University of the Sunshine Coast
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Plane cabins are havens for germs. Here’s how they can clean up their act
No full textNo abstract available
Differential effects of drought on nonstructural carbohydrate storage in seedlings and mature trees of four species in a subtropical forest
No full textNonstructural carbohydrates (NSC) play important roles in forest vulnerability to climate change, especially under increasing drought intensity and frequency. Understanding NSC dynamics is essential for accurately predicting the resistance and resilience of forests in response to drought. However, our knowledge of NSC responses to drought is still limited due to the lack of research in trees of different life stages. In this study, we conducted a throughfall exclusion experiment (TFE) with four subtropical evergreen tree species to examine drought effects on NSC in mature trees and understory seedlings. Our results showed the differential effects of drought on NSC dynamics of understory seedlings and mature trees. In the TFE experiment, mature trees of all four species were relatively homoeostatic with the insignificantly changed NSC pools, photosynthesis, and growth under the drought treatment compared to the control. In contrast, understory seedlings displayed significant decreases in total NSC and soluble sugars (−14.70 ± 3.66% and −16.93 ± 3.85%, respectively) with the exception of Lithocarpus glaber (L. glaber). The seedlings of L. glaber with the highest hydraulic resistance maintained or slightly increased NSC and its components in response to drought. Our study highlights the importance of life stage in assessing drought effects of trees on NSC storage and then forest C cycling, which could be incorporated into the dynamic global vegetation models (DGVMs) to better understand drought effects on forest C balance in the future
Effect of distance above ground during air seasoning on flexural properties of blackgum and red oak ties
No full textStacks of red oak (Quercus rubra) and black gum (Nyssa sylvatica) railroad ties were seasoned 150, 200, or 300 mm above the ground to investigate the effect of height on fungal colonization and timber properties. Decay fungi became increasingly abundant as seasoning time increased. Decay fungi were more abundant on black gum than red oak ties, but fungal isolation frequency did not differ with variation in seasoning sill height. Similarly, neither MOR nor MOE differed with seasoning height. The results indicate that decreasing the tie seasoning height by 150 mm had no significant effect on either fungal colonization or timber properties
Linking hydrological connectivity to gully erosion in savanna rangelands tributary to the Great Barrier Reef using Structure‐from‐Motion photogrammetry
No full textGully erosion is a major land management challenge globally and a particularly significant issue in dry‐tropical savanna rangelands tributary to the Great Barrier Reef, Australia. This study investigated linkages between hillslope hydrological connectivity pathways and gully geomorphic change in the Burdekin River basin. High resolution (0.1 m) topographic and land cover data derived from low‐cost aerial (via Unmanned Aircraft System, UAS) structure‐from‐motion with multi‐view stereo photogrammetry (SfM) was used to map fine‐scale connectivity patterns and quantify headcut retreat at the hillslope scale (~150,000 m2). Very high resolution (0.01 m) topographic models derived from ground‐based (via hand‐held digital camera, GB) SfM, were used to quantify the morphology and geomorphic change of several gully arms (300‐700 m2) between 2016 and 2018. Median linear, areal, and volumetric headcut (n=21) retreat rates were 0.2 m yr‐1, 0.8 m2 yr‐1, and 0.3 m3 yr‐1, respectively. At all study sites, the points where modelled hydrological flow lines intersected gullies corresponded to observed geomorphic change, enabling spatially explicit identification of gully extension pathways as a result of overland flow. Application of an index of connectivity demarcated parts of the hillslope most connected to the gully network. Bare areas, roads and cattle trails were identified as important runoff source areas and hydrological conduits driving gully extension. GB SfM accurately reconstructed complex morphologic features including undercuts, overhangs, rills and flutes, providing insights into within‐channel erosion processes. This study contributes to an improved understanding and modelling of hydrogeomorphic drivers of gully erosion in degraded savanna rangelands, ultimately benefiting gully management
Diagnostic differences and agreement between the original and revised European Working Group (EWGSOP) consensus definition for sarcopenia in community-dwelling older adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus
No full textAim:
We aimed to compare diagnostic differences for identification of sarcopenia using the original operational definition developed by the European Working Group on Sarcopenia in Older People (EWGSOP1) and the most recently revised EWGSOP2 definition in community dwelling older adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).
Methods:
Appendicular Lean Mass (ALM) corrected for height (ALM/m2) was assessed by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry. Muscle strength was assessed using hand-grip strength (HGS) or chair stands, and the Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB) and gait speed were used to evaluate lower extremity physical function. Cohen's kappa (κ) statistic was applied to determine the degree of agreement between the two definitions. Chi-square analysis with Bonferroni post hoc corrections were applied to determine differences in the prevalence of sarcopenic case-findings.
Results:
A total of n = 87 older adults (71.2 ± 8.2 years; 66.7% males; BMI: 29.5 ± 5.8 kg/m2) were included. Agreement between the two definitions was low and non-significant (κ value = 0.118; P = 0.144). Significantly more cases of sarcopenia were identified when applying the EWGSOP1 definition (EWGSOP1: n = 6 (7%); EWGSOP2: n = 2 (2%); P = 0.004). No sex specific differences were observed. Only 2 of the 6 (33.3%) cases of sarcopenia identified by EWGSOP1 were also identified as sarcopenic when applying the EWGSOP2 diagnostic criteria.
