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Fingerprinting the source of mineralising fluids in IOCG systems, Mount Woods Inlier
No full textEmpirical thesis.Bibliography: pages 49-52.Chapter 1. Introduction -- Chapter 2. Geological setting -- Chapter 3. Sample locations -- Chapter 4. Analytical methods -- Chapter 5. Results -- Chapter 6. Discussion -- Chapter 7. Conclusions -- Reference list -- Appendices.Iron oxide copper gold (IOCG) deposits are sulphide-poor, low-Ti, magnetite and/or hematite rich ore-bodies with associated polymetallic (Cu, Au, Ag, U, REE, Bi, Co, Nb, P) enrichment. Scientists and explorationists have sought the next giant IOCG deposit since the discovery of Olympic Dam. Exploration has been hampered by a lack of clarity in modelling and classification of IOCG deposits. This study aims to determine the source of mineralisation in both economic and subeconomi IOCG mineralised systems from the Mt Woods Inlier, Gawler Craton, South Australia. Magnetite separates and whole rock samples were subjected to Nd isotopic analysis, REE and trace element distribution, XRF and petrographic analysis. Petrographic analysis of samples suggests three generations of magnetite; primary/magmatic, massive vein, and disseminated metasomatic magnetite. LREE enrichment is ubiquitous amongst a mixture of single-fluid and multi-fluid systems. Ore samples from Prominent Hill show no evidence of multiple phases of fluid alteration based on REE or isotopic data. Additionally, primitive εNd values in ore samples suggest derivation from a single generation of fluid sourced from a mantle reservoir. The Taurus prospect harbours similar signatures. The results presented here are contrary to previous IOCG mineralisation models, thus are significant for explorationists and researchers.Mode of access: World wide web1 online resource (xii, 58 pages) colour illustrations, map
In vestibus virilibus: female transvestitism is late medieval English culture
No full textTheoretical thesis.Bibliography: pages 60-64.Introduction --- 1. Meanings of cross-dressing in medieval literary culture -- 2. Cases of cross-dressing in English courts -- 3. Joan of Arc -- Conclusion -- References.This thesis examines the sexual connotations of female to male cross-dressing in late medieval English culture, and how this perceived sexuality was interpreted within legal system and broader culture. It analyses the representation of the cross-dressing saints of antiquity in literary culture, considering how this may have popularised the concept of transvestitism, as well as revealing the unintended sexuality associated with the acts of these women. This thesis then examines five prosecuted cases of female to male cross-dressing in English courts between 1429 and 1520, analysing the basis of these prosecutions and building a comparison between the legal and literary cultures of the period. Finally, the thesis considers the best-known medieval cross-dresser, Joan of Arc, prosecuted for a variety of crimes by an ecclesiastical court in France under the control of the English military. Scholars have argued that this act of cross-dressing is about religious practice or aiming to improve their social status. I will argue instead that by taking dressing and acting as men, these women instead evoked sexual connotations.Mode of access: World wide web1 online resource (64 pages illustrations (1 colour)
High power continuous-wave frequency conversion in the visible and ultraviolet using diamond
No full textEmpirical thesis.Bibliography: pages 161-180.1. Introduction -- 2. Stress effects in laser grade single crystal CVD diamond -- 3. The effects of diamond birefringence in CW DRLs -- 4. CW visible generation by intracavity frequency doubling -- 5. 532 nm-pumped DRL : CW yellow and deep-UV generation -- 6. Conclusion and future perspectives -- 7. List of publications -- A. Voigt abbreviated notation -- B. Related publications.Solid-state Raman lasers are a convenient technology for shifting the wavelength of conventional lasers to exotic wavelengths with enhanced brightness. Recently, diamond has emerged as an outstanding Raman medium due to its capacity for power handling with demonstrations of very high output powers (hundreds of watts) in the continuous wave regime. To date, these demonstrations have been performed in the near-infrared. However, t here is demand for continuous high brightness output at shorter wavelengths (visible and UV). This thesis aims to address this challenge by intracavity nonlinear frequency mixing.As nonlinear mixing is a polarization dependent process, the polarization behaviour of the Raman laser is critical to efficient operation. Thus as a first step, this thesis investigates the polarization properties of external cavity diamond Raman lasers including a detailed investigation of anomalous polarization effects that had been previously reported.In-grown stress-induced birefringence in the