Building Australia through citizen science

BACKGROUND Citizen science brings scientists and the wider community together to work on important scientific projects. It has played a central and celebrated role in the advancement of global knowledge. From amateur astronomers tracking the transit of Venus in 1874 to the Audubon Society’s 114 year-old Christmas Bird Count, people with a passion for science have worked alongside scientists for the benefit of the community. Today, more than 130,000 Australians are active in over 90 citizen science projects, predominantly in environmental science fields. Many kinds of organisations are also involved, including universities, all levels of government, schools, industry groups, community groups and museums

Facts of aggression

This thesis aimed to provide insight in the etiology, predictors, and outcomes of aggression and antisocial behavior in children and adolescents. The first part of this thesis focused on more conventional prediction of outcomes and continuation of aggression and antisocial behavior on the basis of the following constructs: parental psychopathology (Chapter 2), anxiety and depression (Chapter 3), and Oppositional Defiant Disorder symptoms (Chapter 4). Next, the second part of this thesis focused on novel biological markers of aggression, consisting of a review on the genetics of aggression (Chapter 5) and an empirical study on the metabolomics of aggression (Chapter 6). Chapter 7 provides a summary and general discussion of the thesis' contents.This work was supported by ACTION. ACTION receives funding from the European Union Seventh Framework Program (FP7/2007-2013) under grant agreement no. 602768.LUMC / Geneeskund

Een modelsynthese voor momilactonen : onderzoek naar de totaalsynthese van 9betaH-pimara-7,15-dienen

This thesis describes investigations into the total synthesis of momilactones, germination inhibitors and phytoalexins isolated from rice. These compounds possess a Δ 7,8 -pimaradiene type skeleton with an unusual trans-syn ring-arrangement (figure 1).In chapter 1 a survey is given of the momilactones and the other hitherto known trans-syn pimaranelactones, with emphasis on their structures, biosynthesis and physiological activities.Chapter 2 is devoted to a literature survey of synthetic studies towards trans-syn(-cis) perhydrophenanthrene systems. The chemical reactivity of trans-syn pimaranelactones is also discussed.In chapter 3 the results are presented of a synthetic investigation, based on the Diels-Alder reaction depicted in scheme 1.This approach provided a total synthesis of Δ 8,9 -pimaradiene and Δ 8,9 -sandaracopimaradiene. However, attempts to isomerize the double bond to the desired Δ 7,8 -position met with little success. We therefore turned our attention towards starting compounds bearing an oxo group on C-7, in order to utilize this group for the introduction of the Δ 7,8 -double bond at a later stage.Using the work of W.L.Meyer and coworkers as a starting point, we stereospecifically synthesized a trans-syn-cis perhydrophenanthrene system as outlined in scheme 2. This part of the investigations is described in chapter 4. Several ways for the stereospecific introduction of a second substituent on C-13 were investigated. our synthesis of compound 159 could probably have been elaborated further, but we chose to focus our attention on a more promising approach which is described in chapter 5.Our stereospecific synthesis of trans-syn-cis perhydrophenanthrene systems, which forms the subject of chapter 5, is based on the stereospecific Diels-Alder reaction depicted in scheme 3 and culminates in the succesful synthesis of model compound 122. Initially we used 2- trimethylsilyloxybutadienes as diene components, but severe hydrolysis problems were encountered with the resulting adducts. These problems were effectively overcome by using diene 190. The adduct possesses a regiospecific silylenolether system which can be alkylated at C-13. Adduct 191 could be deformylated and stereoselectively reduced to the alcohol 197 leaving the t-butyldimethylsilylenolether intact. Two possible synthetic routes were then investigated.Alkylation of compound 199 with 2-ethoxy-1,3-dithiolan surprisingly only gave one thiolanyl compound (200) which proved to have the thiolanylgroup in the α-position. Reduction and hydrolysis of this compound gave the hydroxyaldehyde 205. However, during the Wittig reaction of the latter compound, equilibration occurred via (retro-)aldol reaction, resulting in considerable epimerization at C-13. Only a small amount of α-vinylproduct was found. Oxidation and Wolff-Kishner reduction finally afforded the model compound 122.Alkylation of compound 201 with 2-ethoxy-1,3-dithiolan yielded stereospecifically the β-thiolanyl product, as could be expected for steric reasons. This product was elaborated further as shown. Here, too, a (retro-)aldol reaction occurred during the Wittig reaction of compound 225, resulting in both hydroxy-epimers of the β-vinyl alcohol. No α-vinylproduct could be detected in this case. This concluded the stereospecific synthesis of compound 122.X-ray crystallography of thiolanyl-compounds 200 and 219 and 13 C-NMR spectroscopy were used to establish the stereochemistry of a number of reaction products, especially concerning the configuration at C-13. Details of these measurements can be found in chapter 6.Finally, in chapter 7, the results of the investigations are summarized and evaluated in relation to the total synthesis of momilactones.</p

Estimates of power deposited via cesium/barium beta and gamma radiation captured in components of a Hanford cesium chloride capsule and by components of overpacked capsules placed in an interim dry storage facility

