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Taking care of the ocean that takes care of us: Activating ocean sports participants into ocean conservation
No full textThis research report for UK organisation and charity, Surfers Against Sewage, focuses on the intersections between relationships to the ocean through sport and physical activities (e.g. swimming and surfing) and how people are activated to care for coastal and ocean ecologies. It explores multiple frameworks for how people come to develop relationships and take various forms of action towards coastal and ocean care and conservation, as well as making recommendations for conservation organisations aiming to connect with ocean-sport-based individuals and communities. </p
Cosmovision as a Relational Practice of Encountering and Making Worlds
No full textThis research examines ways of enacting relationality in collaborative design, by bringing the notion of cosmovision to design. Cosmovision, the vision of the cosmos, is a framework for cultural interpretation rooted in Mesoamerican and Andean anthropological research of how certain groups were making sense of their reality. This relational process of sensemaking was articulated by integrating physical and metaphysical understandings of multiple phenomena, usually situated in a specific place and time. It is commonly referred to as worldviews, as both refer to the same metaphor of observing the world. The relevance of cosmovision lies in its ontological action; depending on which view of the world is perceived, is the world that is built by the viewer, and then that world builds us back. In contemporary discussions on decolonial and pluriversal approaches in design, it has been raised the importance of being aware of what Colombian anthropologist Arturo Escobar (2024) calls the foundational myth, as the stories that make us, usually influenced by dominant north-western ways of thinking, being and doing. These stories, as worlds that operate unconsciously in the background, somehow remain unnoticed. Therefore, being aware of how we view and make sense of the world matters. This research emerges from a deep disappointment with my ways of being in design, operating as a design consultant in strategic design, working for Public and private sector in Chile, and an increasing perception of the inadequacy of north-western-based knowledge, tools and methods that I was applying in participatory contexts. This led to a process of critical reflection on my know-how as a participatory design practitioner from the Global South and the exploration of possible paths for praxis transformation. How do I transform my practice towards more ethical and pluralistic forms through practice? Therefore, two research trajectories coexist and are entangled in this journey. One refers to the exploration of cosmovision in the context of a participatory experience of practice. How can cosmovision be examined and materialised? The other refers to finding paths through the practice for reorienting my ways of being in and with design, towards pluriversal and relational ways. What does it mean to be(come) a pluriversal practitioner? In this research, Cosmovision is proposed as an occasion for exploring pluralistic ontological grounds for designing differently (different than the dominant, universal, one-world ways of doing design), based on relational encounters with the worlds that form our vision of the cosmos. As an occasion, it is temporal and situated, and is methodologically interpreted in the form of the practice of cosmovisionar brought to life through a participatory instance named acts, where more established or traditional forms of doing participatory design are re-approached differently; not as a way to negate them, but to poetically mis-take them, moving beyond preconceptions. The acts, strongly influenced by my geo-poetic formation at the Valparaíso School, are proposed as a site for encountering, making and re-making worlds, where participants reflectively wander and drift on their own cosmos, then represented by a process of making with different materialities, through artifacts and enactments. Five acts were done during this research project. 