19683 research outputs found
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Beyond the Lens: Transforming Trauma Through Decolonial Storytelling: A Documentary
No full textSubmitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy to the School of Education, La Trobe University, Victoria, Australia.This thesis was a recipient of the Nancy Millis Award for theses of exceptional merit.</p
Mapping the Role of Australian Speech-Language Pathologists for Working in Literacy with School-Aged Students: A Mixed-Methods, Interprofessional Investigation
No full textSubmitted in total fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy to the School of Education, La Trobe University, Victoria, Australia.This thesis was a recipient of the Nancy Millis Award for theses of exceptional merit.</p
What’s Wrong with Gazanias? A Review of the Biology and Management of Weedy Gazania Species
No full textGazania is a genus of herbaceous plants from the Asteraceae (daisy) family. Native to southern Africa, several species of this genus have been introduced to different countries as ornamental garden plants due to their beautiful flowers. In the wild, Gazania species have been observed with flowers of different shades of pink, red, yellow, orange and combination of these colours. Some species of Gazania have escaped the gardens and become highly invasive weeds in their introduced range. Invasive, drought-tolerant and prolific seed-producing Gazania plants are found in Australia, New Zealand, Algeria, Egypt, Europe and California. In particular, two perennial species, Gazania linearis and Gazania rigens, commonly known as gazania, have become a major problem in Australia. They have naturalized and are widespread in a range of environments, such as roadsides, pasture/grassland systems, coastal sand dunes, and natural and managed ecosystems. Their seeds and underground reproductive structures are carried along roadsides by slashers, machinery, wind and water, and spread into native vegetation, pastures, horticultural crops and broadacre agronomic crop production systems. Gazania causes significant environmental, production and economic losses in the infested ecosystems. While limited research has been conducted on their biology and invasion ecology, anecdotal evidence suggests that the ability of gazania plants to produce a large number of seeds form thick, dense populations, and tolerate harsh environments, including drought, heat and sub-optimal soil pH, making them persistent, problematic weed species. In addition, perennial growth habit, high genetic diversity and allelopathic potential have also been suggested to facilitate their invasion success, but no research has been conducted on these aspects. Gazania is very difficult to manage, and currently, there are no effective control options available, including chemical herbicides. The lack of knowledge on their biology, invasion pathways and management is hindering the effective management of gazanias. This review compiles and synthesizes currently available information on the distribution, biology, ecology and management of weedy gazania species, with a particular focus on Australia. We also highlight the key knowledge gaps for future research. We believe this information provides researchers and practitioners with an up-to-date account on the weedy aspects of these popular ornamental plants and will help improve management efforts.</p
‘I've heard of it but had nothing… not much to do with it’: The experience of older people and their families with the Resident of the Day (ROD) process in Victorian aged care facilities
No full textObjectives: To explore the experiences of older people living in Australian residential aged care facilities (RACFs) and families of older people living in RACFs, regarding the process of Resident of the Day (ROD; sometimes referred to as a resident review) and their knowledge of how these assessments inform care planning. Methods: Semi-structured interviews were used to engage residents and families in conversations about their experiences and knowledge of the assessment associated with ROD and subsequent care planning. A reflexive thematic analysis was used to generate findings. Results: Twenty-six interviews were conducted in four RACFs across Victoria, diverse in terms of geographic location and provider type. Those residents who had some awareness of the ROD described the process only in superficial terms. Connections between ROD and care planning were unable to be made by most residents. Family members had a greater level of awareness of the ROD, although they were unable to describe the process or purpose and did not connect it to care planning. Conclusions: Despite being undertaken in all Victorian RACFs, residents and families have little or no knowledge of the ROD process, purpose or what happens to the information collected.</p
Data (zOTU and water chemistry as csv files), data processing and analysis workflow (pdf) and R scripts (as html files) for Lines et al. (2025) "Peatland stream biofilm community composition response to a storm pulse of dissolved organic carbon (DOC)".
