Industrial legislation in Australia in 2018

© 2019, Australian Labour and Employment Relations Association (ALERA), SAGE Publications Ltd, Los Angeles, London, New Delhi, Singapore and Washington DC. It has been a quiet year like last year for the passing of federal industrial legislation (due to a number of factors, including the political turmoil of the federal coalition government and their lack of an overall labour law reform agenda). This article examines key federal industrial legislative developments including the Modern Slavery Act 2018 (Cth). The article identifies that the federal Act contains much weaker compliance measures than the counterpart New South Wales legislation also passed in 2018 – the Modern Slavery Act 2018 (NSW). Also, although the Coalition government has attempted to continue to prosecute its case for further union governance measures, this agenda has been less successful than in previous years, with key government Bills not yet passed by the Parliament. The stagnation in the federal Parliament continues to motivate certain State Parliaments to address worker exploitation, and the article goes on to examine key State industrial legislation passed in 2018 including the Victorian labour hire licensing statute. In light of the continuing dominant position of the federal Labor opposition in opinion polls and an impending federal election in 2019, the article concludes by briefly considering the federal Labor opposition's agenda for industrial legislation

Lipid analogues as potential drugs for the regulation of mitochondrial cell death

The mitochondrion plays an important role in the production of energy as ATP, the regulation of cell viability and apoptosis, and the biosynthesis of major structural and regulatory molecules, such as lipids. During ATP production, reactive oxygen species are generated that alter the intracellular redox state and activate apoptosis. Mitochondrial dysfunction is a well-recognized component of the pathogenesis of diseases such as cancer. Understanding mitochondrial function, and how this is dysregulated in disease, offers the opportunity for the development of drug molecules to specifically target such defects. Altered energy metabolism in cancer, in which ATP production occurs largely by glycolysis, rather than by oxidative phosphorylation, is attributable in part to the up-regulation of cell survival signalling cascades. These pathways also regulate the balance between pro- and anti-apoptotic factors that may determine the rate of cell death and proliferation. A number of anti-cancer drugs have been developed that target these factors and one of the most promising groups of agents in this regard are the lipid-based molecules that act directly or indirectly at the mitochondrion. These molecules have emerged in part from an understanding of the mitochondrial actions of naturally occurring fatty acids. Some of these agents have already entered clinical trials because they specifically target known mitochondrial defects in the cancer cell.Support of research in the authors' laboratory by the Australian National Health and Medical Research Council is gratefully acknowledged

Yeast cell wall extracts from Saccharomyces cerevisiae varying in structure and composition differentially shape the innate immunity and mucosal tissue responses of the intestine of zebrafish (Danio rerio)

With the rising awareness of antimicrobial resistance, the development and use of functional feed additives (FFAs) as an alternative prophylactic approach to improve animal health and performance is increasing. Although the FFAs from yeasts are widely used in animal and human pharma applications already, the success of future candidates resides in linking their structural functional properties to their efficacy in vivo. Herein, this study aimed to characterise the biochemical and molecular properties of four proprietary yeast cell wall extracts from S. cerevisiae in relation to their potential effect on the intestinal immune responses when given orally. Dietary supplementation of the YCW fractions identified that the α-mannan content was a potent driver of mucus cell and intraepithelial lymphocyte hyperplasia within the intestinal mucosal tissue. Furthermore, the differences in α-mannan and β-1,3-glucans chain lengths of each YCW fraction affected their capacity to be recognised by different PRRs. As a result, this affected the downstream signalling and shaping of the innate cytokine milieu to elicit the preferential mobilisation of effector T-helper cell subsets namely Th17, Th1, Tr1 and FoxP3+-Tregs. Together these findings demonstrate the importance of characterising the molecular and biochemical properties of YCW fractions when assessing and concluding their immune potential. Additionally, this study offers novel perspectives in the development specific YCW fractions derived from S. cerievisae for use in precision animal feeds

Changing times in England: the influence on geography teachers’ professional practice