57 participants were part of the acts. Multiple materials, objects and environments, such as magazines, paper, cardboard, fabrics, masking tape, plants, leaves, branches, soil, wool, spaces, floors, ceilings, rocks, trees, among others, also participated. By re-turning to the experience of designing the practice of cosmovisionar and reflecting on its emergence I was able to identify four relational movements that were unveiling knowledge from multiple places. Movements in-between unveiled a particular position in-between that allows one to be aware of multiple forces that collide during the cosmovision explorations. Wandering movements demonstrate how not-knowing becomes a method of inquiry, leading to new paths beyond preconfigured meanings. Affective movements focus on sentipensante interactions among participants, facilitating deeper connections and shared experiences. Situated movements highlight the influence of spatial and material affordances, shaping the encounters and engagements with knowledge. By weaving them together, the contours of the practice became clearer, and the significance of the act of cosmovisionar can be reformulated into propositions: First, to poetically reimagine pluriversality as a horizon rather than prefigured goal or destination to be reached. Second, with the pluriversal horizon in sight, cosmovision becomes a methodological contribution for a practice of encountering and remaking the worlds that make us. Third, a distinct way of knowing and unknowing emerged, called cosmoception, as a disposition for being open and aware within the practice. Exploring cosmovisiones was an occasion for tracing initial gestures towards building an inner awareness for practice transformation, towards the inclusion of values around care, kindness and gratitude, as distinct features of a pluriversal practice. Cosmovision was the way for enabling my own initial gestures towards a way of being, doing and thinking with the pluriversal horizon always in sight, always made and remade.</p
Interactions of Gold Nanoparticles and Model Membranes
No full textNanoparticles (NPs) are increasingly being explored for their biomedical applications, particularly for identifying and treating disease at the cellular level. Applications of NPs range from cell imaging, drug delivery and control of biological processes, amongst a wide range of other novel biomedical applications for disease management. To facilitate their function, NPs must interact with the cellular membrane. However, the molecular mechanisms of interaction between NPs and cellular membranes remain difficult to elucidate due to the dynamic heterogenous chemical environment of the cell membrane, with regulated embedded biomolecules and a constantly fluctuating environment, complicating the analysis of these systems. For the more effective design of biomedical nanotherapeutics necessitates the need for more fundamental analysis of the interactions that govern NP and biological membranes. Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) have a wide range of clinically relevant properties such as biocompatibility, stimuli-responsiveness and scalable synthesis. However, the specific mechanisms of these materials have not been fully outlined. This thesis investigates the adsorption process of various 5 nm AuNPs onto supported lipid bilayers (SLBs) using a combination of atomic force microscopy (AFM) and molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. First, the adsorption process of a citrate-coated 5 nm AuNP against homogenous fluid phase (DOPC) and gel phase (DPPC) supported lipid bilayers (SLBs) was studied. It was primarily observed that AuNP underwent easier adsorption into the fluid phase, and the dissociation of the citrate-coating facilitated the adsorption process; whilst the adsorption of the AuNPs disrupted bilayer integrity. The adsorption capabilities of the citrate capped 5nm AuNP were then tested against a binary phase separated bilayer of fluid (DOPC) and gel (DPPC) lipids. The adsorption mechanism of the AuNP was elucidated at the phase separation boundary and was observed to primarily undergo adsorption into the fluid phase domain. The AuNP adsorption also induced lateral lipid mixing and a partial dissolution of the phase boundary domain. Whilst the movement of the AuNP was primarily localized towards the phase boundary and remained in contact with both lipid phases. Next, the role of the ligand capping agent on the adsorption process was studied. The interaction of a 5 nm AuNP capped with various strongly physiosorbed or weakly physiosorbed ligands against a fluid phase (DOPC) SLB was characterized. The weakly adsorbed ligands promoted adsorption into the SLB, whereas the more strongly adsorped ligands increase steric hinderance and shield the AuNP-surface from interacting with the bilayer inhibiting complete adsorption of the AuNP. Ligand morphology, functional group, and binding motifs of