Research Reflection: Misunderstanding and marginalization: An in-depth interview of how the deteriorating relationship between Australia and China has affected Chinese students at the University of Sydney since the pandemic

This paper draws on an assessment task within a Bachelor of Social Work program. The unit aims to help students develop an understanding of the ways social workers use research in different practice contexts: assessing community needs, formulating policies, developing new services, evaluating programs, enhancing social work practice and developing theory. Students are introduced to quantitative and qualitative approaches and methods in social work research, in the context of specific practice fields including mental health, domestic violence, community development and policy advocacy. The unit required students to develop and implement a small-scale research project. This paper includes a discussion of what worked well, what could be change in the future and a reflection on how research skills may be useful for future practice as social workers

Multiple solutions for Schrodinger-Poisson systems with sign-changing potential and critical nonlinearity

In this article, we study the Schr\"odinger-Poisson system \displaylines{ -\Delta u+V(x)u+k(x)\phi(x)u=h_1(x)|u|^{4}u+\mu h_{2}(x)u+h_3(x), \quad\text{in } \mathbb{R}^3, \cr -\Delta \phi(x)=k(x)u^2 , \quad\text{in } \mathbb{R}^3, } where $h_1(x),h_{2}(x),h_3(x), V(x)$ are allowed to be sign-changing and $\mu>0$ is a parameter. Under some appropriate assumptions on V(x), we obtain the existence of two different solutions for the above system via variational methods

Full-dimensional quantum dynamics study of the H-2 + C2H -> H + C2H2 reaction on an ab initio potential energy surface

This work performs a time-dependent wavepacket study of the H-2 + C2H -> H + C2H2 reaction on a new ab initio potential energy surface (PES). The PES is constructed using neural network method based on 68 478 geometries with energies calculated at UCCSD(T)-F12a/aug-cc-pVTZ level and covers H-2 + C2H H + C2H2, H + C2H2 -> HCCH2, and HCCH2 radial isomerization reaction regions. The reaction dynamics of H-2 + C2H -> H + C2H2 are investigated using full-dimensional quantum dynamics method. The initial-state selected reaction probabilities are calculated for reactants in eight vibrational states. The calculated results showed that the H-2 vibrational excitation predominantly enhances the reactivity while the excitation of bending mode of C2H slightly inhibits the reaction. The excitations of two stretching modes of C2H molecule have negligible effect on the reactivity. The integral cross section is calculated with J-shift approximation and the mode selectivity in this reaction is discussed. The rate constants over 200-2000 K are calculated and agree well with the experimental measured values. Published by AIP Publishing

<i>OsLEA1b</i> Modulates Starch Biosynthesis at High Temperatures in Rice

High temperatures accelerate the accumulation of storage material in seeds, often leading to defects in grain filling. However, the mechanisms regulating grain filling at high temperatures remain unknown. Here, we want to explore the quality factors influenced by the environment and have identified a LATE EMBROYGENESIS ABUNDANT gene, OsLEA1b, a heat-stress-responsive gene in rice grain filling. OsLEA1b is highly expressed in the endosperm, and its coding protein localizes to the nucleus and cytoplasm. Knock-out mutants of OsLEA1b had abnormal compound starch granules in endosperm cells and chalky endosperm with significantly decreased grain weight and grain number per panicle. The oslea1b mutants exhibited a lower proportion of short starch chains with degrees of polymerization values from 6 to 13 and a higher proportion of chains with degrees from 14 to 48, as well as significantly lower contents of starch, protein, and lipid compared to the wild type. The difference was exacerbated under high temperature conditions. Moreover, OsLEA1b was induced by drought stress. The survival rate of oslea1b mutants decreased significantly under drought stress treatment, with significant increase in ROS levels. These results indicate that OsLEA1b regulates starch biosynthesis and influences rice grain quality, especially under high temperatures. This provides a valuable resource for genetic improvement in rice grain quality