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Spin versus nonstabilizerness in gluon and graviton scattering
No full textThe quantum property of nonstabilizerness, also known as magic, plays a key role in designing quantum computing systems. How to produce, manipulate, and enhance magic remains mysterious, such that concrete examples of physical systems that manifest magic behavior are sought after. In this paper, we study two-particle scattering of gluons and gravitons in Yang-Mills theory and general relativity, as well as their supersymmetric extensions. This provides an interesting case of two-qubit systems, differing only in the physical spin of the qubits. We show that magic is generically produced in both theories, and also show that magic typically decreases as the spin of the qubits increases. The maximal magic in each case is found to be substantially less than the known upper bound. Differences in the profile of magic generation can be traced to the known physics of each theory, as manifested in relations between their respective scattering amplitudes. Our case study may provide useful insights into understanding magic in other systems.John Gargalionis, Nathan Moynihan, Sokratis Trifinopoulos, Ewan N. V. Wallace, Chris D. White and Martin J. Whit
Characterisation of Wake-Region Optical Emissions From an Ablative Hypersonic Glide Vehicle
No full textThe effect of ablation on the structure and chemical composition of the wake behind the HIFiRE-5 vehicle at Mach 12.6 and 30 km altitude is examined to enhance understanding of possible wake-region emission spectra. A coupled flow-radiation-ablation numerical model is developed to resolve wake-region translational and vibro-electronic temperatures and the number densities of both air and ablation-derived species. For an ablating vehicle, carbon monoxide (CO) and carbon dioxide (CO₂) are identified as the major ablation products entering the wake, while wake-region nitric oxide (NO) is also enhanced relative to the non-ablating vehicle. The developed wake exhibits two apparent neck positions, driven by forebody boundary-layer crossflow, producing localized peaks in translational and vibro-electronic temperatures in the wake.Jarrad M. Knight, Jordan Kildare, Fabian Zander, Yee Wei Law and Michael J. Evan
A trait-based rapid assessment framework to estimate fire impacts on data-poor Australian invertebrate taxa
No full textOnlinePublFollowing large-scale threatening events, a key challenge is to rapidly establish which species have been most affected and are in need of urgent conservation. For data-poor taxa, such assessments are challenging. In Australia, invertebrates represent over 90% of faunal diversity and are critical for ecosystem function, yet most are undescribed, and, of the described, most are poorly known. Thus, it is important to have a way to estimate susceptibility to major disturbance of data-deficient taxa. We developed a novel trait-based method for assessing the impact of a major wildfire on invertebrates.We applied it to 1220 species that showed high distributional overlap with the 2019–2020 Australian megafires. We estimated susceptibility based on the microhabitat species occupy, their life-history and ecological traits, and mechanisms that account for key data uncertainties (number of usable occurrence records, availability of traits data, and recency of taxonomic work). We found 748 species likely to be of potential conservation concern following the megafires; 169, 579, and 454 were highly, moderately, and mildly threatened by a major fire, respectively. Most species (867) were associated with poor or very poor data quality. Of the 867 poorly known species, 97 were most at risk from a major fire. Our approach is generalizable to other data-deficient taxa and to major disturbance events globally and can be used to improve representation of poorly known species in conservation assessments and threat mitigation decisions. If the uncertainties and knowledge gaps we identified are addressed, it is likely risk prediction could be improved.Jessica R. Marsh, Payal Bal, Libby Rumpff, John C. Z. Woinarsk
The opportunities and challenges of online learning in middle level education: Perspectives of students, parents, and school staff in the post-pandemic era
No full textThe COVID pandemic was a major disruptor to education systems globally and locally. These disruptions resulted in emergency transitions to remote online learning, which differed from traditional face-to-face learning. As middle level education has entered the post-pandemic era, it is important to explore the perspectives of key collaborators (e.g. students, teachers, and parents) to identify current opportunities and challenges of online learning. This will provide important insights for middle grades educators and inform future strategies for ensuring positive online learning experiences, as postpandemic recovery is important, especially in the middle years. Therefore, the present study used semi-structured interviews to gather the collective perspectives of three collaborators [Parents (n = 4); students (n = 6; grade 6, aged 11–12 years) and school staff (e.g. teachers) (n = 5)] from one