Macquarie Park Research Articles

Environmental DNA analysis of airborne poaceae (grass) pollen reveals taxonomic diversity across seasons and climate zones

BackgroundGrasses populate most biogeographical zones, and their diversity influences allergic sensitisation to pollen. Previously, the contribution of different Poaceae subfamilies to airborne pollen has mostly been inferred from historical herbarium records. We recently applied environmental (e)DNA metabarcoding at one subtropical site revealing that successive airborne grass pollen peaks were derived from repeated flowering of Chloridoid and Panicoid grasses over a season. This study aimed to compare spatiotemporal patterns in grass pollen exposure across seasons and climate zones. MethodsAirborne pollen concentrations across two austral pollen seasons spanning 2017–2019 at subtropical (Mutdapilly and Rocklea, Queensland) and temperate (Macquarie Park and Richmond, New South Wales) sites, were determined with a routine volumetric impaction sampler and counting by light microscopy. Poaceae rbcL metabarcode sequences amplified from daily pollen samples collected once per week were assigned to subfamily and genus using a ribosomal classifier and compared with Atlas of Living Australia sighting records. ResultseDNA analysis revealed distinct dominance patterns of grass pollen at various sites: Panicoid grasses prevailed in both subtropical Mutdapilly and temperate Macquarie Park, whilst Chloridoid grasses dominated the subtropical Rocklea site. Overall, subtropical sites showed significantly higher proportion of pollen from Chloridoid grasses than temperate sites, whereas the temperate sites showed a significantly higher proportion of pollen from Pooideae grasses than subtropical sites. Timing of airborne Pooid (spring), Panicoid and Chloridoid (late spring to autumn), and Arundinoid (autumn) pollen were significantly related to number of days from mid-winter. Proportions of eDNA for subfamilies correlated with distributions grass sighting records between climate zones. ConclusionseDNA analysis enabled finer taxonomic discernment of Poaceae pollen records across seasons and climate zones with implications for understanding adaptation of grasslands to climate change, and the complexity of pollen exposure for patients with allergic respiratory diseases.

Metabarcoding airborne pollen from subtropical and temperate eastern Australia over multiple years reveals pollen aerobiome diversity and complexity

eDNA metabarcoding is an emergent tool to inform aerobiome complexity, but few studies have applied this technology with real-world environmental pollen monitoring samples. Here we apply eDNA metabarcoding to assess seasonal and regional differences in the composition of airborne pollen from routine samples collected across successive years. Airborne pollen concentrations over two sampling periods were determined using a continuous flow volumetric impaction air sampler in sub-tropical (Mutdapilly and Rocklea) and temperate (Macquarie Park and Richmond), sites of Australia. eDNA metabarcoding was applied to daily pollen samples collected once per week using the rbcL amplicon. Composition and redundancy analysis of the sequence read counts were examined. The dominant pollen families were mostly consistent between consecutive years but there was some heterogeneity between sites and years for month of peak pollen release. Many more families were detected by eDNA than counted by light microscopy with 211 to 399 operational taxonomic units assigned to family per site from October to May. There were 216 unique and 119 taxa shared between subtropics (27°S) and temperate (33°S) latitudes, with, for example, Poaceae, Myrtaceae and Causurinaceae being shared, and Manihot, Vigna and Aristida being in subtropical, and Ceratodon and Cerastium being in temperate sites. Certain genera were observed within the same location and season over the two years; Chloris at Rocklea in autumn of 2017–18 (0.625, p ≤ 0.004) and 2018–19 (0.55, p ≤ 0.001), and Pinus and Plantago at Macquarie Park in summer of 2017–18 (0.58, p ≤ 0.001 and 0.53, p ≤ 0.003, respectively), and 2018–19 (0.8, p ≤ 0.003 and 0.8, p ≤ 0.003, respectively). eDNA metabarcoding is a powerful tool to survey the complexity of pollen aerobiology and distinguish spatial and temporal profiles of local pollen to a far deeper level than traditional counting methods. However, further research is required to optimise the metabarcode target to enable reliable detection of pollen to genus and species level.