diamond is identified as critical to the polarization behaviour. Birefringence was characterized using Mueller polarimetry, a technique that provides a complete description of the Mueller matrix. Surprisingly, substantial circular retardance is observed in some locations of the sample and of sufficient magnitude to induce errors in measurements obtained using more standard polarimetric techniques such as Metripol. The analysis finds that most significant parameter influencing the laser performance is the linear birefringence axis direction. This parameter is found to dictate the threshold for laser operation and the polarization of the Stokes output. These outcomes provide a firm basis for selecting crystals, optimizing the input pump polarization.The knowledge was used to develop a high power intracavity frequency doubled CW diamond Raman laser operating in Quasi-CW mode. Using an external cavity Raman configuration and 1064 nm pumping, a 620 nm laser of output power 30W and M²<1.1, parameters that are difficult to achieve presently using any other laser technology. The critical design parameters that affects the visible conversion efficiency was evaluated experimentally. Furthermore, a model was developed to predict design parameters for optimum laser performance and power scaling.The concepts were also adapted to a DRL pumped at 532 nm. First Stokes output in the yellow (573 nm) was demonstrated with 15 W and 22.7% conversion efficiency. A model for the laser is presented to optimize efficiency and further increase power. The results were used to predict the design for deep-UV generation, a wavelength range that is otherwise very challenging to generate with high power in the CW regime.Mode of access: World wide web1 online resource (xiv, 180 pages) illustrations, tables, graph
Defining diversity in Mauretania's abolition movement
No full textTheoretical thesis.Bibliography: pages 67-73Introduction -- The politics of abolition -- Aginst the grain -- Islam reformed -- Conclusion.Meanings of identity and recognition are mobilising forces within Mauritania’s marginalised class of newly freed slaves (Black Moors or Haratine). This thesis explores the meanings and approaches to freedom and the abolition of slavery, within and alongside, the Haratine community and manifestations of agency in Mauritania, particularly around ideas of self-worth. The Mauritanian government officially ended slavery in 1981 (Marlin and Mathewson 2015, p.3) and since that time has failed to address structural racism, the existence of de-facto slavery, and religious attitudes toward inculcation of the Haratine. These external factors are additional to an already disenfranchised community. This ethnography examines narrations of empowerment and the embodiment of agency that go against societal and structural forces of discrimination, to demonstrate that human resilience and mobilisation are transformational meanings of identity.1 online resource (76 pages
Production of human fucosyltransferases in Trichoderma reesei
No full textTheoretical thesis.Bibliography: pages 163-210.1. Introduction -- 2. Materials and methods -- 3. Expression of the recombinant FUT3 and FUT4 in Trichoderma reesei -- 4. Optimisation of culture conditions -- 5. Purification and analyses of purified proteins -- 6. Protease inhibition studies -- 7. Bioreactor cultivations of the CMF3-44 transformant -- 8. Summary, conclusions and future work -- Appendices.Glycosylation is the most complex posttranslational modification specific to eukaryotes and also some bacteria. . One of the bottlenecks limiting progress in the glycobiology research is the non-availability and/or high price of glycan-modifying enzymes, such as fucosyltransferases, due to the imperfections of existing production systems. The aim of this project was to evaluate the potential of a filamentous fungus Trichoderma reesei as an expression host for recombinant human ɑ-1,3/4 fucosyltransferases (FUT3 and FUT4). The principles discovered and approaches used can be applied to other mammalian glycoproteins of biomedical interest. In the current work, cDNAs encoding the C-terminal catalytic domains of the human ɑ-1,3/4 fucosyltransferases were synthesised according to the T. reesei codon usage and assembled into expression vectors under the strong cellobiohydrolase 1 (cbh1) promoter. FUT3 and FUT4 were produced as a fusion to a Strep-tag, mCherry fluorescent protein and the core-linker fragment of the endogenous CBH1 protein to facilitate protein purification and secretion. Due to the better performance of the transformants producing the recombinant FUT3 protein, most of the work was carried out with the transformants producing FUT3, while the FUT4 protein was not studied in detail. Screening of T. reesei transformants demonstrated not only secretion of a fusion protein but also its degradation, most probably by the extracellular proteases of T. reesei. Protease inhibition