Conclusions:
We showed significant discordance and limited overlap in the number of sarcopenic case-findings when applying both EWGSOP definitions. It is unknown as to whether the new diagnostic criteria are better at identifying adverse clinical outcomes in patients with T2DM. Future investigation is therefore warranted
Protocol for a randomised trial testing a community fibrosis assessment service for patients with suspected non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: LOCal assessment and triage evaluation of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (LOCATE-NAFLD)
No full textBackground:
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most common type of chronic liver disease in Australia and its recent increase mirrors the obesity and type 2 diabetes epidemics. Currently, many patients who present to primary care with abnormal liver function tests or steatosis on liver ultrasound are referred for assessment in secondary care. Due to the large number of patients with NAFLD, this results in long waits for clinical and fibrosis assessment, placing unnecessary burden on the public hospital system.
Methods:
We will conduct a 1:1 parallel randomised trial to compare two alternative models of care for NAFLD. Participants will be randomised to usual care or the LOCal Assessment and Triage Evaluation (LOCATE) model of care and followed for 1 year. We will recruit patients from the non-neighbouring Sunshine Coast and Metro South Hospital and Health Services (HHSs) in Queensland, Australia. Our primary outcome of interest is time to diagnosis of high-risk NAFLD, based on the number of participants in each arm of the study who receive a diagnosis of clinically significant fibrosis. Two hundred and 34 participants will give us a 95% power to detect a 50% reduction in the primary outcome of time to diagnosis of high-risk disease. We will also conduct an economic evaluation, evaluating the cost-effectiveness of the new model of care. We will also evaluate the implementation of the new model of care.
Discussion:
It is anticipated that the results of this study will provide valuable new information regarding the management of NAFLD in the Australian setting. A relatively simple change to care could result in earlier identification of patients with significant liver disease and lower overall costs for the health system. Results will be directly disseminated to key staff for further distribution to consumers, policy- and decision-makers in the form of evidence briefs, plain language summaries and policy recommendations
Alternative Feed Raw Materials Modulate Intestinal Microbiota and Its Relationship with Digestibility in Yellowtail Kingfish Seriola lalandi
No full textGut microbiota plays a crucial role in nutrient digestibility and fish health. This study aimed to investigate the effects of alternative feed raw materials on the bacterial communities in the distal intestine and its relationship with nutrient digestibility in yellowtail kingfish (YTK), Seriola lalandi. Two 4-week digestibility trials were conducted to evaluate fish meal (FM), two sources of poultry by-product meal (PBM-1 & PBM-2), blood meal (BLM), faba bean meal (FBM), corn gluten meal (CGM), soy protein concentrate (SPC) and wheat flour (WH). The nutrient digestibility value was determined using the stripping fecal collection method. Bacterial communities were characterized by high-throughput sequencing based on V3-V4 region of the 16S rRNA gene. The most abundant phylum identified in the present study was Proteobacteria. A significant change in the distal intestine was observed in fish fed diets containing CGM and BLM, characterized by a reduction of species richness and diversity. Additionally, significant correlation between nutrient digestibility and intestinal microbiota was observed. Allivibrio, Vibrio, Curvibacter, Ruminococcaceae, and Clostridium were positively correlated, whereas Ralstonia genus was negatively correlated with nutrient digestibility. This study demonstrated that intestinal microbiota could be a useful tool for evaluating the digestibility of feed raw materials; however, further culture-based study is needed to confirm this observation
Role of Germanium in Microstructural Development of Powder Metallurgy Ti-20Cr-xGe Alloys
No full textThis paper investigates the microstructural changes after incorporating germanium (Ge) into a Ti-20Cr alloy fabricated by powder metallurgy. A positive correlation between Ge compositions and density of the sintered alloys was revealed, with limited effects on the grain size. The microstructure comprised equiaxed β phase grains and nodules of eutectoid phases (α +TiCr2). Alloying more Ge to Ti-20Cr produced more α phase and broadened the nodules. This coarsening is believed to be the consequence of increasing (α-β) interfacial area, which serves as the nucleation site for TiCr2. The largest proportion of α phase (∼ 14 vol%) was obtained in the Ti-20Cr-3Ge alloy, together with the formation of Ti5Ge3 intermetallic. The microstructural changes after Ge additions increase hardness by up to 13 %, which may enhance the wear resistance of the alloys providing a promising alternative for dental implants
Indigenous students’ identities in Australian higher education: found, denied, and reinforced
No full textIndigenous Australian identities are enmeshed in racializing discourses that often occlude diversity, hybridity, and intersectionality. Australians who self-identify as Aboriginal are often disbelieved by both Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people, or confront hierarchies of authenticity. Critical analysis of focus groups with undergraduate Aboriginal students suggests that while there are opportunities to find and reinforce their identities in Australian universities, those identities are also denied. Using counterstories and critical race theory, this study exposes dominant misrepresentations of Aboriginality in Australian higher education that can affect academic success and attrition. Universities need to abandon rigid, culturalist constructions of Aboriginal students’ identities, and expectations that these can be codified and regulated. Academic and administrative staff require sustained education in the histories of defining Aboriginality, and knowledge of Aboriginal identity politics, stereotypes, and the diversity of contemporary Indigenous peoples so they can respond in culturally safe and flexible ways to Aboriginal students