the more strongly adsorbed ligands further altered the interaction either promoting or hindering interfacial adsorption. Finally, the role of AuNP geometry and nanoparticle concentration of the citrate capped 5nm AuNPs onto a fluid phase (DOPC) SLB was investigated. It was observed that the typical faceted nature adopted by face-centered-cubic (FCC) metallic NPs underwent adsorption quicker as compared to more spherical AuNPs, and that increasing the number of AuNPs in a SLB system increases the cost of adsorption due to increases in steric hinderance and volume exclusion effects. Collectively this work outlines the fundamental mechanisms of adsorption between various types of 5 nm AuNPs and SLBs. It discusses the interconnected roles of NP properties, ligand chemistry, and membrane phase on the adsorption process. These insights into the properties that govern the biomedical function of AuNPs can be used to develop more effective NP therapies. The established methods also serve as a framework for understanding the molecular interactions that dictate the adsorption process that can be adapted towards additional NP-membrane systems for the wider application of this research.</p
Australia’s policy discourse of culturally and linguistically diverse teachers
No full textRecruitment of more culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) teachers is considered a strategy to address the current national teacher shortage and increasing community diversity in Australia. However, the success of this strategy is cast into uncertainty when considering the historical underrepresentation of CALD school leaders and teachers in Australia. We approach this issue through policy analysis and examine two questions: How are CALD teachers represented in Australian policies about teacher workforce and teacher education? How can CALD teachers be better supported through inclusive policymaking? Using Bacchi’s WPR approach, we analyse the problematisations, assumptions, silences, and contradictions in the representations about CALD teachers in Australian federal policies. Findings show a blurred picture and a deficit view of the cohort without genuine understanding of their backgrounds, distinctive contribution and additional challenges they experience. We argue that future policymaking should critically and differentially support CALD teachers towards sustainable careers in Australian schools.</p
The Roundtable
No full textBackground: This creative work builds upon recent work exploring the design of tactical and temporary urban installations, and the projects exploring the capacity of architectural installation to express cultural values and the role of architecture within public space. This includes research by Wigglesworth & Till on relationships between occupation, furniture and spatial proposition, Atelier Bow Wow on temporary tactical urban design works for activation of public space and the architectural installations of Baracco + Wright exploring the flora of Australian cities.Contribution: This research contributes to knowledge through the development and deployment of a low-cost, digitally fabricated, site-specific urban design prototype that was rapidly assembled and installed in a public space. Conceived in response to the loss of shared spaces during Melbourne’s COVID-19 lockdowns, the project comprises a 7-metre circular table planted with native and introduced edible species and surrounded by stools identifying each plant. It demonstrates a method for integrating Indigenous Australian edible plants and associated cultural knowledge into the design of urban public space. The use of architectural and urban design forms with culturally specific references—such as the communal table—contributes a model for landscape interventions that communicate place-based ecological and cultural knowledge through architectural and urban design. Significance: In 2025 the work won the independently peer reviewed Italian National Council of Architects, Planners, Landscape Designers, and Conservators/Paysage ‘CityScape Award’ in the ‘Prodotti e Tecnologie Innovative per L’arredo Urbano’ category. The work was also shortlisted for the City of Melbourne, Melbourne Awards and the Australian Institute of Architects (Victorian Chapter) Awards in 2024, was a finalist in the Victorian Premier’s design awards (Architectural design category) in 2023. The work has also been reviewed and published in Landscape Architecture Australia and Green Magazine.</p
Recent Developments in Nanoparticle-Hydrogel Hybrid Materials for Controlled Release.
