https://hdl.handle.net/2123/6344 Thu, 04 Jun 2026 02:34:37 GMT 2026-06-04T02:34:37Z https://hdl.handle.net/2123/34997 Developing Frameworks for Nanotechnology driven DNA-Free Plant Gene-Editing Gogoi, Neelam; Susila, Hendry; Leach, Joan; Muellner, Markus; Jones, Brian; Pogson, Barry The bottlenecks of conventional plant gene-editing methods gave an innovative rise to nanotechnology as a delivery tool to manipulate gene(s) of interest. Studies suggest a strong correlation between the physicochemical properties of nanomaterials and their efficiency in gene delivery to different plant species/tissues. In this opinion we highlight the need for a deeper understanding of plant-nanomaterial interactions to align their full capabilities with the strategic goals of plant gene-editing. Additionally, we emphasise DNA-free plant gene-editing approaches to potentially mitigate concerns surrounding genetically modified organisms (GMOs). Lastly, we propose a strategic integration of the principles of responsible research and innovation (RRI) in R&D. We aim to initiate a dialogue on developing collaborative and socio-technical frameworks for nanotechnology and DNA-free plant gene-editing. Wed, 01 Jan 2025 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/2123/34997 2025-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/2123/32725 Software re 'Fluid‐Dynamic Modeling of Flow in Embryonic Tissue Indicates That Lymphatic Valve Location Is Not Consistently Determined by the Local Fluid Shear or Its Gradient' Bertram, C.D.; Macaskill, C. The deposition contains code as used in the analysis of images for the paper 'Fluid‐Dynamic Modeling of Flow in Embryonic Tissue Indicates That Lymphatic Valve Location Is Not Consistently Determined by the Local Fluid Shear or Its Gradient', by Bertram & Macaskill, published in the journal Microcirculation in 2024. Fri, 28 Jun 2024 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/2123/32725 2024-06-28T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/2123/32632 N2O Greenhouse Gas - do metals regulate it through a single microbe? Hall, Al The causes of N2O Greenhouse Gas are many and varied, but USyd research now connects with a breakthrough in diatom nitrate research: It turns out that single microbial group may fuel the bulk of N2O production. Research is still in progress across many continents; we hope to find out if trace metal ratios affect this process in Sydney harbour. Wed, 05 Jun 2024 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/2123/32632 2024-06-05T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/2123/32614 A dissipative particle dynamics model for studying dynamic phenomena in colloidal rod suspensions Liu, Yawei; Widmer-Cooper, Asaph A dissipative particle dynamics (DPD) model is developed and demonstrated for studying dynamics in colloidal rod suspensions. The solvent is modeled as conventional DPD particles, while individual rods are represented by a rigid linear chain consisting of overlapping solid spheres which interact with solvent particles through a hard repulsive potential. The boundary condition on the rod surface is controlled using a surface friction between the solid spheres and the solvent particles. In this work, this model is employed to study the diffusion of a single colloid in the DPD solvent, and compared with theoretical predictions. Both the translational and rotational diffusion coefficients obtained at a proper surface friction show good agreement with calculations based on the rod size defined by the hard repulsive potential. In addition, the system-size dependence of the diffusion coefficients showthat theNavier-Stokes hydrodynamic interactions are correctly included in this DPD model. Comparing our results with experimental measurements of the diffusion coefficients of gold nanorods, we discuss the ability of the model to correctly describe dynamics in real nanorod suspensions. Our results provide a clear reference point from which the model could be extended to enable the study of colloid dynamics in more complex situations or for other types of particles. Fri, 01 Jan 2021 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/2123/32614 2021-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/2123/31984 A platform to interpret soil attributes to support profitable farming systems. Alex, McBratney; Jones, Edward This collection contains data on some estimated and mapped soil physical properties such as: clay, sand, pH, Cation Exchange Capacity (CEC), and organic carbon (OC) generated through predictive models using a developed framework that quantitatively assess the accuracy of data collected with proximal soil sensors and spectroscopic techniques such as visible near-infrared visNIR and portable X-ray Fluorescence (pXRF) spectroscopy. First, tools were provided to assist in the collation of freely available data such as elevation and satellite derived data as well as on-farm data produced with electromagnetic induction (EM) and gama radiometricts. Second, an automated site selection software was developed to collate and process covariate data to identify 25 samples sites across L'lara, a mixed-farming property located ~11 km Narrabri in NSW in 2020. Fieldwork and example mapping soil properties were conducted at L'lara using visNIR spectrocopy and pXRF spectrometers. A conditioned Latin hypercube sampling design was chosen to sample the distribution of the covariate space under both cropping and pasture on the 1,850 ha property. Covariate data supplied to the software included on-site EM, gamma radiometrics, yield, soil legacy data, plus elevation and satellite derived data. A soil inference system (SPEC-SINFERS) was developed, using other spectrally active properties through pedotransfer functions (PTFs) to predic further properties such as available water capacity (AWC) from sensor predicted properties. A large spectral library was construted with > 8,000 pre-existing soil samples predominantly from grain-growing regions of NSW and additional accession from Qld., Victoria and Tasmania and fieldwork data. Multi-depth mapping of soil properties and attributes (Depth-to pH constraint) was also investigated to provide agronomic interpretations to the produced soil maps and correlations with available yield data. The accuracy of mapped soil properties was tested under data-rich and data-poor scenarios. Calibration and validations of each scenario were made with laboratory data, available covariate data (elevation, satellite image) and with/without on-farm colleted EM and gamma data. RMSE was used in percentage change as reference to other studies. Mapped yield products revealed significant correlations for canola, chickpea and wheat in two paddocks over two growing seasons. Datasets generated for this project are stored in the RDS - GRDC_US00087 (\\shared.sydney.edu.au\research-data\PRJ-GRDC_US00087). Please contact Prof. Alex McBratney to request access to them. Thu, 14 Dec 2023 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/2123/31984 2023-12-14T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/2123/31965 Structure evolution of Na2O2 from room temperature to 500 oC Ling, Chris D; Kennedy, Brendan J; Avdeev, Maxim; Wang, Chun-Hai Na2O2 is one of the possible discharge products from sodium-air batteries. Here we report the evolution of the structure of Na2O2 from room temperature to 500 oC using variable-temperature neutron and synchrotron X- ray powder diffraction. A phase transition from α-Na2O2 to β-Na2O2 is observed in the neutron diffraction measurements above 400 oC and the crystal structure of β-Na2O2 is determined from neutron diffraction data at 500 oC. α-Na2O2 adapts a hexagonal 𝑃6#2𝑚 (No. 189) structure and β-Na2O2 adapts a tetragonal I41/acd (No. 142) structure. The thermal expansion coefficients of α-Na2O2 is a = 2.98×10–5 K–1, c = 2.89×10–5 K–1 and V = 8.96×10–5 K–1 up to 400 oC and a ~10% volume expansion occurs during the phase transition from α- Na2O2 to β-Na2O2 due to the re-alignment/rotation of O22– groups. Both phases are electronic insulators according to DFT calculations with band gaps (both indirect) of 1.75 eV (α-Na2O2) and 2.56 eV (β-Na2O2). Impedance analysis from room temperature to 400 oC revealed a significant enhancement of conductivity at T ≥ 275 oC. α-Na2O2 shows higher conductivity (~10 times at T ≤ 275 oC and ~3 times at T > 275 oC) in O2 compared to in Ar. We confirmed, by dielectric analysis, that this enhanced conductivity is dominated by ionic conduction. Wed, 01 Jan 2020 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/2123/31965 2020-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/2123/31503 The Economics of Total Mixed Ration Systems in Australia