University of the Sunshine Coast
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Novel Ideas: Writing Innovative Fiction
No full textThis concise yet comprehensive study explores innovative practice in the novel and, from the perspective of creative writing, the astonishing resilience of the novel form. It offers a practical guide to the many possibilities available to the writer of the novel, with each chapter offering exercises to encourage innovation and to expand the creative writer’s narrative skills. Beginning with early iterations of the novel in the 17th century, this book follows the evocation of innovation in the novel through Realism, Modernism, Postmodernism and into today’s dizzying array of digital and interactive possibilities. While guiding the reader through the possibilities available (in both genre and literary fiction), this book encourages both aspiring and established writers to produce novels with imagination, playfulness and gravitas. Dynamic and interactive, this text is distinctive in offering a grounding in the literary history of the novel, while also equipping readers to write in the form themselves. It is an essential resource for any student of creative writing, or anyone with an interest in writing their own novel. [Book Synopsis
A Study of the Effect of Anisotropic Gold Nanoparticles on Plasmonic Coupling with a Photosensitizer for Antimicrobial Film
No full textDevelopment of antimicrobial surfaces for sterilization is much needed to avoid the spreading of drug resistant bacteria. Light can activate antimicrobial surfaces by an interaction between nanoparticles and a photosensitizer dye, to produce a steady and efficient killing of bacteria. The film studied in this work contains gold nanorods (AuNRs) of 32 nm length and 16 nm diameter and gold nanostars (AuNSs) of 50 nm of diameter, in combination with crystal violet dye (CV). The surface plasmon resonance (SPR) of the nanoparticles used in the film was mathematically simulated and characterized to understand difference SPR between the particles. Their effects on plasmonic coupling with the dye, thus the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and consequently the activity of the film against bacteria were studied. The films showed great antimicrobial activity against gram negative bacteria (E. coli) in 4 h of light exposure, when modified with AuNSs, it could kill E. coli in 5 orders of magnitudes (5- log) and the one modified with AuNRs could kill with 4 order of magnitudes (4-log). While maintaining partial activity against gram positive bacteria (S. aureus), i.e. being able to kill in 2.5 orders of magnitudes by the film containing AuNSs and 3 orders of magnitudes by those containing AuNRs. The differential response of gram (-) and gram (+) bacteria to the ROS generated by the films, would allow more targeted approach for specific bacterial species, for example, surfaces of bedpans or common contact surfaces (handles, handrails etc.) that are contaminated principally by gram (-) or gram (+) bacteria, respectively
Innovative methods for heritage tourism experiences: creating windows into the past
No full textHeritage tourism products and experiences can generate substantial economic and social contribution to local communities. Yet, significant challenges face heritage tourism destinations, including heritage preservation and the subsequent transition into viable tourism experiences. This paper aims to employ innovative heritage preservation methods that can be utilised to develop tourism experiences at heritage sites. This research details how cutting-edge 3D scanning and modelling can be used to assist with the virtual presentation of heritage. Using a case study of a WWII US Airforce base in Charleville, Australia, this paper will detail how new 3D scanning methods can assist with the accuracy of digital preservation, as well as assist in the delivery of memorable tourism experiences by connecting and expanding to conceptually related areas, such as serious gaming. Findings revealed that by implementing 3D multi-layered scanning a simulation of an WWII Hanger and Norden bombsight was created, with scanning completed to within two millimetres of accuracy. A key contribution of this research is to provide lessons learned for scholars and practitioners considering the application of advanced methods for heritage preservation and memorable tourism experiences. In turn, this can be used as a key economic driver as well as instil social pride, especially for regional communities
Curriculum, culture and Catholic Education: A Queensland perspective
No full textDrawing on the responses of 2,287 (33.5%) teachers in Queensland Catholic schools to a specially designed survey and on follow-up interviews with 20 volunteer teachers, this chapter considers the relationship between curriculum and culture from the perspectives of Catholic teaching, scholarship and teachers. Over half the survey respondents rated the planned integration of a Catholic perspective across the whole curriculum as important or very important and a similar proportion said they integrated a Catholic perspective in their classroom practice. Teacher interviewees, however, depended mainly on spontaneous ‘teachable moments’ and personal ‘witness’ rather than planned integration to express the faith-based identity of their schools in their teaching outside of Religious Education. The strongest support for the planned integration of a Catholic perspective across the curriculum came from survey respondents for whom religion is important or very important to how they live their lives, who rate the importance of faith-based Catholic school practices and the Catholicity of the school community highly, who regard their own knowledge of Catholic teaching as good or very good and who chose to work in Catholic Education because of their faith commitment. The challenges and opportunities that current religious and educational environments pose for the integration of a Catholic perspective across the curriculum of Catholic schools are discussed along with the associated potential of the integration of Catholic social teaching (CST). Given the counter-cultural nature of CST it behoves teachers as critical pedagogues to address controversial social issues in a manner that is educationally appropriate
A comparative study of the police code of silence: Exploring the relation between the code of silence and societal characteristics
No full textPurpose:
The purpose of this paper is to explore the contours of the police code of silence, a critical component of the ability to control misconduct and enhance integrity within any police agency. Unlike the extant research, dominated by single-country studies, this paper provides an in-depth exploration of the code across five countries and tests the relation between the code of science and societal characteristics.
