Organoplatinum(II) complexes with hydrogen-bonding functionality and their potential use as molecular receptors for adenine

Describes the preparation and characterisation of a novel series of organoplatinum(II) complexes with hydrogen-bonding functionality.Thesis (M.Sc.)--University of Adelaide, Dept. of Chemistry, 200

The Optimization of Geotechnical Site Investigations for Pile Design in Multiple Layer Soil Profiles Using a Risk-Based Approach

The testing of subsurface material properties, i.e. a geotechnical site investigation, is a crucial part of projects that are located on or within the ground. The process consists of testing samples at a variety of locations, in order to model the performance of an engineering system for design processes. Should these models be inaccurate or unconservative due to an improper investigation, there is considerable risk of consequences such as structural collapse, construction delays, litigation, and over-design. However, despite these risks, there are relatively few quantitative guidelines or research items on informing an explicit, optimal investigation for a given foundation and soil profile. This is detrimental, as testing scope is often minimised in an attempt to reduce expenditure, thereby increasing the aforementioned risks. This research recommends optimal site investigations for multi-storey buildings supported by pile foundations, for a variety of structural configurations and soil profiles. The recommendations include that of the optimal test type, number of tests, testing locations, and interpretation of test data. The framework consists of a risk-based approach, where an investigation is considered optimal if it results in the lowest total project cost, incorporating both the cost of testing, and that associated with any expected negative consequences. The analysis is statistical in nature, employing Monte Carlo simulation and the use of randomly generated virtual soils through random field theory, as well as finite element analysis for pile assessment. A number of innovations have been developed to assist the novel nature of the work. For example, a new method of producing randomly generated multiple-layer soils has been devised. This work is the first instance of site investigations being optimised in multiple-layer soils, which are considerably more complex than the single-layer soils examined previously. Furthermore, both the framework and the numerical tools have been themselves extensively optimised for speed. Efficiency innovations include modifying the analysis to produce re-usable pile settlement curves, as opposed to designing and assessing the piles directly. This both reduces the amount of analysis required and allows for flexible post-processing for different conditions. Other optimizations include the elimination of computationally expensive finite element analysis from within the Monte Carlo simulations, and additional minor improvements. Practicing engineers can optimise their site investigations through three outcomes of this research. Firstly, optimal site investigation scopes are known for the numerous specific cases examined throughout this document, and the resulting inferred recommendations. Secondly, a rule-of-thumb guideline has been produced, suggesting the optimal number of tests for buildings of all sizes in a single soil case of intermediate variability. Thirdly, a highly efficient and versatile software tool, SIOPS, has been produced, allowing engineers to run a simplified version of the analysis for custom soils and buildings. The tool can do almost all the analysis shown throughout the thesis, including the use of a genetic algorithm to optimise testing locations. However, it is approximately 10 million times faster than analysis using the original framework, running on a single-core computer within minutes.Thesis (Ph.D.) -- University of Adelaide, School of Civil, Environmental and Mining Engineering, 202

Trace-class operators on Hilbert modules and Haagerup tensor products

We show that the space of trace-class operators on a Hilbert module over a commutative C*-algebra, as defined and studied in earlier work of Stern and van Suijlekom (Journal of Functional Analysis, 2021), is completely isometrically isomorphic to a Haagerup tensor product of the module with its operator-theoretic adjoint. This generalises a well-known property of Hilbert spaces. In the course of proving this, we also obtain a new proof of a result of Stern-van Suijlekom concerning the equivalence between two definitions of trace-class operators on Hilbert modules.Comment: 13 page

A congruent molecular signature of vicariance across multiple plant lineages

Explaining disjunct distributions, or why closely related organisms are often separated by apparently severe barriers such as oceans or deserts, is a great challenge for historical biogeography. Competing explanations are long-distance dispersal across

Effects of a 5-HT3 agonist and antagonist on inter-male aggression in Mus musculus

Research has revealed an inverse relationship between serotonin (5-HT) levels in the brain and aggressive behavior. However, effects on aggression at the level of the receptor have yet to be elucidated for many 5-HT receptor subtypes. This study examined the effects of the 5-HT3 receptor agonist m-chlorophenylbiguanide (mCPBG) and antagonist ondansetron on inter-male aggression in mice. Using a resident-intruder paradigm designed to assess both offensive and defensive aggression, male C57BL/6J mice received 1 mg/kg i.p. injections of either mCPBG, ondansetron, or an inactive vehicle and were subsequently exposed to male AKR/J mice for a period of 10 minutes. Attack latency and the proportion of time engaged in a range of defensive behaviors were recorded. Subject C57BL/6J mice were then immediately run in an open field test for an additional 10 minutes to examine any anxiolytic or sedative effects of the drugs. Results show no significant differences between drug groups in either offensive or defensive behavior. No significant differences were observed between drug groups and open field activity; however, significant differences were seen between the offensive and defensive condition in the open field. In conclusion, this study fails to reveal any significant effects of the 5-HT3 agents on inter-male aggression, which may reflect a functional difference between the 5-HT3 receptor and the remaining G-protein coupled 5-HT receptor. However, this conclusion is limited by the large variance in behavior combined with small sample sizes, or the possibility of a drug dose insufficient for behavioral effects