Innovation District Typology Classification via Performance Framework: Insights from Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane

As a new land use type, innovation districts are taking prominence in the urban development policies and plans of many cities across the globe. This new urban land use comes in many shapes and forms and offers various features and functions to the users. Despite its increasing popularity, there exist only limited approaches to classify innovation districts, and there are no holistic typologies developed so far. This study focuses on this understudied, but important area of research. The paper aims to develop an innovation district typology matrix and evaluates its practicality with real innovation district data. The methodological approach is three-fold. First, the multidimensional innovation district classification framework is adopted as a performance framework. Second, data from three eminent Australian innovation districts—i.e., Macquarie Park Innovation District (Sydney), Monash Technology Precinct (Melbourne), and Kelvin Grove Urban Village (Brisbane)—are collected. Third, both qualitative and quantitative analysis methods are employed for data analysis. The study finds that innovation district performances can be measured, and typologies can be developed though a novel approach. These, in return, inform property developers and managers, city administrators, and urban planners in their efforts to plan, design, develop, and manage competitive innovation districts.

Incidence and determinants of malpositioning tracheostomy tubes in critically ill adult patients.

Tracheostomy tubes are chosen primarily based on their internal diameter; however, the length of the tube may also be important. We performed a prospective clinical audit of 30 critically ill patients following tracheostomy to identify the type of tracheostomy tube inserted, the incidence of malpositioning and the factors associated with the need to change the tracheostomy tube subsequently. Anthropometric neck measurements, distance between the skin and tracheal rings and the position of the tracheostomy cuff relative to the tracheal stoma were recorded and analysed. Malpositioning of the tracheostomy tube was noted in 20%, with a high riding cuff being the most common cause of malpositioning, resulting in an audible leak and a need to change the tracheostomy tube subsequently. A high riding cuff was more common when a small tracheostomy tube (e.g. Portex (Smiths Medical Australasia, Macquarie Park, NSW) ≤8.0 mm internal diameter with length <7.5 cm) was used, with risk further increased when the patient's skin to trachea depth was greater than 0.8 cm. Identifying a high riding cuff relative to the tracheal stoma confirmed by a translaryngeal bronchoscopy strongly predicted the risk of air leak and the need to change the tracheostomy tube subsequently. Our study suggests that when a small (and short) tracheostomy tube is planned for use, intraoperative translaryngeal bronchoscopy is warranted to exclude malpositioning of the tracheostomy tube with a high riding cuff.

EFOCUS 2: A randomised crossover trial of smartphone fundoscopy and direct ophthalmoscopy aiming to improve optic disc interpretation by medical students with e-learning support.

Ophthalmoscopy and its interpretation are complex. We aimed to compare the diagnostic accuracy of smartphone fundoscopy with traditional direct ophthalmoscopy for optic disc interpretation, with e-learning support. We conducted a randomised, crossover study of 102 medical students. Students were offered e-learning for optic disc interpretation. A fundoscopy objective structured clinical examination was conducted after an introductory lecture and 10-min practical training session on smartphone fundoscopy and traditional ophthalmoscopy. Participants examined patients and simulator slides with a randomised crossover between smartphone [D-eye (Padova, Italy) or iExaminer (Welch Allyn, Macquarie Park, Australia)] and traditional ophthalmoscopy (Welch Allyn). Optic discs were graded independently by three masked ophthalmologists. The primary outcome was the ability to interpret an optic disc as normal or abnormal. Secondary outcomes included other optic disc aspects; student preferences; and e-learning performance. Students' agreement with the gold standard for an abnormal or normal disc was significantly greater using a smartphone (74.4%) than with direct ophthalmoscopy (68.1%, p=0.032). More students preferred smartphone (74%) over direct ophthalmoscopy (26%, p < 0.001). E-learning led to an improvement in optic disc interpretation scores (mean improvement=4.5%, 95% CI=3.7-5.2, p < 0.001). Medical students are more accurate at recognising an abnormal optic disc using smartphone fundoscopy than traditional direct ophthalmoscopy, and have a strong preference for smartphone fundoscopy. E-learning may improve the interpretation of optic disc abnormalities. Smartphone fundoscopy may mitigate some technical challenges of fundoscopy and reinvigorate use of this valuable clinical examination.