Gargiulo, Juan Ignacio; Lyons, Nicolas; Carter, Sheena An increasing proportion of dairy farmers in Australia are looking to transition from pasture-based systems (PB) to confinement, zero-grazing or Total Mixed Ration systems (TMR) in response to climatic pressures, market volatility or growth opportunities. However, there is little understanding of the economics of these systems under local conditions, and therefore, farmers have typically had to rely on information from overseas to support their decision-making. This study, conducted as part of the DairyUP Program (https://www.dairyup.com.au), aimed to compare the performance of commercial dairy farms operating TMR with those operating PB. Physical and economic data from TMR (n = 7) and PB farms (n = 58) were collected across different regions in New South Wales over five financial years (2016/2017 to 2020/2021) using the Dairy Farm Monitor Project methodology. The TMR farms operated a range of confinement systems (drylots, compost barns or freestalls) and were in different phases of the transition towards zero-grazing (all had transitioned the milking herd to zero-grazing by 2020/2021). Prices were adjusted by inflation and expressed in Australian dollars per kg of milk solids ($/kg MS). Differences between systems were analysed using linear mixed models with farm and year as random effects. Compared to PB farms, the TMR had larger herd sizes (564 vs 356 cows) and total usable area (604 vs 291 ha) and produced more milk per cow (608 vs 491 kg MS/cow). Despite gross farm income ($9.30/kg MS) and earnings before interest and tax ($1.22/kg MS) being similar between both systems, profitability, when measured as return on total assets, was greater for TMR (5.3% vs 2.4%). On average, variable costs, including feed, herd and shed, were similar between TMR and PB ($4.98/kg MS). Both TMR and PB farms had similar total overhead costs ($3.08/kg MS), including total labour costs, depreciation and repairs & maintenance. This research is the first in Australia to investigate the differences in performance between TMR and PB systems. Insights from this study can help improve planning and decision-making of dairy farmers considering or operating TMR systems. Sat, 01 Jan 2022 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/2123/31503 2022-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/2123/31374 GRS - Optimising crop predicted and produced yield through an intuitive and cost-effective decision support tool. Mariang, Ian; Roth, Guy; Whelan, Brett; Tredea, Annette This collection consists of datasets and scripts from three main components: (1) observations, (2) APSIM sensitivity analysis results and (3) APSIM ensemble steered simulation Data Assimilation outputs. The observations are collected field data on plant status ( Leaf Area Index (m3/m3), Aboveground Biomass (kg/m2) and leaf N (%)), soil moisture readings, yield data, and height and reflectance values from remote sensing of two wheat cropping experiments (2019 and 2020) at four key phenological stages of wheat growth (booting, pre-anthesis, post-anthesis and grain filling). The experiment was conducted at the Plant Breeding Institute-USyD at Narrabri, NSW. Wed, 21 Jun 2023 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/2123/31374 2023-06-21T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/2123/31308 National Koala Disease Risk Analysis Report V 1.2 Vitali, Simone D; Reiss, Andrea E; Jakob-Hoff, Richard M; Stephenson, Tamsyn L; Holz, Peter H; Higgins, Damien P The Koala Disease Risk Analysis (KDRA) identifies the knowledge base, information gaps, risk assessments and critical control points for koala disease hazards. The national focus of the KDRA provides a clear, evidence-based assessment of koala disease which will be of value in evaluating disease risk at all regional levels and for koalas in all management situations (captive, rehabilitation and free-ranging). The KDRA is a key guiding document for actions to achieve a vision of “sustainable, resilient and healthy populations of koalas, living in positive welfare within healthy ecosystems across their range" Mon, 05 Jun 2023 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/2123/31308 2023-06-05T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/2123/31307 National Koala Disease Risk Analysis Report Appendices V1.2 Vitali, Simone D; Reiss, Andrea E; Jakob-Hoff, Richard M; Stephenson, Tamsyn L; Holz, Peter H; Higgins, Damien P These appendices comprise the methods and literature reviews that underpin the National Koala Disease Risk Analysis Report (KDRA). That document identifies the knowledge base, information gaps, risk assessments and critical control points for koala disease hazards. The national focus of the KDRA provides a clear, evidence-based assessment of koala disease which will be of value in evaluating disease risk at all regional levels and for koalas in all management situations (captive, rehabilitation and free-ranging). The KDRA is a key guiding document for actions to achieve a vision of “sustainable, resilient and healthy populations of koalas, living in positive welfare within healthy ecosystems across their range”. Mon, 05 Jun 2023 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/2123/31307 2023-06-05T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/2123/31236 Capturing global diversity and international genetic gains of wheat and barley. CAIGE project Trethowan, Richard; Nicole, Julie; Singh, Amit; Dieters, Mark The CAIGE website is a key portal for bread wheat, durum wheat and barley germplasm information of relevance for Australia selected from CIMMYT and ICARDA. Relevant datasets with phenotypic data for each crop include yield (t/ha) and disease information collected at multiple locations in three main growing regions in Australia (southern, northern, eastern) between 2019 and 2021. Datasets provided by public entities is open source while data provided by commercial breeding organizations is password protected and available to collaborators only. http://www.caigeproject.org.au/germplasm-evaluation/bread/yield-trial-australia/ http://www.caigeproject.org.au/germplasm-evaluation/durum/yield-trial-australia/ http://www.caigeproject.org.au/germplasm-evaluation/barley/yield-trial-australia/ http://www.caigeproject.org.au/germplasm-evaluation/bread/disease-screening/ http://www.caigeproject.org.au/germplasm-evaluation/durum/disease-screening/ http://www.caigeproject.org.au/germplasm-evaluation/barley/disease-screening/ Multi-environment yield testing was conducted for each crop from trials conducted each year. Statistical analysis was conducted by (CBB). Pedigree information is provided and genotypes on selected materials. Other related data is also available as well as datasets from 2005 - 2018. Tue, 01 Jan 2019 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/2123/31236 2019-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/2123/31190 Online Mendelian Inheritance in Animals (OMIA) Nicholas, Frank; Tammen, Imke; Sydney Informatics Hub Online Mendelian Inheritance in Animals (OMIA) is a catalogue/compendium of inherited disorders, other (single-locus) traits, and associated genes and variants in more than 400 animal species (other than human and mouse and rats and zebrafish, which have their own resources). OMIA information is stored in a database that contains textual information and references, as well as links to relevant PubMed and Gene records at the NCBI, and to OMIM and Ensembl. OMIA was originally published in 1995 and is updated regularly. Check the last updated date on the website to see when changes were last made to OMIA. Sun, 01 Jan 1995 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/2123/31190 1995-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/2123/31181 Dataset for manuscript by Grant et. al. Title: Visit, investigate, ignore: olfactory misinformation reduces browsing damage to valued seedlings by a mammalian herbivore Grant, Laura Susannah Foraging by mammalian herbivores critically impacts threatened plants and ecosystems globally, resulting in numerous conservation challenges. Like many animals, herbivores rely on odour cues for efficient foraging. When ‘misinformation’, i.e. misleading odour cues, degrade the reliability of odour information, foraging efficiency often declines. How browsing mammalian herbivores respond to olfactory misinformation is unknown, but of interest, given their impacts. Using an Australian plant-herbivore system, we tested whether olfactory misinformation altered the behaviour of wild herbivores foraging for a preferred plant. Swamp wallabies (Wallabia bicolor) are the ecological equivalent of deer and browse Eucaluptus