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Peripatetic painting
No full textGenetically modified (gene silenced), emergent painting (dimensions emergent and temporal)
‘Sonata’ for cello and piano
No full text‘Sonata’ is a chamber work for Violoncello and Piano. Drawing on famous 20th century cello repertoire, ‘Sonata’ compiles techniques associated with these works. Because these works are so iconic, the slightest reference to their famous motives, gestures, etc, could be heard as a quotation or pastiche. ‘Sonata’ re-casts the role of composer as a mediator of recovered cultural sound memories
On the motion of aggregates composed of different numbers of particles through a non-uniform magnetic field
No full textThe influence of a magnetic field on the motion of iron particles located in a viscous fluid was investigated in this study. A magnetic field gradient was formed by orienting the poles of the magnet to produce a variable gap between the poles. The non-uniform magnetic field caused magnetisable particles to travel along the direction of the field gradient. The particles were found to undergo a process of aggregation, which in turn produced larger particles. The particles were also found to align in the direction of the field and hence in a direction perpendicular to the field gradient. Upon aggregation the new entity continued to move along the direction of the field gradient, but at a velocity distinctly higher than that of the aggregating units. When further aggregation occurred the entity increased to an even higher velocity, though the rate of increase in the velocity decreased, leading to an asymptotic velocity for very large aggregates. This behaviour was examined for spherical particles of different diameter and for rod shaped particles. This work shows the effective magnetisation of the iron particles is governed by the aspect ratio of the particles, indeed the mass distribution of the particles within the magnetic field.</p
The dynamics of Microcystis blooms in hypereutrophic ponds
No full textMetagenomic studies have revealed the vastness of the microbial world with systems like cyanobacterial bloom complexes, revealing more diversity than previously anticipated. Cyanobacteria thrive within the hypereutrophic conditions of wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs). Their presence, along with their specialised metabolites, including toxins, reduce treated water quality and represent a risk to both public and environmental health. This thesis investigated the ecology of cyanobacterial proliferation in WWTP lagoons using next generation sequencing technologies and identified the intricate diversity within cyanobacterial bloom complexes. This diversity confers an adaptive capacity to the cyanobacterial communities that enables persistent surface blooms. Amplicon sequencing of waste stabilisation ponds within the treatment conveyance demonstrated that Microcystis preferentially inhabits ponds downstream of the nutrient reduction intervention and remains conserved throughout the treatment process. Whole metagenome sequencing was employed to characterise temporal stability in the Microcystis community. Two high quality Microcystis species representative genomes (SRGs) were recovered, showing perennial proliferative episodes correlated with environmental parameters such as solar radiation, temperature and lagoon pH. The sequencing also revealed that mcy+ and mcy- genotypes of the Microcystis SRGs were abundant during different bloom events, indicating that toxin synthesis may play a role in adaptive community response to environmental stimuli. Amplicon sequencing identified the WWTP sediment as an inoculum source for the seeding of recurrent Microcystis blooms. A novel in-vitro propagation methodology was established to generate toxigenic Microcystis blooms from WWTP sediments, contributing significantly to the mechanistic understanding of Microcystis bloom formation. The application of next-generation sequencing technologies in this thesis provides deep insight into cyanobacterial dynamics within waste stabilisation ponds. This is critical for improving knowledge into the spatial and temporal dynamics of Microcystis blooms. Further, by elucidating bloom formation mechanisms and identifying persistent genetic reservoirs in sediment, this research informs targeted management practices essential for sustainable water resource utilisation and offers crucial insights for cyanobacterial risk assessment strategies
Investigating the role of cell wall invertase in ovule development in Arabidopsis thaliana
