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Developing and integrating enhancement strategies to improve and restore fisheries
Get PDFFisheries enhancements are management approaches involving the use of aquaculture and habitat technologies (in the broadest sense) to enhance or restore fisheries. The technologies most commonly used include hatchery rearing and release of aquatic animals and provision of artificial structures such as artificial reefs. Both are associated with distinct fields of knowledge and communities of practice. Recent calls to expand and broaden the role of aquaculture and habitat enhancements in marine conservation and an increasingly integrated view of living marine resource management have led to an aspirational broadening of concepts in this area. The 10th William R and Lenore Mote Symposium and 6 th International Symposium on Stock Enhancement and Sea Ranching aimed to advance and integrate knowledge across enhancement technologies and practices. Substantial progress was noted in multiple technical areas such as understanding the potential and limitations for rearing organisms fit for release into the wild, and the design of artificial reefs to enhance local fish abundance. Crucial higher-level goals such as effectively enhancing or restoring fish abundance and fisheries at the stock level continue to receive insufficient attention across the enhancement sciences. Integration of enhancement strategies provides opportunities and challenges including a need to recognize, cross-discover, and engage other distinct areas of knowledge and communities of practice. A quick reference guide is provided to facilitate this process
Depletion of KLRG1+T Cells in a First-in-human Clinical Trial of ABC008 in Inclusion Body Myositis (IBM)
No full textGenetic variation and resilience to climate change in Mediterranean-type trees
Get PDFClimate models predict that temperature means will continuously increase globally, and that heatwaves and drought periods will become more frequent and intense, particularly in Mediterranean-type climates. The Southwest Western Australia (SWWA) Biodiversity Hotspot has extensive forest environments that have been subject to heatwaves and drought-induced forest mortality in recent years, impacting forest carbon sequestration and local ecological structure. Although, species may persist through enhanced physiological tolerance, phenotypic plasticity and/or genetic adaptation. Genetic variation is critical for ecological adaptive capacity - the potential and ability to adjust to, and persist through, external factors - and consequently, the evolutionary potential of the species. Evolution to a specific environment through natural selection results in patterns of local adaptation (when a local population experiences higher fitness compared to non-local counterparts). Local adaptation can be identified by either genome wide surveys that link genetic variants to climate variables or measuring plant traits indicative of plant performance and survival through reciprocal transplants in common environments.
Exploring genetic adaptation patterns associated with physiological tolerance to climate can guide forest management approaches to enhance forests’ resilience to climate change, such as assisted gene migration.
The genetic survey (Chapter 2) sampled natural jarrah populations and obtained 13,534 independent single nucleotide polymorphic (SNP) markers across the genome. Three genotype-association analyses were used to identify putatively adapted SNPs associated with independent climate variables. While overall levels of population differentiation were low (FST=0.04), environmental association analyses found a total of 2,336 unique SNPs associated with temperature and precipitation variables, with 1,440 SNPs annotated to genic regions. Considerable allelic turnover was identified for SNPs associated with temperature seasonality and mean precipitation of the warmest quarter, suggesting that both temperature and precipitation are important factors in adaptation. SNPs with similar gene functions, had analogous allelic turnover along climate gradients, while SNPs among temperature and precipitation variables had uncorrelated patterns of adaptation. These contrasting patterns provide evidence that there may be standing genomic variation adapted to current climate gradients, providing the basis for adaptive management strategies to bolster forest resilience in the future.
The second experimental chapter (Chapter 3) explored seed germination response to temperature in jarrah and marri populations from wide-ranging climate origins, to estimate the thermal optima and constraints. Seeds from across the entire geographic distribution were collected from independent populations of each species. Patterns of germination observed differences between species on a thermal gradient plate (5-40°C) and provided a temperature range for explicit germination tests. Germination tests were carried out at five constant temperatures between 9 and 33°C. We discuss how the germination niche (1) differs between species, (2) varies among populations, and (3) relates to climatic origin. Temperature response of germination differed among species, specifically the optimum temperature for germination (jarrah – 23.4°C; marri - 31°C). Temperature response of germination also differed among populations within species and was related to the climate-origin only for marri.