seedlings, the foundation genus of many forests and woodlands. We deployed odour from inaccessible leaves surrounding focal seedlings, reducing the reliability that the odour would predict the plant’s location. Seedlings surrounded by unrewarding odour were 80% less likely than controls to be browsed over two weeks, despite wallabies encountering them at similar rates. These results suggest that misinformation interferes with the ability of herbivores to recognise target plants as desirable food sources. The strategic use of olfactory misinformation represents a practical, non-lethal strategy which harnesses the natural foraging behaviours of mammalian herbivores to decrease their browsing pressure and mitigate their impact on vulnerable plants and ecosystems. Wed, 03 May 2023 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/2123/31181 2023-05-03T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/2123/30280 LabArchives Offline Notebooks MycetOS 2023 Duong, Hung Phat Records of synthesis for compounds published in MycetOS paper number 2. Sun, 01 Jan 2023 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/2123/30280 2023-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/2123/29918 Quantification of Photocyclization Kinetics and Its Temperature Dependence in a Cofacial Metal–Organic Framework D'Alessandro, Deanna M. As complex materials are widely used in emerging technologies for environmental and energy applications, it is important to be able to quantify their stimuli-response behaviors. Light is a useful stimulus to modulate multifunctional electrochemical, magnetic, optical, and structural properties in metal–organic frameworks (MOFs); however, the underlying mechanisms and kinetics of light-induced structural changes are not well understood. Herein, a double [2 + 2] photocyclization in photoactive [Cd2(stil)2(Py2TTF)2] (stil2– = 4,4′-stilbenedicarboxylic acid, Py2TTF = 2,6-bis(4′-pyridyl)-tetrathiafulvalene) offers a powerful platform to quantitatively probe solid-state photocyclization kinetics. Variable-temperature Raman spectroscopy revealed a nonlinear temperature dependence of these parameters, which could be analyzed using the Johnson–Mehl–Avrami–Kolmogorov (JMAK) kinetic model to yield a maximum rate observed between 0 °C and 20 °C of approximately 0.172 s–1. These results offer the first example of the quantification of the photocyclization kinetics in a MOF. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations support a singlet reaction mechanism for the double [2 + 2] photocyclization, which is facilitated by the cofacial alignment of Py2TTF ligands. Establishing mechanistic and kinetic models that can be applied to multistimuli-responsive materials provides a powerful platform for their future design for applications in sensing, switching, and molecular separations. Sat, 01 Jan 2022 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/2123/29918 2022-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/2123/29901 Land Ownership Change in Rural NSW: Northern transect Report Pritchard, Bill; Welch, Elen; Umaña Restrepo, Guillermo; Stone, Cara; Mitchell, Lachlan The aim of this report is to provide stakeholders in the public, private and community sectors with key insights into patterns of rural land ownership in the Northern Transect based on analysis of land titles data from January 2004 to January 2020, supplemented by a series of focus group discussions and interviews with regional decision-makers in November 2020, January 2021, and July 2022. Three separate visits to the transect region were required because of delays and interruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Thirteen LGAs (Moree Plains, Gwydir, Inverell, Glen Innes Severn, Tenterfield, Kyogle, Clarence Valley, Coffs Harbour, Richmond Valley, Ballina, Lismore, Byron, and Tweed) representing a continuous 480km stretch from the coast to New South Wales’s northwest, were selected for analysis. These LGAs represent a large diversity of rural landscapes. Unlike the other regional reports in this series (Hunter, Riverina and the Central West), this report is therefore not framed around a discrete biophysical and social region. It goes without saying that Byron Bay is very different from Boomi (in Moree Plains). For this reason, parts of the text here discuss the transect not as a single region but divide it into ‘Coastal’, ‘Hinterland’, and ‘Inland’. Sun, 01 Jan 2023 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/2123/29901 2023-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/2123/29849 Structurally photo-active metal–organic frameworks: Incorporation methods, response tuning, and potential applications Shepherd, Nicholas D.; D'Alessandro, Deanna M. Metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) are an important family of materials due to the properties that make them well suited to a range of applications. This includes structurally photo-active MOFs, which have properties that can be efficiently modulated through controlled light irradiation, making them ideal due to the cost-effectiveness and noninvasive nature of this stimulus. The incorporation of structurally photo-active functional groups into MOFs has occurred through either guest inclusion, as pendant moieties, or as part of a ligand's backbone. While initial studies into the incorporation of these groups focused on prominent photo-switches such as azobenzenes, the literature has expanded to include other classes described in the wider photo-switch literature, most notably spiropyrans (SPs). The incorporation of alternative photo-switching classes has currently benefited the field through tuning the light responsive wavelength. Initial inquiries demonstrated suitable function in gas sorption applications where irradiation could be exploited for inducing adsorption or desorption. Furthermore, the potential applications explored in the literature have also recently expanded to include inquiries into other commercial functions, such as desalination [R. Ou et al., Nat. Sustain. 3, 1052–1058 (2020)], photo-lithography [H. A. Schwartz et al., Inorg. Chem. 56(21), 13100–13110 (2017)], and drug capture/release [X. Meng et al., Sci. Adv. 2(8), 2–8 (2016)]. Fri, 01 Jan 2021 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/2123/29849 2021-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/2123/29846 Fluorescence Enhancement through Confined Oligomerization in Nanochannels: An Anthryl Oligomer in a Metal-Organic Framework Wang, Tiesheng; Sabatini, Randy P.; Chan, Bun; Hou, Jingwei; Huynh, Vien T.; Proschogo, Nicholas; Xie, Zixi; Wang, Tan; Gao, Long; Zhang, Jiaqi; Hawkett, Brian S.; Clarke, Ronald J.; Kepert, Cameron J.; Chen, Vicki; Lakhwani, Girish; D’Alessandro, Deanna M. Nanoconfinement offers opportunities to tune physical properties of molecular entities by altering their assembled structures. This also applies to acene-based molecules with potentially rich π–π interactions. Unlike most of the previous cases with acene-based guests directly incorporated into hosts, we take a further step by oligomerizing a fluorescent anthryl monomer, 9-vinylanthracene, inside nanochannels of a metal–organic framework, which is a pillared three-dimensional kagome net of [Zn2(bdc)2(dabco)] (bdc2– = 1,4-benzenedicarboxylate; dabco = 1,4-diazabicyclo[2.2.2]octane). The fluorescence emission of the guest can be significantly enhanced after oligomerization, which is likely due to the suppressed nonemissive interaction between the oligomerized molecules in the nanospace and the MOF wall. The case we have demonstrated for fluorescence enhancement via confined oligomerization provides inspiration for the design of luminescent composites and is encouraging for further exploration of molecules in a nanoconfined space. Fri, 01 Jan 2021 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/2123/29846 2021-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/2123/29838 The roles of metal-organic frameworks in modulating water permeability of graphene oxide-based carbon membranes Sui, Xiao; Ding, Hongru; Yuan, Ziwen; Leong, Chanel F.; Goh, Kunli; Li, Wei; Yang, Nuo; D'Alessandro, Deanna M.; Chen, Yuan Graphene oxide (GO) can be processed into carbon membranes with unique water permeability and molecular selectivity. Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) have been proposed as filler materials to enhance water permeability of laminar GO-based carbon membranes. However, it remains unclear how the enhancement arises. Herein, we combined experimental and molecular simulation studies to provide critical insights into the water transport behaviors of GO/MOF composite membranes. The water permeability enhancement was found to be directly correlated to the increase in the average interlayer spacing between GO nanosheets. The simulation results indicate a slower water transport through nanochannels in MOFs than in nanochannels formed by GO nanosheets. A small amount of MOF particles only serves as a blockage in laminar GO membranes, suppressing their water permeability. In contrast, a large amount of MOF particles increases the interlayer spacing between GO nanosheets and creates very fast water transport stretches. Besides, some large gaps are formed between non-smooth MOF particles and GO nanosheets, adding supplementary water channels to deliver higher water permeability. We envision a shift in future research direction to exploit the selective adsorption capacity of MOFs other than leveraging them as fast water transport channels to realize their potential water treatment applications. Tue, 01 Jan 2019 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/2123/29838 2019-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/2123/29568 Integrative taxonomy of the stick insect genus Austrocarausius Brock, 2000 (Phasmatodea: Lonchodidae) reveals cryptic species in remnant Queensland rainforests Jones, Braxton R.; Brock, Paul D.; Mantovani, Barbara; Beasley-Hall, Perry; Yeates, David K.; Lo, Nathan Austrocarausius Brock, 2000 is a stick insect (Phasmatodea: Lonchodidae) genus containing two species restricted to the tropical rainforests of northern Queensland. Recent specimen collections between the two species’ type localities, Lizard Island and Rockhampton, have suggested that Austrocarausius might represent more than the two nominal species. Here, we apply morphological and molecular analyses to revise the taxonomy of this genus. Using both field-collected and historic museum samples, we developed morphological species hypotheses and descriptions. Genetic sequencing of mitochondrial COI and 16S were undertaken for species delimitation and phylogenetic analysis, including an estimate of the evolutionary timescale of the genus. Based on these results, we propose nine new Austrocarausius species, increasing the number of species in the genus to eleven: A. nigropunctatus (Kirby, 1896), A. mercurius (Stål, 1877), A. coronatus sp. nov., A. decorus sp. nov., A. eirmosus sp. nov., A. gasterbulla sp. nov., A. tuberosus sp. nov., A. macropunctatus sp. nov., A. truncatus sp. nov. A. waiben sp. nov. and A. walkeri sp. nov. Our results suggest Austrocarausius species diversified over the last c. 25–70 Ma, resulting in the now endemic distributions in the tropical rainforests of the central and northern Queensland coasts. This is the first integrative systematic study of an Australian phasmid genus, combining morphological, molecular and biogeographical methods. Additional species of Austrocarausius likely remain undescribed as can be inferred from methodical sampling of rainforest patches along the Queensland coast. Sat, 01 Jan 2022 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/2123/29568 2022-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/2123/29551 Monitoring changes in global soil organic carbon stocks from space Padarian, José; Stockmann, Uta; Minasny, Budiman; McBratney, Alex Soils are under threat globally, with declining soil productivity and soil health in many places. As a key indicator of soil functioning, soil organic carbon (SOC) is crucial for ensuring food, soil, water and energy security, together with biodiversity protection. While there is a global effort to map SOC stock and status, SOC is a dynamic soil property and can change rapidly as a function of land management and land use. Here, we introduce a semi-mechanistic model to monitor SOC stocks at a global scale, underpinned by one of the largest worldwide soil database to date. Our model generates a SOC stock baseline for the year 2001, which is then propagated through time by keeping track of annual landcover changes obtained from remote sensing products with loss and gain dynamics dependent on temperature and precipitation, which finally define the magnitude, rate and direction of the SOC changes. We estimated a global SOC stock in the top 30~cm of around 793 Pg with annual losses due to landcover change of 1.9 Pg SOC/yr from 2001 to 2020, 20% larger than the annual production-based emissions of the United States in 2018. The biggest losses were found in the tropic and sub-tropical regions, accounting for almost 50% of the total global loss. This is a considerable contribution to greenhouse gas emissions but it also has a direct impact on agricultural production with more than 16 million hectares per year falling below critical SOC limits. The proposed modelling framework is flexible, allowing it to be updated as more remote sensing and soil data becomes available, offering a first-of-its-kind global spatio-temporal SOC stock assessment and monitoring system. Sat, 01 Jan 2022 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/2123/29551 2022-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/2123/29513 Land Ownership Change in Rural NSW: Riverina Transect Report Pritchard, Bill; Perry, Nicola; Umana Restrepo, Guillermo; Stone, Cara; Welch, Elen The Riverina transect report is an output from the Australian Research Council Linkage Project ‘The impacts of land ownership change on rural social and economic change’ (LP170101125) undertaken by the University of Sydney in partnership with the NSW Department of Primary Industries. Research reported here has the approval of the University of Sydney Human Research Ethics Committee (Protocols 2018/020 and 2019/749). This report is one of four transect reports covering different regions of NSW. The aim of the broader project is to identify and explain key trends in the spatial and temporal patterns of changes in the ownership of land in rural NSW. The core component for achieving this objective is the construction of a unique, research-ready, spatially informed database that records and maps every land transaction in rural NSW over the 16-year period from January 2004 to January 2020. Sat, 01 Jan 2022 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/2123/29513 2022-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/2123/29329 Factors influencing the success of hand-reared juvenile brushtail possums (Trichosurus vulpecula) released into the wild Mella, Valentina S. A.; Gillies, Callum; McArthur, Clare; Webb, Elliot; Herbert, Catherine Context: Wildlife is ubiquitous in urban environments, resulting in frequent interactions with humans and human infrastructure. The result of these interactions is often negative, in the form of road injury, orphaning of dependent young or eviction from natural home ranges. Wildlife rehabilitation programmes are devised to counter these negative interactions. However, the success of current management strategies is rarely assessed. Aims: We aimed to determine whether short-term survival of juvenile hand-reared common brushtail possums (Trichosurus vulpecula) released in the wild was a function of (1) intrinsic factors such as sex, individual personality and level of human habituation, and (2) extrinsic factors such as release practice (soft vs hard-release) or location (urban vs rural). We also evaluated the relationship between habituation to humans and time spent in care by possums, if presence of conspecifics during the rehabilitation process influenced the development of individual personality, and if this differed in hand-raised animals compared with wild individuals. Methods: We radio-tracked and monitored 20 hand-reared juvenile possums (10 females and 10 males) for up to 40 days after release in the wild. Key results: Eight possums (40%) survived until the end of the study, nine possums (45%) were killed by foxes or had to be returned into care and three possums (15%) had unknown fates (i.e. lost VHF signal). We found that more exploratory individuals and those less human-habituated were more likely to be successful in the wild in both rural and urban areas, whether or not they were hard or soft released. Conclusions: Our results suggest that personality is a key criterion to consider when evaluating the success of rehabilitation programmes. Behavioural traits of hand-reared brushtail possums differed significantly from those of wild individuals, showing that captive conditions can affect the development of personality. Hand-reared possums that spent more time in care were also more likely to display highly human-habituated behaviours. Implications: By demonstrating which factors influence success of hand-reared wildlife after release in the wild, our results help in evaluating current rearing and release practices, and improve the evidence base for