No full textNanoparticle (NP)-hydrogel hybrid materials have emerged as promising platforms for controlled drug delivery, combining the tunable chemistry of NPs (e.g., liposomes, polymeric, and inorganic NPs) with the porous, biocompatible networks of hydrogels (e.g., alginate or poly(ethylene glycol)-based systems). These composites can encapsulate a wide range of bioactive agents-small molecules, peptides, proteins, and nucleic acids-within hydrogel matrices, guided by molecular interactions such as electrostatic forces, hydrogen bonding, and hydrophobic/hydrophilic balance. Such interactions influence both the physicochemical stability and drug release profiles of the system. This review highlights recent advances in NP-hydrogel composites, emphasizing how molecular-level interactions shape the nanostructure, drug encapsulation, and release behavior. The enhanced mechanical strength, stimuli responsiveness, pharmacokinetics, and biological performance of these materials are also discussed. Particular focus is placed on how improved mechanistic understanding can guide the design of next-generation hybrid systems with tunable, predictable release for biomedical applications. This review provides a comprehensive overview of NP-hydrogel hybrid materials as versatile drug delivery systems and outlines future research directions for their use in personalized therapy, targeted treatment, and broader clinical translation.</p
Urban Myths: Counterfactuals for Articulating Political Dissonance
No full textThis PhD outlines and reveals a practice of urban design projects that work as unsolicited provocations to antagonise the orthodox language, patterns and ideologies of urban development. This practice demonstrates the adaptation of techniques from speculative architecture, journalism, creative writing, public art, exhibition design; and their application in, and as, urban design. The practice demonstrates linkages between these fields using generative writing and narrative construction, drawn towards the geopolitical and mass- cultural dimensions of urban design practice. The PhD defines four modes of design as an analytical and generative structure for the practice: Extracontextual, Taste Baiting, Iconochasms and Multiplicities. Each of these modes is demonstrated to have its own utility and disposition within projects, acting alongside and in interaction with each other. These four modes were identified and defined through iterative reflection on projects completed before and during the PhD. These include writing projects by me and with others, and public works completed as co-director of practice EXCX. The primary project used to demonstrate the practice is the 2024 urban research exhibition What Killed Fishermans Bend?. The practice makes a multifaceted contribution to the field of urban design. It is investigative, critical and political. It is discursively-driven, creating rhetorical spaces and imagery to provoke public engagement. It uses speculative design tools to identify structural tendencies and sites of agency in the complexities and vagaries of urban development.</p
A two-stage framework for enhancing crsyptocurrency portfolio performance: Integrating credibilistic CVaR criterion with a novel asset preselection approach
No full textIn an increasingly diverse investment landscape, the cryptocurrency market has emerged as a compelling option, offering the potential for high returns, diversification opportunities, and significant liquidity. However, the inherent volatility and regulatory uncertainties of this market present substantial risks, underscoring the need for a well-structured investment strategy. Among the various strategies available, portfolio optimization has become a dynamic and evolving area of focus in finance. Despite advancements in financial modeling, traditional portfolio optimization models often fall short, as uncertainty remains a fundamental characteristic of capital markets. To address this challenge, this paper integrates credibility theory with the Conditional Value-at-Risk (CVaR) framework, harnessing their combined strengths in modeling downside risk and managing uncertainty. Nevertheless, relying solely on this model may not be sufficient for achieving optimal investment outcomes, as portfolio optimization models often neglect the crucial step of selecting high-quality assets. This highlights the essential need for a robust pre-selection process. To tackle this issue, this paper introduces a novel pre-selection framework based on Multi-Attribute Decision Making (MADM) methods. Acknowledging that different MADM approaches can yield varying results—which creates uncertainty regarding the most reliable method—this research proposes a systematic framework for asset evaluation. By considering these factors, this paper proposes a two-stage framework for enhancing cryptocurrency portfolio performance. Stage 1, involves establishing comprehensive performance criteria for cryptocurrencies and employing a novel method for asset pre-selection. Stage 2 focuses on optimizing the selected assets using a credibilistic CVaR model, while considering practical constraints from real-world investment scenarios. The results of this two-stage framework demonstrate its effectiveness in constructing well-diversified and efficient portfolios, addressing both the challenges of asset pre-selection and the complexities associated with uncertainty. By integrating these methodologies, investors can navigate the risks associated with cryptocurrency investments more effectively while maximizing potential returns.</p
