What's On at UWA

The objective of this two day workshop is to enhance the skills of the faculty and postgraduate students in the assessment of student learning. The topics covered include; Writing test items, creating assignments, conducting pre and post examination reviews, assessment of professionalism, feedback and development of blueprints. This workshop is organised by Peers Learning Together: A Community of Practice for academics with an interest in assessment and feedback funded by the Educational Enhancement Unit at the University of Western Australia

The inducible expression of AmpC β-lactamase is a major cause of β-lactam antibiotic resistance in several clinically relevant Gram-negative bacteria, including the opportunistic pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa. AmpC induction is regulated by the transcriptional regulator AmpR, which binds to the divergent ampR-ampC operon and is activated by 1,6-anhydromuramoylpeptide – an anabolite of peptidoglycan (PG) recycling that is generated by the N-acetyl-β-glucosaminidase NagZ. I will be sharing my findings into the molecular basis of ampC induction based on the structural and biophysical characterization of the archetypal AmpR protein from Citrobacter freundii (CfAmpR). CfAmpR forms a homotetramer that is stabilized by binding the intergenic region of the ampR-ampC operon, and it interacts with up to four repressor ligands (UDP-MurNAc-pentapeptide) in an apparent stepwise manner. Since NagZ generates the AmpR activator ligand, blocking its activity enhances β-lactam efficacy against bacteria with inducible AmpC systems. Crystal structures of NagZ from Burkholderia cenocepacia were determined in complex with the glycosidase inhibitor O-(2-acetamido-2- deoxy-D-glucopyranosylidene)-amino-N-phenylcarbamate (PUGNAc) and its NagZ-selective derivative ethylbutyryl-PUGNAc, 3-acetamido-4,5,6-trihydroxyazepane (MM-124) and its NagZ-selective derivative MM-156, showing that plasticity within the NagZ active site could be exploited to improve the design of inhibitors that selectively bind NagZ over functionally related human N-acetyl-β-glucosaminidases. Furthering an understanding of the role of NagZ inhibition on β-lactam resistance in P. aeruginosa, it was found that the NagZ inhibitor PUGNAc could prevent the emergence of high-level AmpC-mediated β-lactam resistance, and significantly enhanced β-lactam susceptibility in synergy with the potent β-lactamase inhibitor avibactam in an ampC derepressed P. aeruginosa strain. Collectively, this talk offers key insights into the regulatory mechanism of AmpC β-lactamase expression and explores small molecule based strategies to potentiate β-lactam efficacy against Gram-negative bacterial pathogens.

Learn how to assist adolescents or young people who are developing a mental illness, experiencing a worsening of an existing mental health problem or in a mental health crisis, until appropriate professional help is received or the crisis resolves.

The 14-hour Youth Mental Health First Aid Course is for adults who work, live or care for adolescents, such as school staff, parents, sports coaches, community group leaders and youth workers.

This course is based on guidelines developed through the expert consensus of people with lived experience of mental health problems and professionals.

Developing mental health problems covered are:

- Depression - Anxiety problems - Psychosis - Substance use problems - Eating disorders

Mental health crisis situations covered are:

- Suicidal thoughts and behaviours - Non-suicidal self-injury (sometimes called deliberate self-harm) - Panic attacks - Traumatic events - Severe effects of drug or alcohol use - Severe psychotic states - Aggressive behaviours

Abstract: Change is necessary in any dynamic environment, but there is always a cost incurred when implementing change; one of the most obvious is wear and tear on the physical components in a system. In the optimal control field, the cost of change is almost always ignored, and this can lead to “optimal” control strategies that are volatile and impractical to implement. This talk will introduce a class of non-smooth optimal control problems in which the cost of change is incorporated via an objective term that penalizes the total variation of the control signal. We describe a discretization method, based on nonlinear programming and a novel transformation scheme, for converting this class of problems into a sequence of smooth approximate problems, each of which can be solved efficiently. Convergence results for this discretization scheme are discussed. The talk will conclude with examples in fisheries and crane control.

Abstract: Most cells in our bodies are embedded in a complex matrix of extracellular molecules. These tissue-specific and dynamic microenvironments are essential for the functioning of the cells. But exactly what these microenvironments, or so-called "cell niche", are doing to the cells? Can we capture the "design principles" of these complex matrices on engineered microsystems, and guide in vitro cultured cells to form and function as a tissue? Traditional two-dimensional cell culture systems have been used to investigate the roles of tissue microenviroments. But these experimental systems are often too simplistic to reflect the complexity of the natural microenvironment. On the other hand, native tissue microenvironments, such as those provided by decellularised organs, are too complex to be reverse-engineered into model systems that can be studied and applied. This talk summarises our lab's recent attempts to deconstruct tissue microenvironments into their biochemical and architectural components, and investigate the roles of each components in guiding adult stem cell differentiation. The objective of this seminar is to introduce an interdisciplinary audience to the nature and challenges of our research question, and to present some of the approaches we are using to tackle it. Discussion with the cell biologists, bioengineers, materials scientists after the talk will hopefully bring forth fresh and creative ideas on this project.

