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Today's date is Thursday, March 28, 2024
Student Events
 July 2013
Wednesday 24
13:00 - SEMINAR - Regulation of mitochondrial gene expression : School of Anatomy, Physiology & Human Biology Seminar Series More Information
Note change of date: now Wednesday 24 July

The Seminar: Mitochondria play a key role in energy production that is essential for cell health and function. Human mitochondria contain a small and compact genome that is transcribed as long polycistronic transcripts that encompass each strand of the genome, which are processed into mature mRNAs, tRNAs and rRNAs within the mitochondrial matrix. Recently we provided the first comprehensive map of the human mitochondrial transcriptome by near-exhaustive deep sequencing of long and small RNA fractions from purified mitochondria. We have identified previously undescribed transcripts, including small RNA and long non-coding RNAs encoded by the mitochondrial genome. Furthermore despite their common polycistronic origin, we observed wide variation between individual tRNAs, mRNAs, and rRNA amounts, indicating the importance of RNA-binding proteins in the regulation of mitochondrial gene expression. We have investigated the roles of a new class of RNA-binding proteins and found that they are all localized to mitochondria where they regulate mitochondrial gene expression. These RNA-binding proteins have diverse roles in RNA metabolism and protein synthesis that are important for mitochondrial function and cell health.

The Speaker: Aleksandra Filipovska received her PhD in 2002 from the University of Otago, New Zealand. From 2003-2005 she was a NZ Foundation for Research, Science and Technology Fellow at the MRC Mitochondrial Biology Unit in Cambridge, the United Kingdom. In 2006 she relocated to Australia as a NHMRC Howard Florey Fellow and established her research group at the Centre for Medical Research at the University of Western Australia in Perth. She is currently an Australian Research Council Future Fellow at the University of Western Australia and a group leader at the Western Australian Institute for Medical Research. Her research efforts to date have been recognized with the award of several prizes such as the Australian Academy of Sciences Ruth Stephens Gani Medal, ANZSCDB Young Investigator award and the WA Tall Poppy Award. Aleksandra has published in internationally journals such as Cell, Nature Chemical Biology, Journal of Cell Biology and Journal of Biological Chemistry. Her research has been featured on the cover of Cell, Metallomics and Nature Chemical Biology, and it has been highlighted in Nature Biotechnology, Nature Chemical Biology and Cell Cycle. Aleksandra has been invited to present at national (Lorne Genome, Combio, SFRR, AussieMit) and international conferences (Gordon Conference, World Cancer Congress) as well as at institutions in the United States, Europe and Australia. She is an active and contributing member of a number of scientific societies such as ASBMB and ANZSCDB. Her research focuses on the study of mitochondrial gene expression and function in health and disease, and the development of methods for studying and developing therapeutics for inherited mitochondrial diseases.

16:00 - SEMINAR - CWR Presents : Identifying performance benchmarks in Ghanaian agriculture through efficiency analysis. Website | More Information
Agricultural production in Ghana is mainly carried out by smallholder farmers on a subsistence basis. Smallholders constitute about 95% of the farming population and produce 80% of the annual output.

This study investigates the level of technical efficiency of farms using a sample of 294 households from the Upper East region of Ghana. Bootstrap DEA methods are used to estimate technical efficiency and the factors affecting efficiency are examined. This is the first study that uses bootstrap DEA methods in efficiency analysis of agriculture in Ghana.

Results from the application of the nonparametric DEA frontier models show that mean technical efficiency is low and there is significant variability in efficiency among the sample farms. The results imply that agricultural productivity can be increased substantially through improvement in technical efficiency.

From a policy point of view educational status and use of hired labour have been found to hold the greatest potential for improving technical efficiency in Ghanaian agriculture.

Keywords: Bootstrap DEA, Ghana, policy, smallholders, technical efficiency

Short bio,

Luke Abatania commenced his PhD research in the School of Agricultural and Resource Economics at the University of Western Australia (UWA) in March 2009.

Abatania’s background is in Agricultural Economics and his research focus has been on the adoption and impact of improved technologies on farm household welfare. His current research interests are in productivity and an efficiency analysis of smallholder agricultural production.

