19683 research outputs found
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Predicting successful draft outcome in Australian Rules football: Model sensitivity is superior in neural networks when compared to logistic regression
No full textUsing logistic regression and neural networks, the aim of this study was to compare model performance when predicting player draft outcome during the 2021 AFL National Draft. Physical testing, in-game movement and technical involvements were collected from 708 elite-junior Australian Rules football players during consecutive seasons. Predictive models were generated using data from 465 players (2017 to 2020). Data from 243 players were then used to prospectively predict the 2021 AFL National Draft. Logistic regression and neural network models were compared for specificity, sensitivity and accuracy using relative cut-off thresholds from 5% to 50%. Using factored and unfactored data, and a range of relative cut-off thresholds, neural networks accounted for 73% of the 40 best performing models across positional groups and data configurations. Neural networks correctly classified more drafted players than logistic regression in 88% of cases at draft rate (15%) and convergence threshold (35%). Using individual variables across thresholds, neural networks (specificity = 79 ± 13%, sensitivity = 61 ± 24%, accuracy = 76 ± 8%) were consistently superior to logistic regression (specificity = 73 ± 15%, sensitivity = 29 ± 14%, accuracy = 66 ± 11%). Where the goal is to identify talented players with draft potential, model sensitivity is paramount, and neural networks were superior to logistic regression.</p
Tumor targeted alpha particle therapy with an actinium-225 labelled antibody for carbonic anhydrase IX
No full textSelective antibody targeted delivery of α particle emitting actinium-225 to tumors has significant therapeutic potential. This work highlights the design and synthesis of a new bifunctional macrocyclic diazacrown ether chelator, H2MacropaSqOEt, that can be conjugated to antibodies and forms stable complexes with actinium-225. The macrocyclic diazacrown ether chelator incorporates a linker comprised of a short polyethylene glycol fragment and a squaramide ester that allows selective reaction with lysine residues on antibodies to form stable vinylogous amide linkages. This new H2MacropaSqOEt chelator was used to modify a monoclonal antibody, girentuximab (hG250), that binds to carbonic anhydrase IX, an enzyme that is overexpressed on the surface of cancers such as clear cell renal cell carcinoma. This new antibody conjugate (H2MacropaSq-hG250) had an average chelator to antibody ratio of 4 : 1 and retained high affinity for carbonic anhydrase IX. H2MacropaSq-hG250 was radiolabeled quantitatively with [225Ac]AcIII within one minute at room temperature with micromolar concentrations of antibody and the radioactive complex is stable in human serum for >7 days. Evaluation of [225Ac]Ac(MacropaSq-hG250) in a mouse xenograft model, that overexpresses carbonic anhydrase IX, demonstrated a highly significant therapeutic response. It is likely that H2MacropaSqOEt could be used to modify other antibodies providing a readily adaptable platform for other actinium-225 based therapeutics
Cellulose biosynthesis inhibitor isoxaben causes nutrient-dependent and tissue-specific Arabidopsis phenotypes
No full textThe plant cell wall is a sugar-rich matrix that surrounds every plant cell, providing structural support and acting as a first line of defense against pests and pathogens. As cell walls comprise the bulk of plant biomass, they are a major carbon sink and the source of many essential commodities, such as food, shelter, fuel, and clothing. Therefore, it is no surprise that cell walls are a major research topic, as knowledge gained can be harnessed to engineer plants with improved or tailored cell walls. </p
Twice-exceptionality unmasked: A systematic narrative review of the literature on identifying dyslexia in the gifted child
No full textIn this systematic narrative review, we synthesised the small existing body of research on children who are gifted and dyslexic (G-D) in order to investigate the claim that G-D students have a unique profile, characterised by well-masked word-level reading and spelling difficulties. Our focus was on both the cognitive and academic profiles of this subgroup of twice-exceptional (2e) children and the assessment protocols used to identify them. Findings suggest that despite having processing deficits associated with dyslexia, G-D students' gifted strengths, especially those relating to oral language, may enable them to compensate for their reading difficulties, at least to an extent that they fail to meet standard diagnostic criteria. However, G-D students also perform poorly on word-level reading, reading fluency and spelling tasks when compared with both control groups and their gifted, non-dyslexic peers, providing clear evidence of impaired achievement. Findings from this review highlight the need for (a) a more nuanced approach to the assessment of students presenting with highly discrepant profiles and (b) future research into both the cognitive and academic profiles and the instructional needs of this highly able yet poorly understood group of students, whose potential may be masked and thus underestimated in the school setting
Irreconcilable knowledges?: A way forward
No full textThis article considers the realm of knowledge in early childhood education (ECE); what knowledge is valued, and how different types of knowledge position children and educators. To this end, two different examples of practice informed by different types of knowledge are provided: one from an educator working in a long day care service (Duncan) and a second, a national assessment of young children’s development, the Australian Early Development Census (AEDC). The two examples reflect practices that one might see in Australian ECE settings, and due to governance and regulations, both illustrations could be evident in the same context. Using a dialogic approach we provide an insight into the requirements of the everyday work of educators and the disparate and often irreconcilable understandings of knowledge that inform their everyday work. We conclude with some suggestions for more equitable approaches and identify some of the challenges of attempting to do this
Monitoring threats to Australian threatened birds: climate change was the biggest threat in 2020 with minimal progress on its management
No full textABSTRACT: Most biodiversity monitoring globally tends to concentrate on trends in species’ populations and ranges rather than on threats and their management. Here we review the estimated impact of threats and the extent to which their management is understood and implemented for all threats to all Australian threatened bird taxa. The assessment reports the situation in 2020 and how this differs from 2010. The most marked finding was that the impact of climate change has increased greatly over the last decade, and now surpasses invasive species as the threat imposing the heaviest threat load. Climate change has driven recent massive population declines from increased temperatures in tropical montane rainforests and from fire. For both direct climate change impacts and fire management, progress in understanding how to relieve the threats has been slow and patchy. Consequently, little effective management has occurred. By comparison, our analysis showed that the single successful campaign to eradicate introduced mammals from Macquarie Island relieved the total threat load on Australian threatened birds by 5%, and more than halved the load on the birds from oceanic islands. Protection or rehabilitation of habitat, particularly on islands, has also delivered measurable benefit as have, in the longer term, controls on longline fishing. Our approach can be used with other taxonomic groups to understand progress in research and management and to allow quantification of potential benefits from proposed actions, such as the national threatened species plan.
