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‘It’s Coming Unstuck!’ WeChat Stickiness and the Social Lives of Chinese Students in Melbourne
No full textWeChat, a dominant social media platform in China, has played a pivotal role in the lives of Chinese international students in Australia over the past decade, serving as a primary means of communication, a channel for information exchange, and a symbolic link to home. This doctoral thesis examines the evolving relationship between WeChat and its young overseas user base, with a particular focus on the concept of platform stickiness. Drawing on nine months of ethnographic fieldwork across Melbourne, Australia, survey data (n = 62), and over 60 participant interviews, the study reveals how WeChat operates simultaneously as both an essential digital infrastructure and an inescapable source of concern for them. It identifies a persistent tension between users’ functional dependency on the platform and their growing concerns, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. The thesis comprises four core chapters, each on a different dimension of WeChat’s stickiness: WeChat and migration; WeChat usage; WeChat’s and censorship; and finally, WeChat and political depression. Collectively, these central chapters offer an integrated view of how digital platform governance, surveillance, emotional strain, and social dependency converge to shape overseas user engagement, with WeChat as the case study.
This research contributes to the fields of platform studies and digital media ethnography by providing a context-sensitive investigation of WeChat usage among a transnational, youth-based user group. While existing scholarship has examined WeChat’s technical features, censorship architecture, and role within China’s digital ecosystem, little attention has been paid to the lived experiences of users outside Mainland China. By centring users’ affective responses, coping strategies, and shifting perceptions, this thesis bridges the gap between macro-level platform governance and micro-level user practices. Key contributions include the development of a staged model of WeChat usage, which captures temporal shifts in user-platform relationships—from initial dependence to reluctant disengagement; a refined conceptualisation of WeChat-based censorship; and an in-depth analysis of the emerging phenomenon of Chinese political depression in digital contexts. In doing so, the study offers both empirical insights and theoretical tools for understanding how digital platforms shape, constrain, and are negotiated by young diasporic users across geopolitical boundaries. Additionally, it addresses a critical gap in Australian media and digital policy scholarship, where Chinese-language platforms and their sociopolitical implications remain under explored.
This thesis not only sheds light on how WeChat’s entangled role as both infrastructure and instrument of control shapes the everyday lives of Chinese international students abroad but also calls for a more inclusive understanding of digital citizenship under conditions of geopolitical asymmetry. Moreover, the thesis invites further research into the long-term psychological, social, and political implications of platform governance for diasporic communities, particularly in contexts where digital participation is both empowering and constraining.</p
Chemical Profiling and Investigating the Anti-Inflammatory Properties of Polyphenol Enriched Sugarcane Extracts
No full textSugarcane (Saccharum officinarum), a globally significant crop primarily cultivated for sugar and ethanol production, generates large volumes of polyphenol-rich by-products. These by-products hold promising bioactive potential, particularly due to their polyphenol content, which exhibits antioxidant and immunomodulatory properties. This thesis presents a comprehensive investigation into the chemical composition and anti-inflammatory effects of Polyphenol-Rich Sugarcane Extracts (PRSEs), through a multidisciplinary approach integrating extraction optimisation, in vitro immunological assays, and mass spectrometry-based chemical profiling techniques.
The study commenced with the optimisation of extraction methods to enhance the recovery of total polyphenols and flavonoids from sugarcane-derived materials. A comparative assessment of liquid-liquid extraction (LLE) solvents and post-extraction strategies identified ethyl acetate, coupled with acidification and solid-phase extraction (SPE), as the most effective approach to yield PRSEs with high antioxidant capacity, as demonstrated by 2,2'-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid (ABTS) and 2,2-Diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging assays. Cytotoxicity analyses using 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-5-(3-carboxymethoxyphenyl)-2-(4-sulfophenyl)-2H-tetrazolium (MTS), Trypan Blue, and CellTox™ assays across myeloid-derived cell lines (THP-1, U937, and dHL-60) confirmed that the PRSEs were well tolerated at varying doses, though high concentrations interfered with tetrazolium-based assays, necessitating cross-validation with orthogonal methods.
Subsequent immunological evaluations revealed that PRSEs exhibit both antioxidant and immunomodulatory activities under different stimulation conditions. In baseline and LPS-stimulated settings, the extracts reduced intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) and altered cytokine profiles. Specifically, Polyphenol Rich Sugarcane Extracts (PRSEs) significantly suppressed Interleukin (IL)-6 secretion in post-Toll-Like Receptor (TLR)4 stimulated THP-1 cells, while exhibiting dose- and context-dependent effects on TNF (Tumour Necrosis Factor)-α. Pre-treatment with extracts prior to inflammatory stimulation demonstrated contrasting responses, indicating complex temporal dynamics in polyphenol-cell interactions. Furthermore, gene expression analysis using Reverse Transcription Quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-qPCR) showed minimal changes in cytokine transcription, suggesting that PRSEs exert their effects predominantly at the post-transcriptional or secretory level.