Abatania has worked as an Agricultural Economist/Research Fellow at the following organisations in Ghana: Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (1992-2006), International Food Policy Research Institute (2006-2007), University of Ghana (2007-date). He was also a part-time lecturer at the University for Development Studies in Ghana (2002-2004).

Abatania holds a Master of Philosophy degree from the University of Ghana. He submitted a thesis to UWA in June 2013 for the award of a PhD degree and is currently awaiting the result.

PS* This seminar is free and open to the public & no RSVP required.

****All Welcome****


16:00 - SEMINAR - �Hormones, microRNAs and cancer � insights and challenges for a personalised approach� Website | More Information
Peter Leedman is a Professor of Medicine (endocrinologist) at the University of Western Australia and Royal Perth Hospital and Director of Translational Research at the Western Australian Institute for Medical Research (WAIMR). He has had a long-term interest in understanding how hormones act at the molecular level, with a focus on RNA biology, and how this information can be harnessed to personalise cancer therapy. His laboratory has focused on the mechanisms regulating expression of key therapeutic targets in hormone-dependent cancers (breast and prostate cancer) and more recently in poor prognostic tumors, including head and neck cancer and colon cancer. His team has identified key functional roles for a number of miRNAs in these tumors and uncovered several new members of a complex network of RNA-binding nuclear receptor hormone coregulators.

17:00 - EVENT - ConnectMe Movie Night 2013 : Join us for free to watch 'The Heat' movie new release at Ace Cinemas, Subiaco Website | More Information
Come and join the ConnectMe team and ConnectMe leaders with the opportunity to meet other new International students at the ConnectMe Movie Night on 24th July 2013. Spaces are limited so don't delay, register today.
Tuesday 30
12:00 - WORKSHOP - How to take good maths lecture notes : MathsSmart, Student Services Website | More Information
Get the most out of lectures and tutes and prepare for your first assignments with these tips and strategies. We will talk about the way learning maths differs from other disciplines to set you up for a successful semester.

Recommended for anyone studying maths, stats or quantitative units.

13:00 - SEMINAR - Use of animal models to gain novel insights into human masculinisation disorders : School of Anatomy, Physiology & Human Biology Seminar Series More Information
The Seminar: The ‘testicular dysgenesis syndrome’ (TDS) hypothesis proposes that maldevelopment of the testis, which could have numerous primary causes, leads secondarily to malfunction of the Leydig cell (LC) and/or Sertoli (SC) cells and consequent downstream disorders. For example, fetal LC dysfunction can lead to human male reproductive disorders that manifest at birth (cryptorchidism, hypospadias) or in young adulthood (low sperm count, testicular germ cell cancer, lower testosterone levels). The factors regulating fetal somatic cell function in early gestation are unknown, but can be disrupted experimentally in rats by environmental chemicals (eg dibutyl phthalate (DBP)). Gestational exposure to DBP also causes a reduction in fetal germ cell (GC) number, GC aggregation and multinucleated GC. Normal reproductive tract development and anogenital distance (AGD) are programmed within the ‘masculinisation programming window’ (MPW, e15.5-e18.5 in rats; ~8-14 weeks of gestation in humans), and TDS disorders appear to arise because of deficiencies in this programming. We have identified a novel repressor mechanism that explains this vulnerability, which may represent a mechanism underpinning TDS disorders. In rats, intratesticular testosterone (ITT) and fetal LC size increase ~3-fold between e15.5-e21.5, associated with a progressive decrease in LC nuclear expression of Chicken Ovalbumin Upstream Promoter-Transcription Factor II (COUP-TFII), which competes for binding sites in gene promoters with steroidogenic factor 1 (SF-1). Reductions in fetal ITT in rats induced by DBP, diethylstilbestrol or dexamethasone are all associated with maintenance/induced LC nuclear expression of COUP-TFII. We have also explored the species-specificity of COUP-TFII repression of LC steroidogenesis and whether this might determine species-specificity in potential vulnerability to disruption by environmental chemicals/endogenous hormones. Thus in mice, DBP exposure fails to prolong the expression of COUP-TFII in fetal LC, consistent with the absence of DBP-induced suppression of steroidogenesis in this species. In humans, COUP-TFII expression in fetal LC declines from 1st to 2nd trimester, consistent with a potential role in expansion of LC steroidogenic capacity, as in rats. However, our preliminary studies using human fetal testis xenografts into mice treated with DBP, show no evidence for inhibition of LC steroidogenesis and no prolongation/induction of COUP-TFII in fetal LC. We propose that relief of COUP-TFII repression provides a mechanism for increasing fetal LC steroidogenesis independent of LH/CG-stimulation to ensure masculinization, and is susceptible to disruption by environmental chemicals, stress and pregnancy hormones (in the rat). It may be that in humans, the importance of this mechanism has been over-ridden by the stimulatory effects of hCG that occur at around the time of the presumptive MPW.