Stability of a compounded oral liquid formulation of clopidogrel for infants

AbstractBackgroundClopidogrel is recommended to prevent thrombotic complications in at‐risk infants. No commercial liquid formulation is currently available. Published compounded liquid formulations have not accounted for chiral instability at recommended storage conditions, and studied strengths are problematic in measuring accurate doses for infants.AimThis study examined the stability of a low strength (1 mg/mL) oral liquid formulation of clopidogrel using a chiral chromatographic method to separate active S‐clopidogrel from its predominant degradation product R‐clopidogrel, as well as its acid products.MethodsClopidogrel mixtures (1 mg/mL) prepared using Plavix tablets (Sanofi‐Aventis, Macquarie Park, NSW, Australia) in 1 : 1 Ora‐Plus : Ora‐Sweet (Perrigo, Minneapolis, MN, USA) were stored at room temperature (25°C) and under refrigeration (4°C). Samples stored were assayed periodically for S‐clopidogrel using chiral liquid chromatography to a minimum of 55 days. The percentage of S‐clopidogrel remaining (at least 90% of nominal content) was used to estimate shelf life. Physical and microbiological stability was also assessed.ResultsEstimated shelf lives at room temperature and under refrigeration were 12 and 46 days, respectively. When removed from refrigeration, kept at 25°C for 3 days and then returned to the refrigerator, the shelf life was reduced to 41 days. Physical stability was maintained during these periods, and there was no evidence of microbiological contamination.ConclusionIt is recommended that clopidogrel 1 mg/mL in an oral preparation containing Ora‐Plus : Ora‐Sweet be stored in the refrigerator (4°C) and discarded 6 weeks after compounding. If removed from the refrigerator to room temperature (25°C) for 3 days, so long as the suspension is returned to the refrigerator, it could be used at a reduced shelf life of 1 month.

The Letters of Bishop Basil of Caesarea: Instruments of Communion. By Fr. Silouan Fotineas. Early Christian Studies 19. Macquarie Park: Sydney College of Divinity Press, 2018. xi + 382 pp. A$60.00 hardcover.

The Letters of Bishop Basil of Caesarea: Instruments of Communion. By Fr. Silouan Fotineas. Early Christian Studies 19. Macquarie Park: Sydney College of Divinity Press, 2018. xi + 382 pp. A$60.00 hardcover. - Volume 89 Issue 1

Laparoscopic EndoClose fixation of a peritoneal catheter reduces migration.

With the introduction of laparoscopic Tenckhoff catheter insertion in the early 1990s, catheter malposition resulting in malfunction remains a frequent complication, often requiring surgical or radiological intervention. In this pioneer study, we describe the technique of suturing the Tenckhoff catheter using an EndoClose (Medtronic, Macquarie Park, NSW, Australia) device to the anterior abdominal wall during laparoscopic insertion and compare its outcomes with those not sutured. This is a retrospective study of all patients who underwent laparoscopic Tenckhoff catheter insertion at Western Health from January 2013 to June 2018. All procedures were undertaken or supervised by one surgeon. The primary outcome was catheter malposition requiring surgical revision. Secondary outcomes were time to malposition and complications. Peri- and post-operative factors were analysed to adjust for confounders using the Cochran-Mantel-Haenszel test. There were 82 patients in the sutured group and 63 patients in the non-sutured group. Catheter malposition occurred in 7.32% in the sutured group and 19.05% in the non-sutured group (P = 0.034; 95% confidence interval for the difference 0.007-0.237). There was an overall reduction in the odds of catheter malposition of 63% in favour of the sutured group. The median time-to-malposition was 128 and 182 days for the non-sutured and sutured group, respectively, but not statistically different. No differences were found for the number of post-operative complications. Suturing of Tenckhoff catheter with an EndoClose device to the anterior abdominal wall during laparoscopic insertion is a simple, safe and useful method of reducing catheter malposition.

An update of the pathogenesis of frontal fibrosing alopecia: What does the current evidence tell us?

