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[In Press] Events-within-events and the online reproduction of their emotional dimensions : a case study of the Dubai 2020 expo
No full textLarge-scale events are typically described as single, monolithic entities. In this paper, we argue that large-scale events actually comprise multiple sub-events or events-within-events and their online representations. We explore the theoretical implications of this shift in perspective for the study of audiences and event engagement through the lens of communication power theory. We also discuss the practical implications for event management. The paper uses the Expo 2020 Dubai as its case study to illustrate the richness of sub-events within large-scale events and to consider the role of digital communications. The discussion highlights the ways in which physical events' digital twins aim to solicit similar emotional responses by audiences as their physical counterparts. By adding complexity to our understanding of these sorts of events, we argue that large-scale events comprise multiple sub-events, taking place both face-to-face and online, that make large-scale events richer and more multifaceted than they are typically seen to be. Our research shows that event organisers will need to go beyond the creation of virtual event replicas if they want to take full advantage of the affordances of digital communication. The paper concludes by calling for more critical and interdisciplinary research on large-scale events and their online representations
[In Press] 'An abundance of cakes' : assigned female at birth queer joy and queer ethics across generations
No full textThis paper charts how, in interviewing across generations of assigned female at birth (AFAB) queers in 'Australia' about their experiences of lateral violence in LGBTQ+ communities, we found dominant narratives of joy, solidarity and empathy across differences, generations and intersections that demonstrate the ongoing world-making inherent to queer communities. We chart the future-oriented, more utopian themes that came out, in particular around queer (as opposed to LGB) communities and the positive ethics and politics that emerge from and are forged in them
[In Press] An intestinal TH17 cell-derived subset can initiate cancer
No full textApproximately 25% of cancers are preceded by chronic inflammation that occurs at the site of tumor development. However, whether this multifactorial oncogenic process, which commonly occurs in the intestines, can be initiated by a specific immune cell population is unclear. Here, we show that an intestinal T cell subset, derived from interleukin-17 (IL-17)-producing helper T (TH17) cells, induces the spontaneous transformation of the intestinal epithelium. This subset produces inflammatory cytokines, and its tumorigenic potential is not dependent on IL-17 production but on the transcription factors KLF6 and T-BET and interferon-γ. The development of this cell type is inhibited by transforming growth factor-β1 (TGFβ1) produced by intestinal epithelial cells. TGFβ signaling acts on the pretumorigenic TH17 cell subset, preventing its progression to the tumorigenic stage by inhibiting KLF6-dependent T-BET expression. This study therefore identifies an intestinal T cell subset initiating cancer
[In Press] Fuzzy financial risk analysis of net-zero transitions in public–private partnership projects in Ghana
No full textAbstract
Purpose – Among the topmost challenges, limiting the transformation of conventional public–private partnership
(PPP) projects to meet net-zero targets is financial risk. This challenge is more prevalent in PPP projects in
developing economies like Ghana, where financial investments have dwindled due to the recent COVID-19
recession. This paper aims to assess the key financial challenges in transitioning to net-zero PPP projects in Ghana.
Design/methodology/approach – The research method process was set as follows. First, a review of the
literature to identify the major financial risks from journal articles, project reports and documents was undertaken,
followed by questionnaire development and collection of data. Finally, the analysis of 134 questionnaire data was
examined with the fuzzy synthetic evaluation.
Findings – The results indicate that the following financial challenges could hinder the transition to net-zero
PPP projects in the country: increasing borrowing charges to build net-zero PPP projects due to the global
covid-economic recession, poor project financial management, unstable local capital market and excessive
labour, health and safety costs.
Research limitations/implications – Although, the study was conducted in Ghana, a country in the Sub-
Saharan African region, the outcomes have significant impacts for similar developing countries in research
investigations into the problem.
Practical implications – Assistance is provided in this study for PPP project practitioners in identifying the
key financial challenges and possible strategies to mitigate them.