The Speaker: Sander van den Driesche studied Biology at the University of Utrecht before finishing his PhD degree in molecular developmental Biology at the Hubrecht Institute in Utrecht under the supervision of Professor Christine Mummery. His PhD research was focused on the role of Endoglin in vascular remodelling in HHT (Hereditary Hemorrhagic Telangiectasia) patients. After finishing his PhD he moved to Edinburgh where he worked briefly in the lab of Dr. Colin Duncan at the Centre for Reproductive Biology (University of Edinburgh) on the hormonal regulation of the human corpus luteum, before moving to the research group of Professor Richard Sharpe in the MRC Centre for Reproductive Health at the University of Edinburgh. He is now a senior postdoctoral researcher in this group. His main interests are male reproductive health, in particular the regulation of fetal Leydig cell function and studying the underlying molecular mechanisms of Testicular Dysgenesis Syndrome disorders.

 August 2013
Thursday 01
13:10 - PERFORMANCE - FREE Lunchtime Concert : Visiting Alumni Artist: Ashley Smith (clarinet)Buffet-Crampon Artist Website | More Information
Free 50min Concert every Thursday during Semester at 1:10pm
Sunday 04
15:00 - EVENT - Chamber! Julianne Baird (soprano) : What passion cannot raise and quell! Website | More Information
Julianne Baird has been hailed by the New York Times as ‘possessing a natural musicianship which engenders singing of supreme expressive beauty’. She is recognised internationally as a musician whose virtuosic and expressive vocal style has made her the ‘unsurpassed mistress of late Renaissance and Baroque music’ (Fanfare Magazine). Julianne Baird is Institute of Advanced Studies Professor-at-Large at the University of Western Australia in 2013. She will be joined by Paul Wright (violin), Suzanne Wijsman (cello), and Stewart Smith (harpsichord and organ), in a program of exquisite and enchanting Italian and German baroque music.

For Tickets: http://www.music.uwa.edu.au/concerts/keyed-up
Monday 05
13:00 - WORKSHOP - CAREERS MONTH � Find employment online: Social Media really does work! : Create a professional profile, join groups of interest, connect with like minded people and find jobs suitable to your skill set. Website | More Information
For the uninitiated - this workshop takes you through how to build your online professional presence so organisations are seeking you out rather than the other way around. Many organisations have Talent Searchers specifically employed to scan professional networks and poach potential employees. Learn how to stand out from the crowd and attract employers to your electronic profile.

Bring your laptop along so you can begin to build your professional profile. Make sure you have a LinkedIn account before we start.

BOOKINGS ARE ESSENTIAL AS PLACES ARE LIMITED! GO TO CAREERHUB EVENTS - http://uwa.careerhub.com.au
Tuesday 06
11:00 - EXPO - CAREERS MONTH - UWA Careers Centre and Business School: Work and Vacation Expo : In conjunction with the UWA Business School, the Careers Centre is organising an expo to promote graduate and vacation opportunities. Website | More Information
In conjunction with the UWA Business School, the UWA Careers Centre is organising an expo to promote vacation and work opportunities.

Employers attending include: EY, PwC, KPMG, Grant Thornton, Chevron, Department of Health, Shell, IBM, Communications Council, McGrath Nicol, Korda Mentha and the UWA Careers Centre.