Australasian Journal of DermatologyVolume 60, Issue 4 p. 335-336 Correspondence An update of the pathogenesis of frontal fibrosing alopecia: What does the current evidence tell us? Steven Kossard, Corresponding Author Steven Kossard stevenkossard@bigpond.com orcid.org/0000-0002-9607-5925 Kossard Dermatopathologists, Macquarie Park, New South Wales, AustraliaSearch for more papers by this author Steven Kossard, Corresponding Author Steven Kossard stevenkossard@bigpond.com orcid.org/0000-0002-9607-5925 Kossard Dermatopathologists, Macquarie Park, New South Wales, AustraliaSearch for more papers by this author First published: 09 August 2019 https://doi.org/10.1111/ajd.13128 Conflicts of interest: None declared. Read the full textAboutPDF ToolsRequest permissionExport citationAdd to favoritesTrack citation ShareShare Give accessShare full text accessShare full-text accessPlease review our Terms and Conditions of Use and check box below to share full-text version of article.I have read and accept the Wiley Online Library Terms and Conditions of UseShareable LinkUse the link below to share a full-text version of this article with your friends and colleagues. Learn more.Copy URL Share a linkShare onFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditWechat No abstract is available for this article. Volume60, Issue4November 2019Pages 335-336 RelatedInformation

Clinical indications treated with unregistered antimicrobials: regulatory challenges of antimicrobial resistance and access to effective treatment for patients

Objective Increasing antimicrobial resistance and a concurrent paucity of new antimicrobials marketed increases the risk that patients will develop infections resistant to currently available drugs. This study aimed to determine the range of clinical indications for which unregistered antimicrobials are prescribed at two tertiary hospitals in South Australia to identify any trends over a 2-year period. The effects of recent regulatory changes to the Special Access Scheme (SAS) were assessed. Methods Data were extracted from application forms submitted to the Therapeutic Goods Administration to access unregistered antimicrobials via the SAS pathway at two Australian tertiary hospitals for the period July 2015-June 2017. Average weighted antimicrobial prices were retrieved from the hospital iPharmacy (DXC Technology, Macquarie Park, NSW, Australia) dispensing system. To estimate the effect of a new access pathway (Category C), the SAS classification for each application was retrospectively assessed over time with each regulatory change. Results Between July 2015 and June 2017, 477 SAS applications for 29 different antimicrobials were submitted for 353 patients at the two hospitals. The most common indications were tuberculosis (43.6%) and refractory Helicobacter pylori (10%). Regulatory changes reduced the proportion of applications requiring preapproval for access. Conclusions Although the introduction of a new pathway has decreased the administrative burden when accessing unregistered antimicrobials, this study highlights the range of clinical conditions for which there are no registered drugs available in Australia. What is known about the topic? With increasing antimicrobial resistance and a paucity of novel antimicrobials entering the market, access to older, previously less-used antimicrobials is increasingly important in clinical practice. Accessing unregistered antimicrobials is common practice in Australian hospitals, but the range of clinical indications for which they are used is unclear. What does this paper add? Increasing antimicrobial resistance and a concurrent paucity of new antimicrobials being marketed globally is increasing the risk that patients may develop infections that cannot be treated with registered products. This study describes the range of clinical conditions for which registered antimicrobials are not available or appropriate, illustrating the challenges associated with sustainable access to effective treatments. What are the implications for practitioners? Access to effective antimicrobials in a timely manner is essential for optimal patient outcomes. Reliance on unregistered products is associated with increased risks regarding timely access to safe, quality-assured, effective medicines.

Architectural Design and Open Innovation Symbiosis: Insights from Research Campuses, Manufacturing Systems, and Innovation Districts

In the age of knowledge-based economies, open innovation has increasing importance. This study aimed to explore the architectural design approaches that can revitalize innovation activities in the era of knowledge-based economies. This paper investigated global case research campuses, manufacturing systems, and innovation districts where architectural design supports innovation activities. This study developed a research framework of architectural design for innovation and applied it in the selected case studies to generate insights. First, the research campuses selected as case studies included Panopticon, DGIST Education and Research Campuses, and Apple Park. Second, the open innovation of manufacturing system architecture was analyzed through the case studies of the Ford Motor Company, Toyota Motor Corporation, and Rolls-Royce Motor Cars. Third, this paper studied the clustered open innovation architectures of Macquarie Park, One North, and Strijp-S Innovation Districts. The findings revealed how tacit knowledge motivates open innovation through the design of manufacturing systems, research campuses, and innovation districts through real examples and mathematical or concept model building.

