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Re-membering my Charrúa roots on unceded land: weaving new narratives
No full textThe framework for this thesis arises from my experiences cultivating relationship with Beada-o-Lajau an ancestral Ombú tree (Phytolacca dioica), native to Uruguay where I was born. My relationship with Lajau facilitates a journey of re-membering the knowledges held at the intersections of my ancestral lineages. Regular encounters with this particular plantcestor, who grows on Gadigal Country close to where I live, not only aided in my ancestral Charrúa re-membering but prompted a sentipensante/feel-thinking relationship with the land I inhabit. Taking an autoethnographic approach informed by a feel-thinking-doing methodology, a personal relational map emerges that spans multiple places and times, with Lajau at its center.
Working predominantly in tejido /weaving using crochet, tapestry, coiling and beading, I dance between being practice-led and led by place to express and integrate my experiences. In the process of relating aspects of my story, the practice of re-membering becomes a way to counteract colonial narratives of erasure and reckon with my position as a settler-migrant inextricably implicated in the ongoing colonial project that is so-called Australia. Weaving becomes a language and a space for feeling and thinking through reclaiming ancestral practice and embodied ways of knowing whilst living away from my ancestral lands. The resultant artworks generate their own symbolic visual language in the form of woven cartographies, a series of physically impassable gateways that speak to connections across waterways.
Although anchored in the personal, the themes in this research echo those who share in collective human concerns to be in right-relationship with ourselves, the communities we are part of and our environment. The lands and waterways affirm their role as living knowledge systems, facilitating re-membering and potential new perspectives on south-south global relationships and the intersections of Charrúa and Afro-descendant identities in Uruguay
Formulation strategies for bacteriophage delivery: exploring polymer-based systems
No full textThe rise of multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacterial infections poses a significant threat to global public health, highlighting the urgent need for alternative therapeutic strategies. Bacteriophage (phage) therapy has emerged as a promising approach due to its specificity in targeting and eliminating antibiotic-resistant bacteria. However, the stability and environmental susceptibility of phages limit their effectiveness. As a result, the encapsulation of phages within polymeric systems has been explored to enhance their stability, bioavailability, and provide sustained release at infection sites.
This thesis reviews various formulation strategies for phage delivery, including the use of microparticles, hydrogels, and nanofibers, aimed at protecting phages during formulation, improving their storage stability, and sustaining antimicrobial activity. It further investigates bacteriophage hydrogel formulations and dry powder formulations using natural polymers or the synthetic polymer PLGA, respectively
Growth and ontogenetic change in juvenile crown-of-thorns sea star (Acanthaster sp.) morphology: Can morphometrics be used as an aging tool?
No full textThe crown-of-thorns seastar (COTS, Acanthaster sp.) is a coral predator that, during population outbreaks, causes major coral loss in Indo-Pacific reefs. Current paradigms explaining the cause of outbreaks focus on the larval and adult stages, while the early herbivorous juvenile stage remains a black box in our understanding of COTS. We followed growth in a large laboratory population of juveniles from settlement to 300 days. Ontogenetic changes in eight traits over time were quantified, including those typically used to track growth in seastars (total diameter, arm number) and traits not previously quantified (e.g., spine number/type). Combinations of traits were modeled against age to explore their potential as indicators of age. Total diameter exhibited a strong association with age, as did covarying traits: central disk diameter, mouth diameter, and arm length. The number of pointed spines was also strongly associated with age, more strongly than arm number. Our results indicate that the use of a combination of morphological traits has potential as an indicator of juvenile age. In particular, pointed spines appear to have potential as an age marker for juveniles. Using size-at-age data, we investigated the fit of growth models to estimate age-size relationships. A Gompertz model provided the best fit to the growth/age data and is consistent with the size/time of the diet shift (herbivory to corallivory) in juvenile COTS. Addressing knowledge gaps on these juveniles to inform age modeling using morphological traits contributes to the understanding of the biology and ecology of this cryptic life stage
Rheological and Tribological Characterization of Ionic Liquid Water-based Lubricants
No full textResearch on environmentally friendly replacements for petroleum-based lubricants has become necessary due to the rising awareness of sustainability and limited sources of petroleum-based oils. Water-based lubricants (WBLs) are potentially good alternatives in some industrial applications such as metalworking, metal deformation and machinery. However, water alone is insufficient as a lubricant for these applications, necessitating the addition of additives in various forms to enhance lubrication performance.
This study investigates the rheological and tribological behaviours of WBLs containing amino acid ionic liquids (AAILs) using both molecular dynamics (MD) simulations and experimental methods. With the introduction of AAILs into the water, superior lubrication performances were observed across all tested conditions, encompassing different lubrication regimes. The underlying lubrication mechanism involves a combination of the layered structure of the lubricant and improved viscosity. Additionally, anticorrosion studies reveal that increasing the concentration of AAIL additives reduces the corrosion level, with complete elimination at a certain concentration of AAIL additives.