developing best practice wildlife rehabilitation guidelines. Sat, 01 Jan 2022 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/2123/29329 2022-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/2123/29080 Selective border permeability: Governing complex environmental issues through and beyond COVID-19 Miller, M.A.; Astuti, R.; Hirsch, P.; Marschke, M.; Rigg, J.; Saksena-Taylor, P.; Suhardiman, D.; Tan, Z.D.; Taylor, D.M.; Varkkey, H. COVID-19 has changed the permeability of borders in transboundary environmental governance regimes. While borders have always been selectively permeable, the pandemic has reconfigured the nature of cross-border flows of people, natural resources, finances and technologies. This has altered the availability of spaces for enacting sustainability initiatives within and between countries. In Southeast Asia, national governments and businesses seeking to expedite economic recovery from the pandemic-induced recession have selectively re-opened borders by accelerating production and revitalizing agro-export growth. Widening regional inequities have also contributed to increased cross-border flows of illicit commodities, such as trafficked wildlife. At the same time, border restrictions under the exigencies of controlling the pandemic have led to a rolling back and scaling down of transboundary environmental agreements, regulations and programs, with important implications for environmental democracy, socio-ecological justice and sustainability. Drawing on evidence from Southeast Asia, the article assesses the policy challenges and opportunities posed by the shifting permeability of borders for organising and operationalising environmental activities at different scales of transboundary governance. Sat, 01 Jan 2022 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/2123/29080 2022-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/2123/28981 SARS-CoV-2 infection results in immune responses in the respiratory tract and peripheral blood that suggest mechanisms of disease severity Zhang, Wuji; Chua, Brendon Y.; Selva, Kevin J.; Kedzierski, Lukasz; Ashhurst, Thomas M.; Haycroft, Ebene R.; Shoffner-Beck, Suzanne K.; Hensen, Luca; Boyd, David F.; James, Fiona; Mouhtouris, Effie; Kwong, Jason C.; Chua, Kyra Y. L.; Drewett, George; Copaescu, Ana; Dobson, Julie E.; Rowntree, Louise C.; Habel, Jennifer R.; Allen, Lilith F.; Koay, Hui-Fern; Neil, Jessica A.; Gartner, Matthew J.; Lee, Christina Y.; Andersson, Patiyan; Khan, Sadid F.; Blakeway, Luke; Wisniewski, Jessica; McMahon, James H.; Vine, Erica E.; Cunningham, Anthony L.; Audsley, Jennifer; Thevarajan, Irani; Seemann, Torsten; Sherry, Norelle L.; Amanat, Fatima; Krammer, Florian; Londrigan, Sarah L.; Wakim, Linda M.; King, Nicholas J. C.; Godfrey, Dale I.; Mackay, Laura K.; Thomas, Paul G.; Nicholson, Suellen; Arnold, Kelly B.; Chung, Amy W.; Holmes, Natasha E.; Smibert, Olivia C.; Trubiano, Jason A.; Gordon, Claire L.; Nguyen, Thi H. O.; Kedzierska, Katherine Respiratory tract infection with SARS-CoV-2 results in varying immunopathology underlying COVID-19. We examine cellular, humoral and cytokine responses covering 382 immune components in longitudinal blood and respiratory samples from hospitalized COVID-19 patients. SARS-CoV-2-specific IgM, IgG, IgA are detected in respiratory tract and blood, however, receptor-binding domain (RBD)-specific IgM and IgG seroconversion is enhanced in respiratory specimens. SARS-CoV-2 neutralization activity in respiratory samples correlates with RBD-specific IgM and IgG levels. Cytokines/chemokines vary between respiratory samples and plasma, indicating that inflammation should be assessed in respiratory specimens to understand immunopathology. IFN-α2 and IL-12p70 in endotracheal aspirate and neutralization in sputum negatively correlate with duration of hospital stay. Diverse immune subsets are detected in respiratory samples, dominated by neutrophils. Importantly, dexamethasone treatment does not affect humoral responses in blood of COVID-19 patients. Our study unveils differential immune responses between respiratory samples and blood, and shows how drug therapy affects immune responses during COVID-19. Sat, 01 Jan 2022 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/2123/28981 2022-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/2123/28445 Mucosal TLR2-activating protein-based vaccination induces potent pulmonary immunity and protection against SARS-CoV-2 in mice Ashhurst, Anneliese; Johansen, Matt; Maxwell, Joshua; Ashley, Caroline; Aggarwal, Anupriya; Siddiquee, Rezwan; Miemczyk, Stefan; Nguyen, Duc; Mackay, Joel; Counoupas, Claudio; Byrne, Scott; Turville, Stuart; Steain, Megan; Triccas, James; Hansbro, Philip; Payne, Richard; Britton, Warwick Current vaccines against SARS-CoV-2 substantially reduce mortality, but protection against infection is less effective. Enhancing immunity in the respiratory tract, via mucosal vaccination, may provide protection against infection and minimise viral spread. We tested a novel subunit vaccine in mice, consisting of SARS-CoV-2 Spike protein with a TLR2-stimulating adjuvant, delivered to mice parenterally or mucosally. Both routes of vaccination induced substantial neutralising antibody (nAb) titres, however, mucosal vaccination uniquely generated anti-Spike IgA, increased nAb in the serum and airways, and increased lung CD4+ T-cell responses. TLR2 is expressed by respiratory epithelia and immune cells. Using TLR2 deficient chimeric mice, we determined that TLR2 expression in either compartment facilitated early innate responses to mucosal vaccination. By contrast, TLR2 on hematopoietic cells was essential for optimal lung-localised, antigen-specific responses. In a K18-hACE2 mice, vaccination provided complete protection against disease and sterilising lung immunity against SARS-CoV-2. These data support mucosal vaccination as a strategy to improve protection in the respiratory tract against SARS-CoV-2 and other respiratory viruses. Sat, 01 Jan 2022 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/2123/28445 2022-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/2123/28392 Counterurbanisation, demographic change and discourses of rural revival in Australia during COVID-19 McManus, Phil Sat, 01 Jan 2022 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/2123/28392 2022-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/2123/27475 Land Ownership Change in Rural NSW: Hunter transect Report Pritchard, William; Umaña Restrepo, Guillermo; Stone, Cara; Welch, Elen; Mitchell, Lachlan The Hunter transect is diverse area. So much so, that it is difficult to conceptualise it as a unity. It is a region in flux, with pockets of rapidly increasing land values and conversion of traditional agricultural land into rural residential and tourism uses. It also has significant pockets of highly productive agricultural land, with corporate actors playing a key role and areas of established family farming. Yet in some areas of the transect there has been a constant state of ownership change in recent years, as newcomers buy into the region, either to expand their assets or start anew. With major transformations occurring in other sectors, such as biobanking, renewable energy, and changes to the mining sector, the Hunter transect sheds light on the diverse sets of processes that are influencing patterns of land ownership in rural NSW. Sat, 01 Jan 2022 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/2123/27475 2022-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/2123/27450 Degradation of cefixime antibiotic in water by atmospheric plasma bubbles: Performance, degradation pathways and toxicity evaluation. Zhang, Tianqi; Zhou, Renwu; Wang, Peiyu; Mai-Prochnow, Anne; McConchie, Robyn; Li, Wengshao; Zhou, Rusen; Thompson, Erik; Ostrikov, Ken; Cullen, Patrick J. Excessive use and indiscriminate discharge of antibiotics inevitably lead to their accumulation in the environment, posing significant ecological and physiological risks. Non-thermal plasma (NTP) is receiving increasing attention as a sustainable technology for the efficient breakdown of these antibiotics as well as other contaminants. However, implementation of NTP technology still faces several hurdles, particularly the maximization of the reactive plasma effects and the practical scaling approaches. In this study, we generated NTP inside forming bubbles with enlarged gas-liquid interfacial areas for efficient delivery of reactive plasma species to target cefixime antibiotic molecules in aqueous solution. The degradation of cefixime was largely dependent on the different number of microholes, air flow rate, discharge power, plasma exposure time and solution properties. Results