All student welcome!

12:00 - WORKSHOP - Numbers and Fractions : MathsSmart, Student Services Website | More Information
A kick-start course to refresh your knowledge and improve your confidence working with numbers. Topics include types of numbers, order of operations, fractions, operations with fractions, number lines, operations with signed numbers, powers.

Recommended for anyone wanting to revise vital maths foundations.

13:00 - SEMINAR - Empowering adult mesenchymal stem cells for cardiogenic regeneration : School of Anatomy, Physiology & Human Biology Seminar Series More Information
The Seminar: Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are a prototypical adult stem cell with an ability to self-renew and differentiate into multiple tissue cell types. In the context of therapeutic applications, MSCs are emerging as a popular agent for tissue regeneration and repair because of their easy large-scale production and immunological privilege. During adult life, heart muscle cells or cardiomyocytes lose their ability to regenerate and are unable to repair the heart wall muscle after injury, infections or ischemia. In this study, we will present the cardiogenic regeneration ability of MSCs. Cardiomyocytes are the first cells to differentiate during development and heart is one of the first organs to function in the developing embryo. Heart development is exquisitely sensitive to precise temporal regulation of thousands of genes that govern developmental decisions during differentiation. We will give a perspective of how epigenetic regulation of multiple pathways primes and specifies MSCs into the cardiomyogenic lineage. The role of DNA cytosine methylation, histone modifications such as acetylation and methylation of histone tails, and small non-coding RNA controlled pre-and post-transcriptional regulation of cardiac specific gene expression will be discussed. WNT pathway is believed to possess a crucial role in cardiac development during embryogenesis and heart diseases in the adult through regulating diverse cellular processes. Role of epigenetic modification with reference to WNT associated regulators will be visited to give a perspective of its role during cardiac lineage commitment.

The Speaker: Dr Sudha Warrier obtained her PhD in 2002 from University of Madras, India in invertebrate reproductive biology. She underwent postdoctoral training (2002-2005) in Duke University, North Carolina, Medical College of Ohio and Anna University, India in cancer biology, hypertension proteomics and bioinformatics and stem cell biology. After postdoctoral training, she worked as a Senior Scientist in Frontier Lifeline Cardiovascular Hospital, Chennai, India (2006-2008). Areas of research were mesenchymal stem cell characterization from human bone marrow, cord blood and Wharton’s jelly and differentiation pathways into the cardiac lineages, role of HIF 1α in cardiac differentiation, identification of hypoxic specific markers in congenital heart diseases. After that, she was at Avesthagen Ltd, Bangalore as Functional Head in Cancer Stem Cell Division (2008-2009) studying a Drug Discovery Platform using in-house inhibitors against cancer stem cells from breast, prostate and head and neck cancers. Dr Sudha Warrier has been in the area of adult stem cells and cancer stem cells from 2006 onwards. Since joining MIRM from 2009 onwards, she has developed a model for enriching glioma stem cells and assaying for drug panels. In collaboration with Prof Arunasalam Dharmarajan of Curtin University, she has studied the role of Wnt antagonist, sFRP4 mediated chemosensitization of glioma stem cells to chemotherapeutics. In this project, she has also studied the downstream canonical and non-canonical Wnt pathways that regulate chemoresistance of glioma stem cells. Her other area of interest is in studying the mechanisms governing cardiomyocyte and endothelial regeneration from human mesenchymal stem cells and their epigenetic regulation and her group is actively involved in studying the epigenetic machinery of Wnt mediators in regulating cardiovascular regeneration.

13:00 - EVENT - UWA Careers Centre - Google Tech Talk : Distributed storage & data processing. bigtable! mapreduce! free swag & pizza! Website | More Information
Google Tech Talk – NEXT WEEK:

What: Tech Talk - Distributed Storage & Data Processing

When: 1:00 - 2:00PM, Tues 6 August

Where: University of Western Australia, Engineering Lecture Theatre 2

Pizza provided, RSVP at link below.

