University of the Sunshine Coast
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Soil carbon and nitrogen pools, their depth distribution and stocks following plantation establishment in south east Queensland, Australia
No full textChanges in land use affect the soil organic carbon (SOC) stocks and pools. This is currently of great interest as soils are a major pool of carbon in the biosphere and can sequester atmospheric carbon. This study investigated the effect of pasture conversions into reforestation or cropping land on SOC, humic organic C (HOC), particulate organic C (POC) and resistant organic C (ROC) stocks, and soil nitrogen, to 0.5 m depth using mid infrared spectroscopy and combustion analyses. The ten study sites in south east Queensland, Australia were cleared of native vegetation to pasture decades earlier and were more recently (6–19 years ago) converted to either forest plantations (eucalypts) or cropping land. The SOC was significantly affected by land use and site location. Conversion of pasture to forest plantation had no significant effect on SOC compared to pasture up to 19 years since reforestation, but SOC increased slightly with plantation age at a rate of 3.03 t ha−1 per year. Conversion of pasture to cropping land significantly decreased SOC. The stocks of SOC ranged from 47.0 to 107.6 t ha−1. The HOC pool contributed the most towards the total SOC, and ranged from 17.7 to 67.8 t ha−1 across all sites. The POC pool ranged from 2.1 to 17.8 t ha−1 and the ROC pool varied between 5.3 and 22.3 t ha−1. The total SOC stock determined by MIR was closely related to SOC determined by dry combustion analysis. Soil N was significantly affected by land use and location, but trends were not consistent. On pasture sites, total N was higher likely due to fertiliser applications and total N ranged between 3.7 and 15.0 t ha−1 across sites. In summary, conversion of pasture to forest plantation had no significant effect on SOC stocks and different soil carbon pools over 19 years in the subtropical climate of south east Queensland
Effect of the Geriatric Emergency Department Intervention on outcomes of care for residents of aged care facilities: A non-randomised trial
No full textObjective As the population of Australia ages, EDs will experience an increasing frequency of presentations of older adults from residential aged care facilities (RACFs). These presentations are often complex and time consuming in the chaotic and potentially hazardous ED environment. The Geriatric Emergency Department Intervention (GEDI) model was developed to optimise the care of frail older adults, especially RACF residents, in the ED. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effectiveness of the GEDI model on the primary outcomes of disposition (admission, discharge or death) and ED length of stay for residents of RACFs, presenting to an ED in regional Queensland, Australia. Methods GEDI is a nurse-led, physician-championed, innovative model delivered by advanced practice nurses with expertise in gerontology. This quasi-experimental pragmatic study compared outcomes for RACF residents who presented to a regional Queensland ED during three time periods: pre-GEDI, interim GEDI and post-GEDI implementation of the GEDI model. Outcomes included disposition, ED length of stay, ED re-presentation and mortality. Results A significant increase in the likelihood of discharge from ED (hazard ratio 1.15, 95% confidence interval 1.05-1.26) and reductions in ED length of stay (hazard ratio 1.49, 95% confidence interval 1.24-1.78) were evident for RACF residents following the implementation of the GEDI intervention. There were no differences in mortality, ED re-presentation or in-hospital length of stay between the three time periods. Conclusion There is a paucity of evidence to support the implementation of nurse-led teams in EDs designed to target older adults living in RACFs. The GEDI model was effective in reducing ED length of stay while increasing the likelihood of safe discharge for RACF residents
Properties of Powder Metallurgy‐Fabricated Oxygen‐Containing Beta Ti–Nb–Mo–Sn–Fe Alloys for Biomedical Applications
No full textThe influence of minor oxygen additions on the microstructure and mechanical properties of powder metallurgy (PM) fabricated Ti–25Nb–5Mo–3Sn–2Fe alloy is studied. The results demonstrate the positive influence of a certain oxygen content (0.35 wt%) on the microstructure and mechanical properties of sintered samples. Despite the presence of 7.0% porosity in the PM‐fabricated samples of Ti–25Nb–5Mo–3Sn–2Fe–0.35O, a high strength of 682 MPa, elongation of 7.2%, and Young's modulus of 74 GPa are obtained. The strength‐to‐modulus ratio of this alloy is higher than most common Ti biomedical alloys, indicating that this alloy may have better suitability for orthopedic applications. Deviation in the oxygen content of the alloy from 0.35 wt% negatively impacts on the ductility of the samples
The nature and prevalence of crime
No full textWhat is crime? How much crime is there in our community? Why do people offend? How do we prevent crime? The text is written by leading Australian criminologists and aims to answer these questions.
This book is for university students (particularly suited to first-year students) and others interested in crime to the fields of criminology and criminal justice. Each chapter is written by one or more of Australia’s most widely respected authorities on criminology, lending this collection legitimacy and currency.
The contributors to this volume guide readers through contemporary research on crime and criminality from Australia and overseas. The large majority of chapters do not simply summarise current knowledge but include data from the authors’ original research, as well as offering distinctive insights and policy recommendations.
The content in the text is a blend of Australian and international research, content and context.