The deposition of power in Hanford cesium chloride capsules and in the components of design concepts for overpacking and interim storage were determined as requested (Randklev, 1996a). The power deposition results from the selective capture of gamma and beta radiation coming from the decay of the 137CS isotope in the CsCl contained in the capsules. The following three cases were analyzed: (a) a single CsCl capsule, (b) an overpack containing eight CsCl capsules, and (c) an infinite square array of such overpacks as placed in tubes of a interim dry storage facility. The power deposition was expressed as watts per gram for each of the respective physical design components in these three cases. Per the analyses request and guidance (Randklev 1996a), the primary analysis objective was to characterize, for each case, the power deposition across the radial cross-section at the expected axial position of maximum deposition. As requested, this primary part of the analysis work was done using choices for component dimension and material properties that would reasonably characterize the maximum deposition profile across the salt (CsCl) and the inner capsule barrier of the double walled metal capsule system used to construct the Hanford capsules. The secondary objective was to further evaluate the deposition behavior relative to the influence of axial position. The guidance (Randklev 1996a) also requested 1797 an analysis case that involved a lag-storage pit in a hot-cell, in which a cylindrical metal basket from a transportation cask would be used to position several capsules in the lag-storage pit. Although the basic model for the lag storage concept evaluation was essentially completed by the end of FY-96, the analysis was not run because of the need to prioritize and limit the work scope due to funding limitations for FY-97. The specific purpose for performing the subject set of analyses (Randklev 1996a) is to obtain power deposition values (i.e., per the decay of T37cs) that can then be used as input into an analysis of the heat transfer (i.e., component temperature) response (Randklev 1996d) for such cases. The overall objective is to support the TWRS program evaluations of capsule disposal options, which could be implemented if, and when the DOE changes their current designation as `by-product` material, to `waste` material. It was found that the Hanford reference literature concerning the capsules does contain a few reports on previous Monte Carlo code determinations of the power deposition values for assemblages involving the Hanford CsCl capsules. However, in one case (Campbell, 1981) the results are now believed to be seriously in error, and the other two reported analyses (Sasmor, et al, 1988; Midgett, 1995) involve capsule + other components in assemblages that differed significantly from the subject concepts addressed in this present analysis

Quantitative aspects of crystalline lactose in milk products

The occurrence of crystalline lactose in milk products and its influence on their physical properties are briefly reviewed. The importance of the quantitive determination of crystalline lactose for scientific and industrial purposes is indicated, and a summary is given of our earlier work. This refers to the β/αratio of lactose in aqueous solution and in the amorphous state, the structure of spray-dried milk products and methods for the quantitative determination of crystalline lactose in milk products. The relation between these subjects and the quantitative aspects of crystalline lactose in milk products is discussed.Some applications of methods for the quantitative determination of crystalline lactose are given. These refer to the improvement of the process for the manufacture of pre-crystallized spray-dried whey and to research into the hygroscopicity, free-flowingness and caking of spray-dried whey

Futures in primary science education – connecting students to place and ecojustice

After providing a background to futures thinking in science, and exploring the literature around transdisciplinary approaches to curriculum, we present a futures pedagogy. We detail case studies from a year-long professional learning action research project during which primary school teachers developed curriculum for the Anthropocene, focusing on the topic of fresh water. Why fresh water? Living in South Australia—the driest state in the driest continent—water is a scarce and precious resource, and our main water supply, the River Murray, is in trouble. Water is an integral part of Earth’s ecosystem and plays a vital role in our survival (Flannery, 2010; Laszlo, 2014). Water literacy therefore has a genuine and important place in the school curriculum.Working with teachers and their students, the Water Literacies Project provided an ideal opportunity to explore a range of pedagogical approaches and practices which connect students to their everyday world, both now and in their possible futures, through place-based learning. We describe the use of futures scenario writing in an issues-based transdisciplinary curriculum unit on the theme of Water, driven by Year 5 teachers and their students from three primary schools: two located on the River Murray and one near metropolitan Adelaide. All three schools focused on a local wetland. The research was informed by teacher interviews, student and teacher journals, student work samples, and teacher presentations at workshops and conferences. We report on two aspects of the project: (1) the implementation of futures pedagogy, including the challenges it presented to the teachers and their students and (2) an emerging analysis of students’ views of the future and implications for further work around the futures pedagogical framework. Personal stories in relation to water, prior knowledge on the nature of water, experiential excursions to learn about water ecology and stories that examine the cultural significance of water—locally and not so locally—are featured (Lloyd, 2011; Paige &amp; Lloyd, 2016). The outcome of our project is the development of comprehensive adventurous transdisciplinary units of work around water and connection to local place

Associations for Citizen Science: Regional Knowledge, Global Collaboration

Since 2012, three organizations advancing the work of citizen science practitioners have arisen in different regions: The primarily US-based but globally open Citizen Science Association (CSA), the European Citizen Science Association (ECSA), and the Australian Citizen Science Association (ACSA). These associations are moving rapidly to establish themselves and to develop inter-association collaborations. We consider the factors driving this emergence and the significance of this trend for citizen science as a field of practice, as an area of scholarship, and for the culture of scientific research itself

A Citizen Science Community of Practice: Relational Patterns Contributing to Shared Practice

Citizen science networks are a recent global phenomenon, with associated communities of practice that have emerged to support growth in the field and the development of practices. Effective communities of practice are dependent on the interactions from the social network underpinning the community. We examined the Australian citizen science practitioner network, using a combined social network analysis and survey approach. Our goal was to understand the structure and characteristics of this network, to establish who participates in this network, where and how interactions occur, and explore what participation achieves for the users. The Australian citizen science practitioner network has benefited from face-to-face citizen science events to make important connections that have been leveraged to benefit other working relationships and positive outcomes, especially for early-career practitioners and women within the network. How the community of practice continues to navigate successful knowledge exchange across society and science, whether through interactions in face-to-face or virtual settings, will need to be addressed as the community continues to grow in scope and size. In particular, the network will need to consider supporting key individuals who play important bridging functions across the citizen science practitioner network. The emergence of transdisciplinarity amongst those working in citizen science is a promising property of this learning community that is worth working strategically to maintain

What do parents expect in the 21st century?: a qualitative analysis of integrated youth care

New methods for child psychiatric diagnosis and treatment outcome evaluatio