Comparative Analysis of Subplate Structure and Function in the Gyrencephalic and Lissencephalic Brain
No full textDuring fetal development, the human brain transitions from a smooth (lissencephalic) structure to a highly convoluted one, a process known as gyrification (Welker, 1990). This involves the formation of outward and inward folds, called gyri and sulci, which significantly expand the cortical surface area and are consistent landmarks across individuals (White, Su, Schmidt, Kao, & Sapiro, 2010). Gyrification is critical, as evidenced in preterm infants born with incomplete brain folding that develops abnormally outside the uterus, and that is often accompanied by mild to severe cognitive disabilities such as epilepsy, cerebral palsy, and autism (Pang, Atefy, & Sheen, 2008; Quezada, Castillo-Melendez, Walker, & Tolcos, 2018; Subramanian, Calcagnotto, & Paredes, 2020). The exact mechanisms driving gyrification remain unclear. Nonetheless, understanding how the brain develops folds is important for gaining insights into neurodevelopmental processes and healthy brain development. During gyrification, the subplate (SP), a key transitional brain structure, also peaks in development (Kostovic & Jovanov-Milosevic, 2008). The SP is responsible for guiding neuronal connections between the thalamus and the cortical surface, known as thalamocortical connections, as well as between different cortical regions, referred to as cortico-cortical connections (Kostović, 2020). This guidance is facilitated by molecular cues present in the SP that guide axons towards their intended destination (Kostovic, Isasegi, & Krsnik, 2019). Consequently, the SP plays a major role in shaping the cytoarchitecture of the brain during development by aiding the formation of the primordial brain-brain and brain-body networks (Kostović, 2020). While the SP is present in brains that do not fold (i.e., lissencephalic), accumulating evidence suggests that the function of the SP and SP neurons (SPNs) in gyrencephalic species is more complex (Rana et al., 2019). The SP is critical for controlling major cellular events during normal brain development and possibly gyrification such as, but not limited to, axonal guidance, proliferation, migration, and differentiation of neurons (Hoerder-Suabedissen & Molnár, 2015; Kostovic, Sedmak, Vuksic, & Judas, 2015; Ohtaka-Maruyama, 2020). Therefore, it is plausible that the SP has an important role in gyrification, since disruption of many of these cellular events are associated with cortical malformations. However, direct evidence supporting the role of the SP in gyrification is still lacking. My thesis investigated changes in the SP and SPNs associated with gyral and sulcal development, by investigating SPN morphology using Golgi staining in sheep (gyrification occurs in utero), ferret (gyrification occurs postnatally), and the spiny mouse (no gyrification). Additionally, I explored the electrophysiological properties of gyral and sulcal SPNs in the postnatal day (P) 15 ferret. Finally, I examined the structural and microstructural characteristics of the SP during gyrification using a fixel-based diffusion magnetic resonance imaging technique known as single-shell 3-tissue constrained spherical deconvolution (SS3T-CSD) in fetal sheep. The overall aim of my thesis was to determine whether localised and regional differences occur in the SP between gyri and sulci before, during, and at the completion of gyrification which may underpin or contribute to the formation of cortical folds.In Chapter 2, Golgi-staining and Sholl analysis was used to investigate the dendritic morphology of SPNs at various stages of gyrification in the sheep and ferret, as well as in the lissencephalic spiny mouse. SPNs have extensive branching that functions as a communication network across various regions. This branching plays a role in initiating, modulating, and regulating electrical activity, including glutamatergic and gamma-aminobutyric acidergic (GABA)ergic synaptic inputs, directed into the cortical plate (CP) in a columnar manner (Luhmann, Kilb, & Hanganu-Opatz, 2009), crucial for proper cortical lamination. In gyrencephalic species, the cortical mantle exhibits distinct morphological changes, where specific regions protrude outward to form gyri, while other regions fold inward to create sulci. Given that identical neurons with varying apical dendritic lengths can produce different types of action potentials (APs), which impact the attenuation of excitatory postsynaptic potentials and subsequently influence network dynamics (Fletcher & Williams, 2019; Hilgetag & Barbas, 2005), it is plausible that differences in the dendritic morphology of SPNs beneath gyri versus sulci are indicative of different