This text can be delivered via Revel, offering an interactive learning experience available on all devices. Revel is an additional cost and not included in the book's price. [Book Synopsis
Genomic prediction for disease resistance to Hepatopancreatic parvovirus and growth, carcass and quality traits in Banana shrimp Fenneropenaeus merguiensis
No full textConventional genetic improvement of disease resistance in aquatic animal species involves challenge tests or using qPCR to quantify viral load that is costly, time-consuming and causing biosecurity concerns. Recent developments in high throughput next generation genome sequencing platforms such as genotyping by sequencing (GBS) have opened new possibilities for improving disease traits based on DNA information. The principal aim of this study was thus to examine potential application of genomic selection to improve resistance to hepatopancreatic parvovirus (HPV) in banana shrimp Fenneropenaeus merguiensis. Specifically, we used a total of 9472 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) developed de novo from GBS platforms to assess accuracy of genomic prediction for HPV resistance and growth, carcass and quality-related traits in this white shrimp species. Our multi-locus mixed model analysis showed moderate heritabilities for HPV resistance (h2 = 0.46) and other traits studied (0.10 to 0.55). Genetic correlations of HPV titre with growth and carcass traits, estimated using SNPs markers, were negative (i.e., favourable), suggesting that selection for improved growth and carcass traits may have increased HPV resistance (i.e., reduced HPV titre). More importantly, our gBLUP model demonstrated that the accuracy of gBLUP prediction was moderate for HPV disease resistance (0.46). The genomic prediction accuracy was somewhat greater for growth and carcass related traits especially for body weight (0.76) and meat or tail weight (0.77). On the other hand, the prediction accuracy was from 0.25 to 0.41 for quality traits (raw and cooked colour and flesh streaks). Collectively, it is concluded that there are prospects to apply genomic selection in the genetic improvement for increased disease resistance, carcass and quality-related traits in this population of banana shrimp F. merguiensis
Outmigration and Land-Use Change: A Case Study from the Middle Hills of Nepal
No full textOutmigration has become a key livelihood strategy for an increasing number of rural households, which in turn has a profound effect on land management. Studies to date have mainly focused on migrant households, and there is limited literature on the differences in land management practices of migrant and nonmigrant households. This article drew on a current study to explore how outmigration affects land management practices in the context of rapidly changing rural communities and economics in the middle hills of Nepal. The data were collected in Lamjung District in western Nepal using a mixed-method approach. We found that underutilization of farmland is a more prominent phenomenon than land abandonment, with rural communities moving to less intensive farming. Importantly, the increasing underutilization of farmland is not just occurring among migrant households. There are a range of complex factors which influence land-use decisions and the subsequent outcomes for landscapes. A high risk of food insecurity in Nepal is likely to be exacerbated if the current trajectory of underutilization and abandonment of farmland continues. A suite of policy tools that can be selectively applied depending on the local context may be more effective than broad-brush national policies in tackling the underlying causes faced by rural communities
Book Review: Transgender cops: the intersection of gender and sexuality expectations in police cultures
No full textNo abstract available
State-of-the-Art Analysis of the Usage and Potential of Automation in Logistics
No full textThis open access book explores the concept of Industry 4.0, which presents a considerable challenge for the production and service sectors. While digitization initiatives are usually integrated into the central corporate strategy of larger companies, smaller firms often have problems putting Industry 4.0 paradigms into practice. Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) possess neither the human nor financial resources to systematically investigate the potential and risks of introducing Industry 4.0. Addressing this obstacle, the international team of authors focuses on the development of smart manufacturing concepts, logistics solutions and managerial models specifically for SMEs. Aiming to provide methodological frameworks and pilot solutions for SMEs during their digital transformation, this innovative and timely book will be of great use to scholars researching technology management, digitization and small business, as well as practitioners within manufacturing companies. [Book Synopsis
Hillslope gully erosion in savanna rangelands tributary to the Great Barrier Reef: Investigation of hydrogeomorphic processes, sediment and nutrient yields
No full textGully erosion is a globally significant land degradation problem and a particularly important issue in dry-tropical savanna rangelands tributary to the Great Barrier Reef (GBR) World Heritage Area, Queensland, Australia. In this region there is an estimated 87,000 km of gullies, providing the primary source of sediment and particulate nutrients (e.g., nitrogen and phosphorus) to the GBR. Remediating gullied landscapes and preventing further degradation is a major focus of government investment aimed at improving the quality of water entering the GBR. Effective management of gully erosion in these catchments, and tropical savannas more broadly, is constrained by a limited understanding of the key hydrological and geomorphological processes driving gully development. The effect of changing land management on sediment and nutrient fluxes within gullied catchments is also poorly understood.
The overarching aim of this thesis is to improve understanding of the hydrogeomorphic processes controlling hillslope gully erosion and the associated fluxes of sediments and nutrients in savanna rangelands tributary to the GBR. Specifically, the thesis investigates: (1) the strengths and limitations of aerial (via an Unmanned Aircraft System, ‘UAS’), and ground-based (via a handheld digital camera, ‘GB’) structure from motion with multi-view stereo photogrammetry (SfM), in quantifying the topographic expression of gullied savanna landscapes at different scales; (2) linkages between fine-scale hydrological connectivity pathways and gully hydrogeomorphic processes; and (3) the effect of reduced grazing pressure on sediment and nutrient yields in ephemeral streams draining gullied savanna rangelands.Submitted in the fulfilment of the requirements of the degree of Doctor of Philosophy, University of the Sunshine Coast, 2020