19683 research outputs found
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The use of Physically-constraining Tools for Skill Development: An Investigation into a Grip Position Training Tool during Common Tennis Strokes
No full textSubmitted in total fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy to the School of Allied Health, Human Services and Sport, La Trobe University, Victoria, Australia.</p
Outcomes paper: Challenging homophobia and engaging men and boys
No full textA summary of key issues discussed at the Rainbow Health Australia forum in December 2024.</p
Circulating immune cells exhibit distinct traits linked to metastatic burden in breast cancer
No full textBackground: Circulating immune cells play a crucial role in the anti-tumour immune response, yet the systemic immune system in metastatic breast cancers is not fully characterised. Investigating the cellular and molecular changes in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from breast cancer patients could elucidate the role of circulating immune cells in metastasis and aid in identifying biomarkers for disease burden and progression. Methods: In this study, we characterised the systemic immune landscape associated with varying levels of metastatic burden by analysing the single-cell transcriptomes of PBMCs from breast cancer patients and healthy controls. Our research focused on identifying changes in immune cell composition, transcriptional programs, and immune-cell communication networks linked to metastatic burden. Additionally, we compared these PBMC features onto a single-cell atlas of primary breast tumours to study corresponding traits in tumour-infiltrating immune cells. Results: In metastatic breast cancer, PBMCs exhibit a significant downregulation of the adaptive immune system and a decreased number and activity of unconventional T cells, such as γδ T cells. Additionally, metastatic burden is associated with impaired cell communication pathways involved in immunomodulatory functions. We also identified a gene signature derived from myeloid cells shared between tumour immune infiltrates and circulating immune cells in breast cancer patients. Conclusions: Our study provides a comprehensive single-cell molecular profile of the peripheral immune system in breast cancer, offering a valuable resource for understanding metastatic disease in terms of tumour burden. By identifying immune traits linked to metastasis, we have unveiled potential new biomarkers of metastatic disease.</p
Unveiling the Role of Diversity Measure in Concept Drift Detection: A Comparative Analysis and Future Prospects
No full textConcept drift, marked by changes in the statistical properties of a target variable, is a notable challenge in machine learning, data mining and applications involving big data and large-scale data processing. Addressing this, the employment of diversity measure has emerged as an effective strategy. This chapter examine and investigate the role of the diversity measure in detecting concept drift and compare and analysis four different ways of using them: DMDDM for drift` detection in a fully supervised binary classification context, DMDDM-S in a semi-supervised context, DMODD for online drift detection in a fully supervised multi-classification context.</p
Networks in Flux: HIV and hepatitis C inter-organisational network
No full textHow are organisations working together in Victoria’s HIV and HCV sector? We wanted to know what the structure of relationships formed by organisations working together looked like, and to understand what the implications of this means for the sector. We invited 44 organisations, both National and Victorian, to participate in a ‘network linkage survey’, which asks about the individual connections formed by various types of relationships.</p
Microbial C/N metabolic capabilities contribute to the fate of crop residue N in plant-soil-microbe continuum over multiple seasons
No full textThe mineralization of crop residue-nitrogen (N) is important for sustainable N supply to subsequent crops. However, the microbial mechanisms regarding residue-N mineralization over growth seasons are still unclear. We amended 15N-labelled maize and soybean residues to a Mollisol soil and found that, after three growth seasons, soybean plants utilized 43% and 37% of soybean and maize residue-N, respectively. Approximately 10.5% of soybean and 18.6% of maize residue-N were recovered in the labile N pools in soil. Over time, 82% of soybean residue-N was mineralized compared with 66% for maize residue-N. Greater increases in abundances of microbial functional genes involved in organic C decomposition, N mineralization, N2 fixation, and denitrification were observed in the soybean residue compared to the maize residue treatment. The study implies that soybean residue amendment may lower fertilizer N input more effectively than maize residue, considering the N balance between crop demand and soil supply in farming Mollisols.</p
Long-term warming offsets the beneficial effect of elevated CO₂ on mineral associated organic carbon in Mollisols
No full textThe stability of soil organic carbon (SOC) is fundamentally important to the carbon-climate feedback because soils act as a major carbon source or sink under climate change. The uncertainty of SOC stability in farming soils in response to climate change necessitates mechanistic studies on microbial attributes to the change of SOC. Here, we used open-top chambers to simulate elevated CO2 (eCO2) and warming for 12 years in a soybean-grown Mollisol. We did not find the change of SOC stock under eCO2 or warming. Although eCO2 resulted in the accumulation of mineral-associated organic carbon, this effect diminished under warming. The amplicon sequencing of 16S gene indicated a significant change in microbial community composition under warming or eCO2. The metagenomic sequencing demonstrated that warming increased the abundances of microbial genes related to decomposition of labile carbon such as hemicellulose and pectin. The warming-induced stimulation of microbial catabolic metabolisms on organic carbon decomposition might have accelerated SOC turnover, which may offset the increased mineral-associated organic carbon of the Mollisol under eCO2. Long-term eCO2 and warming might not significantly alter the SOC stock or stability but accelerate carbon cycling in farming Mollisols.</p
Extreme Weather, Vulnerable Populations, and Mental Health: The Timely Role of AI Interventions
No full textEnvironmental disasters are becoming increasingly frequent and severe, disproportionately impacting vulnerable populations who face compounded risks due to intersectional factors such as gender, socioeconomic status, rural residence, and cultural identity. These events exacerbate mental health challenges, including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety, and depression, particularly in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) and underserved areas of high-income countries (HICs). Addressing these disparities necessitates inclusive, culturally competent, intersectional, and cost-effective strategies. Artificial intelligence (AI) presents transformative potential for delivering scalable and culturally tailored mental health interventions that account for these vulnerabilities. This perspective highlights the importance of co-designing AI tools with at-risk populations, integrating these solutions into disaster management frameworks, and ensuring their sustainability through research, training, and policy support. By embedding mental health resilience into climate adaptation strategies, stakeholders can foster equitable recovery and reduce the long-term mental health burden of environmental disasters.</p
Targeting Apoptosis in Pancreatic Cancer
No full textThis thesis is submitted in total fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science to the School of Agriculture, Biomedicine and Environment, La Trobe University, Victoria, Australia.</p
Emotion Regulation in Autism: Perspectives from Key Stakeholders and Literature
No full textA thesis submitted in total fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy to the Olga Tennison Autism Research Centre, School of Psychology and Public Health, La Trobe University, Victoria, Australia.</p