synaptic inputs to gyri compared to sulci. To date, a quantitative analysis of dendritic morphology and branching of SPNs in relation to the development of gyri and sulci has not been performed. Data presented in this chapter revealed that SPNs develop unique morphological patterns specifically associated with gyral and sulcal development in gyrencephalic species such as sheep and ferrets, and these patterns were not observed across the cortical mantle in the lissencephalic spiny mouse. These unique morphological patterns in gyral versus sulcal regions may underlie differences in their functional attributes. Chapter 3 investigated whether these morphologically unique SPNs would exhibit differences in electrophysiological properties between gyral and sulcal regions. Given the close relationship between morphology and function (Meinertzhagen et al., 2009), electrophysiological properties of SPNs during mid-gyrification in the P15 ferret was examined. Whole-cell patch clamping was used to measure the electrical properties and ion channel activity of single neurons by recording their membrane potential and currents. Intrinsic properties measured included resting membrane potential (RMP), AP amplitude, and after-hyperpolarisation (AHP) in gyral versus sulcal SPNs. The data revealed that SPNs in gyrencephalic species exhibit diverse intrinsic properties, with gyral and sulcal SPNs developing unique electrophysiological characteristics that distinguish them from each other. The identified difference in intrinsic properties suggests distinct mechanisms of electrical activity that may influence cortical lamination differently in gyri compared to sulci. These mechanisms could affect the integration of glutamatergic and GABAergic synaptic inputs into the cortical plate (CP), potentially shaping cortical columnar organisation in a region-specific manner, which could extend to differences between gyri and sulci.Lastly, Chapter 4 examined the structural and microstructural characteristics in the SP across gyrification (beneath gyri and sulci) using SS3T-CSD in the fetal sheep. Structural anomalies in the SP have previously been documented prior to or at the onset of gyrification in the sheep and monkey (Garcia, Wang, & Kroenke, 2021; Geng et al., 2009; Wilson et al., 2024). Given that the role of the SP is to facilitate the formation and regulation of axonal patterning, which aligns with thalamocortical innervation into the CP and is consistent with the process of gyrification (Krsnik, Majić, Vasung, Huang, & Kostović, 2017; White et al., 2010), it is possible that the SP influences axonal patterning differently in gyral compared to sulcal regions. Tissue composition analysis using SS3T-CSD revealed microstructural differences in white matter (WM)-like and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)-like signals during gyrification, with a predominant CSF-like signal beneath the gyral SP and a WM-like signal beneath the sulcal SP. The WM-like signal was associated with immunostaining for dense axonal fibres in the sulcal SP, while the CSF-like signal was associated with immunostaining for the presence of ameboid microglia in the gyral SP. These findings highlight structural differences that may result from distinct mechanisms of axonal formation facilitated by the SP in sulcal versus gyral regions throughout the process of gyrification.Overall, this thesis highlights unique, localised regional differences in the development of the SP and SPNs associated with gyral and sulcal formation. The findings suggest that distinctive morphological patterns and electrophysiological behaviours of SPNs, along with differences in tissue composition, indicate that the SP exhibits structural/microstructural differences beneath gyri compared to sulci during cortical folding. These differences may underscore distinct functional roles for the SP in gyral and sulcal regions, emphasising the need for further investigation into its contribution to cortical development.</p
Humanitarian virtue: identifying ethics and values in humanitarian thinking
No full textThis paper proposes that ethical thinking provides a useful lens for understanding how different approaches to humanitarian thinking may be connected through the values that underpin them. In the era of polycrisis, humanitarianism is continually expanding to accommodate a proliferation of diverse actors. Importantly, concerns are often raised about how ‘humanitarian’ some of them are, which can influence cooperation and interaction. Ethical thinking is a valuable way of interpreting commonalities and differences between actors because actions, policies, and ideas are buttressed by values that frequently remain unspoken. Therefore, we examine 14 approaches to humanitarian thinking so we can highlight key ways of comprehending: what is good; the tension between means and ends; and for whom we are responsible. We propose a number of clusters of ethical thinking that capture how different groups answer these questions, and we discuss how they may help identify points of unity and division and appreciate the values that support choices and actions in humanitarian contexts.</p