suburban school in Southeast Queensland, Australia. The data allowed triangulation of middle grades perspectives on post-pandemic opportunities and challenges of online learning. Through a reflexive process of thematic analysis, eight key themes emerged: (a) Opportunities: ways of learning, self-learning, online capabilities, and online support; and (b) Challenges: technical issues, online distractions, screen use, and online safety. These findings showed that multiple opportunities exist that offer positive online learning experiences in the middle grades. However, parents, students, and school staff still grapple with several current challenges of online learning at school, and practical recommendations are provided to address these challenges.Michelle M. Neumann, Eunjae Park, Ruby-Jane Barry, Hannah Soong & Sue Nichol
Bias adjusted meta-analysis using the quality effects model: a Stata tutorial
No full textOnlinePublMeta-analysis is a widely employed method for the synthesis of effect sizes across diverse studies; however, traditional meta-analytic models do not address potential bias due to systematic error. In response, bias-adjusted models of meta-analysis have emerged. One of these is the quality effects (QE) model that was introduced as an approach specifically designed to adjust pooled estimates using information from methodological quality assessments. In this paper, we guide researchers step-by-step through the bias-adjustment process using the QE model in Stata (metan package; StataCorp LLC, Texas USA), which provides functions for performing a QE meta-analysis.Jennifer C. Stone, Cindy Stern, Romy Menghao Jia, Ashley Whitehorn, Hien Thi Ho, Suhail A.R. Do
Impact of multimodal training on nursing staff’s competencies in dementia mealtime support: A mixed-methods pilot study
No full textAims: This study assessed the effectiveness of a structured training program in improving nursing staff’s knowledge, skills, and attitudes toward assisting older people with dementia during mealtimes. Design: A mixed-methods design integrating quantitative and qualitative approaches was used. Methods: Conducted in a Sydney residential aged care facility, 24 nursing staff participated in face-to-face training involving education booklets, role-playing, and case studies. Pre/post-training assessments included questionnaires, Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE), and semi-structured interviews. Results: Knowledge scores significantly improved post-training (pre-M = 13.83, post-M = 16.54, p .05), participants reported a marked reduction in perceived difficulty when assisting residents (pre-M = 5.85, post-M = 3.75, p < .01). Frequency of using assistance skills slightly decreased (pre-M = 2.75, post-M = 2.25, p < .05), indicating that assisting with eating became smoother or less challenging. Thematic analysis identified four areas of improvement: environmental adjustments, emotional support, early health issue detection, and personalized strategies. Conclusion: Structured training effectively enhances staff knowledge and skills in dementia mealtime care. Ongoing support may be needed to sustain skill application. Emphasis on environment, emotion, and collaboration is key to improving care quality.Hui-Chen, Rita, Chang, Hansen, Cindy, Tang, Yu, Carrie, Cheng, Lei, Tina, Sun, Ivy Wong, Wenpen
Cytoreductive Surgery and Hyperthermic Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy Outcomes for Colorectal and Mesothelioma Peritoneal Metastases: A 12-year Study
No full textBackground/Aim: Peritoneal surface malignancies, including colorectal peritoneal metastases (CRPM) and peritoneal mesothelioma (PM) carry poor prognoses. The advent of cytoreductive surgery (CRS) and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) has significantly altered the treatment landscape, offering selected patients the potential for prolonged survival and improved quality of life. This study evaluated perioperative and oncological outcomes following CRS and HIPEC for CRPM and PM at a single tertiary center. Patients and Methods: A retrospective review was conducted using a prospectively maintained database (CALHN reference Q20160412) from 2012-2024 at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, South Australia. Results: A total of 67 CRS procedures on 62 patients with CRPM and 21 procedures on 19 patients with PM were performed. Complete cytoreduction (CC0/CC1) was achieved in 74.6% and 60.0% patients, respectively. Median overall survival for patients with CRPM was 25 months, with a 53% 2-year and a 23% 5-year survival rate. For patients with PM, the 2-year and 5-year overall survival was 58% and 33% respectively. In patients with CRPM, incomplete cytoreduction and high peritoneal carcinomatosis index were independently associated with poorer outcomes. Conclusion: In our 12-year experience, outcomes were primarily determined by cytoreduction completeness and disease burden, with long-term survival achievable through careful patient selection and specialized surgical care.Harleen Kaur, Gershwin Isaac Singh Bhall, Christopher Lauder, Nigel Da Silva, Timothy Price, Markus Trochsler, Josephine Wright, Susan Lesley Woods and Pete Hewet