show that a high-performance degradation was achieved in the 10-microhole reactor with an energy yield of 1.5 g/kWh, after 30 min of plasma treatment. Based on LC-MS analysis, an NTP-initiated cefixime degradation pathway was proposed. Cytotoxicity studies demonstrated that the antibiotic activity of cefixime was effectively and wholly deactivated by the plasma process, and that no toxic effects of the 30 min-treated water were observed toward human cell lines. Furthermore, considering that air was employed as the inducer gas, which results in the formation of reactive nitrogen species in the water, the treated water was able to enhance seedling growth, further contributing to the societal and economic benefits of this plasma-based antibiotic degradation strategy. Fri, 01 Jan 2021 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/2123/27450 2021-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/2123/27449 Comparative survival of viruses during thermophilic and mesophilic anaerobic digestion. Sassi, Hannah; Iknera, Luisa; Abd-Elmaksoud, Sheri; Gerba, Charles; Peppera, Ian Micro-scale technology was used to obtain survival data for three animal viruses and two bacteriophages during anaerobic digestion. The data for adenoviruses, MS2 and Φ6 provide the first published reports for survival of these viruses during mesophilic anaerobic digestion. Data were also obtained for thermophilic digestion, which showed greater inactivation of viruses at the higher temperature. Data on the survival of Φ6 are of particular interest since it is a lipid-based virus which has been suggested as a surrogate for the Ebola virus. In contrast, MS2 was found to be an inappropriate surrogate for Ebola. Mon, 01 Jan 2018 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/2123/27449 2018-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/2123/27446 Outbreaks, occurrence and control of norovirus and hepatitus contamination in berries: A Review Bozkurt, Hayriye; Phan-Thien, Kim-Yen; van Ogtrop, Floris; Bell, Tina; McConchie, Robyn Foodborne enteric viruses, in particular HuNoV and HAV, are the most common cause of the berry-linked viral diseases, and outbreaks around the world, and have become an important concern for health authorities. Despite the increased importance of berry fruits as a vehicle for foodborne viruses, there is limited information concerning the fate of foodborne viruses in the berry supply chain from farm to consumer. A comprehensive understanding of berry-associated viral outbreaks – with a focus on contamination sources, persistence, survival, and the effects of current postharvest and processing interventions and practices – is essential for the development of effective preventative strategies to reduce risk of illness. The purpose of this paper is twofold; (i) to critically review the published literature on the current state of knowledge regarding berry-associated foodborne viral outbreaks and the efficiency of berry processing practices and (ii) to identify and prioritize research gaps regarding practical and effective mechanism to reduce viral contamination of berries. The review found that fecally infected food handlers were the predominant source of preharvest and postharvest pathogenic viral contamination. Current industrial practices applied to fresh and frozen berries demonstrated limited efficacy for reducing the viral load. While maintaining best practice personal and environmental hygiene is a key intervention, the optimization of processing parameters (i.e., freezing, frozen storage, and washing) and/or development of alternative processing technologies to induce sufficient viral inactivation in berries along with retaining sensory and nutritional quality, is also an important direction for further research. Wed, 01 Jan 2020 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/2123/27446 2020-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/2123/27435 Polydiacetylene-based sensors to detect food spoilage at low temperatures Nguyen, Long; Naficy, Sina; McConchie, Robyn; Dehghani, Fariba; Chandrawati, Rona Colorimetric gas sensors that detect early release of gases from food spoilage are of great importance in food safety and food conservation. Yet, such sensors are not broadly implemented as they are incompatible with food packaging and non-functional at the low temperatures at which food is stored. Here we report a low cost, highly sensitive ammonia sensor that can be easily incorporated into food packaging to monitor food spoilage at temperatures ranging between −20 °C and room temperature. To fabricate the film sensors, we polymerized self-assembled polydiacetylene vesicles stabilized with cellulose nanocrystals in chitosan matrix. By optimizing this fabrication process, we were able to increase the local concentration of polydiacetylene vesicles at the surface of the film, thus enhancing the operational temperature, response time, and sensitivity to ammonia. The polydiacetylene-based film sensors exhibited a distinctive blue-to-red colorimetric response after being exposed to spoiled meat, even at sub-zero temperatures. Tue, 01 Jan 2019 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/2123/27435 2019-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/2123/27432 Effects of soil temperature, inoculum density, and incubation time on red root rot of vetch Allen, Robert Norman A re-analysis of data in “The Root and Stem Rot Disease of Vetch”(https://hdl.handle.net/2123/24963), a thesis leading to an award of Master of Science in Agriculture in March 1967. Field observations on the effects of sowing date and cropping history on red root rot of Vicia sativa cv. Golden Tares were corroborated with laboratory and glasshouse experiments. Optimum temperature for disease development in the glasshouse was 25.7℃, while that for the pathogen in culture was 30.5℃. The pathogen formed gemmae in culture that constituted infective colony forming units (cfu). An inoculum density of 2500 cfu ml-1 was found in severely infested soil. Disease severity increased with inoculum density in the range of 16-4000 cfu ml-1, inversely in proportion with the calculated average distance between cfu. At an average soil temperature of 17.4℃, red root rot remained mild on inoculated plants even with 4000 cfu ml-1. A mathematical model incorporating the effects of soil temperature, inoculum density, and incubation time described 95% of the variation in disease severity. Wed, 09 Feb 2022 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/2123/27432 2022-02-09T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/2123/26819 Becoming WestConnex – Becoming Sydney: Objectoriented politics, contested storylines and the multi-scalar imaginaries of building a motorway network in Sydney, Australia Haughton, Graham; McManus, Phil Drawing on and developing literatures on automobilities, vertical urbanisms and the use of storylines to understand mega transport projects, we imagine infrastructure as a shifting assemblage of actors, storylines and material objects and practices. In the case of motorway building, this requires an understanding of how competing storylines about how both the infrastructure itself and the city it is located in are mobilised and politicised across diverse local geographies and multiple scales as the process proceeds. Our case study focuses on WestConnex, a 33 km motorway being built in Sydney, Australia. Similar to other major transport infrastructure projects, WestConnex morphed over time, growing in ambition, budget, complexity, debate and by enrolling new actors. Fri, 01 Jan 2021 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/2123/26819 2021-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/2123/26726 Putting places on the map? Marketing rural and regional Australia McManus, Phil; Connell, John Limited analysis of the promotion of migration to rural areas by local governments or regions, exists. In Australia a unique development strategy has emerged in Sydney and Brisbane. Originally, called Country Week when it began in 2004, the Country and Regional Living Expo attempts to encourage urban–rural migration via place promotion by local councils at an annual Expo. The approaches of two local councils, Glen Innes and Oberon, are the focus of this paper. These towns demonstrate the construction of place-identity to distinguish them from competing locations in the minds of urban residents, particularly in the initial phase of differentiation. As representatives of these towns learned, however, this does not address the most important stimuli that attract new residents. These stimuli are employment and housing, followed by services such as health and educational