paratuberculosis
(MAP), with both animal welfare and economic consequences. The detection of MAP in feces is an important measure of transmission from infectious animals through environmental contamination. Therefore, control programs focused on early removal of infectious animals from a herd, combined with management approaches to reduce exposure of susceptible young animals, have a high likelihood of reducing the disease burden. Quantitative PCR (qPCR) tests to detect MAP in feces enable rapid and sensitive detection of infectious animals. The aim of this study was to evaluate the use of the high-throughput Johne’s direct fecal qPCR in a test-and-cull approach to control BJD. Testing was performed annually from 2015 to 2023 on a dairy farm in Victoria, Australia. A total of 7,153 fecal tests were conducted on 1,955 individual Jersey cows. A pooled screening approach was used (5 or 10 animals/pool) with follow-up testing of individual cows. Significant reductions in both the prevalence of fecal shedders (from 9.6% in 2015 to 1.2% in 2023) and mycobacterial shedding levels were achieved, together with elimination of clinical cases. Factors that may improve outcomes using this approach were also identified. This was the first application of this test in a BJD control program in a dairy herd in Australia and demonstrated the potential of the approach to effectively control BJD
Technē without Archē: Foucault’s Last Decade
No full textIn this paper I use the concept of technē to argue that Foucault’s last decade is a unified program of research, offering a new interpretation of freedom in his later work. Whereas much of the existing scholarship treats Foucault’s political philosophy as distinct from his late ethical explorations of Ancient Greek philosophy, I argued that his critiques of modern political institutions and his studies of ancient ethical ‘technologies of the self’ represent a continuous interrogation of, and response to, the Platonic conception of political governance as both soulcraft (technē) and a form of ruling (archē). In contrast to interpretations that dismiss Foucault's late conception of freedom as mere lifestyle choices, I argue that it is best understood as a ‘technē without archē’—a critical practice of shaping one’s subjectivity that resists being constrained by the existing political reality
Discover novel therapies for human Uveal Melanoma
No full textUveal melanoma (UM) is the most common intraocular malignancy in adults, with a high propensity for metastasis, particularly to the liver. Non-pharmacological approaches remain the gold standard for treating the primary tumour. While these treatments have improved tumour control and may preserve the eye and vision, they are still largely ineffective in preventing or managing UM metastasis, which occurs in over 50% of patients. Consequently, the prognosis for metastatic UM remains poor.
Common cancer receptor targets such as EGFR, VEGF and HDAC, as well as UM-specific targets such as GNAQ/11 and BAP1 have all been extensively studied and trialled in UM both in in vitro and in vivo studies. However, their effects have not been proven to improve patient outcomes causing concern for patient prognosis. In this thesis, I re-examine the well-known EGFR receptor family – specifically the HER2 isoform to shed light on its effect in UM.
Different modes of cell death can offer valuable insights into potential treatment strategies for UM. A literature review was conducted to further explore the relationship between autophagy and key cellular components, such as mitochondria and the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), focusing on processes like ER stress and the unfolded protein response (UPR), and their potential impact on cancer treatment strategies.
The novel compound UC2288 is also tested in UM primary, metastatic and patient tumour-derived ex vivo cell lines to assess its anti-cancer effect. UC2288 was proven to cause potent cell viability reduction, ROS production, mitochondria health disruption and ER stress production in a tumour-specific manner. UC2288 also extend its effect to prevent cell invasion and disrupt reproduction to prevent metastatic tumour formation. It is hypothesised UC2288 induces anti-UM effect partly through inducing significant amount of ER stress resulting in the unfolded protein response and causing autophagic cell death
Development and Real-Time Implementation of an Adjustable Coherence Mask for Robust Binaural Speech Enhancement in Noisy and Multi-Talker Environments Using Hearable Devices
No full textHearable technology has rapidly evolved, offering improved communication and listening experiences, especially in noisy environments. However, achieving acoustic transparency and preserving binaural cues such as Interaural Time Difference (ITD) and Interaural Level Difference (ILD)—which are essential for spatial hearing—remain challenging. These difficulties are heightened in real-world, multi-talker settings, where existing noise reduction techniques often compromise spatial fidelity and speech intelligibility. This thesis addresses these challenges by developing novel coherence-based postfiltering algorithms aimed at enhancing noise reduction and speech intelligibility while preserving binaural spatial cues. It includes a comprehensive analysis of binaural coherence vectors in the short-time-frequency domain, leading to a novel geometrical interpretation of the coherence disc in a binaural context. The limitations of existing Coherent-to-Diffuse Ratio (CDR) post-filters, particularly their sensitivity to phase and magnitude fluctuations, are examined. To address these shortcomings, a new parameterized binaural CDR post-filter optimized for narrow frequency bands is proposed.