Peptide drugs by design (and a little help from nature) for autoimmune diseases, microbial infections and diabetes.

Ocean plastic pollution, waste and the recycling “crisis” are hot topics. Cleaning up plastic waste and improving recycling systems are important but “turning off the tap” to reduce the problem at the source is critical. Plastic Free July is a global movement sharing ideas and solutions to help millions of people to be part of the solution to plastic pollution – so we can have cleaner streets, oceans, and beautiful communities.

From a humble office initiative in Perth to one of the world’s most widespread environmental movements the Plastic Free July has inspired 120 million participants in 170 countries. Hear the story behind this award winning behaviour change campaign and learn how you can be part of the solution.

Sponsored by UWA Oceans Institute

What would a beach look like in a different universe? How would sand flow in 4 or 5 dimensions? At the crossroad of mathematics, physics, and engineering, this talk will develop the numerical and technological tools required to answer those questions. Following the Discrete Element Method, widely used to simulate  particulate materials in physics and engineering, the higher dimensional equations of motion for rigid bodies will be solved. Specific properties of granular packing and flow will be extracted, and compared with well-established results in two and three dimensions. As higher dimensional simulations are challenging to visualise, we will also present complementary visualisation methods based on virtual reality technology, which are crucial to develop a good understanding of the overall behaviour of higher dimensional granular media.

With increasing public scrutiny of agricultural practices in food and fibre production, rebuilding trust between innovative primary producers and ethically informed consumers is becoming more important than ever before. Join us for a lively discussion on finding common ground and moving forward together.

The event program is as follows: 1.30pm Registration and refreshments, 2.00pm Event start, 5.00pm - 6.30pm Sundowner

For more details, view the flyer: https://www.ioa.uwa.edu.au/publications/industry-forum

Did you know we are essentially more bacteria than human? – and the microbes in our guts are responsible for 90% of the messaging to our brain rather than brain to gut! Science is beginning to catch up to the crucial impact our gut microbes have on our digestion, overall health and mental well being. In the last few years huge advancements in technology used to measure and detect the microbes that live on and in us has allowed researchers to map and track the diversity and the influence these invisible hitch-hikers have on every human being. The progress in this field of researching the gut brain axis (how the gut is connected to and messages the brain) is changing the way we view health and disease and ultimately paving the way to treat and prevent a host of ailments. This lecture will be co-facilitated by Stephanie Rea (BSc Nutr. Biol) & Wendy Muller (Masters Community Psychology) Both presenters have many years experience working in the community in WA to promote and support family health and wellbeing.

Applications of High Frequency Ultrasound and Photoacoustic Imaging in small animals- Cardiovascular Imaging & Analysis, Cancer Imaging, Kidney, Liver & Other Abdominal Organs, Reproductive, Embryo & Neonate Imaging, Ophthalmic Imaging, Image-Guided Needle Injections, Microvascular Perfusion with Contrast Agents,Molecular Imaging Techniques.

Mechanism and Application of Microbial Extracellular Electron Uptake Process

X-ray diffraction and scattering at Curtin University: Big stuff, small stuff, hot stuff, cold stuff

Join us at this 1 hour free public talk to hear from world-leader in deep sea biology, Dr Alan Jamieson from the Five Deeps Expedition and Newcastle University UK. Dr Jamieson will talk on exploring the deepest points on planet Earth and the amazing discoveries made.

Refreshments will be served following the presentation.

Explore the active learning potential and video management options within the Lecture Capture system; from capture sharing to student features and analytics.

For students to learn feedback needs to be timely, tangible and targeted. This workshop will consider the nature of formative and summative feedback and consider University policy on feedback and expectations. Register through the link provided.

Unfortunately this event has been cancelled.

This event is now booked out.

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Thinking postgraduate? Explore all your Psychology postgraduate options at the School of Psychological Science Postgraduate Information Session.

General Introduction & Application Information Tattersall Lecture Theatre 5.00 pm – 5.30 pm

Program specific sessions Accelerated Learning Lab (Ground floor GPB3 building) 5.40 pm – 7.00 pm

Unfortunately this event has been cancelled.

THIS SEMINAR HAS BEEN CANCELLED

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Molecular Phenotyping in Precision and Preventive Medicine