Writing beyond the map: Combining literary journalism and folklore to reveal invisible landscapes of rural Australia
No full textOnlinePublThis paper proposes Creative Folklore Journalism, a new sub-genre of literary journalism utilising the discipline’s immersion to depict places intertwined with local folklore, creating a captivating narrative revealing the ‘invisible landscape’ through an enriched sense of place. This sub-genre recognises the role folklore has in sustaining meaningfulness in places and advocates for presenting place and folklore together by preserving the ‘geographical root’. This research pioneers Creative Folklore Journalism and explores how it utilises the fundamental devices of literary journalism enhanced with contemporary scholarship and an innovative folklore focus to capture enriched sense of place. An Australian case study examines its first instance of use in documenting the regional non- Indigenous folklore of a rural South Australian town through an immersive narrative that reveals the ‘invisible landscape’ otherwise unknown by outsiders. In conjunction with literary journalism, the research also adopts archival research, literary cartography, and narrative inquiry to thicken the narrative. In doing so, this paper proposes a replicable model using Creative Folklore Journalism that deepens sense of place in immersive storytelling.Jayden J Bartlet
HIF-2alpha expression is controlled by the progesterone receptor and regulates hCG-induced gene expression in granulosa cells during ovulation in mice
No full textOvulation is induced via a surge in gonadotrophin hormones, which increases the expression of the essential ovulatory transcription factor progesterone receptor (PGR) and its target genes. The importance of PGR in ovulation is well defined; however, the role of its many downstream genes largely remains unknown. Using mouse models of ovulation, we show that the Epas1 gene, which encodes the hypoxia inducible transcription factor 2alpha (HIF-2alpha), is expressed in a PGR-dependent manner during ovulation. Numerous HIF target genes increase in expression upon gonadotrophin stimulation in mouse granulosa cells, with expression of Epas1, but not its related isoform, Hif1a, increasing in a PGR-dependent manner. PGR directly binds introns of the Epas1 locus to enhance chromatin accessibility in ovarian granulosa cells in vivo, yet no evidence of PGR-dependent Epas1 expression was observed in PGR-expressing breast cancer cell lines, suggesting ovary-specific mechanisms of PGR-dependent Epas1 regulation. PGR activation in response to hormonal stimulation induced expression of a HIF reporter system in primary human granulosa cells, with HIF-2 inhibition with the small molecule PT-2385 confirming a HIF-2 contribution to this response. Upon HIF-2 inhibition with PT-2385 in mice, no change in ovulation counts were observed. However, gonadotrophin-induced ovary gene expression was significantly disrupted, supporting a model where HIF-2alpha contributes to the control of periovulatory gene expression downstream of PGR. In particular, inflammatory gene expression was dysregulated and a cohort of gonadotrophin-dependent genes, including Pgr, were elevated, suggesting impaired downregulation postovulation. These findings provide an important insight into regulation of the hypoxia inducible transcription factors during ovulation and how targeting HIF-2alpha may be of benefit in future fertility treatments.Alison E. Roennfeldt, Doan T. Dinh, Timothy R. McPhee, Ryan D. Rose, Kirsten M. Smith, Minnu Jayapal, Timothy P. Allen, Rebecca L. Robker, David C. Bersten, Daniel J. Peet, Darryl L. Russel
‘I do feel proud that almost everyone I know voted’: The emotional foundations of dutiful citizenship
No full textFirst published online November 10, 2024Democratic politics in many parts of the world seems increasingly characterised by intense emotions, bitter divisions and growing polarisation. Amidst this charged political atmosphere it is a common refrain that an emotional politics forfeits rational dialogue and threatens our democracy. In contrast to such claims this article argues that emotions are central to citizenship and political participation. Drawing upon qualitative archival material from the British Mass Observation Project (1983–2017) the article explores the enduring emotional dimensions of dutiful citizenship. Civically engaged respondents experienced electoral politics emotionally and with a striking intensity. In contrast to accounts which associate dutiful citizenship with dry notions of duty, responsibility and obligation, this article begins an exploration of the emotional underpinnings of dutiful citizenship; the deep and abiding feelings citizens can have towards democratic politics and their political engagement. Findings indicate that a wide range of emotions are central to the evaluative and sense-making processes of dutiful citizens and the ways in which they are mobilised for sustained political engagement. The article concludes by suggesting that a focus on the emotional and expressive aspects of dutiful citizenship may help to cultivate committed young democrats for the future.Nathan Mannin