No full textOvule development is essential for the realization of crop yield as it determines seed number. Cell wall invertase (CWIN)-mediated sucrose metabolism and signalling is central to plant reproductive development including the formation of pollen fertility and seed- and fruit- set as well as their stress responses. It remains elusive, however, whether and how CWIN controls ovule development. Here, we provide a set of molecular evidence that CWIN functions as a positive regulator in ovule initiation and development. First, in situ RNA hybridization experiments revealed that the two reproductive specific genes CWIN2 and CWIN4 were highly expressed at the placenta region where ovule primordia initiated. To experimentally validate the potential role of CWIN in ovule initiation and subsequent development, we generated pSTK::amiRCWIN24 transgenic plants, in which an ovule-specific SEEDSTICK promoter (pSTK) was used to drive the artificial microRNAs (amiRCWIN24) specifically targeting CWIN2 and CWIN4. The pSTK::amiRCWIN24 transgenic plants exhibited a significant decrease in the transcript levels of CWIN2 and 4 and considerable reduction in ovule number and increased ovule abortion, which collectively results in over 50% seed loss as compared to WT. Further analysis indicates that over 65% of the seed loss was due to blockage of ovule initiation; whereas less than 35% of the loss was resulted from ovule abortion in the transgenic plants. The data clearly showed that the blockage of ovule initiation is the primary cause of seed number reduction in the pSTK::amiRCWIN24 transgenic plants. The degree of seed number loss is further aggravated by the ovule abortion for those ovules that did initiate. These findings demonstrated that CWIN plays an important role in determining the formation of ovules at the early reproductive stage. To explore the underlying mechanism of CWIN-mediated ovule initiation, RNA-Seq analysis was conducted to compare the transcript profiles between transgenic and WT plants at the ovule initiation stage by using pooled flower bud samples harvested at floral stage 8-10, which covers a stage prior to (stage 8), during (stage 9) and immediately after (stage 10) ovule initiation. Through this exercise, we identified several potential pathways that may participate in the CWIN-mediated ovule initiation. The data indicate that CWIN may exert its control over ovule initiation through suppressing SPL8- and SPL14- pathway, in which SPL8 and SPL14 may function as negative regulators repressing MADS transcription factor such as STK, AGL66 and AGL104 to block ovule initiation. Alternatively, CWIN-mediated ovule initiation may be achieved through a positive regulation of SAURs, in which SAURs inhibit the expression of D clade subfamily of type 2C protein phosphatases (PP2C.Ds) to promote ovule initiation.
Since ovule primordia connect the placenta symplasmically during ovule initiation in Arabidopsis, while CWIN functions in the apoplasm, it is unlikely that the inhibition of ovule formation is casued by the lack of supply of carbon nutrients in the CWIN-suppression transgenic plants. This, together with the emerging evidence that CWIN-mediated sucrose hydrolysis plays a major role in sugar signalling to impact plant development, suggests that CWIN may regulate ovule initiation through sugar signalling. Relevently, our RNA-Seq analysis identified a cohort of putative extracellular receptor-like-kinases (RLKs) and intracellular small GTPases (Rops) that were also differentially expressed in response to CWIN-silencing in the transgenic plants. Together, these findings suggest that CWIN-mediated sugar signalling may be perceived by or transmitted through RLKs and Rop signalling components to regulate ovule formation by modulating the expression of downstream candidate genes such as , STK, AGL66, AGL104 and early auxin response genes, SAURs
The hydrodynamics of fast flotation
No full textThe recovery of hydrophobic particles from low grade, dilute, solids streams frequently requires a significant number of large flotation cells to account for a low flotation rate constant. However, this approach is often considered uneconomical due to the substantial capital investment and energy consumption. Hence, valuable particles are subsequently discharged to tailings. Key parameters governing the kinetics of flotation include the bubble diameter and the shear rate, while the extraction rate is limited by the bubble surface flux, Sb = 6jg/Db. However, for a given bubble diameter, Db, the imposed gas flux, jg, is constrained in conventional flotation by the need to operate with a distinct froth and bubbly-pulp zone to ensure effective separation. An excessive jg will result in flooding and ineffective separation as the overflow begins to resemble the underflow. The bubble surface flux, Sb, is limited to 30 to 60 s-1 in conventional flotation [1]. This study is concerned with enhancing the kinetics of flotation by accommodating extreme feed and gas fluxes. Extreme bubble surface fluxes, up to 600 s-1, were produced. This was achieved by incorporating an arrangement of parallel inclined channels below the main vertical chamber. This novel arrangement enhanced the bubble-liquid segregation, preventing the entrainment of bubbles to the underflow.</p
University of Sunshine Coast (USC) chancellery: Exhibited at Abundant, Venice Biennale, 11th International Architecture Exhibition, Venice, Italy