Transforming and changing urban centres: the experience of Sydney from 1981 to 2006

The key objective of this paper is to understand the space–time dynamics of metrics of changes to major employment centres in Sydney over the period 1981–2006. The following research questions are addressed: (1) what influence do the key centres exert on employment distribution over the metropolitan area? (2) are the key centres part of polycentric urban structure? (3) how accessible are these centres for the workforce and what are their respective labour catchment areas? These questions, in turn, allow an assessment of the official centres policy in Sydney which has been a feature of spatial plans since 1948. Eleven centres have been selected for this investigation: Sydney CBD, North Sydney, Parramatta, Liverpool, Penrith, Inner-city, Chatswood, Macquarie Park, Bankstown, Blacktown and Hornsby. The first five centres are at the top of the centres hierarchy as identified in the Metro Strategy 2005 and in previous metropolitan planning strategies, and the other six centres are in the next level of emphasis but all have the characteristics of important centres. The analysis included the maps of journey to work trips to the centres, influence circles of centres, employment preference functions and tabular data on levels of employment. The results of the analysis indicate that apart from the CBD, North Sydney, Parramatta and Inner city the remaining centres appear to exert little influence on employment distribution over the metropolitan area. The evidence also for a strong polycentric structure in the metropolitan Sydney does not appear to be present.

Societal integration that matters: Place making experience of Macquarie Park Innovation District, Sydney

Place making is recognised as a key strategy for supporting knowledge generation and innovation activities in the contemporary knowledge and innovation spaces. This study aims to probe into place making approaches in this context by focusing on the societal integration issue—a critical element in the place making practice. The paper places one of the fastest growing knowledge and innovation spaces from Australia—Macquarie Park Innovation District of Sydney, the largest knowledge and innovation cluster of the country—under the microscope. The methodological approach includes an interview-based qualitative analysis to capture the perceptions of a diverse range of key stakeholders. The study finds that: (a) Societal integration is a core objective of the place making strategy in knowledge and innovation spaces, and strengthens knowledge-based urban development endeavours, and; (b) Transparency in politico-economic processes, connectivity in physical and socio-cultural realms, and coordination between distinct and diverse needs of stakeholders are critical for place making through societal integration.

Variable duration of reproductive suppression in male coyotes (Canis latrans) treated with a high dose of the gonadotrophin-releasing hormone agonist deslorelin.

Effective and humane management strategies for coyotes (Canis latrans) remain elusive. We hypothesised that exposure to a high dose of a gonadotrophin-releasing hormone (GnRH) agonist would cause prolonged suppression of the reproductive axis. Two groups of male coyotes were administered 47mg deslorelin in the form of either five 9.4-mg controlled-release Suprelorin (Peptech Animal Health, Macquarie Park NSW, Australia) implants (n=3) or 10 4.7-mg implants (n=5). In the first group, deslorelin suppressed plasma LH, testosterone and testes volume in two of three coyotes for three breeding seasons. In the second group, two of five deslorelin-treated coyotes had no sperm production after 1 year and plasma LH, FSH, testosterone and testes volume were suppressed. Although plasma gonadotropins and testosterone were suppressed in three treated coyotes in group two, testes volume and sperm production were evident. Because the duration of suppression differed among individual coyotes, we further hypothesised that a variation in deslorelin release underlay the variability. To test this, we analysed in vivo plasma profiles of deslorelin concentrations. These profiles suggested that deslorelin concentrations >100 pg mL-1 are required to maintain suppression in male coyotes. For field implementation, the development of an implant capable of releasing deslorelin for the life of the coyote is necessary.

The Carbon Cost of Work—Impacts of Office Building and Commuting Energy in Sydney Workplaces

We investigate greenhouse emissions of office workers in Sydney, drawing on census data, national building energy benchmarks as well as journey-to-work and energy data from two study buildings. Comparing work locations in the central business district (CBD) and Macquarie Park Corridor with metro-wide averages, we find that building emissions dominate over commuting emissions across the city, but commuting is increasingly important as building energy efficiency increases. Furthermore, our results indicate that efforts to improve a building's energy efficiency at Macquarie Park are largely negated by high reliance on car travel despite the introduction of the Epping–Chatswood train line. We conclude that improving building energy efficiency, office space utilisation and network connectivity (currently evident only in the CBD) delivers the best opportunity to reducing the carbon cost of workplaces.