Lastly, for the third experimental chapter (Chapter 4), a reciprocal transplant common garden experiment was used to investigate variation in marri`s functional traits using hyperspectral data. Hyperspectral remote sensing has the potential to assess plant functional status rapidly and non-destructively across climatic gradients to support conservation and management strategies, such as assisted migration, for forests under climate change. This study explored the variability of functional traits in marri to estimate patterns of local adaptation. Trees from natural populations spanning marri’s geographic distribution were grown in two common garden plantation sites with different climate settings. High-resolution field-based spectral measurements were collected from leaves of adult plants at both sites in two seasons (summer and autumn). Partial least squares regression analyses of full reflectance spectra highlighted differences among populations, sites, and seasons in spectral regions associated with photosynthetic pigments and water content, among other spectral traits, related to leaf condition and stress responses. Variation in these traits was further explored with analyses of spectral indices tailored to pigment and water absorptions. Analyses of spectral indices variation identified significant differences between populations, suggesting there is heritable variation in climatic tolerances, but stronger effects of season and site
Branched-chain amino acid supplementation improves cycling performance in untrained cyclists
No full textObjectives
To investigate the effects of acute branched-chain amino acid (BCAA) supplementation on cycling performance and neuromuscular fatigue during a prolonged, self-paced cycling time-trial.
Design
Randomised double-blind counterbalanced crossover.
Methods
Eighteen recreationally active men (mean ± SD; age: 24.7 ± 4.8 years old; body-weight, BW: 67.1 ± 6.1 kg; height: 171.7 ± 4.9 cm) performed a cycling time-trial on an electromagnetically-braked cycle ergometer. Participants were instructed to complete the individualised total work in the shortest time possible, while ingesting either BCAAs (pre-exercise: 0.084 g kg−1 BW; during exercise: 0.056 g kg−1 h−1) or a non-caloric placebo solution. Rating of perceived exertion, power, cadence and heart rate were recorded throughout, while maximal voluntary contraction, muscle voluntary activation level and electrically evoked torque using single and doublet stimulations were assessed at baseline, immediately post-exercise and 20-min post-exercise.
Results
Supplementation with BCAA reduced (287.9 ± 549.7 s; p = 0.04) time-to-completion and ratings of perceived exertion (p ≤ 0.01), while concomitantly increasing heart rate (p = 0.02). There were no between-group differences (BCAA vs placebo) in any of the neuromuscular parameters, but significant decreases (All p ≤ 0.01) in maximal voluntary contraction, muscle voluntary activation level and electrically evoked torque (single and doublet stimulations) were recorded immediately following the trial, and these did not recover to pre-exercise values by the 20 min recovery time-point.
Conclusions
Compared to a non-caloric placebo, acute BCAA supplementation significantly improved performance in cycling time-trial among recreationally active individuals without any notable changes in either central or peripheral factors. This improved performance with acute BCAA supplementation was associated with a reduced rating of perceived exertion
A systematic review of EPDS cultural suitability with Indigenous mothers: A global perspective
Get PDFThe Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) is used extensively as the “gold standard” perinatal depression and anxiety screening tool. This study contributes to an emerging discussion about the tool’s shortcomings, specifically around cultural suitability for use with Indigenous women. A systematic search was conducted in ProQuest, PsycINFO, MEDLINE (Web of Science), PubMed, Scopus, Informit, and CINAHL research databases, and grey literature. The quality of the body of evidence was assessed using the NHMRC Level of Evidence framework. Three studies supported the cultural validation of the EPDS with Indigenous groups in Canada (n = 2) and the USA (n = 1). The remaining eleven Australian studies demonstrated that cultural concerns were suggested by either Indigenous mothers, healthcare professionals (Indigenous and non-Indigenous), or both, though cultural concerns were more weighted from the perspectives of healthcare professionals. The quality of the evidence was not strong, and thus, there is a critical and urgent need for targeted research in this area. This review identified and recommended Indigenous-specific methodologies that can be adopted for more trustworthy, culturally safe, and effective research in this area. Given that the EPDS is currently considered gold standard in routine perinatal mental health screening practice in countries around the world, these findings raise significant concerns. Using culturally relevant research methodologies, such as the use of mixed-methods design, could lay stronger groundwork for further investigation of the broader utility and cultural relevance of the tool
Knowing your audience: Investigating stillbirth knowledge and perceptions in the general population to inform future public health campaigns
No full textBackground
The prevalence of stillbirth in many high income countries like Australia has remained unchanged for over 30 years. The 2018 Australian government Senate Select Committee on Stillbirth Research and Education highlighted the need for a public health campaign to encourage public conversations and increase awareness. However, there is little evidence about the community’s knowledge and perceptions towards pregnancy and stillbirth, nor their aspirations for a public health campaign.
