The University of Western Australia

Wheat, a major staple crop, is critical for global food security. However, abiotic stresses, particularly heat stress, threaten crop productivity. With climate change predicted to increase temperatures by around 1.5°C by 2050, crop productivity could be severely affected. Given ongoing hunger-related challenges and the growing global population, developing crop varieties with improved tolerance to abiotic stresses is essential. Plant breeders have long used the natural stress tolerance of crops, selectively breeding cultivars capable of thriving in adverse conditions. Molecular tools have further advanced this success, allowing for identifying and manipulating genes associated with abiotic stress tolerance. Combining traditional breeding methods and innovative biotechnological tools has shown promising results in developing stress-resilient crop varieties. As technology continues to evolve, policy interventions may become more affordable, enabling precise responses to the challenges posed by climate change. Wheat's capacity to withstand heat stress is influenced by both phylogenetic and environmental factors, as revealed by quantitative trait locus mapping and genome-wide association studies. Recently, omics technologies-such as genomics, transcriptomics, metabolomics, proteomics, phenomics, and ionomics-have provided valuable insights into the complex interactions between proteins, metabolites, and genes that govern the wheat phenotype. These approaches, supported by computational tools and bio-informatics, enable a comprehensive understanding of biological processes, aiding in the precise improvement of wheat varieties. Despite advancements, there remains a lack of in-depth studies on precision breeding for abiotic stress tolerance in wheat. This review seeks to address this gap by examining various morphological, physiological, cellular, and molecular adaptation mechanisms to improve heat tolerance in wheat.

Co-contamination of soil by cadmium (Cd) and cerium (Ce) has become increasingly prevalent and poses a significant threat to agricultural productivity. To investigate the effects of this joint pollution on plant growth, we investigated the ultrastructural, transcriptomic, and molecular responses of maize seedlings to Cd, Ce, and their mixtures. The results indicated that Cd, Ce, and their mixtures had detrimental effects on maize growth by reducing biomass accumulation (shoot dry weight was decreased by 59.94 %, 37.94 %, and 54.10 %, respectively), disrupting photosynthesis and chlorophyll synthesis, and causing ROS imbalance. However, co-exposure to Cd and Ce resulted in a less severe impact on the maize photosynthetic system compared to Cd treatment alone, as it reduced the production of osmiophilic plastoglobuli. Transcriptomic and molecular docking analyses revealed that Ce enhanced the repair of photosystem II under Cd stress by upregulating chlorophyll-binding proteins and carbon assimilation proteins. SOT5 (Zm00001eb327110) is primarily involved in photosynthesis, ROS scavenging, and phytohormone signaling, which could be crucial for breeding stress-resilient crops. For the first time, we demonstrate that Cd and Ce interacted antagonistically in transcriptomic level. This study provides new insights into how maize responds to heavy metals and rare earth elements and highlights critical pathways for improving stress tolerance.

Calcium (Ca 2+) priming' is an effective strategy to restore efficient carbon assimilation with undergoing unfavourable cold stress (day/night: 25°C/8°C). However, it is unclear how exogenous calcium strengthens the cyclic electron transfer (CET) to attain optimal carbon flux. To assess the nutrient fortification role of Ca 2+ (15 mM) in facilitating this process for peanuts, we added antimycin (AA, 100 μM) and rotenone (R, 100 μM) as specific inhibitors. Our results revealed that inhibiting CET caused a negative effect on photosynthesis. The Ca 2+ treatment accelerated the turnover of non-structural carbohydrates, and linear electron carriers while balancing the photosystem I (PSI) bilateral redox potential. The treatment also strengthened the PROTON GRADIENT REGULATION5 (PGR5)/PGR5-LIKE PHOTOSYNTHETIC PHENOTYPE1 (PGRL1) and the NADH dehydrogenase-like (NDH)-mediated CET, with plausible crosstalk between thioredoxin (Trx) system and Ca 2+ signalling, to regulate chloroplast redox homoeostasis. Specifically, exogenous Ca 2+ strengthened the PGR5/PGRL1-mediated CET by providing sufficient ATP and adequate photoprotection during the long-term exposure; the NDH-mediated CET served to alleviate limitations on the PSI acceptor side by translocating protons. This study demonstrated the effectiveness of harnessing optimal nutrient supply, in the form of foliar Ca 2+-based sprays to strengthen the eco-physiological resilience of peanuts against cold stress.

