University of the Sunshine Coast
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Envisioning Eden: the manufactured ecotourism environment of Singapore
No full textThe popularity of adopting ecotourism initiatives has led to a mushrooming of eco-precincts around the world. Arguably, ecotourism fulfils an ideological paradigm because of its inherent benefits to both natural and human environments. However, whilst theory has guided the justification for ecotourism and development of its principles, very little exists to steer how ecotourism should be contextually embedded. This research seeks to explain the notion of manufactured ecotourism from the perspective of Singapore. In a land-scarce country, ecotourism is hardly conceivable in an environment where occupying physical space is expected to bring high economic returns on infrastructural investment. However, from a comparative case-study approach, three specific exemplars of ecotourism developments have shown that the manufacturing of ecotourism has shifted the narrative of land use in Singapore and continues to transform the tourism landscape in the country. The outcomes of the research steer the directions of planning and stakeholder partnership for new destinations embarking on their ecotourism journey to ‘Envision Eden’
To Augment Human Capacity—Artificial Intelligence Evolution through Causal Layered Analysis
No full textArtificial Intelligence (AI) origins connect to the human drive to expand our mental and physical capacity, seek advantage, survive and flourish. The global unrest we see today including demographic inversion, warfare and displacement of people, protectionist views tightening boundaries and ecological and energy concerns have shifted the world views underpinning AI and related headlines, systemic responses and research priorities. This paper examines the past 5000 years of AI and applies the future research methodology Causal Layered Analysis (Inayatullah, 1998) combined with a genealogical analysis linked to Foucault’s (2002) concept of discontinuity
Intelligent Pavement Management and Maintenance Intervention
No full textPavements are designed and built to protect the subgrade by minimising rutting and to withstand weather conditions such as temperature and moisture. The current main challenges with pavement management are; accelerated deterioration due to the impacts of moisture ingress into the pavement layers, in particular due to high rainfall events, deterioration due to age, continued usage and traffic growth, continued increase in heavy transport, and quality of materials. Queensland has 25% of all Australian state-controlled roads, they are the state’s largest publicly owned infrastructure asset. The road network is deteriorating due to age, continuous usage and the accelerating impacts of high rainfall and cyclonic events, in recent floods almost two thirds of roads were under water. Pavement instrumentation is being increasingly used in monitoring the performance of pavements and provides inputs to refine the design parameters to better reflect the local conditions and traffic loading. This research provides a base for long-term monitoring of the performance of in-service constructed pavements (asphalt surface on unbound granular base, asphalt surface on cement stabilised base, and chip seal surface on unbound granular base) under local conditions rather than relying on overseas research and/ or simulated environments. This will provide results reflecting local conditions in terms of design, materials, construction, traffic configuration and the environment including occasional pavement inundation. Consequently, there will be no need to utilise global calibration or adjustment factors.Submitted in the fulfilment of the requirements of the degree of Doctor of Philosophy, University of the Sunshine Coast, 2019
The Scourge of Antibiotic-resistant Infections in Cystic Fibrosis
No full textBacterial infections are the primary cause of respiratory decline and mortality in cystic fibrosis (CF) patients. In a recent study, Diaz Caballero and colleagues [1] (PLoS Pathog. 2018;14:e1007453) catalogued the molecular adaptation of a decade-long Burkholderia multivorans infection in a Canadian CF patient, which evolved to become resistant towards multiple classes of antibiotics
Mitochondrial genome analysis reveals intraspecific variation within Australian hard tick species
No full textTicks rank second in the world as vectors of disease so it is paramount we understand their biology in order to advance disease control. Mitochondrial genome sequences of tick species have been used increasingly to resolve relationships of closely related species, correct taxonomic discrepancies and to understand intraspecific variation. Despite this, our understanding and advances in tick biology are obstructed by the lack of complete mitochondrial genomes available for most species, particularly amongst Ixodidae ticks that are highly prevalent and taxonomically diverse. Even fewer have more than one representative genome sequence meaning that answering questions over intra-species variation is rarely possible. Here, we present the adult tick mitochondrial genomes of two species which had not previously been sequenced, H. bancrofti and I. tasmani, as well as multiple representatives for both adult I. holocyclus and I. tasmani. Complete mitochondrial genomes were used to investigate the intraspecific variation within geographically dispersed I. tasmani ticks as well as I. holocyclus ticks parasitising different host species. Although sample sizes were limited, I. tasmani diversity appeared to be influenced by geography, while the genetic diversity observed in I. holocyclus was not influenced by host or geography. This genetic resource will support downstream studies into the population genetics of Australian hard ticks and inform efforts to expand this work to other Australian tick species. To build an appropriate repertoire, future analyses should include Australian tick species that are yet to be genome sequenced, particularly those that carry pathogens while including multiple representatives of each species
Pathogen to commensal: longitudinal within-host population dynamics, evolution, and adaptation during a chronic >16-year Burkholderia pseudomallei infection