No full textThese files are the raw data files, data processing and analysis workflow and R scripts (biological and chemical; as html files) for the manuscript "Peatland stream biofilm community composition response to a storm pulse of dissolved organic carbon (DOC)" by Lines et al. (2025). These files contain the raw data used in the two scripts, the data processing and analysis steps and the scripts generate all outputs used in the manuscript and supplementary files.</p
Pruritis in adult palliative care patients
No full textJournal website: https://www.australianpharmacist.com.au/</p
Structural Insights into Monoterpene Cyclisation of Limonene Synthase from <i>Cannabis sativa</i>
No full textTerpenes represent the largest and most structurally diverse class of natural products, playing crucial roles in plant defence, ecological interactions, and environmental adaptation. Cannabis sativa is distinguished by its rich terpene profile, which contributes to its aroma, flavour, and pharmacological properties. Among these, limonene is a major monoterpene with commercial relevance in the fragrance, flavouring, and solvent industries, making it a prime target for metabolic engineering. Terpene biosynthesis is mediated by terpene synthase enzymes that catalyse the conversion of isoprenoid diphosphates into structurally diverse terpene scaffolds. Despite significant advances in terpene biochemistry, structural characterisation of C. sativa TPSs remains untouched. In this study, we present the first crystal structure of (-)-limonene synthase from C. sativa, providing mechanistic insights into monoterpene biosynthesis. The structure, solved at 3.2 Å resolution, reveals an "open" conformation, characterised by a solvent-accessible active site and disordered loop regions near the catalytic pocket, representing a pre-catalytic state, facilitating substrate access and positioning. Biochemical characterisation confirmed limonene synthase as a highly specific monoterpene synthase, producing (–)-limonene as the predominant product from geranyl diphosphate, with minor amounts of eight other monoterpenes. Kinetic analysis yielded a Km of 7.809 ± 0.678 μM and a kcat of 0.0204 s⁻¹, indicating moderate catalytic efficiency consistent with other plant-derived monoterpene synthases. These findings enhance our understanding of TPS function and lay the groundwork for enzyme engineering to optimise terpene biosynthesis for industrial and biotechnological applications.</p
Networks in Flux: Power and influence in the Victorian HIV and hepatitis C sector
No full textWhere do people see power located in Victoria’s HIV and Hepatitis-C sector? Power is fundamental to achieving anything, and this includes achieving preventing and eliminating HIV and HCV. We wanted to know where stakeholders saw the power within the sector, where it was located, and what that meant for their organisations. We interviewed 30 people from across the sector and asked them about their understanding of power. Our initial qualitative analysis of the interviews produced five themes of note around where power could be found: money and funding; in the peak and/or large bodies; in the collaboration and relationships between organisations; in the use of evidence to underpin action; and in the ability to advocate successfully. Almost all participants referenced more than one theme in their responses; power in the sector was seen as a combination of factors by people in the network.</p
Is Iron Supplementation Associated with Infant Mortality in Sub-Saharan Africa and Does Birth Weight Modify These Associations?
No full textBackground: Iron supplementation during pregnancy is associated with several health benefits, including a reduced risk of maternal anaemia and improved neonatal outcomes such as lower rates of low birth weight, infection, and anaemia in infancy. However, its impact on neonatal and post-neonatal mortality remains unclear in resource-limited settings, where adherence to maternal iron supplementation is low. This study examined the association between maternal iron supplementation and neonatal and post-neonatal mortality and explored whether low birth weight (LBW) modifies those associations. Methods: This cross-sectional study utilised Demographic and Health Survey data collected between 2015 and 2023 from 26 sub-Saharan countries, including 287,642 neonates and 279,819 post-neonates. The primary outcomes were neonatal deaths (within 28 days) and post-neonatal deaths (between 29 days and 12 months). These outcomes and the exposure variables of iron supplementation and its duration were based on maternal recall. Adjusted odds ratios (aORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were estimated using generalised linear mixed models, with stratification by LBW. Results: There was no significant association between maternal iron supplementation and neonatal mortality (aOR = 1.07; 95% CI: 0.86, 1.34). However, the interaction between LBW and iron supplementation was statistically significant (p = 0.04). Among the LBW infants, the absence of iron supplementation increased the odds of neonatal mortality by 68% (aOR = 1.68; 95% CI: 1.14, 2.47), while supplementation for ≥90 days reduced the odds by 45% (aOR = 0.55; 95% CI: 0.35, 0.84). For post-neonatal mortality, lack of iron supplementation increased the odds by 25% (aOR = 1.25; 95% CI: 1.01, 1.56), whereas supplementation for ≥90 days reduced the odds by 27% (aOR = 0.73; 95% CI: 0.57, 0.93). Conclusions: Maternal iron supplementation was associated with lower post-neonatal mortality and improved neonatal survival among LBW infants. These findings suggest that iron intake may support infant survival, particularly in vulnerable populations.</p