To establish the chemical basis of these biological effects, high-resolution mass spectrometry was employed to characterise and quantify polyphenols present in PRSEs. An in-house polyphenol standard library was created, encompassing a broad panel of flavonoids and phenolic acids. Using Liquid Chromatography Quadrupole Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometry (LC-QTOF-MS), key polyphenols were identified, including swertisin, tricin, chlorogenic acid, syringic acid, and trans-p-coumaric acid. Method validation confirmed the mass accuracy and precision of the LC-QTOF-MS approach. Targeted quantification using tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) was then developed and validated for trans-p-coumaric acid, achieving accurate and precise quantification across both Polynol (PN) and Polygain (PG) extract variants.
Overall, this research provides novel insights into the dual chemical and biological profiles of sugarcane polyphenol extracts. The findings demonstrate that PRSEs, derived from sugarcane waste streams, are not only chemically rich in bioactive flavonoids and phenolic acids but also capable of modulating inflammation and oxidative stress responses in immune cells. This work contributes to the growing body of evidence supporting the therapeutic and nutraceutical applications of agricultural by-products, offering potential pathways for sustainable bioproduct development and functional food design. Future directions include in vivo validation, exploration of bioavailability, and formulation into dietary supplements or clinical interventions for chronic inflammatory conditions.</p
Chinese Herbal Medicine for Mild Cognitive Impairment: Current State of Evidence and Perspectives of Patients, Caregivers and Clinicians
No full textBackground
Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is an intermediate stage between the expected cognitive decline of normal ageing and the more serious decline of dementia. Individuals with MCI have an increased risk of developing dementia. As a recognised precursor to dementia, MCI presents a critical window for early intervention, offering the potential to delay or prevent further cognitive decline.
However, current therapeutic strategies for MCI remain limited. Conventional pharmacological treatments have shown limited clinical benefits in MCI individuals and adverse effects are common. Given the multifactorial pathophysiology of MCI, therapeutic strategies that target isolated mechanisms may provide only limited clinical benefit. In contrast, multi-targeted interventions, such as Chinese herbal medicine (CHM), hold potential for modulating multiple pathological mechanisms while supporting intrinsic compensatory processes.
While cognitive symptoms are the hallmark of MCI, neuropsychiatric symptoms, like sleep disturbances are also clinically significant. Hypnotics are commonly prescribed for sleep disturbances but are associated with adverse effects, particularly in older adults, and may negatively impact cognitive function. Moreover, evidence specifically for managing sleep disturbances in MCI remains limited.
Consequently, there is a critical need for safe and accessible therapeutic options that not only address the complex and heterogeneous pathophysiology of MCI but also meet the diverse clinical needs of affected individuals. CHM, characterised by holistic principles and personalised treatment approaches, has historically been employed in the management of symptoms and signs related to cognitive disorders. Preliminary evidence suggests that CHM may benefit MCI by modulating multiple pathological processes. Nevertheless, robust evidence regarding the efficacy, effectiveness, safety and clinical applicability of CHM in MCI remains limited. Further, little is known about the perspectives of patients, caregivers and clinicians on the use of CHM in this population. Therefore, this research seeks to address these gaps through an integrated investigation of clinical evidence, real-world practice patterns and stakeholder experiences.
Research questions, aims and objectives
The research questions for this project are:
•What is the current clinical research evidence of CHM for MCI?
•What are the clinical characteristics of MCI patients and the CHM prescription patterns observed in real-world clinical practice?
•What are the experiences, attitudes, and perspectives of patients, caregivers and clinicians on using CHM to manage MCI with coexisting sleep disturbances?
The research aims of this project are to:
•synthesise the evidence of CHM for MCI from clinical research, real-world clinical practice and the perspectives of patients, caregivers and clinicians
•gain a deeper insight into the role of CHM in the management of MCI, with a specific focus on addressing coexisting sleep disturbances.
The specific objectives of this project are to:
•conduct a systematic review to evaluate the efficacy and safety of oral CHM for MCI compared to placebo
•conduct a systematic review to evaluate the add-on effects of oral CHM when used in combination with donepezil for managing MCI compared to donepezil alone
•conduct a retrospective analysis of electronic medical records (EMRs) from a major tertiary public hospital in China to investigate the clinical characteristics of MCI patients and the CHM prescriptions they received for MCI
•conduct a qualitative study to understand the experiences, attitudes, and perspectives of patients, caregivers and clinicians regarding the use of CHM in managing MCI with coexisting sleep disturbances.