No full textAlthough acute melioidosis is the most common outcome of Burkholderia pseudomallei infection, we have documented a case, P314, where the disease severity lessened with time, and the pathogen evolved towards a commensal relationship with the host. In the current study, we used whole-genome sequencing to monitor this chronic infection to better understand B. pseudomallei persistence in P314s sputum despite intense and repeated therapeutic regimens. We collected and sequenced 118 B. pseudomallei isolates from P314s airways over a >16-year period, and also sampled the patients home environment, recovering six closely related B. pseudomallei isolates from water. Using comparative genomics, we identified 126 SNPs in the core genome of the 124 isolates or 162 SNPs/indels when the accessory genome was included. The core SNPs were used to construct a phylogenetic tree, which demonstrated a close relationship between environmental and clinical isolates and detailed within-host evolutionary patterns. The phylogeny had little homoplasy, consistent with a single clonal population. Repeated sampling revealed evidence of genetic diversification, but frequent extinctions left only one successful lineage through the first four years and two lineages after that, resulting in a highly linear topology. Although these extinctions and persistence could be explained by genetic drift, we observe phenotypic changes consistent with in situ adaptation. Using a mouse model, P314 isolates caused greatly reduced morbidity and mortality compared to the environmental isolates. Additionally, potentially adaptive phenotypes changed with time and included differences in the O-antigen, capsular polysaccharide, motility, and colony morphology. The >13-year co-existence of two long-lived lineages presents interesting hypotheses that can be tested in future studies to provide additional insights into selective pressures, niche differentiation, and microbial adaptation. This unusual melioidosis case presents a rare example of the evolutionary progression to commensalism by a highly virulent pathogen within a single human host
Teaching cultural humility for social workers serving LGBTQI Aboriginal communities in Australia
No full textIt is well documented that colonization and subsequent repressive policies have wrought devastating changes in the lives of Aboriginal people in Australia. Social workers are an essential group for improving social justice and self-determination for Australian Aboriginal people. The Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW) acknowledges that Aboriginal people make a unique contribution to the life of the nation and mandates that social work educational programs provide culturally responsive content that acknowledges the value and contributions of Aboriginal people. Social work educators need to embed this content without reinforcing stereotypes or being tokenistic. This is a challenge when teaching about intersecting identities, such as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer/questioning, and intersex (LGBTQI) Aboriginal people. We outline the terms used in this space and propose that cultural humility is an acceptable framework to consider. We introduce key conceptual terms used in LGBTQI Aboriginal communities. Finally, we provide recommendations for engaging with LGBTQI Aboriginal peoples
Separated Parents’ Adaptive Responses and States Within Intractable Parental Disputes
No full textDrawing on interviews with separated parents (N = 40) this Australian qualitative study explored dissonance within intractable parental disputes. The mature defense mechanisms of altruism, suppression, anticipation, and humor emerged as potential adaptive responses to dissonance. The mature defense mechanism of sublimation did not emerge as a potential adaptive response to dissonance within intractable parental disputes. Anxiety was the predominant state reported by separated parents. This study theorized that mature defense mechanisms might partially support the reduction of recurring dissonant states within intractable parental disputes. Those in clinical practice might find it useful to explore defense mechanisms, and the clues they provide, in further understanding and supporting separated parents enmeshed within intractable parental disputes
Scaring the bras off women: the role of threat appeal, brand congruence, and social support in health service recruitment coping strategies
No full textPurpose: The purpose of this paper is to understand the role of perceived threat, brand congruence and social support on consumer coping strategies for a preventative health service. Design/methodology/approach: An online survey of 570 women aged over 50 in one Australian state was conducted (users and non-users of the service). The data were analyzed using structural equation modeling (SEM). Findings: A competing models approach reveals that threat on its own is associated with avoidance coping; however, when brand congruence is high, there is an association with active coping. Social support appears to have a buffering effect on threat and is associated positively with active coping and negatively with avoidance coping. Originality/value: The study findings suggest that threat appeals should be used with caution in increasing participation in transformative preventative health services due to its double-edged sword effect (increasing both avoidance and active coping). When consumers have social support, this results in active coping and buffers avoidance coping. This research offers useful insights for social marketing and transformative service research
The sequenced genome of Corymbia citriodora subsp. Variegata
No full textEucalypts (genera Eucalyptus, Corymbia and Angophora) are the most widely planted hardwood trees in the world, prized for their fast growth rate, timber and fibre quality, and environmental adaptability. Corymbia (bloodwood taxa), having adapted to arid conditions and low quality soil types, have become an important forestry resource, grown for timber and essential oil production. Given their economic importance, the Corymbia genome consortium has sequenced the genome of C. citriodora subspecies variegata (CCV). The high-quality CCV genome is a result of combining Illumina and long-read PacBio technologies, along with a high-density DaRT-Seq genetic map to generate the 11 chromosome, 408 Mb assembly. Comparison of the CCV genome with Eucalyptus grandis found differing repeat content among the two species, with several large structural chromosomal rearrangements. Syntenic and orthologous gene analyses found 3981 shared eucalypt genes among the two species, as well as evidence of the eudicot specific paleotetraploidy event. Unique to Corymbia were several gene families related to pollen recognition and zinc-ion binding, as well as several gene families related to terpene synthesis and abiotic/biotic stress response that underwent expansion through tandem gene duplication. These data suggest that the genome of CCV has been shaped through adaptation to arid and stress-prone conditions throughout its evolutionary history