studies suggested that the main protease damaging the recombinant FUT3 was a serine protease active at acidic pH. The recombinant protein was purified using a Strep-Tactin column, and the estimated yield of FUT3 was about 70 mg/l. N-terminal sequencing of purified proteins revealed that some of them were N-terminally blocked; one protease cleavage site was identified at the N-terminus of the mCherry protein. Cultivation of the T. reesei transformants at a neutral pH and with addition of a serine protease inhibitor PMSF demonstrated that degradation of the recombinant FUT3 in the culture supernatants could be suppressed. The activity of the purified recombinant FUT3 was assayed and preliminary results indicated that recombinant FUT3 has certain enzymatic activity although further studies are necessary to confirm these data. In conclusion, it was established that a recombinant human fucosyltransferase FUT3 could be produced in T. reesei. Further studies into optimisation of the cultivation conditions and strain development to limit the proteolytic degradation are required to achieve higher production levels.1 online resource (xv, 232 pages
Potential for electric vehicle adoption in Australia
No full textEmpirical thesis.Bibliography: pages xi-xiii.1. Introduction -- 2. Data analysis -- 3. Grid impact -- 4. Modelling vehicle movement -- 5. Conclusion & future work.Transport is expected to become electrified in coming decades, bringing new challenges and opportunities for commuters and electricity distributors. This thesis presents analysis of Household Travel Survey (2014/15) and Journey to Work (2011) census datasets from the New South Wales (NSW) with the aim of : (i) investigating whether electric vehicles (EVs) could meet the daily commuting needs, and (ii) quantifying the potential impact of EVs on the electricity distribution grid as a function of location and time.It was found that 87% of commuter vehicle trips could be provided using affordable EVs and that the resulting electricity demand would increase by more than 10% in only 9 out of 35 local government areas (LGAs) in NSW, Australia. We also quantified the potential spatiotemporal electric energy available for vehicle-to-grid services.It was found that greenhouse gas emissions across NSW would reduce by 26% CO2 (eq) even if all EVs were recharged from non-renewable coal-fired power plants, due to greater efficiency of EVs. The results demonstrated the potential for wide-scale adoption of EVs in Australia. Lastly, to facilitate analysis and prediction of key variables, the travel data was modelled using regression trees (RTs) and artificial neural networks (ANNs).Mode of access: World wide web1 online resource (x, 54, xi-xvii pages) illustrations (some colour
Final agreement and sustainable peace between the FARC and the Colombian government
No full textTheoretical thesis.Bibliography: pages 99-110.Introduction -- Chapter 1. The history of the Columbian conflict -- Chapter 2. Synopsis of the Acuerdo final para la terminación del conflicto y la construcción de una paz estable y duradera -- Chapter 3. Analysis of the Acuerdo final and the prospects for sustainable peace -- Conclusion -- References.After four years of negotiations between the FARC and the Colombian Government, the Acuerdo final para la terminación del conflicto y la construcción de una paz estable y duradera (Final agreement for the termination of the conflict and the construction of a stable and lasting peace, ‘the final agreement’) was settled and the FARC ended their armed insurgency in favour of a political route. The final agreement proposes reforms and mechanisms for ending the conflict between the FARC and the Government and building sustainable peace in Colombia. Despite this promising future, it is uncertain how the peace process as a whole will impact Colombian politics, economics and society and achieve sustainable peace. Due to the history of violent political, social and economic exclusion of the FARC and the classes they represent, which lay at the origins and crux of the conflict, I argue that peace in Colombia will be sustainable once political, social and economic inclusion is achieved. The purpose of this investigation is to understand how the final agreement proposes to make peace sustainable in Colombia through political, social and economic inclusion and analyse whether the accords can achieve the goal of a stable and lasting peace. I conclude that without a rigorous implementation plan for achieving political, social and economic inclusion, the final agreement cannot achieve sustainable peace in Colombia.Mode of access: World wide web1 online resource (110 pages
Project PANOPTES: a citizen-scientist exoplanet transit survey using consumer digital cameras