Methods and results
This project consists of three components: 1) two systematic reviews of clinical research evidence; 2) a retrospective study of the EMRs of MCI patients; and 3) a qualitative study exploring the perspectives of MCI patients with sleep disturbance, their caregivers and clinicians.
Systematic review of clinical evidence
The two systematic reviews were conducted according to the guidelines provided in the Cochrane handbook for systematic reviews of interventions. Results of the first systematic review indicated that CHM significantly improved cognitive function compared to placebo in terms of the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) and the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA). The second systematic review revealed that combining CHM with donepezil significantly enhanced cognitive function in MCI patients, as evidenced by improvements in MMSE and MoCA scores. Both reviews, found no significant difference in the reported number of adverse events (AEs) between groups.
Retrospective analysis of medical records
The retrospective study examined the EMRs of MCI patients from Guangdong Provincial Hospital of Chinese Medicine (GPHCM), China. Memory decline was identified as the predominant concern, with sleep disturbances also being a significant neuropsychiatric symptom. Coexisting sleep disturbances were associated with a higher average number of medical visits, suggesting that neuropsychiatric symptoms may influence their healthcare engagement, although a direct correlation was not confirmed. CHM use was common, particularly among those with sleep disturbances. A subset of patients received both CHM and anti-dementia drugs, suggesting that a tailored approach to oral pharmacological therapy is being adopted in this hospital to address the need for individualised treatment plans. The findings highlight the importance of considering sleep issues in the clinical management of MCI.
Qualitative study of stakeholders’ perspectives
The qualitative study was aimed at understanding the experiences, attitudes, and perspectives of patients, caregivers and clinicians regarding the use of CHM in managing MCI and coexisting sleep disturbances. An interpretive phenomenological design was used, with semi-structured interviews analysed through inductive thematic analysis. The findings indicated that the key stakeholders generally perceived CHM, particularly decoctions, as a safer, individualised and more holistic treatment option for MCI and coexisting sleep disturbances, contributing to its broad acceptance in clinical practice. However, barriers to clinical implementation of CHM, such as the complexity of preparation, unpleasant taste and concerns regarding CHM quality and treatment costs, presented ongoing challenges. Interviews also revealed patients’ and caregivers’ limited knowledge of MCI and sleep disturbances, the considerable caregiver burden and inadequate healthcare service support.
Conclusion
This project integrated evidence from clinical research, real-world clinical practice and stakeholder perspectives to comprehensively understand the role of CHM in managing MCI, particularly among patients experiencing concurrent sleep disturbance. Through this approach, the study identified potential clinical applications of CHM therapies to help address key challenges in MCI management and priorities for further investigation to support the development of evidence-based health care.</p
Introductory Chapter: Massive Open Online Courses – Learning Frontiers and Novel Innovations.
No full textOver the past decade, education has undergone an extraordinary transformation, driven by rapid technological advancements and a growing demand for accessible and flexible learning opportunities. At the heart of this shift are Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs), which have disrupted traditional education systems and redefined how knowledge is disseminated. MOOCs have empowered millions of learners by offering access to world-class courses from leading institutions, breaking barriers of cost, geography, and infrastructure that have historically limited educational opportunities.</p
Development of Innovative Perforated and Confined Compression Cast Concrete (PC-CCC) for FRP-Reinforced Compression Yielding (CY) Beam
No full textFibre-reinforced polymer (FRP)-reinforced concrete beams have attracted research interest due to the advantages of FRP such as high tensile strength and excellent corrosion resistance. However, the non-ductile behaviour of FRP leads to brittle failure of FRP-reinforced concrete beams. To address this issue, an innovative concept of compression yield (CY) beams was developed. The principle of CY beams is to replace the concrete on the compression side of the plastic hinge region in FRP-reinforced concrete beams with a highly ductile material, called CY material. Through this method, the CY material undergoes compressive yielding to produce significant ductile deformation, and the plastic hinge zone undergoes significant deformation, resulting in significant bending deformation of the beam. Previous experimental studies on CY beams have shown that this approach can result in beams with adequate ductility; however, CY beams also exhibit insufficient rigidity under service loads. This problem is caused by the insufficient elastic modulus of the CY material used, which is significantly lower than that of normal concrete. Therefore, it is required to develop a new CY material with both high ductility and sufficient elastic modulus to solve the issue of insufficient rigidity of CY beams.In this project, a new CY material, perforated and confined compression cast concrete (PC-CCC), is developed through multiple trials. This study outlines the design details and manufacturing process of PC-CCC, and investigates the axial stress-strain behaviour and some important mechanical properties. The experimental results show that PC-CCC can meet the requirements of elastic modulus and ductility simultaneously. Models for the relationships between