Forecast model for radon concentrations in visitor caves

The aim of this project is to develop a mathematical forecast model which can be used to forecase the radon ceontrations in visitor caves and to assess its validity using statistical analysis of its outputs and datasets from other caves. The project consists of a literature review, the creation of a forecast model and a statistical analysis of the results of the model with comparison data. The aim of the literaure review is to identify any mathematical models involving radon concentrations and to find any datasets that could be used to develop a forecast model of the seasonal variations in radon concentrations. Having identified a suitable dataset for development of the model a model specific to that cave will be carried out. The results of this model will then be statistically anlysed using the original dataset and a second dataset for comparison purposes, following any necessary adjustments. This will identify whether a forecast model based on observed seasonal variations could be used to predict accurately the radon concetrations in a visitor cave. The use of a second dataset will indicate whether this model has the potential to be applied to other caves or whether predictive models would have to specifically developed for each cave system

The metric matters when assessing diversity: Assessing lepidopteran species richness and diversity in two habitats under different disturbance regimes

How we measure diversity can have important implications for understanding the impacts of anthropogenic pressure on ecosystem processes and functioning. Functional diversity quantifies the range and relative abundance of functional traits within a given community and, as such, may provide a more mechanistic understanding of ecosystems. Here, we use a novel approach to examine how lepidopteran richness and diversity, weighted by species abundance, differ between habitats under different disturbance regimes (highly disturbed non‐native plantations and less disturbed broadleaf woodlands), both with and without constraining by similarity due to shared taxonomy or functional traits. Comparisons of diversity between the two habitats differed according to which metric was being used; while species richness was 58% greater in broadleaf woodlands, after accounting for species similarity due to shared functional traits, there was little difference between woodland types under two different disturbance regimes. Functional diversity varied within the landscape but was similar in paired broadleaf and plantation sites, suggesting that landscape rather than local factors drive biotic homogenization in plantation dominated landscapes. The higher richness in broadleaf sites appears to be driven by rare species, which share functional traits with more common species. Moth populations in disturbed, plantation sites represent a reduced subset of moth species compared to broadleaf sites, and may be more vulnerable to disturbance pressures such as clear‐felling operations due to low community resilience

SEXUAL ABUSE OF DOCTORS BY DOCTORS PROFESSIONALISM COMPLEXITY AND THE POTENTIAL FOR HEALING

Contemporary attitudes to sexual abuse are changing. The Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse, the response of the Australian Defence Force to allegations of sexual abuse in the military and the work of the Australian Human Rights Commission around sexual harassment in the workplace all indicate a shift in community values. They also represent a shift in our understanding of the nature and scope of professionalism. As each respected institution has its professional failures exposed, it becomes obvious that no group is immune. Existing codes of professional conduct have not protected colleagues or clients from toxic behaviour