Design/methodology/approach:
A police integrity survey was used to measure the contours of the code of silence among police officers in Australia (n=856), Croatia (n=966), South Africa (n=871), South Korea (n=379) and the USA (n=664). The respondents evaluated 11 hypothetical scenarios describing various forms of police misconduct.
Findings:
Bivariate analyses reveal considerable divergence in the code of silence across the five countries. Multivariate models of the code of silence show that, next to organizational factors (i.e. the respondents’ assessment of peers’ willingness to report, evaluations of misconduct seriousness and expected discipline) and individual factors (i.e. supervisory status), societal factors (i.e. the Corruption Perceptions Index score and the percent of irreligious citizens) are significant predictors of the respondents’ willingness to report.
Research limitations/implications:
While the same questionnaire was used in all five countries, the nature of the data collection differed somewhat across the countries (e.g. online survey vs paper-and-pencil survey), as did the nature of the samples (e.g. representative sample vs convenience sample).
Practical implications:
Perceived peer pressure, measured as the perceptions of whether other police officers would adhere to the code of silence, is the key variable explaining the police officers’ expressed willingness to adhere to the code of silence. Changing the police officers’ perceptions of peer culture and potentially changing the peer culture itself should be critical elements in the toolbox of any administrator willing to curtail the code of silence.
Originality/value:
Whereas the study of the code of silence has started several decades ago, no prior study has tested the effects of organizational and societal variables on the code of silence in a comparative perspective
Bioremediation of the future: Tissue-engineered pseudo-organism with toxin-induced enzyme scavenger activation by micro RNA switches
No full textNo abstract available
Assessing potential for integrating sea grape (Caulerpa lentillifera) culture with sandfish (Holothuria scabra) and Babylon snail (Babylonia areolata) co-culture
No full textThis study assessed integration of sea grapes (Caulerpa lentillifera) into a sandfish (Holothuria scabra) and Babylon snail (Babylonia areolata) co-culture system. Five culture combinations were assessed for yield (growth and survival) and water and sediment quality over 84 days at the National Centre for Marine Breeding, Van Ninh, Khanh Hoa Province, Vietnam. Final yield of sandfish per tank was similar with Babylonia (245.82 ± 34.86 g) and without (258.29 ± 40.03 g). Sandfish survival was not affected by culture with Caulerpa, however mean individual weight gain was much greater without the seaweed. Final sandfish yield when cultured with Caulerpa was 177.62 ± 13.21 g per tank, and 326.50 ± 32.73 g per tank without. Babylonia growth, survival and final yield was unaffected by co-culture. Caulerpa growth was also unaffected by co-culture combination. Babylonia raised total ammonia and total nitrogen concentrations and increased sediment organic matter, total sulphur and total nitrogen. Total ammonia was reduced in treatments containing Caulerpa. Our results showed positive production of each of the three commodities when they were grown together within the same system. However, further research is required at a larger scale to further evaluate the viability and potential yields of this combination at a commercial level, and to produce improved production information supporting detailed cost-benefit analysis
Modification of the Homing and Function of Regulatory T-cells for the Prevention of Acute Graft-Versus-Host Disease
