Submitted in total fulfilment of the requirements of the degree of Master of Arts to the Research School of Humanities and Social Sciences, Department of Languages & Linguistics, La Trobe University, Victoria.

LGBTIQ people experiencing family, domestic and sexual violence (FDSV) should be able to choose from and readily access a range of services that provide expert support in ways that respect and affirm their lives, bodies, identities and relationships. However, there remain significant gaps in access to safe, inclusive and affirming care for many in these communities across Australia. Opening Doors: Ensuring LGBTIQ-inclusive family, domestic and sexual violence services (Opening Doors) investigates current challenges faced by...

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A thesis submitted in total fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy to the School of Humanities and Social Sciences, La Trobe University, Victoria, Australia.

Background: Treatment fidelity is inconsistently reported in aphasia research, contributing to uncertainty about the effectiveness of types of aphasia therapy following stroke. We outline the processes and outcomes of treatment fidelity monitoring in a pre-specified secondary analysis of the VERSE trial. Methods: VERSE was a 3-arm, single-blinded RCT with a 12-week primary endpoint comparing Usual Care (UC) to two higher intensity treatments: Usual Care-Plus (UC-Plus) and VERSE, a prescribed intervention. Primary outcome results were previously...

This thesis is presented in total fulfilment of requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy to the School of Psychology and Public Health, La Trobe University, Victoria, Australia.

Restrictions, social isolation, and uncertainty related to the global COVID-19 pandemic have disrupted the ways that parents and children maintain family routines, health, and wellbeing. Companion animals (pets) can be a critical source of comfort during traumatic experiences, although changes to family routines, such as those caused by COVID-19, can also bring about challenges like managing undesirable pet behaviours or pet-human interactions. We aimed to examine the relationship between pet attachment and mental health for...

Herbicides with novel modes of action are urgently needed to safeguard global agricultural industries against the damaging effects of herbicide-resistant weeds. We recently developed the first herbicidal inhibitors of lysine biosynthesis, which provided proof-of-concept for a promising novel herbicide target. In this study, we expanded upon our understanding of the mode of action of herbicidal lysine biosynthesis inhibitors. We previously postulated that these inhibitors may act as proherbicides. Here, we show this is not the...

Abstract: The limited research into leading STEM education in rural schools internationally tends to adopt a deficit view, with a focus on the poor achievement and aspirations of rural students, difficulties recruiting and retaining STEM teachers, and issues of isolation and under-resourcing. Counter to this trend, this paper reports on research investigating leadership practices shaping STEM education at three high STEM-performing rural schools. High-performing rural schools in Victoria, Australia were identified through analysis of state-wide...

Introduction: Extremely preterm (EP)/extremely low birthweight (ELBW) individuals may have an increased risk for adverse cardiovascular outcomes. Compared with term-born controls, these individuals have poorer lung function and reduced exercise capacity. Exercise interventions play an important role in reducing cardiopulmonary risk, however their use in EP/ELBW cohorts is unknown. This study, cardiac cycle, aims to characterise the cardiopulmonary system of children and adolescents who were born EP compared with those born at term, following acute...

Traffic-related air pollution (TRAP) is associated with lower cognitive function and diabetes in older adults, but little is known about whether diabetes status moderates the impact of TRAP on older adult cognitive function. We analysed cross-sectional data from 4141 adults who participated in the Australian Diabetes, Obesity and Lifestyle (AusDiab) study in 2011–2012. TRAP exposure was estimated using major and minor road density within multiple residential buffers. Cognitive function was assessed with validated psychometric scales,...

Smartwatches are increasingly popular in our daily lives. Motion gestures are a common way of interacting with smartwatches, e.g., users can make a movement in the air with their arm wearing the watch to trigger a specific command of the smartwatch. Motion gesture interaction can compensate for the small screen size of the smartwatch to some extent and enrich smartwatch-based interactions. An important aspect of motion gesture interaction lies in how to determine the start...