Aims
To assess the general knowledge, perceptions, myths and attitudes towards stillbirth to inform future public health campaigns.
Methods
Australian participants (n = 344; predominately women n = 294 (85.5%)) were recruited via Facebook.com. They completed a cross-sectional online survey designed to assess their knowledge of pregnancy and stillbirth, with additional questions on socio-demographic characteristics.
Results
Stillbirth knowledge and awareness of incidence was low in this sample. Prominent myths, such as baby runs out of room in the uterus (n = 112, 33%) and baby slows down when preparing for labour (n = 24, 27%) were endorsed. Only 25% (n = 85) knew the prevalence of stillbirth in Australia (six per day). Almost two-thirds (n = 205; 62%) agreed that there needs to be a public health campaign, however one in five (n = 65; 20%) were concerned that talking about stillbirth with pregnant women may cause them to worry.
Discussion and conclusion
Our findings reinforce the need for a targeted campaign, which educates the general population about the definition and prevalence of stillbirth, stillbirth risks and modifiable health behaviours. Appropriate messaging should target pregnant women during antenatal care as well as their support and care systems (family, friends, and care providers)
Molecular phenomic approaches to deconvolving the systemic effects of SARS-CoV-2 infection and Post-acute COVID-19 syndrome
Get PDFSARS COV-2 infection causes acute and frequently severe respiratory disease with associated multi-organ damage and systemic disturbances in many biochemical pathways. Metabolic phenotyping provides deep insights into the complex immunopathological problems that drive the resulting COVID-19 disease and is also a source of novel metrics for assessing patient recovery. A multiplatform metabolic phenotyping approach to studying the pathology and systemic metabolic sequelae of COVID-19 is considered here, together with a framework for assessing post-acute COVID-19 Syndrome (PACS) that is a major long-term health consequence for many patients. The sudden emergence of the disease presents a biological discovery challenge as we try to understand the pathological mechanisms of the disease and develop effective mitigation strategies. This requires technologies to measure objectively the extent and sub-phenotypes of the disease at the molecular level. Spectroscopic methods can reveal metabolic sub-phenotypes and new biomarkers that can be monitored during the acute disease phase and beyond. This approach is scalable and translatable to other pathologies and provides as an exemplar strategy for the investigation of other emergent zoonotic diseases with complex immunological drivers, multi-system involvements and diverse persistent symptoms
Developing population genetics microsatellite markers from metagenomic shotgun next generation sequencing data
Get PDFPopulation genetics allows the measure of genetic variation between individuals within a population. Population genetics relies upon the use of genetic markers, which include Amplified fragment length polymorphism, Random amplified polymorphic DNA, Single nucleotide polymorphisms, and Short tandem repeats (microsatellites). Microsatellite markers are an excellent tool for measuring genetic variation due to their high mutation rate and ease of experimentation using polymerase chain reactions. However, the generation of microsatellite markers is costly and complicated. The workflow presented in this thesis aimed at creating an effective microsatellite marker design process. A mixed-species shotgun sequencing sample of an Ixodes holocyclus tick was used to create a workflow, with the objective of creating microsatellite population genetic markers. However, as ticks are hematophagous arthropods, the generated shotgun data would also include vertebrate host, microbiome and tick DNA. Therefore, a pipeline was developed, which included read mapping, read classification and metagenomic assembly, to isolate tick genomic content for downstream microsatellite retrieval. Four additional next generation sequencing datasets were obtained from NCBI in order to validate this workflow. In total, read mapping identified 441 microsatellite primer sets, metagenomic assembly identified 2,792, and read classification identified 617 with the un-isolated reads recovering 578 microsatellite primer sets. The results obtained from this study show that performing a Kraken2 custom database classification, read mapping to a close target reference genome (using Bowtie2) and metagenomic assembly (using MEGAHIT) all aid in isolating DNA of a target organism. Overall, the pipeline developed in this study was able to isolate target organism sequences, from which microsatellites were discovered and primer sets generated. The pipeline outlined in this study will provide future researchers a more streamlined approach to creating microsatellite markers for their target organism using standard shotgun next generation sequencing data