Originality/value – Towards net-zero sustainability, this study highlights the crucial financial barriers to
overcome in the rapid transition to climate change and zero carbon solutions in PPP projects
Heritage-making by Recent Migrants in Parramatta
No full textWith a focus on one such locality, the Parramatta Local Government Area (LGA), this report presents the findings from a multi-year research project focused on the heritage-making practices of recent migrants. The research presented in this report is thus an attempt to fill this gap by providing insights into how migrants experience existing heritage in the Parramatta LGA and how their presence might generate a new 'layer' of heritage places. There report provide a knowledge base for building policies that might better include recent migrants in heritage processes, and which can also be used to inform a heritage system that better aligns with the country's changing demography
[In Press] Theory and tests for coordination among hydraulic and photosynthetic traits in co‐occurring woody species
No full textCo-occurring plants show wide variation in their hydraulic and photosynthetic traits. Here, we extended ‘least-cost’ optimality theory to derive predictions for how variation in key hydraulic traits potentially affects the cost of acquiring and using water in photosynthesis and how this, in turn, should drive variation in photosynthetic traits. We tested these ideas across 18 woody species at a temperate woodland in eastern Australia, focusing on hydraulic traits representing different aspects of plant water balance, that is storage (sapwood capacitance, CS), demand vs supply (branch leaf : sapwood area ratio, AL : AS and leaf : sapwood mass ratio and ML : MS), access to soil water (proxied by predawn leaf water potential, ΨPD) and physical strength (sapwood density, WD). Species with higher AL : AS had higher ratio of leaf-internal to ambient CO2 concentration during photosynthesis (ci : ca), a trait central to the least-cost theory framework. CS and the daily operating range of tissue water potential (∆Ψ) had an interactive effect on ci : ca. CS, WD and ΨPD were significantly correlated with each other. These results, along with those from multivariate analyses, underscored the pivotal role leaf : sapwood allocation (AL : AS), and water storage (CS) play in coordination between plant hydraulic and photosynthetic systems. This study uniquely explored the role of hydraulic traits in predicting species-specific photosynthetic variation based on optimality theory and highlights important mechanistic links within the plant carbon–water balance
Heidegger, Ontology, and the Destiny of Islam: Thoughts and Reflections on the Nature of Islam in the World
No full textHeidegger, Ontology, and the Destiny of Islam: Thoughts and Reflections on the Nature of Islam in the World critiques Islam as a phenomenon set into motion from its beginning. It is a reflective work that addresses difficult questions about Islam through familiar historical concerns and grapples with the issues that arise in that process. Notably, it attests to making no substantive claims about Muslims and instead keeps to the course of analysis of the phenomenon that is Islam, which is taken as an assessable entity rather than a categorical construct. Understood largely in light of a history of observable realities, the ontological analysis of Islam reveals the general acquaintance with it to be imperfect. This suggests the reality of Islam is based on a primal truth that is only partially seen. The analysis then confronts two problems: firstly, that Islam is not what its historical “story,” as it were, proclaims and, secondly, that Islam is therefore not what is traditionally made out of the surviving historical narratives. It is not a question of “what” Islam is, but more critically, “how” Islam appears in the world
Cannabidiol (CBD) facilitates cocaine extinction and ameliorates cocaine-induced changes to the gut microbiome in male C57BL/6JArc mice
No full textCocaine use disorder (CUD) is a global health problem with no approved medications. One potential treatment target is the gut microbiome, but it is unknown if cocaine induces long-lasting effects on gut microbes. A novel therapeutic candidate for CUD, cannabidiol (CBD), can improve gut function in rodent models. It is possible that protective effects of CBD against cocaine use are mediated by improving gut health. We examined this question in this experiment. Cocaine conditioned place preference (CPP) was conducted in adult male C57BL/6JArc mice. Mice were treated with vehicle or 20 mg/kg CBD prior to all cocaine CPP sessions (N = 11-13/group). Mice were tested drug free 1, 14 and 28 days after cessation of cocaine and CBD treatment. Fecal samples were collected prior to drug treatment and after each test session. Gut microbiome analyses were conducted using 16 s rRNA sequencing and correlated with behavioural parameters. We found a persistent preference for a cocaine-environment in mice, and long-lasting changes to gut microbe alpha diversity. Cocaine caused persistent changes to beta diversity which lasted for 4 weeks. CBD treatment reduced cocaine-environment preference during abstinence from cocaine and returned gut beta diversity measures to control levels. CBD treatment increased the relative abundance of Firmicutes phyla and Oscillospira genus, but decreased Bacteroidetes phyla and Bacteroides acidifaciens species. Preference score in cocaine-treated mice was positively correlated with abundance of Actinobacteria, whereas in mice treated with CBD and cocaine, the preference score was negatively correlated with Tenericutes abundance. Here we show that CBD facilitates cocaine extinction memory and reverses persistent cocaine-induced changes to gut microbe diversity. Furthermore, CBD increases the abundance of gut microbes which have anti-inflammatory properties. This suggests that CBD may act via the gut to reduce the memory of cocaine reward. Our data suggest that improving gut health and using CBD could limit cocaine abuse
DNA metabarcoding analysis of the bare‐nosed wombat (Vombatus ursinus) diet
No full textWombats are native herbivorous grazers that have adapted to Australia's low-quality forage. Studies on diet selection by bare-nosed wombats (Vombatus ursinus) are limited and are either observational or based on microhistological studies. The current study determined the diet of wombats through DNA metabarcoding across five study sites in New South Wales over a one-year period. Metabarcoding was chosen as it is non-invasive, less time consuming and more specific than traditional techniques. The list of 209 plant species identified as eaten by wombats in this study is much higher than previously reported, with grasses being the most common plant group identified in all samples. Most dietary items identified were introduced plant species. Seasonal differences in plants eaten occurred at four of the five study sites and may reflect dietary abundance and floristic composition at different times of year. Further studies are required to determine if the dietary items differ markedly across the entire range of wombats, and if nutrition influences dietary preferences