19683 research outputs found
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Investigating molecular regulators of apoptotic cell disassembly and novel drugs to manipulate this process
No full textA thesis submitted in total fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy to the School of Agriculture, Biomedicine and Environment, La Trobe University, Victoria, Australia.</p
A Quest for Self Determination: Kashmir and Incomplete Decolonisation
No full textA thesis submitted in total fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy to the La Trobe Law School, La Trobe University, Victoria, Australia.</p
The Association Between the Police, Ambulance, Clinician Early Response (PACER) Model and Involuntary Detentions of the Mentally Ill: A Retrospective Observational Study
No full textA thesis submitted in total fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy to the School of Nursing and Midwifery, La Trobe University, Victoria, Australia.</p
Beyond "The Talk" - Supporting parents and carers to speak with children about sex, relationships and consent
No full textThis report presents findings from a study which aimed to identify what supports parents and carers (henceforth referred to as parents) to engage in conversations with their school-aged children (5–18 years) about sex, relationships, and consent. We examined the challenges and barriers parents face in initiating and sustaining meaningful conversations with their children on these topics, as well as the strategies they employ to encourage such discussions.Along with this, we looked at whether enhancing parental sexual literacy could help them feel more confident and comfortable discussing sex and relationships with their children. We adopted a holistic definition of sexual literacy, which includes:• Confidence and capacity to communicate about sex and relationships• The ability to access, understand, and engage with resources, support, and clinical services related to sex and relationships.For brevity, we refer to conversations about sex and relationships. However, we adopt a comprehensive definition of this that incorporates sexual practices, sexual health, sexual relationships and consent.</p
Evidence of Middle Palaeolithic human occupation in south-central Oman
No full textDebate surrounds the early peopling of the Arabian Peninsula. The first evidence of the Levallois lithic technology in the Huqf area of south-eastern Arabia now extends the Middle Palaeolithic record of hominin activity into central Oman and helps to diversify the picture of Arabian prehistory.</p
Masters of Altitude: Investigating the Thermal Ecology of Whorl-tail Iguanas (Tropidurinae: Stenocercus) from the Tropical Andes of Ecuador
No full textA thesis submitted in total fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy to the School of Agriculture, Biomedicine and Environment, La Trobe University, Victoria, Australia.</p
The Functional Diversity of Sub-Antarctic Vascular Floras in a Changing Climate
No full textA thesis submitted in total fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy to the School of Agriculture, Biomedicine and Environment, La Trobe University, Victoria, Australia.</p
Investigating Retinoic Acid Activity in Epididymal Epithelial Cells in Murine Males
No full textA thesis submitted in total fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science to the La Trobe Rural Health School, La Trobe University, Victoria, Australia.</p
The Effect of Mental Fatigue on Professional Ballet
No full textThis thesis is submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree Master of Applied Science to the La Trobe University Sport and Exercise Medicine Research Centre, School of Allied Health, Human Services and Sport, La Trobe University, Victoria, Australia.</p
Intermittent fasting reprograms the brain proteome to prevent synaptic degeneration and cognitive impairment in vascular dementia
No full textRationale: Vascular dementia (VaD), driven by chronic cerebral hypoperfusion (CCH), leads to synaptic degeneration and cognitive decline, yet mechanisms linking vascular dysfunction to synaptic loss remain unclear. Intermittent fasting (IF) has emerged as a potential intervention, but its effects on synaptic integrity in VaD are unknown. This study aims to investigate the effects of IF against synaptic degeneration and cognitive impairment induced by CCH.Methods: Bilateral common carotid artery stenosis (BCAS) was employed to induce chronic CCH by placing 0.18 mm micro-coils around each common carotid artery in mice. To assess temporal differences, the coils remained in place for 1, 7, 14, or 30 days. IF was implemented for 16 hours daily over three months prior to BCAS induction. Cognitive impairment was evaluated using the Barnes maze test. White matter lesions (WMLs) and neuronal loss were assessed using Luxol fast blue and cresyl violet staining, respectively. Immunoblotting and immunohistochemistry were performed to quantify synaptic protein levels. Synaptic integrity was examined using transmission electron microscopy. Proteomic analysis of the hippocampus was conducted to investigate molecular adaptations to IF following CCH.Results: We demonstrate that a 16-hour IF regimen preserves cognitive function and synaptic density despite persistent hypoperfusion. Behavioral assays revealed that IF prevented spatial memory deficits in BCAS mice, while electron microscopy confirmed synaptic preservation without altering baseline architecture. Surprisingly, key synaptic protein levels remained unchanged, suggesting IF protects synaptic function rather than abundance. Proteomic profiling revealed dynamic hippocampal adaptations under IF, including upregulation of synaptic stabilizers, enhanced GABAergic signaling, and suppression of neuroinflammatory mediators. CCH induced microglial engulfment of synapses, suggesting a role in complement-mediated synaptic pruning. Temporal pathway analysis revealed IF's multi-phase neuroprotection: early synaptic reinforcement, mid-phase metabolic optimization, and late-phase suppression of chronic neuroinflammation.Conclusion: These findings establish IF as a potent modulator of synaptic resilience in VaD, acting through coordinated preservation of synaptic structure, inhibition of inflammatory synapse loss, and metabolic reprogramming. Our results highlight IF's potential as a non-pharmacological strategy to combat vascular cognitive impairment by targeting the synaptic vulnerability underlying dementia progression.</p