School geography in England has been characterised as a pendulum swinging between policies that emphasise curriculum and pedagogy alternately. In this paper, I illustrate the influence of these shifts on geography teacher's professional practice, by drawing on three “moments” from my experience as a student, teacher and teacher educator. Barnett's description of teacher professionalism as a continuous project of “being” illuminates how geography teachers can adapt to competing influences. It reflects teacher professionalism as an unfinished project, which is responsive, but not beholden, to shifting trends, and is informed by how teachers frame and enact policies. I argue that recognising these contextual factors is key to supporting geography teachers in “being” geography education professionals. As education becomes increasingly competitive on a global scale, individual governments are looking internationally for “solutions” to improve educational rankings. In this climate, the future of geography education will rest on how teachers react locally to international trends. Geography teacher educators can support this process by continuing to inform the field through meaningful geography education research, in particular in making the contextual factors of their research explicit. This can be supported through continued successful international collaboration in geography education research

Multi-Stakeholder Frameworks for Rectification of Non-Compliance in Cleaning Supply Chains: The Case of the Cleaning Accountability Framework

There is now an expanding body of literature on the significant problem of business non-compliance with minimum labour standards including ‘wage theft’. Extended liability regulation beyond the direct employer is seen as one solution to this non-compliance in fragmented but hierarchically organised industries—such as the cleaning industry. This article uses empirical evidence to assess the effectiveness of one such regulatory scheme, the Cleaning Accountability Framework (CAF), in addressing non-compliance with minimum labour standards (including provisions of the Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth) and the Cleaning Services Award 2020). We find that CAF has been successful in identifying and rectifying certain non-compliance, improving working conditions for some cleaners involved in the scheme. We synthesise the key success factors of CAF in view of envisioning the adoption of such co-regulation frameworks in other industries. We also propose legal reforms that will support change across the cleaning industry. </jats:p

Acute high altitude exposure, acclimatization and re-exposure on nocturnal breathing

Background: Effects of prolonged and repeated high-altitude exposure on oxygenation and control of breathing remain uncertain. We hypothesized that prolonged and repeated high-altitude exposure will improve altitude-induced deoxygenation and breathing instability. Methods: 21 healthy lowlanders, aged 18-30y, underwent two 7-day sojourns at a high-altitude station in Chile (4-8 hrs/day at 5,050 m, nights at 2,900 m), separated by a 1-week recovery period at 520 m. Respiratory sleep studies recording mean nocturnal pulse oximetry (SpO2), oxygen desaturation index (ODI, >3% dips in SpO2), breathing patterns and subjective sleep quality by visual analog scale (SQ-VAS, 0-100% with increasing quality), were evaluated at 520 m and during nights 1 and 6 at 2,900 m in the 1st and 2nd altitude sojourn. Results: At 520 m, mean ± SD nocturnal SpO2 was 94 ± 1%, ODI 2.2 ± 1.2/h, SQ-VAS 59 ± 20%. Corresponding values at 2,900 m, 1st sojourn, night 1 were: SpO2 86 ± 2%, ODI 23.4 ± 22.8/h, SQ-VAS 39 ± 23%; 1st sojourn, night 6: SpO2 90 ± 1%, ODI 7.3 ± 4.4/h, SQ-VAS 55 ± 20% (p < 0.05, all differences within corresponding variables). Mean differences (Δ, 95%CI) in acute effects (2,900 m, night 1, vs 520 m) between 2nd vs 1st altitude sojourn were: ΔSpO2 0% (-1 to 1), ΔODI -9.2/h (-18.0 to -0.5), ΔSQ-VAS 10% (-6 to 27); differences in acclimatization (changes night 6 vs 1), between 2nd vs 1st sojourn at 2,900 m were: ΔSpO2 -1% (-2 to 0), ΔODI 11.1/h (2.5 to 19.7), ΔSQ-VAS -15% (-31 to 1). Conclusion: Acute high-altitude exposure induced nocturnal hypoxemia, cyclic deoxygenations and impaired sleep quality. Acclimatization mitigated these effects. After recovery at 520 m, repeated exposure diminished high-altitude-induced deoxygenation and breathing instability, suggesting some retention of adaptation induced by the first altitude sojourn while subjective sleep quality remained similarly impaired. Keywords: altitude (MeSH); hypoxia; respiration - physiology; respiratory polygraphy; sleep-disordered breathing

Arene oxidation with malonoyl peroxides

Malonoyl peroxide 7, prepared in a single step from the commercially available diacid, is an effective reagent for the oxidation of aromatics. Reaction of an arene with peroxide 7 at room temperature leads to the corresponding protected phenol which can be unmasked by aminolysis. An ionic mechanism consistent with the experimental findings and supported by isotopic labeling, Hammett analysis, EPR investigations and reactivity profile studies is proposed