This comprehensive study of AAIL WBLs’ rheological and tribological behaviours highlights their promise as eco-friendly lubricants, contributing to the advancement of a circular economy in industries reliant on lubrication
COSMOPOLITAN SPIRITS: Jean Mary Bellette and Paul Haefliger
No full textTasmanian-born New Classical modernist Jean Mary Bellette (1908–91) and her husband, German-Swiss expatriate printmaker, art critic, essayist, and painter Paul Haefliger (Häfliger) (1914–82), were seminal figures in the Sydney art scene during the 1940s to the 1950s. Notwithstanding their illustrious reputations and accomplishments, Bellette's and Haefliger's creative efforts were often deemed “UnAustralian” and subsequently overlooked or sidelined from nationalist histories because their internationalist agendas and artistic eclecticism challenged traditional nationalistic sentiments and narratives. These epithets of “UnAustralianness” intensified after the artist-couple's permanent expatriation to Europe in 1957, culminating in their gradual descent into relative isolation and anonymity in the annals of Australian art. This thesis contests Bellette’s and Haefliger’s marginalisation in Australian art historiography by presenting an alternate “UnAustralian” or transnational twentieth-century art-historical investigation of the impact of expatriatism, cosmopolitanism, and cultural globalisation on their art careers during the modernist era. Specifically, this study chronicles the ‘unwritten’ chapters of the artist-couple's diverse expatriate encounters in England and Europe (1936–39 and 1957–91), reappraising afresh their extensive interdisciplinary métiers and role as the unofficial ‘doyens’ of the transient Australian expatriate artist enclaves they established at Villa Daneo in Bricherasio, Italy and Majorca (Mallorca), Spain, during the late 1950s to the 1970s. This thesis, therefore, seeks to reclaim Bellette’s and Haefliger’s significant legacy as twentieth-century interdisciplinarians and cultural ambassadors within the revisionist art-historical discourse of “UnAustralian” or transnational art
Exploring the Feasibility of Formalin-Fixed Paraffin-Embedded Tissue Phosphoproteomics in Cancer Research
No full textFormalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissues, traditionally used for histopathological examination, are increasingly being utilised for molecular analyses, including phosphoproteomics. This thesis investigates the extent and quality of phosphoproteomes extracted from FFPE tissues using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) to evaluate their potential in personalised cancer medicine. A high-throughput workflow was developed to quantify a shallow phosphoproteome from 50 μg of rat tryptic peptides. Optimisation studies identified heptane-methanol as the most reproducible deparaffinisation method, while trifluoroethanol was optimal for phosphoproteome extraction. Data-independent acquisition revealed high reproducibility, with Pearson correlation coefficients exceeding 0.95, and biological relevance, as phosphoproteomic profiles successfully clustered rat organs. Comparisons of FFPE and fresh-frozen tissues demonstrated substantial overlap (85-97% for proteomes, 82-98% for phosphoproteomes), confirming the integrity of the FFPE phosphoproteome. To extend these findings to human cancer, FFPE phosphoproteomics was applied to specimens from HPV-positive oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma. Mining existing DIA proteomic data using a FragPipe workflow enabled the identification of phosphoproteomes, which were predictive of patient survival outcomes via multivariate Cox regression. Validation using enriched phosphoproteomes showed limited overlap on a Triple TOF MS but significant improvement with the Orbitrap Astral MS, highlighting the importance of advanced MS technologies. These overall findings demonstrate that FFPE-derived phosphoproteomes are reproducible, biologically informative and may be clinically relevant, supporting their integration into biomarker discovery pipelines and personalised cancer medicine workflows
Probabilistic cyclone damage assessment on large spatially distributed civil infrastructure systems
No full textTropical cyclones (TCs) cause severe economic losses worldwide each year, making accurate damage assessment essential for disaster response and long-term risk reduction. However, because TCs evolve dynamically across space and time, efficiently evaluating TC-induced damage at the regional scale remains challenging. In addition, ongoing climate change is expected to influence TC behaviour and associated coastal risks significantly.