Phylogeny and evolution of anomalous roots in Daviesia (Fabaceae : Mirbelieae)

The phylogeny of the Australian legume genus Daviesia was estimated using sequences of the internal transcribed spacers of nuclear ribosomal DNA. Partial congruence was found with previous analyses using morphology, including strong support for monophyly of the genus and for a sister group relationship between the clade D. pachyloma and the rest of the genus. A previously unplaced bird-pollinated species, anceps + D. D. epiphyllum, was well supported as sister to the only other bird-pollinated species in the genus, D. speciosa, indicating a single origin of bird pollination in their common ancestor. Other morphological groups within Daviesia were not supported and require reassessment. A strong and previously unreported sister clade of Daviesia consists of the two monotypic genera Erichsenia and Viminaria. These share phyllode-like leaves and indehiscent fruits. The evolutionary history of cord roots, which have anomalous secondary thickening, was explored using parsimony. Cord roots are limited to three separate clades but have a complex history involving a small number of gains (most likely 0-3) and losses (0-5). The anomalous structure of cord roots ( adventitious vascular strands embedded in a parenchymatous matrix) may facilitate nutrient storage, and the roots may be contractile. Both functions may be related to a postfire resprouting adaptation. Alternatively, cord roots may be an adaptation to the low-nutrient lateritic soils of Western Australia. However, tests for association between root type, soil type, and growth habit were equivocal, depending on whether the variables were treated as phylogenetically dependent (insignificant) or independent ( significant)

International power transitions, critical realism, and the rise of China

This thesis employs the philosophy of critical realism to develop an innovative theory and methodology for the study of international power transitions. The theory is then applied in a future-oriented case analysis to enrich explanation and understanding of a major real world policy challenge - the rise of China

Evolutionary consequences of shifts to bird-pollination in the Australian pea-flowered legumes (Mirbelieae and Bossiaeeae)

BACKGROUND Interactions with pollinators are proposed to be one of the major drivers of diversity in angiosperms. Specialised interactions with pollinators can lead to specialised floral traits, which collectively are known as a pollination syndrome. While it is thought that specialisation to a pollinator can lead to either an increase in diversity or in some cases a dead end, it is not well understood how transitions among specialised pollinators contribute to changes in diversity. Here, we use evolutionary trait reconstruction of bee-pollination and bird-pollination syndromes in Australian egg-and-bacon peas (Mirbelieae and Bossiaeeae) to test whether transitions between pollination syndromes is correlated with changes in species diversity. We also test for directionality in transitions that might be caused by selection by pollinators or by an evolutionary ratchet in which reversals to the original pollination syndrome are not possible. RESULTS Trait reconstructions of Australian egg-and-bacon peas suggest that bee-pollination syndrome is the ancestral form and that there has been replicated evolution of bird-pollination syndromes. Reconstructions indicate potential reversals from bird- to bee-pollination syndromes but this is not consistent with morphology. Species diversity of bird-pollination syndrome clades is lower than that of their bee-pollination syndrome sisters.We estimated the earliest transitions from bee- to bird-pollination syndrome occurred between 30.8 Ma and 10.4 Ma. Geographical structuring of pollination syndromes was found; there were fewer bird-pollination species in the Australian southeast temperate region compared to other regions of Australia. CONCLUSIONS A consistent decrease in diversification rate coincident with switches to bird pollination might be explained if greater dispersal by bird pollinators results in higher levels of connectivity among populations and reduced chances of allopatric speciation.The earliest transitions overlap with the early diversification of Australian honeyeaters - the major lineage of pollinating birds in Australia. Our findings are consistent with the idea that environment and availability of pollinators are important in the evolution of pollination syndromes. Changes in flower traits as a result of transitions to bird-pollination syndrome might also limit reversals to a bee-pollination syndrome.Funding was provided by the Australian Research Council (grant number: DP0985473)

A Passive UHF RFID System over Ethernet Cable for Long Range Detection

This paper proposes a new form of passive UHF RFID system which has high tag detection accuracy but lower costs than existing systems for wide-range RFID scenarios requiring greater flexibility. This new system concept consists of a central baseband controller and a remote antenna subsystem, connected using a twisted-pair cable. Baseband signals are transmitted over the twisted-pair cable during the inventory session, and the transmitted radio frequency (RF) signals are up and down converted in the antenna subsystem. – 88 dBm reader sensitivity is achieved with an active leakage cancellation block, showing little degradation in tag detection performance over a 300m of Cat5e cable between the controller and the antenna. An average leakage suppression of 36.9 dB can be achieved with a fixed transmission power of 26.5 dBm. Compared with conventional RFID systems using coaxial cables between the reader and antenna, the presented system is superior in terms of link distance, link cost, and installation flexibility