A novel dietary multi-strain yeast fraction modulates intestinal toll-like-receptor signalling and mucosal responses of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss)

This study was conducted to evaluate the mucosal immune responses of rainbow trout when supplementing an experimental formulated feed with multi-strain yeast fraction product (Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Cyberlindnera jardinii). In total, 360 fish (initial BW 23.1 ± 0.2 g) were randomly allotted into three dietary treatments in an 8-week feeding trial. The dietary treatments included basal diet (control) and control + 1.5 g/kg multi-strain yeast fraction product (MsYF) fed continuously and pulsed every two weeks between control and MsYF diet. No negative effects on growth performance of feeding the MsYF supplemented diet were observed. SGR and FCR averaged 2.30 ± 0.03%/day and 1.03 ± 0.03, respectively, across experimental groups. Muscularis thickness in the anterior intestine after 8 weeks of feeding was significantly elevated by 44.3% in fish fed the MsYF continuously, and by 14.4% in fish fed the MsYF pulsed (P 50% increase) intestine were observed after 8 weeks of feeding the MsYF supplemented diet (P10% reduction). The gene expression analysis of the intestine revealed significant elevations in expression of tlr2, il1r1, irak4, and tollip2 after 4 weeks of feeding the MsYF. Significant elevations in effector cytokines tnfα, il10 and tgfβ were observed after 4 weeks of feeding the MsYF regime. After 8 weeks significant elevations in the gene expression levels of il1β, ifnγ, and il12 were observed in fish fed the MsYF. Likewise, the expression of the transcription factor gata3 was significantly elevated (P<0.01). Supplementation of the multi-strain yeast fraction product positively modulates the intestinal mucosal response of rainbow trout through interaction with toll-like receptor two signalling pathway and potential for increased capacity of delivery of antigens to the underlying mucosal associated lymphoid tissue

A prospective cohort study about the effect of repeated living high and working higher on cerebral autoregulation in unacclimatized lowlanders

Cerebral autoregulation (CA) is impaired during acute high-altitude (HA) exposure, however, effects of temporarily living high and working higher on CA require further investigation. In 18 healthy lowlanders (11 women), we hypothesized that the cerebral autoregulation index (ARI) assessed by the percentage change in middle cerebral artery peak blood velocity (Δ%MCAv)/percentage change in mean arterial blood pressure (Δ%MAP) induced by a sit-to-stand maneuver, is (i) reduced on Day1 at 5050 m compared to 520 m, (ii) is improved after 6 days at 5050 m, and (iii) is less impaired during re-exposure to 5050 m after 7 days at 520 m compared to Cycle1. Participants spent 4-8 h/day at 5050 m and slept at 2900 m similar to real-life working shifts. High/low ARI indicate impaired/intact CA, respectively. With the sit-to-stand at 520 m, mean (95% CI) in ΔMAP and ΔMCAv were − 26% (− 41 to − 10) and − 13% (− 19 to − 7), P < 0.001 both comparisons; mean ± SD in ARI was 0.58 ± 2.44Δ%/Δ%, respectively. On Day1 at 5050 m, ARI worsened compared to 520 m (3.29 ± 2.42Δ%/Δ%), P = 0.006 but improved with acclimatization (1.44 ± 2.43Δ%/Δ%, P = 0.039). ARI was less affected during re-exposure to 5050 m (1.22 ± 2.52Δ%/Δ%, P = 0.027 altitude-induced change between sojourns). This study showed that CA (i) is impaired during acute HA exposure, (ii) improves with living high, working higher and (iii) is ameliorated during re-exposure to HA

Please mind the gap: students’ perspectives of the transition in academic skills between A-level and degree level geography

This paper explores first-year undergraduates’ perceptions of the transition from studying geography at pre-university level to studying for a degree. This move is the largest step students make in their education, and the debate about it in the UK has been reignited due to the government’s planned changes to A-level geography. However, missing from most of this debate is an appreciation of the way in which geography students themselves perceive their transition to university. This paper begins to rectify this absence. Using student insights, we show that their main concern is acquiring the higher level skills required for university learning