No full textThe University of the Sunshine Coast's new building, the Chancellery, is pivotal in consolidating the central precinct of the campus. Placed directly opposite the Library, the Chancellery creates a new hub and student focus. The building includes the new Chancellery, 14 tutorial rooms, 40 academic offices, 600 m² of student services, a 251 seat lecture theatre and a café. Generous covered outdoor spaces bring all of the varied uses together with clarity and create a democratic environment for the 800 occupants including students, academics and research staff. The ESD principles of the University are central to the design. Offices and tutorial rooms are ‘mixed-mode', that is they operate without air-conditioning for the majority of the year. However each room has individual air-conditioning on separate switching to eliminate unnecessary use of energy. All corridor spaces are external, and the theatre is cooled by a displacement air system. The Chancellery accommodates the Vice Chancellor, Deputy and Pro Vice Chancellors, and the Council meeting rooms. Rather than using circulation corridors between the Chancellery offices, an indoor verandah has created a sky lit multifunctional space. The building reinforces the Jeffersonian based master plan and continues the University's commitment to the development of an authentic, subtropical architecture for civic and education buildings
Hey Hemingway!
No full textPoem published in a collection of Australian verse, featuring innovative and exciting poems – many published for the first time – from well known poets as well as daring and insightful works from rising stars
Strategy as leadership: an alternate perspective to the construct of strategy
No full textSince the seduction of business rhetoric into the field of education, dating back to at least to Taylorism in the early 1900s, school leaders have shaped themselves as organisational managers and
leaders. Terms such as ‘strategic’ have been introduced to add misleading rhetorical weight to activities. But what do we mean by ‘strategic’? Scholarship on strategy in schools and strategic
leadership by principals has tended to spike following the enactment of polices such as the Education Reform Act in the UK. This has led to a narrow perception of what it means to be strategic, and legitimised modernistic thinking entwined with Romantic ideals. In this paper, I argue the case for a new conceptualisation of strategy. Strategy as leadership puts social practice back into educational leadership. This paper was written, as is arguably the case of a special issue, to serve as the stimulus for further discussion and debate in the quest of advancing our understanding of what it means to be strategic
Systems for grading the quality of evidence and the strength of recommendations II: Pilot study of a new system
No full textBackground: Systems that are used by different organisations to grade the quality of evidence and the strength of recommendations vary. They have different strengths and weaknesses. The GRADE Working Group has developed an approach that addresses key shortcomings in these systems. The aim of this study was to pilot test and further develop the GRADE approach to grading evidence and recommendations. Methods: A GRADE evidence profile consists of two tables: a quality assessment and a summary of findings. Twelve evidence profiles were used in this pilot study. Each evidence profile was made based on information available in a systematic review. Seventeen people were given instructions and independently graded the level of evidence and strength of recommendation for each of the 12 evidence profiles. For each example judgements were collected, summarised and discussed in the group with the aim of improving the proposed grading system. Kappas were calculated as a measure of chance-corrected agreement for the quality of evidence for each outcome for each of the twelve evidence profiles. The seventeen judges were also asked about the ease of understanding and the sensibility of the approach. All of the judgements were recorded and disagreements discussed. Results: There was a varied amount of agreement on the quality of evidence for the outcomes relating to each of the twelve questions (kappa coefficients for agreement beyond chance ranged from 0 to 0.82). However, there was fair agreement about the relative importance of each outcome. There was poor agreement about the balance of benefits and harms and recommendations. Most of the disagreements were easily resolved through discussion. In general we found the GRADE approach to be clear, understandable and sensible. Some modifications were made in the approach and it was agreed that more information was needed in the evidence profiles. Conclusion: Judgements about evidence and recommendations are complex. Some subjectivity, especially regarding recommendations, is unavoidable. We believe our system for guiding these complex judgements appropriately balances the need for simplicity with the need for full and transparent consideration of all important issues