Modern agriculture faces increasing challenges from climate change and a rapidly growing global population, necessitating innovative strategies to ensure food security. Wheat wild relatives (WWR) represent a valuable genetic resource for improving wheat resilience and productivity. These species possess traits that confer resistance to pests and diseases, tolerance to environmental stresses such as drought and salinity, and enhanced nutritional quality. Recent advances in genomic sequencing and gene editing have facilitated the transfer of these beneficial traits into cultivated wheat. This review explores the potential of WWR in overcoming the limitations of current wheat varieties and enhancing climate resilience. Key topics include the genetic diversity and adaptability of WWR to harsh environments, recent breakthroughs in cross-breeding and genomics, and the emerging field of de novo domestication. Case studies showcase successful applications of wild wheat traits in modern agriculture. Harnessing WWR’s genetic resources presents a viable pathway to developing high-yielding, resilient crops that sustain future food supplies. Achieving this goal requires significant investment, interdisciplinary collaboration, and robust support for research, (pre-)breeding programs, and field trials.

In the heart, the specific 3D structure of myocardial layers produces an efficient ejection of blood. When myocardial infarction strikes, this architecture is disrupted, adding a disarranged contraction to the decreased availability of pumping units (cardiomyocytes, CMs). In this work, the alignment of cardiac fibers in a large animal model (pig) is characterized and employ melt electrowriting (MEW) to fabricate a bio‐inspired scaffold with diamond‐shaped pores. Using human‐induced pluripotent stem cell‐derived CMs and cardiac fibroblasts, human cardiac tissues with a biomimetic in‐plane contraction are generated. MEW‐diamond tissues beat macroscopically for over 1 month, with significantly faster kinetics, increased force, and higher conduction velocity than those based on square or rectangular pores. The diamond design induces a specific hiPSC‐CM alignment resulting in the observed in‐plane contraction. Transcriptomic analysis using bulk RNA‐seq reveals diamond‐MEW tissues present features of maturation as compared to traditional 2D cultures. Finally, the bio‐inspired cardiac tissues are employed to treat an infarction model in athymic rats, showing a significant benefit on systolic function and remodeling, tied to the presence of large grafts of human cells remuscularizing the ventricular wall. All in all, it is demonstrated that the new design generates superior human cardiac tissues with therapeutic capacity.

The real estate industry serves as a fundamental pillar of global economic growth and development, attracting substantial investments due to its interconnectedness with various industries. New World Development (NWD), a leading real estate developer in Hong Kong, is currently facing significant financial and operational challenges. These include high debt levels, declining cash flows, and macroeconomic uncertainties, all of which have raised concerns about the companys financial stability. This essay provides a detailed analysis of NWDs financial performance through key financial metrics, including liquidity ratios, solvency ratios, profitability ratios, and cash flow statements. Additionally, it examines external risks such as market volatility, interest rate fluctuations, and regulatory changes that may impact NWDs future growth. Through a comprehensive evaluation of these factors, this study assesses NWDs ability to navigate financial distress, maintain operational efficiency, and sustain long-term profitability. The findings aim to provide valuable insights for investors interested in the real estate sector, offering strategic recommendations on whether NWD remains a viable investment option amid current economic uncertainties.

