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The Ripple Effect of the First All-Women’s Band from West Arnhem Land
No full textThis thesis examines what happens when women take control of the production and performance of contemporary rock music through an autoethnographic study of the Ripple Effect Band (REB) from Maningrida, a remote Indigenous community of West Arnhem Land, NT Australia. Since the 1960s, rock music has been popular in Arnhem Land, with bands like Yothu Yindi and King Stingray achieving national success both in Indigenous communities and across Australia. Yet Indigenous female musicians have been all but absent from participating in rock music-making. REB is the first all-women’s rock band from West Arnhem land. Popular in both Indigenous communities and mainstream Australia, they continue Indigenous rock music traditions but diverge as female instrumentalists, singers, songwriters and producers. Focusing on this innovative group of women aims to address how and why women have been sidelined in rock music.
As a non-Indigenous founding member of the band, the author of this thesis analyses intercultural collaboration using practice-based musical research demonstrating how a variety of perspectives can lead to innovative processes in composing, recording and performance and enhance the skills of the musicians in multiple ways. Musical and textual analysis of songs shows how the women of REB navigate gendered protocols and bias in their community and the rock music industry to make music in an all-women intercultural setting and act as positive role models for social change. Stepping into previously male-dominated roles of managing, producing and performing one’s own music can be life changing for women. Music provides a forum for negotiating agency and gaining status, contributing to transforming social relations by elevating the perspectives of women. REB has also contributed to instilling pride in language, culture and connection to country, fundamental to reversing the loss of endangered languages and cultural knowledge, a struggle that unites Indigenous men and wome
The Role of Macronutrient Distribution and Diet-Microbiome Interactions in the Development of Colorectal Cancer
No full textColorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most common malignancy and is strongly associated with Western-style diets high in saturated fat, red meat, and low fibre. Diet is a modifiable determinant of CRC risk, shaping the gut microbiome, with complex diet–microbiome interactions influencing disease susceptibility. The Geometric Framework for Nutrition provides a systematic approach to evaluate macronutrient effects on disease. We applied this framework to examine complex diets in CRC using a dietary matrix varying in protein/fat ratios and sources with differing health implications (e.g., soy-based proteins, unsaturated fat, red meat, and saturated fat) in female C57BL/6 and BALB/c mice. Twelve diets from this matrix were administered short- or long-term to assess microbiome effects. Diets high in red meat and saturated fat reduced microbial diversity and enriched taxa linked to inflammatory bowel disease and CRC, whereas soy- or unsaturated fat-based diets did not. Responses were strain-specific: red meat predominantly influenced BALB/c communities, while macronutrient ratio accounted for most microbial variance in C57BL/6. Sulfate-reducing bacteria increased in both strains, exhibiting diet- and strain-dependent patterns. A refined subset of these diets was then applied in an azoxymethane/dextran sulfate sodium model of CRC. High-protein diets, irrespective of source, most strongly affected tumourigenesis, colitis, and survival. BALB/c mice showed higher tumour susceptibility and reduced microbial diversity, particularly on red meat diets, whereas C57BL/6 displayed stronger cytotoxic responses and fewer tumours, highlighting strain-specific differences. These findings demonstrate that macronutrient composition, protein source, and host genotype interact to shape the microbiome and CRC risk, providing a framework to guide dietary strategies and develop effective interventions for CRC prevention
Diffusion Model-Based Reconstruction of Low-Dose PET to Standard-Dose PET
No full textPositron Emission Tomography (PET) is a powerful functional imaging modality widely used in clinical diagnostics and biomedical research, owing to its unique ability to visualize metabolic processes in vivo. However, due to inherent limitations in the image acquisition process, achieving high-quality PET images in clinical practices typically requires administering higher doses of radioactive tracers, which can introduce potential health risks to patients. Conversely, reducing the injected tracer dosage can mitigate these risks, but results in images that are significantly noisier and less clear, commonly referred to as low-dose PET (LPET) images. Given the critical role of PET in modern medicine, there is a growing research interest in developing advanced reconstruction techniques that can effectively reconstruct LPET images into high-quality standard-dose PET (SPET) images. The challenge of accurately and efficiently reconstructing high-quality PET images from low-dose, or even ultra-low-dose (UDPET), acquisitions is of paramount importance, as it holds the promise of enhancing diagnostic accuracy while minimizing patient exposure to radiation.