18:00 - PUBLIC LECTURE - Randolph Stow Memorial Lecture : Professor John Kinsella will deliver a lecture on the uncollected poems of Randolph Stow Website | More Information
The Westerly Centre and St Georges College will present the second annual Randolph Stow memorial lecture on Tuesday the 6th of August.

Wine and cheese will be served after the lecture.

18:00 - MEMORIAL LECTURE - The Randoph Stow Memorial Lecture : Guest speaker UWA Professor John Kinsella will present the Randolph Stow Memorial Lecture. Website | More Information
Guest speaker Professor John Kinsella, in association with the Westerly Centre for Australian Literature, will present the Randolph Stow Memorial Lecture and will talk about Randolph Stow’s Unselected Poetry. All are welcome to attend.
Wednesday 07
10:00 - WORKSHOP - CAREERS MONTH � Killer Cover Letters & Job Applications : Writing a high impact cover letter encourages the employer to turn the page and read your resume. Website | More Information
This workshop looks at the various types of cover letters, how to structure your letter, the format used, as well as how to research the position you are applying. Learn how to weave information you know about the organisation into your letter effectively and how to utilise a skills inventory to outline your skills and abilities.

You are encouraged to bring along your cover letter to the two hour workshop for feedback.

OTHER JOB SEARCH SKILLS WORKSHOPS WILL BE HELD IN CAREERS MONTH. BOOKINGS FOR ALL WORKSHOPS ARE ESSENTIAL, GO TO CAREERHUB - http://uwa.careerhub.com.au

16:00 - SEMINAR - �Work and Health Research at WAIMR� Website | More Information
We spend a quarter of our lives at work, and the links between work and health are the focus of this seminar. The Epidemiology Group at WAIMR will present a range of studies which highlight the types of questions which are asked in this area, the methods used to answer the questions, and the direct implications of the results for policy and practice.

Associate Professor Alison Reid is an epidemiologist with research interests in migrant workers, women’s health and asbestos-related diseases. She will present results from an ARC-funded mixed-method survey examining work-related accidents and injuries among foreign and Australian-born workers.

Associate Professor Markus Melloh is an Orthopaedic Surgeon/Rheumatologist who worked as Head of an Interdisciplinary Pain Clinic and Coordinator of an International Spine Registry at different European universities before taking up the position of Senior Clinical Lecturer at the University of Otago in 2007, followed by an appointment at WAIMR in 2012. Given the increasing socio-economic costs of persistent low back pain (LBP) and the high prevalence of LBP-related sickness absence his presentation will look at prognostic occupational models for persistent LBP and LBP-related sickness absence.

Assistant Professor Susan Peters is an occupational epidemiologist who trained at the Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences in Utrecht, the Netherlands. Her particular research interests are exposure assessment methodology and work related cancer. She will talk about occupational lung cancer and its relevance to Western Australia.

Dr Renee Carey has a PhD in Psychology and coordinates two nationwide studies investigating the prevalence of occupational exposure to carcinogens and asthmagens. She will be presenting the results of the NHMRC –funded Australian Work Exposures Study, which provides much-needed information about the prevalence of exposure to carcinogens in Australia and allows for an estimation of the future burden of occupational cancers in Australia.
Thursday 08
13:00 - WORKSHOP - Revision of matrix algebra : MathsSmart, Student Services Website | More Information
A useful refresher for anyone using matrices (eg. to solve systems of equations or linear algebra). Covers the definition of a matrix, basic operations (addition, scalar & matrix multiplication), identity matrix, determinants and inverse matrix. Recommended for students who are rusty or haven't studied matrices before.

13:10 - PERFORMANCE - FREE Lunchtime Concert : Students: Naomi Smout (piano) & Marco Lombardi (piano) Website | More Information
Free 50min Concert every Thursday during Semester at 1:10pm
Sunday 11
10:00 - OPEN DAY - 2013 Open Day : Join us for our Centenary Open Day and experience all that UWA has to offer Website | More Information
Come and find out about our undergraduate and postgraduate courses, career options, scholarship opportunities, our valuable research, community programs and facilities.

There's also residential college tours, hands-on activities, live music, entertainment, and plenty of fun activities for the whole family as we celebrate our 100th birthday.

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