PC-CCC material design parameters and key mechanical properties are proposed and validated. Using the proposed models, the material design parameters of PC-CCC can be predicted with specific mechanical properties through optimal design, thereby guiding the design of PC-CCC.In addition, a new CY beam with PC-CCC is designed. An FE model of the new CY beam is developed and validated. A parametric study is conducted through numerical simulation to discuss the effects of the key mechanical properties of PC-CCC on the CY beams. The results indicate that the CY beams with PC-CCC can meet the rigidity requirement under service loads. In qualitative analysis, the results show that the properties of CY beams are most affected by the relevant PC-CCC mechanical properties, and it provides the general design principle of CY beams. This study also introduces a model for the ductility of the CY beams and proposed a model for the loading capacity of the CY beams. Both models are validated through numerical simulation results, which show that both models can accurately predict the performance of the CY beams and assist in the design of the CY beams.</p
Australian audience reactions to the ABC’s broadcast of Tales of the City, as seen in the Green Guide letters
No full textWhen Tales of the City (1993) was broadcast to Australian audiences on the public service broadcaster, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) in 1994, it brought a story that substantially featured representations of gay men to our small screen. That broadcast was followed by a series of eight letters to the Green Guide – a weekly television guide circulated with The Age newspaper based in Victoria, Australia – that debated the value of these stories appearing onscreen. This article examines the Green Guide letters published as reactions to Tales, providing insight into public attitudes towards gay representations at the time. It analyses how the mediated debate that took place was a curated version of public opinions about sexually diverse representations. It argues how this public debate through letters published in the media highlights the significance of such stories appearing onscreen for both gay men and broader communities alike. Further, it argues the role of the ABC as a public service broadcaster in bringing such complex gay stories to Australian viewers, that other commercial networks may have resisted at the time.</p
Genetics and Neurobiological Pathways in Social Media Addiction: A Scoping Review
No full textThis scoping review aims to synthesize existing literature on the genetics interplay and neurobiological pathways in the development and maintenance of social media addiction. By analysing the relationships between genetic factors, neural networks, and neurotransmitter systems, this review aims to offer a comprehensive understanding of the biological mechanisms underlying social media addiction identifying potential targets for intervention and prevention strategies. The review examines genetic predispositions, brain structure and function, and neurochemical imbalances associated with social media use and addiction. The escalating use of social networking sites has triggered concerns about their addictive potential, yet the concept of SNS addiction remains contentious, highlighting the necessity for theory-driven research to elucidate the mechanisms driving excessive and compulsive SNS (evolving digital connectivity) use and to facilitate the creation of targeted interventions for users at risk (Ihssen & Wadsley, 2020).</p
Regulation and Freedom on Europe's “City Beaches”
No full textA wide range of temporary artificial 'city beaches' have been installed on both public and privately-owned sites in Germany and France by local governments, community organizations, and private entrepreneurs. This work examines their varied management regimes, government regulation, and actual visitor behaviors. It considers the different kinds of freedoms that such beach environments might allow, how these freedoms are allocated among different people, and how they can change over time. This analysis is based on field observation, interviews with site managers, and analysis of policies and regulations.</p
The Voice, Vibe & Vision Summary Report
No full textRMIT PlaceLab’s ‘Voice, Vibe & Vision’ Research Project was an exploration of what gives Brunswick its unique character amid ongoing transformative infrastructure change.Focusing on the Brunswick Design District (BDD), ‘Voice, Vibe & Vision’ gathered local perspectives on the sounds, images, words, stories, and imaginings that make Brunswick, Brunswick. The Project engaged with community members, RMIT students, and local stakeholders through a range of research activities, including a Community Survey, Walking Interviews, Photographer Trails, a Collage Workshop, and finally, a ‘Voice, Vibe & Vision’ Exhibition.</p
Case studies: Use of natural, regenerated fibres and their blends by sportswear and activewear brands
No full textNatural fibres such as cotton and hemp possess superior properties in relation to comfort such as better moisture management properties, air permeability and sensorial comfort. The recent trend in sportswear and activewear designing is to meet the aesthetics and functional requirements in addition to meeting the sustainability specifications. The sportswear brands can achieve sustainability by using sustainable natural raw materials that reduce the total environmental impact at their end of life. Various new materials such as organic cotton and industrial hemp are paving their way to design sustainable sportswear. This chapter covers new sustainable fibres such as organic cotton, hemp, bamboo and lyocell. The manufacturing process, ecological benefits of using sustainable natural and regenerated materials are included in this chapter. Further the production process of the sustainable natural fibres is highlighted. Finally, there have been some case studies focusing on the fashion brands using natural and regenerated products in the sportswear industry.</p