This thesis addresses these challenges through three studies. The first study proposes a probabilistic framework for constructing TC loss models, defined as a function of regional wind speeds and the corresponding building loss ratios. To account for spatial heterogeneity in large study areas, a clustering-based spatial division approach is employed. Losses are first estimated for each sub-region and then aggregated to obtain total regional losses. The second study develops a Bayesian network (BN) model for predicting the spatial distribution of building losses. The model takes key TC parameters as inputs and outputs loss ratios for each subdivision. To improve predictive performance, supervised discretisation is applied to TC variables, and a clustering-based discretisation scheme is adopted for loss variables. The third study evaluates the potential impacts of climate change on future TC activity. A framework is developed to quantify projected changes in TC frequency, genesis location, and intensity using high-resolution global climate models. These projected characteristics are then used to assess coastal risk under future climate scenarios, and the individual and combined influences of the modified TC characteristics are analysed
Revealing and exploiting the diversity in dairy cattle reticulorumen temperature data for heat stress amelioration
No full textDairy farming in Australia occurs across diverse environments, increasingly affected by climate variability and the resulting risk of heat stress. Cattle response to heat stress takes on a variety of forms, aiming to return the animal to thermal stability. Driven by the potential to improve cattle welfare under challenging climatic conditions, this thesis aims to reveal and exploit the diversity in dairy cattle reticulorumen temperature data for heat stress amelioration. The literature review explores animal responses to heat stress, methods of monitoring, and heat amelioration techniques, revealing the benefits of a data-driven amelioration approach. A review of heat abatement terminology establishes clear definitions for key terms. Development of a drinking event detection model provides algorithm transparency in the isolation of drinking behaviour using reticulorumen boluses. Exploration of temporal variability in drinking behaviour of dairy cattle confirms seasonal variation in drinking frequency, reticulorumen temperature change, and drinking-recovery duration, improving our understanding of core body temperature diversity. Time series and mixed model analysis are used to link the reticulorumen temperature response of dairy cattle to variations in temperature humidity index. Results indicate significant variability in sensitivity to thermal change among individuals alongside the importance of baseline temperature humidity index levels. The association between three phenotypic indicators for heat tolerance are then assessed. All traits reveal significant individual animal diversity in response to thermal deviations. Analysis of slopes confirms important inter-trait relationships for heat stress response, highlighting the potential for drinking frequency to be monitored on farm as a proxy for heat stress. This work contributes to enhanced welfare and productivity across the dairy industry, supporting progress towards a climate-smart, sustainable future
Investigation of tick paralysis management in dogs and antimicrobial prescription patterns among Australian primary care veterinarians
No full textThis thesis provides the first comprehensive analysis of how Australian primary care veterinarians manage canine tick paralysis and associated aspiration pneumonia, with a particular focus on antimicrobial use and stewardship. It is apparent that while most clinicians follow established guidelines for tick antitoxin serum administration, antimicrobial prescribing practices remain highly variable and antimicrobials are frequently empirically selected. Despite only a minority of cases showing clinical signs consistent with aspiration pneumonia, antimicrobials were administered to more than one-fifth of patients, frequently without diagnostic confirmation or adherence to recommended first-line antimicrobial options. The widespread use of amoxicillin-clavulanate and occasional reliance on critically important human antimicrobials such as fluoroquinolones highlight areas of concern for stewardship and potential drivers of antimicrobial resistance in veterinary medicine.
These findings underscore a need for enhanced diagnostic support, clearer prescribing frameworks, and improved access to antimicrobial stewardship resources in primary care settings. Strengthening stewardship through point-of-care diagnostics, clinician education, and technology-assisted decision tools could reduce unnecessary antimicrobial exposure while maintaining high standards of patient care. By focusing on clinical management of tick paralysis and aspiration pneumonia with broader antimicrobial resistance concerns, this research not only identifies gaps in current veterinary practice but also lays the groundwork for future interventions aimed at safeguarding both animal and public health
Pattern Classification-based Electricity Price Interval Forecasting with Discrete-Continuous Inputs
No full textThe worldwide restructuring of electricity markets toward deregulation over the past few decades has attracted significant research attention to electricity price forecasting due to its importance for market participants. In recent years, market participants are more concerned with forecasting the general price level than the exact price value, as this better supports bidding strategies and investment decision making. However, current interval forecasting approaches face key challenges in efficiency, robustness against volatility, and ineffective periodicity extraction technique. To address the limitations of existing electricity market price forecasting methods and to develop more practical strategies for real-world market conditions, we propose a novel model that combines TimesBlock —a state-of-the-art frequency-domain method capable of extracting multi-periodic patterns from data— with LSTM, characterized by strength in capturing long-term temporal dependencies. This integration enables accurate pattern classification-based interval forecasting of electricity prices. A discrete-continuous hybrid data input strategy is innovatively designed to enhance the model’s ability to handle volatile data while preserving essential periodic information. The experimental results demonstrate that our model provides reliable electricity price interval forecasts and outperforms other deep learning and machine learning models on multiple metrics. Additionally, the Discrete-Continuous hybrid data input improves computational efficiency, achieving several times faster running speed compared to traditional continuous-input only methods