Electronic cigarettes (“e-cigarettes”) are often marketed as smoking cessation tools and are used by smokers to reduce/quit cigarette smoking. The objective of this study was to assess the health effects of switching to e-cigarettes after long-term smoking in a mouse model and compare these effects with continued smoking, or quitting entirely. Adult BALB/c mice were whole-body exposed to mainstream cigarette smoke (2 h/day, 5 days/week) for 12 weeks prior to switching to flavoured e-cigarette aerosol (50:50 propylene glycol and glycerine) containing 18 mg/mL nicotine (2 h/day and 5 days/week), continuing cigarette smoking (2 h/day and 5 days/week), or quitting entirely for an additional 2 weeks. We then assessed a range of respiratory health outcomes including lung function and structure, pulmonary inflammation and changes in gene expression in the lung. Switching to e-cigarettes led to improvements in some aspects of respiratory health in mice compared with continued smoking, such as reduced neutrophilic inflammation in the lung. However, total cellular lung inflammation was still elevated and lung function was still impaired, in terms of airway responsiveness to methacholine, for e-cigarette use compared with quitting. Larger effects were typically seen in female mice compared to male. This study shows that switching to e-cigarettes after long-term cigarette smoking leads to improvements in some aspects of respiratory health, such as neutrophilic inflammation and the volume dependence of lung function compared with continued smoking. However, switching to e-cigarettes was not as effective as quitting smoking entirely.

This paper systematically examines how COVID has shaped an essential craft industry in Jingdezhen, China's "Porcelain Capital", providing a typical case reflecting COVID's structural effects on the cultural and creative sectors. Drawing upon primary data collected through four field trips between September 2018 and March 2023, this paper reveals the enormous challenges craft practitioners and businesses face amid COVID, including financial losses, business closures, and diminished international trade. Despite easing restrictions since 2023, there is little sign that the industry will return to pre-pandemic status soon. Moreover, although COVID and the "digital pivot" triggered by it introduced new opportunities for some craft practitioners, they predominantly exposed and exacerbated existing inequalities in the craft industry, including among private businesses and individual practitioners.

Background and aim Soil nutrient availability, acid-ification associated with plant phosphorus-mining strategies, and fine root foraging all influence nutrient cycling. However, their relative impacts on microbial nutrient cycling during primary succession remain unclear. Methods We studied a 130-year primary succession along the Hailuogou post-glacial chronosequence in southwest China. Early-successional stages (1-3) are dominated by Hippophae tibetana, which is gradually replaced by Populus purdomii. In the climax community (stage 4), Abies fabri replaces P. purdomii. We collected rhizosphere soil, roots, and leaves from the dominant species, analyzing how phosphorus-acquisition strategies (proxied by soil pH, leaf manganese concentration and fine-root morphology) influenced bacterial nutrient-cycling gene abundance, based on 16S rRNA sequencing. Results Rhizosphere pH and the abundance of genes encoding enzymes involved in ammonium and nitrate assimilation, denitrification and phosphorus mobilization were significantly lower for H. tibetana and A. fabri than for P. purdomii. In contrast, P. pur-domii exhibited a significantly higher specific root length. Linear mixed models reveal that leaf manganese concentration was positively correlated with soil acidification. Multiple regression models show that nutrient-cycling potential was more significantly linked to soil pH than to fine-root morphology or soil nutrient availability. Structural equation models indicate that the reduced nutrient-cycling potential was indirectly associated with soil acidification through bacterial co-occurrence networks rather than bacterial richness. Conclusion Soil acidification, associated with phosphorus mining strategies of H. tibetana and A. fabri, may inhibit microbial nutrient-cycling potential during primary succession. This highlights the interactions between plant nutrient-acquisition strategies and microbial processes in shaping terrestrial nutrient cycling.