Characterisation of oestrogen-responsive microRNAs modulating tissue factor and factor VIII: Potential novel biomarkers of thrombosis
Get PDFFemales with high oestrogen levels are more susceptible to develop thrombosis. Increased oestrogen levels lead to an induction of several pro-coagulant factors, including tissue factor and factor VIII, and a significant reduction of protein S (anti-coagulant factor), which engenders a hypercoagulable state to provoke venous thromboembolism (VTE). There is no specific cure for oestrogen-mediated VTE. This PhD project proposes that oestrogen may indirectly regulate coagulation factors via oestrogen-responsive microRNAs (miRs), which are small post-transcriptional regulators. miR-365a-3p and miR-548aa have previously been shown to be down-regulated by oestrogen, and contained a direct binding site on tissue factor and factor VIII mRNA, respectively. The overall aim is to investigate the role of these miRs on their coagulation factor targets, in vitro and in the circulation, and to evaluate the potential of using selected miRs as blood biomarkers of oestrogen-related VTE.
Overexpression of miR-365a-3p in vitro resulted in significant reductions of tissue factor mRNA (~49 %) and protein expression (~27 %), respectively. The miR-365a-3p-mediated tissue factor downregulation further attenuated tissue factor-initiated factor X activity (by 20 %) and thrombin generation (3.0-7.0-fold change of assay parameters, P<0.05). Exogenous expression of miR-548aa confirmed factor VIII mRNA expression was significantly decreased (27 %, P<0.05). Following the miR expression and coagulation factors profile screen, high oestrogen cohorts (hormone-based contraceptive users and pregnant donors) demonstrated a 2.4-fold (P<0.05) and 1.5-fold increase of miR-365a-3p expression, compared to controls. These changes were both correlated with a 1.5-fold (P<0.05 for hormone-based contraceptive group) elevation of tissue factor activity. Women with high oestrogen levels showed a 1.3-2.0-fold induction of miR-548aa, particularly for pregnant participants at their third trimester (P<0.05), and a relative increase of factor VIII activity (1.2-1.5-fold, P<0.001 for third trimester pregnancy).
This PhD thesis is the first to report miR-365a-3p as a potent regulator of tissue factor, and to investigate the haemostatic role of miR-548aa in regulating factor VIII mRNA. In the presence of high oestrogen levels, a positive correlation between levels of miRs and target coagulation factors in circulation was observed, suggesting miR response to oestrogen may vary between cells and circulating blood. Taken together, these novel findings strongly support the rationale for an oestrogen-mediated miR regulatory network in haemostasis that may be essential for the pathophysiology of VTE. It also highlights the importance for additional research on miR and its regulatory roles in hormone-related VTE. Further investigation of hormone mediated miR regulation in thrombosis can improve our understanding of disease pathogenesis, identify precise biomarkers, or develop molecular-targeted therapies, e.g., anti-miRs, to reduce the health-care cost of thrombosis and benefit current and future patients
A meta-analysis of the impact of open innovation on performance
No full textUsing the meta-analysis technique, this research comprehensively reviews the existing open innovation (OI) literature, systematically aggregates empirical findings on the impact of OI on performance to identify key moderators and statistically tests the significance of these moderators in influencing the OI–performance relationship. Based on a comprehensive dataset of 2,377,123 firms and sub-firm units in 171 studies published from 2003 to 2018, this research demonstrates that the OI–performance relationship is significantly moderated by three key factors: performance measure, OI approach, and level of analysis. This research helps explain the conflicting findings regarding the OI–performance relationship in the existing literature, and contributes to the understanding of the effectiveness of OI practice