No full textGraft-Versus-Host Disease (GVHD) is a serious complication following hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT), that continues to be the leading cause of non-relapse morbidity and mortality in HSCT patients. Acute GVHD occurs in roughly 40% of HSCT recipients. It is the result of an unregulated expansion and activation of donor derived effector T-cells, which leads to a pro-inflammatory immune response and multi-organ damage and ultimately reduces the survival rates of HSCT recipients. Despite our growing understanding of acute GVHD, preventative treatment strategies continue to have limited success. One promising alternative approach is the use of a regulatory T-cell based cell therapies, which have sparked considerable interest as a potential therapeutic treatment for acute GVHD. Regulatory T-cells (Treg) are a subset of CD4+ T-cells that play an integral role in immune regulation and in maintaining self-tolerance. Treg have also been shown to be important in the development and prevention of acute GVHD. However, there are number of limitations that have significantly delayed the wider use of Treg-based cell therapies in the clinic, namely the high therapeutic dose required for effective disease suppression and the limited availability of Treg in vivo. Therefore, the scope of this thesis project focused on enhancing Treg-mediated acute GVHD suppression, by either augmenting Treg function or by modifying Treg ‘homing’ to directly target the cell therapy towards affected organ systems.Submitted in the fulfilment of the requirements of the degree of Doctor of Philosophy, University of the Sunshine Coast, 2020
Service brand rehab: diagnosing trust repair mechanisms
No full textPurpose:
This paper aims to understand consumers’ response to the trust repair mechanisms adopted by corporate brands in a service sector context following prominent trust damaging organizational transgressions.
Design/methodology/approach:
Adopting a qualitative approach, six focus group discussions are used to investigate three high-profile consumer trust erosion cases within the service sector.
Findings:
Consumer trust varies by context. Despite the severity of trust damage, corporate brands can recover trust towards their brands amongst consumers not directly affected by transgressions. Not all trust repair mechanisms are equally applicable to all service contexts, and re-branding could be used as a trust repair mechanism. Corporate brands in the service sector should focus on sense-making, relational approaches and transparency. Orchestration of trust repair mechanisms needs to be integrated within the trust rehabilitation processes.
Research limitations/implications:
This study illustrates it is important to reconsider trust repair processes to accommodate context and integrate post-transgression consumer research.
Practical implications:
Successful corporate brand rehabilitation of consumer trust requires examination of the trustworthiness dimensions consumers express before and after the transgression to select the most appropriate trust repair mechanisms. Findings suggest organizations also have preventative trust repair management programs.
Originality/value:
This research is the first to empirically apply the conceptual framework of Bachmann et al. (2015) to explore consumer responses to the trust repair mechanisms adopted by corporate brands by context
Glycine Receptor Complex Analysis Using Immunoprecipitation‐Blue Native Gel Electrophoresis‐Mass Spectrometry
No full textThe pentameric glycine receptor (GlyR), comprising the α1 and β subunits, is a major inhibitory ionotropic receptor in brainstem and spinal cord. GlyRs interact with gephyrin (GPHN), a scaffold protein that anchors the GlyR in the plasma membrane and enables it to form clusters in glycinergic postsynapses. Using an interaction proteomics approach, evidence of the ArfGEFs IQ motif and Sec7 domain 3 (IQSEC3) and IQ motif and Sec7 domain 2 (IQSEC2) as two novel synaptic proteins interacting with GlyR complexes is provided. When the affinity‐isolated GlyR complexes are fractionated by blue native gel electrophoresis and characterized by mass spectrometry, GlyR α1β‐GPHN appears as the most abundant complex with a molecular weight of ≈1 MDa, and GlyR α1β‐GPHN‐IQSEC3 as a minor protein complex of ≈1.2 MDa. A third GlyR α1β‐GPHN‐IQSEC2 complex exists at the lowest amount with a mass similar to the IQSEC3 containing complex. Using yeast two‐hybrid it is demonstrated that IQSEC3 interacts with the GlyR complex by binding to the GPHN G domain at the N‐terminal of the IQSEC3 IQ‐like domain. The data provide direct evidence of the interaction of IQSEC3 with GlyR‐GPHN complexes, underscoring a potential role of these ArfGEFs in the function of glycinergic synapses