Background Lower respiratory tract infections (LRTI) in infants are commonly caused by viral and bacterial infections, alone or in combination. We investigated associations between LRTI and infant nasopharyngeal (NP) viruses and bacteria in South African infants. Methods In a case-control study of infants enrolled in a birth cohort, LRTI cases were identified prospectively and age-matched with controls. NP swabs were tested using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction and 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing. We calculated adjusted Conditional Odds Ratios (aORs) and used mixed effects models to identify differentially abundant taxa and explore viral-bacterial interactions. Results Samples from a total of 444 LRTI episodes and 444 matched control timepoints were tested. Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) [aOR: 5.69, 95%CI 3.03-10.69], human rhinovirus (HRV) [1.47, 1.03-2.09], parainfluenza virus [3.46, 1.64-7.26], adenovirus [1.99, 1.08-3.68], enterovirus [2.32, 1.20-4.46], Haemophilus influenzae [1.72, 1.25-2.37], Klebsiella pneumoniae [2.66, 1.59-4.46], and high-density Streptococcus pneumoniae [1.53, 1.01-2.32] were associated with LRTI. LRTI was associated with decreased relative abundance of Dolosigranulum (q=0.001), Corynebacterium (q=0.091) and Neisseria (q=0.004). In samples positive for RSV, Staphylococcus and Alloprevotella relative abundance was higher in controls compared to cases. In samples positive for parainfluenza virus or HRV, Haemophilus relative abundance was higher in cases. Detection of CMV in controls was associated with reduced Corynebacterium, Dolosigranulum and Staphylococcus. Conclusions The associations between bacterial taxa and viruses and LRTI are similar to those from high-income countries. Haemophilus is a major bacterial driver of LRTI, acting synergistically with viruses. Dolosigranulum and Corynebacteria may reduce LRTI risk, while Staphylococcus may reduce the risk of RSV-related LRTI. CMV infection is associated with a dysbiotic nasopharyngeal microbiota.

Purpose: This study examines the economic benefits of innovative design in a hospital ward with the capital and operational costs and societal and government benefits. Background: An economic view of health care delivery options considers both the costs and benefits of an intervention for the economy, funders, and patients. Previous studies have focused on the financial costs of capital as an asset class for hospital development. Methods: Four hypothetical stroke rehabilitation units were designed within a larger Living Labs program (the NOVELL project). A standard stroke rehabilitation hospital ward design was compared to three alternative designs. The alternative designs expanded areas for therapy, social engagement, communal activities, and staff wellbeing, included activated corridors and enabled access to outdoor and recreational areas based on clinical evidence and expert advice. Results: The alternative designs are predicted to achieve A$3.3 million in savings annually for rehabilitation ward operational costs (a saving of 26$12 million plus savings to government of between A$3.93 million and A$5.4 million per ward per annum. Conclusions: Adoption of innovation in design, clinical practice and evidence identification has the capacity to improve clinical effectiveness and patient outcomes. Economy wide benefits and cost improvements for health funders from the adoption of innovative design have been identified through micro- and macro-economic evaluation.

This article aims to provide a comprehensive analysis of the various development approaches employed by government agencies in Malaysia in relation to the Orang Asli/indigenous populations. The research utilised a quantitative approach, employing questionnaires for data collection. The study’s sample comprises 390 participants who were chosen through the convenience sampling technique. The participants in this study belong to the following three tribes of the Orang Asli Laut community: the Orang Kuala, the Orang Seletar and the Mah Meri. The findings indicate that government agencies persist in considering the traditional identities of various Orang Asli groups during the implementation of development strategies. Although there is no universally adopted prevailing development approach, it has been noted that the top-down technique is frequently utilised. Therefore, this study suggests the incorporation of an indigenous worldview framework and community mapping as crucial instruments to provide predevelopment data to all stakeholders involved in the progress of Orang Asli communities throughout Malaysia.

The aim of this review was to systematically review and meta-analyse evidence for the presence of interpretation bias in pain and to establish the likely role of interpretation bias in chronic pain. The primary questions were whether people experiencing pain showed a greater interpretation bias than people without pain and whether interpretation bias was associated with pain outcomes. We were also interested in evaluating existing longitudinal and intervention research, which could inform interpretation bias as a causal mechanism and/or treatment target in pain. A total of 33 studies across 31 articles were identified (combined n = 4842). People with chronic pain showed a greater interpretation bias than people without pain, with a moderate effect ( g = 0.602). This effect was even more pronounced when interpretation bias was measured with the word association task, reaching a large effect size ( g = 0.899). Interpretation bias was associated with degree of pain interference, pain catastrophising, and less reliably with pain severity, but not with experimental pain outcomes. Longitudinal studies ( k = 3) were mixed as to whether interpretation bias predicted subsequent pain. Whereas, intervention studies ( k = 3) showed that interpretation bias could be modified and, for chronic pain, led to improved pain outcomes. Overall, data show that interpretation biases are robust among those with chronic pain compared with those without and are associated with pain interference. There is emerging evidence that interpretation biases are a treatment target that can be modified for improved pain outcomes.