Effects of Electrical Stimulation Rate on Speech Recognition in Cochlear Implant Users

Background and ObjectivesThe stimulus signals delivered in cochlear implant (CI) systems are generally derived by sampling the temporal envelope of each channel at some constant rate and using its intensity to control the stimulation current level delivered to the corresponding electrode site. The objective of the study was to investigate speech recognition performance of cochlear implant users in quiet and noisy environments using either moderate or high rates of electrical stimulations.Materials and MethodsSix post-lingually deafened adult users of the Nucleus CI24 cochlear implant (Contour® electrode array, Cochlear™, Macquarie Park, Australia) with the Freedom® speech processor participated in the study. Stimulation rates of 900 and 2400 pulses-per-second/channel (pps/ch) were used after both stimulation programs were balanced for loudness. Monosyllabic word and sentence recognition scores in quiet and noisy environments were evaluated for each stimulation program after two months of practice. Subjects were also asked to respond to a questionnaire to examine their preference to any stimulation rate in different hearing conditions.ResultsWord recognition scores for monosyllabic words in quiet conditions with the 900 stimulation rate was better than that of the 2400 stimulation rate, although no significant differences between them were found for sentence test in noise. A survey questionnaire indicated that most subjects preferred the 900 stimulation rate to the 2400 stimulation rate, especially in quiet conditions.ConclusionsMost subjects indicated a preference for 900 pps/ch rate in quiet conditions. It is recommended to remap at 900 pps/ch for those CI users whose performance in quiet conditions is less than ideal.

Parramatta Rail Link – design and construction

The Parramatta Rail Link is the largest publicly funded infrastructure project to be built in New South Wales, Australia, and the most significant addition to Sydney's heavy rail network in 80 years. The major infrastructure components of the work currently underway include 13 km of twin TBM driven rail tunnel, and four new underground railway stations. The underground tunnels are twin 7.2 m bored diameter with cross-passages every 250 m, and three crossovers. They vary in depth from about 15-60 m, and pass under commercial and residential properties, universities, and the Lane Cove National Park. Each of the stations is constructed in rock caverns, with passenger access to the surface by way of escalator, stairs and lift shafts. Service shafts and tunnels are also included within each station complex. The Parramatta Rail Link is located within the Sydney Basin. The majority of the route lies within the mid Triassic Ashfield Shale (lower Wianamatta Group), Mittagong Formation, and Hawksbury Sandstone. The geology at the station sites, and the insitu stress conditions are of critical importance to the support design of the caverns. The structural geology in the area between the cavern shoulder and the zone 5-7 m above the crown are critical to roof stability and support requirements. The station caverns are being excavated in mainly competent sandstone and shales, although weaker weathered sandstone and some shales occurs above the crown of the caverns. The station comprises a main platform cavern approximately 190 m long by 20 m wide at the springline with an arched roof and is 14 m high overall. The cross-section is asymmetrical and has a shape of a human brain. Adjacent to the platform cavern is a 50 m long concourse cavern. At each end of the station is a large service shaft about 32 m long by 18 m wide, by 30 m deep. Each of the station cavern detailed design was developed and included excavation layout and dimensions, excavation sequencing, temporary and permanent support, including all shafts and related tunnels. The design methodology for the principal components of the station caverns included a study of cavern shapes to determine the feasibility of large span arched caverns in these geologic conditions, and the relative costs when compared with the precedent practice of flat roof or trapezoidal sections, which indicated that despite no precedence for long span arched construction in the Hawksbury sandstone, the architectural shape was technically and economically feasible. Numerical modeling was performed to investigate the rock mass response. The modeling was performed for the platform cavern alone, for typical and adverse conditions, and included excavation and support sequencing. A strategy was developed to deal with the potential for high loads and shearing stresses. It was determined that the potential risks could best be managed through an observational approach, by establishing sufficient instrumentation from the surface and within the tunnel (in addition to normal convergence and surface monitoring), and to closely monitor the ground behavior as the excavation progressed. A ground movement criteria was defined to trigger additional ground support. At the time of writing, there are several hundred designers and construction personnel working on the project, and the contractor was turning over $A 20 million per month. There is excavation in three of the four underground stations, with roadheader excavation complete at the Macquarie Park station. The first TBM began excavation in September, and is named 'Babs Guulang' or the 'big wombat'. (A). Reprinted with permission from Elsevier. For the covering abstract see ITRD E124500.