The real-time implementation of these algorithms is demonstrated in a low-latency digital signal processing (DSP) system using a generic hearable device. Objective evaluations in various environments, coupled with subjective assessments using MUSHRA, Matrix Sentence, and localization tests, reveal significant improvements in both speech intelligibility and spatial perception preservation.
This research advances hearable technology by providing robust, real-time solutions for enhancing listening experiences in noisy, reverberant, and multi-talker environments, with a particular focus on preserving critical binaural cues
Defining the tumour microenvironment landscape of melanoma immunotherapy
No full textMelanoma is an aggressive skin cancer with high incidence and mortality in Australia. Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) targeting CTLA-4 and PD-1 have revolutionised treatment for advanced disease, yet nearly half of patients still develop resistance. Complex interactions within the tumour microenvironment (TME), shaped by both tumour-intrinsic and external factors, underlie this resistance. This thesis examined the TME of three distinct melanoma cohorts—adolescents and young adults (AYA), patients with innate or acquired resistance, and those with in-transit metastases (ITM)—using multiomics and spatial analyses.
In AYA melanoma, higher regulatory T-cell levels and distinct patterns of stroma-infiltrating lymphocytes were observed. Two ICI-resistant AYA subtypes emerged: one displaying abundant Tregs and checkpoint expression, and another with minimal immune activation. From these findings, we derived a predictive gene score and potential therapies.
In advanced-stage patients, single-cell and spatial profiling revealed an “immune-resilient” TME and newly evolved resistant phenotypes post-ICI. B-cell signature in tertiary lymphoid structures correlated with better survival, and we developed a spatial analysis toolkit to systematically assess cell neighborhoods and interactions.
For ITM, receptor–ligand crosstalk modulated immune and metastatic pathways. ICI-resistant ITMs with EREG mutations showed heightened tumour proliferation and diminished CD8+ T-cell interactions, whereas responsive ITMs featured more functional dendritic cells and enhanced T-cell–activating pathways. MIF-mediated signaling helped maintain robust local immunity, fostering a more immunogenic TME.
Overall, these findings deepen our understanding of how TME features influence immunotherapy responses and resistance, providing leads for reliable biomarkers, improved patient stratification, and tailored therapeutic interventions in melanoma
Digital Policy as Problem Space: Policy Formation, Public Opinion, and Australia’s Online Safety Amendment (Social Media Minimum Age) Act 2024
No full textThis article examines Australia’s Online Safety Amendment (Social Media Minimum Age)
Act 2024 as a case study in digital policy formation, focusing on the socio-political processes
that shaped its development. Framing the debate through Celia Lury’s concept of “problem
spaces,” the paper explores how the issue of youth and social media use is constructed through
“givens” (perceived risks), “goals” (protection), and contested “operators” (policy solutions).
Drawing on public opinion surveys and stakeholder submissions to a parliamentary inquiry,
the article finds widespread public concern about online harms, especially for minors, but sharp
disagreement about how best to address them. While the Act’s age restriction was broadly
supported by the public and some stakeholders, critics warn of unintended consequences and
advocate alternative measures such as media literacy and platform accountability. The case
reveals broader tensions in digital governance between public demand for action, legislative
responsiveness, and competing visions of youth digital rights
Developing Sustainable and Multifunctional Cementitious Composites by Repurposing FRP Composite Waste
No full textFibre-reinforced polymer (FRP) composites are widely used across industries due to their high strength-to-weight ratio, durability, and design flexibility. However, their non-biodegradable nature and complex thermoset matrices pose significant environmental challenges, especially as waste from manufacturing and end-of-life (EoL) products accumulates. Conventional disposal methods like landfilling and incineration are unsustainable, prompting the need for circular economy-aligned recycling strategies.
This research explores sustainable repurposing of carbon and glass FRP (CFRP & GFRP) waste in cementitious composites (CCs). It presents experimental and numerical studies on incorporating mechanically and chemically recycled FRP waste, sourced from fabric offcuts and industrial components, into cementitious matrices. The effects of fibre type and content on mechanical, durability, and microstructural properties are evaluated. Advanced imaging techniques, including micro-computed tomography (micro-CT) and ultrasonic testing, are employed to characterise voids and fibre dispersion. Novel image processing filters are developed to enhance CF detection in cement matrices.
To improve fibre-matrix bonding, bio-based and electrochemical surface treatments for CFs are introduced and assessed through morphological, chemical, and mechanical analyses. Additionally, pulverised FRP waste from electrical and aerospace components is repurposed as a partial cement substitute, showing improved strength, reduced shrinkage, and denser microstructure.
The study also investigates the self-sensing capabilities of CCs incorporating recycled CFRP for structural health monitoring (SHM), particularly under chloride-induced corrosion. Results demonstrate the potential of recycled FRP in enhancing CC performance and multifunctionality, offering a sustainable alternative to traditional waste disposal and contributing to greener construction practices