No full textEmpirical thesis.Bibliography: pages 60-62.1. Introduction -- 2. Science -- 3. Hardware -- 4. Software -- 5. Data processing -- 6. Conclusion -- Appendix -- References.Project PANOPTES is aimed at establishing a collaboration between professional astronomers, citizen scientists, and schools in order to discover a large number of exoplanets using the transit technique. An imaging unit based on consumer digital single-lens reflex (DSLR) cameras has been designed to run automatically every night, covering large parts of the sky looking for exoplanet transits. At a cost of $5000 USD, the units are a low-cost and efficient system for wide field astronomical imaging, offering approximately two orders of magnitude better étendue per unit of cost than professional wide-field surveys. Critical to the success of the project, a robust and flexible software control system was developed, as discussed in this work. The properties and capabilities of the DSLR camera as an imaging device are also explored, along with a demonstration of the algorithm required for successful processing and detection. Both science and outreach, our vision is to have dozens of units built by schools and citizen scientists in the next few years, helping make this project the most productive exoplanet discovery machine in the world.Mode of access: World wide web1 online resource (ix, 62 pages) colour illustration
Optimising yeast surface display for identifying cellular targets of natural products
No full textTheoretical thesis.Bibliography: pages 57-60.1. Contents -- 2. Abstract -- 3. Introduction -- 4.Construction of a YSD clone displaying human protein FKBP2 as a positive control for FACS optimisation -- 5.Optimisation of flow cytometry parameters -- 6. Validation of Bactrocera tryoni cDNA library -- 7. Construction of Caenorhabditis elegans CDNA library -- 8. Project outputs and future directions -- 9, References -- 10. Supplementary data.While natural products have long been a valuable source of biologically active compounds, their cellular targets and modes of action are rarely identified. In this project, yeast surface display (YSD) was investigated as a platform technology to rapidly identify the cellular targets of natural products. YSD involves cloning a cDNA library into baker's yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) such that the encoded foreign proteins are expressed fused to the yeast Aga2 surface receptor. Flow cytometry (FACS) is then used to separate yeast cells displaying proteins capable of binding to a fluorescently tagged probe, thereby allowing the cellular targets of the probe to be identified. In Part 1 of this project, a YSD clone displaying the well-studied human protein FKBP was constructed as a positive control. A fluorescently labelled analogue of FK506 (a known inhibitor of FKBP) was then used to optimise a range of FACS parameters for protein-small molecule interactions, including probe concentration, incubation time/temperature, detergent concentration, washing stringency and FACS binning stringency. In Part 2, a YSD cDNA library was constructed from the model nematode Caenorhabditis elegans. These preliminary studies have laid the groundwork for future YSDstudies to identify the cellular targets of a range of biologically active natural products.1 online resource (70 pages : illustrations, map
Response of periphyton to current velocities in the Nepean River, NSW
No full textTheoretical thesis.Bibliography: pages 63-741. Introduction / background -- 2. Materials and methods -- 3. Results -- 4. Discussion -- 5. References -- 6. Appendices.Warragamba Dam is the largest water supply dam on the Hawkesbury-Nepean River system. It greatly reduces flow variability and volume downstream, impacting water quality, periphyton, macrophyte growth and ecological processes dependent on these. The benefits of variable environmental flows from Warragamba Dam have been investigated by the NSW Government. Environmental flows can scour nuisance algae and reset periphyton communities; however the flow regime required to achieve this in the Nepean River is unknown. The study was conducted in a cobble-dominated riffle in the Nepean River at Penrith, NSW. Eighty-four algal genera were identified. Leptolynhbya dominated all samples during the study. A flow of 5440 ML/day reduced biomass, overall abundance, particularly filamentous green algae and stimulated algal succession, resulting in increased community richness. Periphyton communities are influenced by current velocity; however, the similarity if flow velocities between scouring and non-scouring events suggests that thresholds may exist. This study investigated responses of periphyton to current velocity using Threshold Indicator Taxa Analysis (TITAN). Scenedesmus, Navicula and Cymbella has loss thresholds, whilst others exhibited positive associations with increasing current velocity. This study will help finalise an environmental flow regime for Warragamba Dam and supports the existence current velocity scouring thresholds for some periphyton taxa.1 online resource (83 pages : illustrations, maps