facilities. Understanding these stimuli, comprehending the process of urban–rural migration, understanding place-brand, recognising the relative strengths and weaknesses of “warm” and “cold” place marketing, and integrating communications and working to build relationships with prospective migrants are the factors that are most likely to generate success in marketing rural destinations to potential urban emigrants. Wed, 01 Jan 2014 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/2123/26726 2014-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/2123/26712 From the Seam to the Stove: greenhouse gas assessment and the coal seam gas industry in Australia Vickas, Mischa; McManus, Phil; Dey, Christopher In Australia, Coal Seam Gas (CSG) is a relatively new source of natural gas commonly advocated as a lower greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions alternative to coal. This study investigates how GHG emissions have been, and potentially could be, assessed within the Australian CSG industry. The research involved a document analysis of several Environmental Impact Statements (EISs) and consultant reports prepared as part of the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) process for major CSG projects in New South Wales (NSW) and Queensland (Qld). There were found to be inconsistencies in the conduct of greenhouse assessment by the CSG industry, including how complete and transparent assessments were, as well as how effectively they addressed project emission intensity and cumulative impacts. There were also found to be large inconsistencies between assessments carried out for Qld projects and those for NSW projects, likely because of differences in how assessment requirements are applied by planning bodies. This study also highlights how alternative assessment approaches, such as Cumulative Impact Assessment (CIA) and Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA), have potential to enable a broader and more consistent understanding of emission sources that cross a range of geographical and project boundaries. Thu, 01 Jan 2015 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/2123/26712 2015-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/2123/26708 Participation in postpolitical times: protesting WestConnex in Sydney, Australia Haughton, Graham; McManus, Phil Arnstein’s work exposed the importance of the political framing work of government authorities in establishing how planners engage with the public, revealing how this tended to perpetuate rather than disrupt existing power relations. This resonates well with work on postpolitics, which argues that carefully stage-managed consultation exercises can be part of a repertoire of depoliticizing techniques that allow the authorities to present their preferred plans and policies as the only “reasonable” options from which a wide-ranging consensus can be built. The effect is to deny voice to those who dissent and to refuse to compromise on an economic and political model they see as broken. In this article, we explore how governments have responded to criticism of participation by devising more sophisticated ways for “enhancing” participation while ensuring it does not disrupt the existing distribution of power. Our research involves a case study of WestConnex, a controversial motorway under construction in Sydney (Australia). We conducted interviews with 25 key informants and attended six public consultation and protest events. We also draw on a range of other material, from official documents and press releases to media coverage of WestConnex. Tue, 01 Jan 2019 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/2123/26708 2019-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/2123/26694 Fighting to undo a deal: identifying and resisting the financialization of the WestConnex motorway, Sydney, Australia. McManus, Phil; Haughton, Graham WestConnex is a highly controversial urban toll motorway currently being built in Sydney. This article examines how the deals behind WestConnex were assembled in private and contested in public. It reveals how a new model of financialization was developed in response to earlier controversies around Sydney’s expanding network of private toll motorways, only to become itself embroiled in major opposition and protests against the project on various fronts, from the impacts of demolition to concerns about air pollution. One important strand of the protests involved activists and politicians coming together to share understanding and information about the deals behind WestConnex in order to develop strategies to ‘undo the deal’. Fri, 01 Jan 2021 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/2123/26694 2021-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/2123/26691 Ethnicity and media: a study of English and non-English language print media coverage of water issues in Sydney Yan, Liping; McManus, Phil; Duncan, Elizabeth It is critical to understand how matters relating to water are reported, or ignored, among linguistically diverse media and to understand the possible influence this may have on the conception of water issues among ethnically diverse groups. This research analysed five daily newspapers published in Sydney between 2011 and 2012 in three languages (English, Chinese and Korean) and found that water issues were presented differently by newspapers across language divides in Sydney. These differences may contribute to diverse conceptual constructions of water problems and water management among ethnically diverse communities. After allowing for the influence of other variables, this research highlights the necessity to investigate media construction of water issues in various Non-English language publications as an important approach to improving situated and place-based water awareness in an ethnically diverse city. Tue, 01 Jan 2019 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/2123/26691 2019-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/2123/26684 A more-than-urban political ecology of bushfire smoke in eastern Australia, 2019-2020 McManus, Phil From September 2019 to February 2020 fires destroyed dwellings, towns and killed farm animals and wildlife in much of eastern Australia. While the threat and experiences of fire differed, smoke became a quotidian experience for millions of people not in direct danger from flames. The disjuncture between the Australian bushfire summer existing within much longer histories of air, respiration and smoke in cities and the experiences of smoke being new to many people highlights important issues relating to nomenclature, boundaries and urban imaginaries. Developing a more-than-urban political ecology of smoke, this paper concludes that understanding smoke as part of atmospheres within which humans live and breathe is necessary to support the integrated management of land, water, air and the living entities in and beyond a particular area or country. A more-than-urban political ecology of smoke will assist people to view themselves and their welfare as being connected with what happens on spaces that are physically distant. Fri, 01 Jan 2021 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/2123/26684 2021-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/2123/26423 Tolerancia a la inundación invernal y primaveral de Chloris gayana y Panicum coloratum Imaz, José Augusto; Grimoldi, Agustín; Giménez, Daniel Oscar; Striker, Gustavo Tolerance of Chloris gayana and Panicum coloratum to flooding on winter and spring Sun, 01 Jan 2012 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/2123/26423 2012-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/2123/26422 Introducción de gramíneas megatérmicas forrajeras en una estepa de halófitas de la Pampa Deprimida Imaz, José Augusto; Antonelli, Cristian; Giménez, Daniel Introduction of tropical grasses into a halophytic steppe of the Flooding Pampa grasslands Sun, 01 Jan 2012 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/2123/26422 2012-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/2123/26420 Efecto protector del forraje diferido de otoño sobre el rebrote primaveral de dos forrajeras megatérmicas Imaz, José Augusto; Victor, Merani; Giménez, Daniel Oscar; Grimoldi, Agustín; Striker, Gustavo Protective effects of deferred fall forage on spring regrowth of two tropical grasses Sun, 01 Jan 2012 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/2123/26420 2012-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/2123/26419 Respuesta del establecimiento de Medicago sativa (Alfalfa) a la inoculación con bacterias solubilizadoras de fósforo (Pseudomonas fluorescens) y a la fertilización Imaz, José Augusto; Pisonero, Santiago; Gustavo, González