In this thesis, we begin by presenting an overview of the problem setting, detailing the inherent challenges and the motivations underpinning our research, thereby establishing a solid foundation for understanding the task at hand. Next, we provide a comprehensive literature review. Based on the insights drawn from this review, we propose a novel wavelet-informed diffusion WiD-PET method designed to address critical limitations of existing approaches—namely, low computational efficiency, suboptimal detail restoration, and spatial discontinuity. Building on this foundation, we further propose CWD-PET. Finally, we discuss potential research directions and outline opportunities for future refinement in the domain of low-dose PET (LPET) reconstruction using diffusion models
Thermal cycling resets the irreversible liquid-to-solid transition of peptide condensates during aging
No full textThe ability of biomolecular condensates to reversibly dissolve and reform is crucial for maintaining cellular stability and functions. In the context of cell physiology and disease, they can serve as a metastable phase mediating the liquid-to-solid transition of disease proteins or rapidly assemble/disassemble as a mechanism for stress response. However, as metabolic rates decline with aging, the protein-rich condensates persist longer therefore increasing the propensity of undergoing irreversible liquid-to-solid transitions. Temperature, as a physical stimulus, plays a key role in controlling condensate formation, dissolution, and material properties. In this study, we explore how the reversibility of short peptide biomolecular condensates (z-FF) can be modulated by temperature change. Our findings reveal that aged condensates exhibit reduced responsiveness to external temperature stimuli. By using thermal cycling experiments to simulate repeated heat stress, we found that the time taken for irreversible fiber formation could be delayed up to 4.7-fold compared to condensates without thermal cycles. We also found the dissolution rate of condensates progressively slows as they age but remain more stable with thermal cycles. Importantly, our results indicate that continuous cycles of liquid-liquid phase separation and dissolution act as a reset mechanism, preserving the biomolecular condensates from further liquid-to-solid transition. These findings provide valuable insights into how aging impacts condensate behavior and highlight potential strategies to preserve cellular function through controlled phase transitions
Curriculum making in high school English: teachers' perspectives and practice in a time of curriculum reform
No full textIn 2018, the New South Wales Government set a course to reform the NSW education system.
English teachers would be some of the first to navigate this complex phenomenon. As a collective,
secondary English teachers were already navigating change fatigue, unmanageable workloads and
teacher shortages. Against this backdrop, the question of what English teachers think about their
practice and how they respond to curriculum reform was crucial to understanding how the intended
curriculum is enacted in classrooms.
The primary aim of this small-scale qualitative study was to investigate the conditions enabling and
constraining secondary English teachers as they enacted the English K–10 Syllabus for the first time
as part of the NSW curriculum reform. Taking an interpretivist approach and using semi-structured
interviews, I have provided a point-in-time snapshot of the English teachers’ perspectives and
experiences of curriculum making. Through a combination of reflexive thematic analysis (Braun &
Clarke, 2022), and the theory of practice architectures (Kemmis et al., 2014b), I identified four salient
conditions that enabled and constrained the curriculum making practices of eight secondary English
teachers. These included: the vital role of collaboration and ongoing professional learning in
curriculum making; the personal significance of using the syllabus to construct student-centred
learning experiences and curriculum materials; the complexities of enacting change during a teacher
shortage; and the importance of trust-based professionalism. This thesis contributes to the ongoing
debate about the need to interrogate and understand the connections and contradictions between the
practice of education and the institution of schooling and the phenomenon of curriculum reform. It
seeks to do this by focusing on the human impact of curriculum reform at the level of the classroom
teacher as they engage in the practice of curriculum making for their students
Flexible Training in Surgery
No full textTime-Variable Training (TVT), including flexible work arrangements and Less-Than-Full-Time (LTFT) roles, is increasingly recognised as a mechanism to improve sustainability, diversity, and wellbeing in surgical education. Despite known demand and policy support, uptake remains low. This thesis used a mixed-methods approach, guided by critical realist ontology, to explore the experiences, barriers, and enablers for TVT in the Australasian context, integrating findings from a literature synthesis, survey, and qualitative interviews. The critical realist review synthesised 9 studies into 14 context-mechanism-outcome configurations. Key enablers included supportive culture, competency-based frameworks, clear supervisory structures, financial support, and accessible administrative pathways. Barriers included stigma and longer training duration. Cross-sectional survey of 800 doctors-in-training (98 respondents, 12.2% response rate) found that while most were interested in flexible work within 12 months, and nearly all within 10 years, only 0.8% were currently in LTFT roles—highlighting misalignment between demand and access. Standalone 0.5–0.75 FTE positions were preferred. Key motivations were work-life balance (28%) and childcare (26%); main barriers were financial concerns (28%), prolonged training (24%), and career impacts (22%). Stigma translated into negative experiences among LTFT trainees. Semi-structured interviews analysed using Self-Determination Theory (SDT) highlighted the role of autonomy, relatedness, and competence in shaping TVT experiences. Trainees valued autonomy to balance clinical and personal demands but struggled with perceptions of reduced commitment. Supportive supervisors and peers were protective. TVT trainees acted as “trailblazers,” navigating informal pathways in the absence of policy.