POLICY IMPLICATIONS ●Climate change is now the biggest threat to Australian threatened birds, but almost no research or management to mitigate this threat has been undertaken.●Most successful threatened species management has been on small islands with invasive species eradication, habitat protection and restoration providing substantial benefits. ●The approach taken can be used to quantify the benefits of both past conservation interven-tions and potential interventions. ●Monitoring trends in threat load complements indices assessing trends in population size and extinction risk.</p
‘Healing through culture’: Aboriginal young people's experiences of social and emotional wellbeing impacts of cultural strengthening programs
No full textBackground: Cultural connection for Aboriginal young people promotes wellbeing, resilience and healing. There is little research on the social and emotional wellbeing (SEWB) impacts of cultural strengthening programs for Aboriginal young people, especially research that includes the perspectives of young people. There is even less research that includes the experiences of Aboriginal young people who have been in out-of-home care. Objective: The current study sought to address these research gaps by exploring the SEWB impacts of cultural strengthening programs by amplifying the voice of Aboriginal young people, including those who have been in out-of-home care. Participants and setting: Aboriginal young people involved in an innovative cultural strengthening program, the Narrun Yana art collective, established by the Victorian Aboriginal Child Care Agency (VACCA). Also participating was VACCA's Team Leader of Children and Youth Programs, thus providing both experiences of participating in and of organising cultural programs. Method: A qualitative phenomenological approach was taken. Data consisted of semi-structured interviews with the team leader and two young people and written responses to the interview questions from one young person. Results: Lived experience provided evidence that cultural strengthening programs; help strengthen SEWB, including connection to self, relationships, community and culture; contribute to building resilience in the context of intergenerational trauma, cultural loss and racism; and encourage help-seeking, both informal support and accessing mental health services. Young people also viewed participating in the research as worthwhile. Conclusions: Findings highlighted the importance of Aboriginal young people having opportunities to; connect to culture through participation in cultural strengthening programs, and engage in the design of these programs
Requesting HIV Results Be Conveyed in-Person: Perspectives of Clinicians and People Recently Diagnosed with HIV
No full textIntroduction: Guidelines recommend that, where possible, clinicians convey HIV-positive test results in person in Australia. However, HIV-negative and all other STI results are routinely delivered by phone or text message. Requesting individuals to obtain positive HIV test results in person could be a deviation from the standard delivery of healthcare and be interpreted as indicating a positive HIV diagnosis. Methods: This paper is based on two related, ongoing qualitative studies conducted in Australia with HIV healthcare providers and people recently diagnosed with HIV. In study one, in-depth, semi-structured interviews were conducted with people who had recently received a positive HIV diagnosis. In study two, in-depth, semi-structured interviews were conducted with HIV healthcare and peer support providers. Interviews were analyzed thematically. Results: While clinicians were willing to convey HIV-positive diagnoses by phone, most preferred in-person delivery. In-person delivery enabled clinicians to assess visual cues to better respond to the psychological and emotional needs of patients. For some participants living with HIV, however, the requirement to return to the clinic was interpreted as an unofficial HIV-positive diagnosis. This led to a period in which recently diagnosed participants believed they were HIV-positive without having received an explicit diagnosis. Conclusion: Protocols for delivering HIV diagnoses by phone, followed by a face-to-face appointment, may reduce the period of anxiety for some patients and assist with an early connection to HIV care and support. Policy Implications: In some instances, conveying HIV diagnoses by phone may be more appropriate than recalling individuals to the clinic to deliver a positive HIV diagnosis in person
Straightforward determination of homogeneous kinetics using Fourier transform alternating current voltammetry (FTACV)
No full textThis work describes a novel method by which the homogeneous kinetics for an ErevCirrev system can be deduced using only the forward scan of second harmonic FTACV. We show that ratio of the heights of the two lobes of the 2nd harmonic voltammograms readily provides this information by fitting data to a working curve modelled by the simple equation ilobe,right/ilobe,left=1/(1+kτs), where τs is the characteristic voltammetric timescale. The validity of the relationship was tested by comparison with both simulated and experimental data. This novel approach offers the advantage of quick and easy determination of kf, while increasing accuracy by omitting the ambiguity in determining a baseline and minimising the effects of electrode passivation. We also show that these changes can be explained by considering the change in surface concentration of the [Ox] and [Red] species over the course of a scan, which are more profoundly expressed in the FTACV response compared with CV
Raw Data for AFB-LAMP paper
No full textRaw data set for paper titled: The development of a loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) assay to detect American foulbrood in managed honey bee populations </p