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Non-communicable diseases continue to increase globally and have their origins early in life. Early life obesity tracks from childhood to adulthood, is associated with obesity, inflammation, and metabolic dysfunction, and predicts non-communicable disease risk in later life. There is mounting evidence that these factors are more prevalent in infants who are formula-fed compared to those who are breastfed. Human milk provides the infant with a complex formulation of lipids, many of which are not present...

Background: Onchocerciasis is a neglected tropical filarial disease transmitted by the bites of blackflies, causing blindness and severe skin lesions. The change in focus for onchocerciasis management from control to elimination requires thorough mapping of pre-control endemicity to identify areas requiring interventions and to monitor progress. Onchocerca volvulus nodule prevalence in sub-Saharan Africa is spatially continuous and heterogeneous, and highly endemic areas may contribute to transmission in areas of low endemicity or vice-versa. Ethiopia is...

Background: Onchocerciasis is a neglected tropical filarial disease transmitted by the bites of blackflies, causing blindness and severe skin lesions. The change in focus for onchocerciasis management from control to elimination requires thorough mapping of pre-control endemicity to identify areas requiring interventions and to monitor progress. Onchocerca volvulus nodule prevalence in sub-Saharan Africa is spatially continuous and heterogeneous, and highly endemic areas may contribute to transmission in areas of low endemicity or vice-versa. Ethiopia is...

Respiratory diseases such as asthma, allergic rhinitis (AR) and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) affect millions worldwide and pose a significant global public health burden. Over the years, changes in land use and climate have increased pollen quantity, allergenicity and duration of the pollen season, thus increasing its impact on respiratory disease. Many studies have investigated the associations between short-term ambient pollen (i.e., within days or weeks of exposure) and respiratory outcomes. Here, we reviewed...

A thesis submitted in total fulfilment 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.

Background: General practitioners (GPs) were at risk of violence in their everyday working lives. Workplace violence (WPV) among GPs is a global public health concern. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence and factors associated with WPV among GPs in China. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 4376 GPs in eastern, central, and western China between March and May 2021 using a structured self-administered questionnaire. The multivariable stepwise logistic regression model was used to...

Autotransporters are the core component of a molecular nano-machine that delivers cargo proteins across the outer membrane of Gram-negative bacteria. Part of the type V secretion system, this large family of proteins play a central role in controlling bacterial interactions with their environment by promoting adhesion to surfaces, biofilm formation, host colonization and invasion as well as cytotoxicity and immunomodulation. As such, autotransporters are key facilitators of fitness and pathogenesis and enable co-operation or competition...

Autotransporters are the core component of a molecular nano-machine that delivers cargo proteins across the outer membrane of Gram-negative bacteria. Part of the type V secretion system, this large family of proteins play a central role in controlling bacterial interactions with their environment by promoting adhesion to surfaces, biofilm formation, host colonization and invasion as well as cytotoxicity and immunomodulation. As such, autotransporters are key facilitators of fitness and pathogenesis and enable co-operation or competition...

Semi-natural features among farmland have a key role in maintaining wildlife in rural landscapes. Practical conservation requires knowledge of which combinations of features are of greatest value and whether this differs among faunal groups. We used a ‘landscape’ approach to investigate the relative importance to birds and insects (bees, flies, wasps) of combinations of three wooded features typical of farmland in south-eastern Australia: scattered trees, wooded roadsides and wooded streamside vegetation. We selected 44 landscapes...

The RFV Study indicated that the 2012 family violence amendments were perceived positively by a majority of family law system professionals, with strongest support evident among non-legal professionals compared with lawyers and judicial officers and registrars. While there was a greater emphasis on identifying family violence and child abuse, the SRSP 2014 data did not suggest that this translated into more parents reporting that their concerns were dealt with appropriately after the 2012 amendments. The...

Parkinson’s disease is the second largest neurodegenerative disease worldwide and is caused by a combination of genetics and environment. It is characterized by the death of neurons in the substantia nigra of the brain but is not solely a disease of the brain, as it affects multiple tissues and organs. Studying Parkinson’s disease in accessible tissues such as skin and blood has increased our understanding of the disease’s pathogenesis. Here, we used lymphoblast cell lines...

Supplementary Materials