This thesis underscores the need for proactive, evidence-based policies to integrate flexibility in surgical training and support a more adaptive workforce
Australian public trust in UNICEF and WHO – A comparative case study
No full textThis thesis will demonstrate that UNICEF and the WHO have a generalised trust with the Australian public, for whom UNICEF and WHO are an afterthought, with little impact on the public’s daily lives. For UNICEF and WHO, while states provide their legitimacy to exist, public trust enables them to deliver on their mandate, communicate key messages, and maintain funding. Traditionally, it has been the view that international organisations only need legitimacy from states to successfully operate. This paper challenges this notion, arguing that the public has a relationship with UNICEF and WHO that sits separate to, but aligned with, the relationship that UNICEF and WHO have with states. The research is rooted in constructivist theory, which provides a basis for the public and international organisations to have a relationship, distinct from states. The research takes a case study approach, collecting survey data from a sample of the Australian public and semi-structured interviews with UNICEF and WHO. This research question is timely and critical to ask as public trust in international organisations is understudied compared to other areas of international organisational literature, with states continuing to have primacy for international organisations, given their role in creating and governing them. Additionally, the pandemic has impacted the reputations of UNICEF and WHO, with surveys globally and in Australia identifying that the public has a lower trust in governments and experts, and a propensity for populism. Yet, in this globalised world that sees an increase in the politicisation of international organisations’ mandates, it is imperative that international organisations have a relationship with the public separate from, but aligned to, its relationship with states. Without it, international organisations can expect governments to dominate the discussion on the role and function of international organisations, sometimes with negative organisational impacts
The Art of Changing the Art World: An Investigation into Contemporary Institutional Critique through Craft-Based, Political Art
No full textThis research paper is the culmination of practice-led research into the structures of the art world. It results from an investigation into the institutions of the art world and their connection to the capitalist system in which we live. It asks if an art scene outside this consumerist system is possible through examples of artists and collectives trying to break out of capitalist control. In the art-making that forms the complementary exhibition, my work aims to emulate such art practices through recycled materials, political iconography and slow, crafts-based practices. Ultimately, the research findings were that such artists and collectives can provide hope for an art world that is less controlled by the systems of finance
Novel Methods and Systems for Renal Denervation using Microwave Ablation
No full textRenal Denervation (RDN) is a medical procedure aimed at treating resistant hypertension by ablating the renal nerves located around the renal artery and thus abolishing sympathetic nerve activity to the kidney. These nerves are vital in haemodynamic regulation by sending signals to the kidneys, influencing their blood pressure control function. By disrupting these activities, RDN aims to reduce the excessive sympathetic nervous system activity which can lead to lower blood pressure levels over time.
Microwave Renal Denervation (MW RDN) is a promising new ablation modality that can create deep, circumferential lesions in the renal arteries while preserving the subendothelial zone, thereby minimising significant arterial injury. However, it's important to note that deeper lesions beyond a certain threshold may not necessarily lead to improved RDN out-comes and could potentially damage surrounding organs. Conversely, shallow lesions may not effectively denervate the targeted renal nerves. Therefore, there's a critical need for the development of a new and efficient monitoring system.
A prototype MW catheter and ablation console has been developed and underwent testing in a large animal model experiment. During the ablation process, biophysical measurements were recorded; these measurements were analysed retrospectively to correlate the arterial vessel calibre and lesion volume. After four weeks, the animals were euthanised, and their renal vasculature and tissue were harvested for histological staining to compare the data.
The study demonstrated that biophysical measurements could serve as valuable indicators for assessing vessel calibre and lesion formation in a large animal model, albeit with certain limitations inherent to the measurements and procedural techniques used. Further develop-ment of the MW RDN system will need to be undertaken for a more robust and consistent measurement system, ensuring the reliable and accurate assessment of these crucial factors
Unsupervised Anomaly Detection in Remote Sensing Imagery: Advancing Algorithms for Operational Monitoring
No full textMonitoring is an essential activity that various research, government, and industry groups use in their routine operations to extract key insights from regions of interest (ROIs). In remote sensing imagery, detecting anomalies - unexpected objects or significant events - is crucial for environmental management and protection, as well as surveys and surveillance. This need has become more urgent with increasing monitoring demands across diverse operational contexts, from climate-driven hazard events that require consistent long-term observation, to time-critical scenarios demanding immediate insights. This thesis presents two new unsupervised anomaly detection methods in remote sensing, SHAZAM and ERX, each designed for distinct but complementary operational monitoring contexts.
SHAZAM is a self-supervised change monitoring method for hazard detection and mapping, addressing the increasing impact of climate-driven hazardous events. Evaluated on four datasets that contain various hazards (bushfires, burned regions, extreme and out-of-season snowfall, deforestation, algal blooms, drought, and floods), SHAZAM achieved F1 score improvements of between 0.066 and 0.234 compared to similar learning-based methods, while remaining extremely lightweight with only 473K parameters.
While SHAZAM enables regular monitoring of ROIs for hazards, satellite-based anomaly detection is constrained by revisit times and low spatial resolution. ERX addresses this limitation through real-time anomaly detection for hyperspectral line scanning, offering immediate insights onboard smaller platforms such as drones. ERX processed the dataset with the highest number of bands (108 bands) 9 times faster than the next-best algorithm onboard a Jetson Xavier NX. ERX showed a 29.3% AUC improvement on the most challenging dataset, and achieved an AUC of 0.941 on drone-collected data without geometric corrections (a 16.9% improvement over existing algorithms)