The welfare of an animal is largely determined by the transient state within them that relates to what they experience. We evaluated candidate biomarkers of mental state and experience from human biomedicine as possible welfare biomarkers for sheep using a metabolic energy discrepancy model. The metabolic status of female Merino sheep was altered over three periods to induce changes in their experience and coping capacity. The first group was fed at maintenance for all periods (n = 11); the second group was fed above maintenance in period 1, at maintenance in period 2, and below maintenance in period 3 (n = 12); and the third group was fed below maintenance in period 1, at maintenance in period 2, and above maintenance in period 3 (n = 11). An isolation box test was used at the start and end of each feed period to assess the coping capacity of each sheep. Our results indicated that two of the five candidate biomarkers, insulin-like growth factor 1 and thiol oxidation, were associated with positive and negative experiences in the sheep, respectively. Future research should validate these biomarkers in sheep with other testing paradigms and in other ruminant species.

Environmental DNA (eDNA) metabarcoding is a widely used tool for surveying marine vertebrate biodiversity. To this end, many computational tools have been released and a plethora of bioinformatic approaches are used for eDNA‐based community composition analysis. Simulation studies and careful evaluation of taxonomic classifiers are essential to establish reliable benchmarks to improve the accuracy and reproducibility of eDNA‐based findings. Here we present a comprehensive evaluation of nine taxonomic classifiers exploring three widely used mitochondrial markers (12S rDNA, 16S rDNA and COI) in Australian marine vertebrates. Curated reference databases and exclusion database tests were used to simulate diverse species compositions, including three positive control and two negative control datasets. Using these simulated datasets ranging from 36 to 302 marker genes, we were able to identify between 19% and 89% of marine vertebrate species using mitochondrial markers. We show that MMSeqs2 and Metabuli generally outperform BLAST with 10% and 11% higher F1 scores for 12S and 16S rDNA markers, respectively, and that Naive Bayes Classifiers such as Mothur outperform sequence‐based classifiers except MMSeqs2 for COI markers by 11%. Database exclusion tests reveal that MMSeqs2 and BLAST are less susceptible to false positives compared to Kraken2 with default parameters. Based on these findings, we recommend that MMSeqs2 is used for taxonomic classification of marine vertebrates given its ability to improve species‐level assignments while reducing the number of false positives. Our work contributes to the establishment of best practices in eDNA‐based biodiversity analysis to ultimately increase the reliability of this monitoring tool in the context of marine vertebrate conservation.

The climate of the Kimberley region in tropical northwest Australia is dominated by the Indo‐Australian summer monsoon (IASM). Understanding of the palaeoclimate since the Last Glacial Maximum in this region, which is well placed to record IASM variations, is currently based on few records. Many of these are confounded by local environmental factors such as topography, anthropogenic activity or marine processes. Here, we present a geochemical record spanning the last 17 ka, in conjunction with pollen and charcoal records from 5.4 ± 0.1 ka (1 sigma uncertainty) to the present. The record comes from the floodplain of the Bullo River and as such represents variations in the hydroclimate of its 2000 km ² catchment. Results show that the deglacial was characterised by a variable monsoon until the onset of a wet interval beginning at 12.9 ± 0.9 ka. The exact onset and intensity of a dry period following 5 ka are uncertain, but conditions became progressively drier until the climate amelioration to modern conditions. These results are broadly consistent with previous research and extend our understanding of deglacial and Holocene hydroclimate variability to the eastern Kimberley, 350 km east of previously published Kimberley palaeoenvironmental records.