Griffith University

About: Griffith University is a education organization based out in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Context (language use). The organization has 13830 authors who have published 49318 publications receiving 1420865 citations.

A global map of mangrove forest soil carbon at 30 m spatial resolution

Abstract: With the growing recognition that effective action on climate change will require a combination of emissions reductions and carbon sequestration, protecting, enhancing and restoring natural carbon sinks have become political priorities. Mangrove forests are considered some of the most carbon-dense ecosystems in the world with most of the carbon stored in the soil. In order for mangrove forests to be included in climate mitigation efforts, knowledge of the spatial distribution of mangrove soil carbon stocks are critical. Current global estimates do not capture enough of the finer scale variability that would be required to inform local decisions on siting protection and restoration projects. To close this knowledge gap, we have compiled a large georeferenced database of mangrove soil carbon measurements and developed a novel machine-learning based statistical model of the distribution of carbon density using spatially comprehensive data at a 30 m resolution. This model, which included a prior estimate of soil carbon from the global SoilGrids 250 m model, was able to capture 63% of the vertical and horizontal variability in soil organic carbon density (RMSE of 10.9 kg m−3). Of the local variables, total suspended sediment load and Landsat imagery were the most important variable explaining soil carbon density. Projecting this model across the global mangrove forest distribution for the year 2000 yielded an estimate of 6.4 Pg C for the top meter of soil with an 86–729 Mg C ha−1 range across all pixels. By utilizing remotely-sensed mangrove forest cover change data, loss of soil carbon due to mangrove habitat loss between 2000 and 2015 was 30–122 Tg C with >75% of this loss attributable to Indonesia, Malaysia and Myanmar. The resulting map products from this work are intended to serve nations seeking to include mangrove habitats in payment-for- ecosystem services projects and in designing effective mangrove conservation strategies.

Competitor-focused accounting: an exploratory note

Abstract: The results of a survey appraising the frequency and perceived helpfulness of competitor-focused accounting (CFA) practices are reported. Given the limited attention afforded the subject in the management accounting literature, CFA usage has been found to be higher than what might have been reasonably anticipated. Three factors have been found to play statistically significant contingent roles in connection with CFA usage and perceived helpfulness: company size, competitive strategy and strategic mission. Little evidence of any systematic relationship between industry type and CFA has been found.

Heterojunction Architecture of N-Doped WO3 Nanobundles with Ce2S3 Nanodots Hybridized on a Carbon Textile Enables a Highly Efficient Flexible Photocatalyst

Abstract: The availability of robust, versatile, and efficient photocatalysts is the main bottleneck in practical applications of photocatalytic degradation of organic pollutants. Herein, N‐WO3/Ce2S3 nanotube bundles (NBs) are synthesized and successfully immobilized on a carbon textile, resulting in a flexible and conducting photocatalyst. Due to the large interfacial area between N‐WO3 and Ce2S3, the interwoven 3D carbon architecture and, more importantly, the establishment of a heterojunction between N‐WO3 and Ce2S3, the resultant photocatalyst exhibits excellent light absorption capacity and superior ability to separate photoinduced electron–hole pairs for the photocatalytic degradation of organic compounds in air and water media. Theoretical calculations confirm that the strong electronic interaction between N‐WO3 and Ce2S3 can be beneficial to the enhancement of the charge carrier transfer dynamics of the as‐prepared photocatalyst. This work provides a new protocol for constructing efficient flexible photocatalysts for application in environmental remediation.

Genetic tools for select-agent-compliant manipulation of Burkholderia pseudomallei.

Abstract: Because of Burkholderia pseudomallei's classification as a select agent in the United States, genetic manipulation of this bacterium is strictly regulated. Only a few antibiotic selection markers, including gentamicin, kanamycin, and zeocin, are currently approved for use with this bacterium, but wild-type strains are highly resistant to these antibiotics. To facilitate routine genetic manipulations of wild-type strains, several new tools were developed. A temperature-sensitive pRO1600 broad-host-range replicon was isolated and used to construct curable plasmids where the Flp and Cre recombinase genes are expressed from the rhamnose-regulated Escherichia coli P(BAD) promoter and kanamycin (nptI) and zeocin (ble) selection markers from the constitutive Burkholderia thailandensis ribosomal P(S12) or synthetic bacterial P(EM7) promoter. Flp and Cre site-specific recombination systems allow in vivo excision and recycling of nptII and ble selection markers contained on FRT or loxP cassettes. Finally, expression of Tn7 site-specific transposase from the constitutive P1 integron promoter allowed development of an efficient site-specific chromosomal integration system for B. pseudomallei. In conjunction with a natural transformation method, the utility of these new tools was demonstrated by isolating an unmarked delta(amrRAB-oprA) efflux pump mutant. Exploiting natural transformation, chromosomal DNA fragments carrying this mutation marked with zeocin resistance were transferred between the genomes of two different B. pseudomallei strains. Lastly, the deletion mutation was complemented by a chromosomally integrated mini-Tn7 element carrying the amrAB-oprA operon. The new tools allow routine select-agent-compliant genetic manipulations of B. pseudomallei and other Burkholderia species.

Effectiveness of a counseling intervention after a traumatic childbirth: a randomized controlled trial.

Abstract: Adverse childbirth experiences can evoke fear and overwhelming anxiety for some women and precipitate posttraumatic stress disorder. The objective of this study was to assess a midwife‐led brief counseling intervention for postpartum women at risk of developing psychological trauma symptoms. Method: Of 348 women screened for trauma symptoms, 103 met inclusion criteria and were randomized into an intervention (n = 50) or a control (n = 53) group. The intervention group received face‐to‐face counseling within 72 hours of birth and again via telephone at 4 to 6 weeks postpartum. Main outcome measures were posttraumatic stress symptoms, depression, self‐blame, and confidence about a future pregnancy. Results: At 3‐month follow‐up, intervention group women reported decreased trauma symptoms, low relative risk of depression, low relative risk of stress, and low feelings of self‐blame. Confidence about a future pregnancy was higher for these women than for control group women. Three intervention group women compared with 9 control group women met the diagnostic criteria for posttraumatic stress disorder at 3 months postpartum, but this result was not statistically significant. Discussion: A high prevalence of postpartum depression and trauma symptoms occurred after childbirth. Although most women improved over time, the intervention markedly affected participants' trajectory toward recovery compared with women who did not receive counseling. Conclusions: A brief, midwife‐led counseling intervention for women who report a distressing birth experience was effective in reducing symptoms of trauma, depression, stress, and feelings of self‐blame. The intervention is within the scope of midwifery practice, caused no harm to participants, was perceived as helpful, and enhanced women's confidence about a future pregnancy.