Anta; Pedro, Balatti Response of Medicago sativa establishment to inoculation with phosphate solubilizing bacteria (Pseudomonas fluorescens) and fertilization Sun, 01 Jan 2012 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/2123/26419 2012-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/2123/26416 Efecto de la castración sobre la performance animal en machos Braford Hernandez, Olegario; Imaz, José Augusto; Salinas, N.A.; Cantos, R.G.; Nasca, José Andres Effect of castration on male Braford cattle performance Fri, 01 Jan 2016 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/2123/26416 2016-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/2123/26411 Suplementación estratégica en recría de machos Braford en sistema pastoril de Chloris gayana Hernandez, Olegario; Imaz, José Augusto; Salinas, N.A.; Cantos, R.G.; Nasca, José Andres Strategic supplementation of growing Braford males on Chloris gayana grazing system Fri, 01 Jan 2016 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/2123/26411 2016-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/2123/26402 Capacidad de carga animal de los sistemas bovinos pastoriles de la Llanura Deprimida Salina de Tucumán Nasca, José Andres; Viale, Virginia; Hermandez, Olegario; Ricci, Hugo; Imaz, José Augusto Carrying capacity of beef grazing cattle systems of the Depressed Saline Plain of Tucumán Wed, 01 Jan 2014 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/2123/26402 2014-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/2123/25828 Review article: Food safety culture from the perspective of the Australian horticulture industry Frankish, E.J.; McAlpine, G.; Mahoney, D.; Oladele, B.; Luning, P.A.; Ross, T.; Bowman, J.P.; Bozkurt, H. Background: Foodborne illness outbreaks associated with fresh produce suggest a focus on food safety culture within food safety management systems throughout supply chains would benefit the horticulture industry. The recent inclusion of food safety culture in horticulture standards will drive the need for better understanding, integration into business activities, and monitoring, to help mitigate foodborne incidents in horticulture. Scope and approach: The purpose of this review was to identify definitions of food safety culture and methods of measuring its performance in the context of the Australian horticulture industry. Investigation of how to better apply and integrate a positive food safety culture into existing food safety management systems was conducted. A roadmap for food safety culture improvement in Australian horticulture is presented, highlighting the challenges and opportunities. Key findings and conclusions: To guide the development of a mature culture of food safety, mixed-method approaches to performance assessment were found to be the most comprehensive, valid, and offer the most potential for use by horticulture businesses. Food safety culture can be developed by using feedback from regular culture assessments that identify weaknesses and opportunities for improvement, leading to increased knowledge, alignment of attitudes, and better food safety and hygiene behaviour. To this end, the development of measurement tools specific to horticulture operations would be beneficial. Despite unforeseen challenges like the COVID-19 pandemic, the Australian horticulture industry continues to investigate the efficacy of its food safety management. Fri, 01 Jan 2021 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/2123/25828 2021-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/2123/25825 Response and resilience of Asian agrifood systems to COVID-19: An assessment across twenty-five countries and four regional farming and food systems Dixon, J.M.; Weerahewa, J.; Hellin, J.; Rola-Rubzen, M.F.; Huang, J.; Kumar, S.; Das, A.; Qureshi, M.E.; Krupnik, T.J.; Shideed, K.; Jat, M.L.; Prasad, P.V.V.; Yadav, S.; Irshad, A.; Asanaliev, A.; Abugalieva, A.; Karimov, A.; Bhattarai, B.; Balgos, C.Q.; Benu, F.; Ehara, H.; Pant, J.; Sarmiento, J.M.P.; Newby, J.C.; Pretty, J.; Tokuda, H.; Weyerhaeuser, H.; Digal, L.N.; Li, L.; Sarkar, M.A.R.; Abedin, M.Z.; Schreinemachers, P.; Grafton, Q.; Sharma, R.C.; Saidzoda, S.; Lopez-Ridaura, S.; Coffey, S.; Kam, S.P.; Win, S.S.; Praneetvatakul, S.; Maraseni, T.; Touch, V.; Liang, W.-L.; Saharawat, Y.S.; Timsina, J. Context: The COVID-19 pandemic has been affecting health and economies across the world, although the nature of direct and indirect effects on Asian agrifood systems and food security has not yet been well understood. Objectives: This paper assesses the initial responses of major farming and food systems to COVID-19 in 25 Asian countries, and considers the implications for resilience, food and nutrition security and recovery policies by the governments. Methods: A conceptual systems model was specified including key pathways linking the direct and indirect effects of COVID-19 to the resilience and performance of the four principal Asian farming and food systems, viz, lowland rice based; irrigated wheat based; hill mixed; and dryland mixed systems. Based on this framework, a systematic survey of 2504 key informants (4% policy makers, 6% researchers or University staff, 6% extension workers, 65% farmers, and 19% others) in 20 Asian countries was conducted and the results assessed and analysed. Results and conclusion: The principal Asian farming and food systems were moderately resilient to COVID-19, reinforced by government policies in many countries that prioritized food availability and affordability. Rural livelihoods and food security were affected primarily because of disruptions to local labour markets (especially for off-farm work), farm produce markets (notably for perishable foods) and input supply chains (i.e., seeds and fertilisers). The overall effects on system performance were most severe in the irrigated wheat based system and least severe in the hill mixed system, associated in the latter case with greater resilience and diversification and less dependence on external inputs and long market chains. Farming and food systems' resilience and sustainability are critical considerations for recovery policies and programmes, especially in relation to economic performance that initially recovered more slowly than productivity, natural resources status and social capital. Overall, the resilience of Asian farming and food systems was strong because of inherent systems characteristics reinforced by public policies that prioritized staple food production and distribution as well as complementary welfare programmes. With the substantial risks to plant- and animal-sourced food supplies from future zoonoses and the institutional vulnerabilities revealed by COVID-19, efforts to improve resilience should be central to recovery programmes. Significance: This study was the first Asia-wide systems assessment of the effects of COVID-19 on agriculture and food systems, differentiating the effects of the pandemic across the four principal regional farming and food systems in the region. Fri, 01 Jan 2021 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/2123/25825 2021-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/2123/25595 LUNAR Drug Screening for Novel Coronavirus Based on Representation Learning Graph Convolutional Network Zhou, Deshan; Peng, Shaoliang; Wei, Dongqing; Wu, Zhong; Dou, Yutao; Xie, Xiaolan An outbreak of COVID-19 that began in late 2019 was caused by a novel coronavirus(SARS-CoV-2). It has become a global pandemic. As of June 9, 2020, it has infected nearly 7 million people and killed more than 400,000, but there is no specific drug. Therefore, there is an urgent need to find or develop more drugs to suppress the virus. Here, we propose a new nonlinear end-to-end model called LUNAR. It uses graph convolutional neural networks to automatically learn the neighborhood information of complex heterogeneous relational networks and combines the attention mechanism to reflect the importance of the sum of different types of neighborhood information to obtain the representation characteristics of each node. Finally, through the topology reconstruction process, the feature representations of drugs and targets are forcibly extracted to match the observed network as much as possible. Through this reconstruction process, we obtain the strength of the relationship between different nodes and predict drug candidates that may affect the treatment of COVID-19 based on the known targets of COVID- 19. These selected candidate drugs can be used as a reference for experimental scientists and accelerate the speed of drug development. Fri, 01 Jan 2021 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/2123/25595 2021-01-01T00:00:00Z