Adelaide Research & Scholarship
Adelaide Research & Scholarship (AR&S) is the University of Adelaide’s digital repository. AR&S provides a platform for the collection, organisation, access and preservation of the research and scholarly outputs of the University community in digital formats, as well as digital management of information in physical formats.
University of Adelaide higher degree by research theses are deposited into the AR&S Theses community as part of the final thesis lodgement process.
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Recent Submissions
Impact of extreme ambient temperatures on low birth weight: Insights from empirical findings in Pakistan
(SAGE Publishing, 2025) Hira Fatima, S.; Khaliq, A.; Meherali, S.; Memon, Z.; Lassi, Z.S.
Background: Exposure to extreme ambient temperatures during pregnancy, including both heat and cold, can lead to complications such as preterm births, low birth weight (LBW), and developmental anomalies. These exposures pose immediate health risks to both mother and child and may exacerbate health disparities across future generations. Objective: Pakistan, with limited health resources, is particularly vulnerable to the impacts of extreme temperatures. This study aimed to quantify the association between heat and cold exposure and LBW in Pakistan. Design: Space-time-series study design. Methods: We analysed 17,077 birth records from 10 datasets from the Multi-Indicator Cluster Surveys and 1 from the Pakistan Demographic and Health Surveys, covering monthly LBW cases from January 2008 to December 2017. These data were linked to monthly heat index estimates, derived from temperature and humidity, from Copernicus ERA5-Land, aggregated at the provincial level. We used a space-time-series study design with quasi-Poisson distributed lag nonlinear regression. Models were adjusted for long-term trends, seasonality, and socio-economic factors, including maternal education, wealth index and rural residence. We estimated the cumulative risk of LBW associated with heat and cold, individual lag effects and the attributable fraction of LBW cases due to temperature exposure. Results: LBW was reported in 26.02% (n = 4444) of total birth records. The overall exposure–response relationship indicated a positive association between LBW and extreme heat; however, the estimates were imprecise and included the null. At lag 0 (month of conception), there was evidence of increased risk during periods of moderate heat (90th percentile: relative risk (RR) 1.70; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.01, 2.87) and extreme heat (99th percentile: RR 1.93; 95% CI: 1.00, 3.71). The heat-related attributable fraction for LBW ranged from 0.34 to 0.42 across provinces. In contrast, no association was found between LBW and cold exposure. Conclusions: This study contributes to the existing body of evidence of the association between extreme temperatures and LBW, particularly from a low-resource, highly vulnerable country. Notably, we found a positive association between heat exposure and LBW during the first month of pregnancy (lag 0), suggesting that early gestation may be a critical period of vulnerability.
Learning Probabilistic Logical Control Networks: From Data to Controllability and Observability
(Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, 2025) Lin, L.; Lam, J.; Shi, P.; Ng, M.K.; Lam, H.K.
This article studies controllability and observability problems for a class of mixed-valued probabilistic logical control networks (PLCNs). First, PLCN is transformed into the algebraic state-space representation (ASSR)-form by resorting to the semitensor product method. Then, the formulas are presented to calculate the lower and upper bounds of the transition probability matrix, which further derive the controllability and observability criteria. Furthermore, the ASSR-form of a PLCN can be regarded as a Markov decision process. Using the latter framework, we prove the equivalence between the controllability probability and the optimal state-value function, which is an iteration equation. Besides, the parallel extension technique transforms the observability of PLCNs into the set stabilization of an augmented system. The correspondence between observability probability and optimal state-value function is also derived. Afterward, based on the state-value function, the algorithms via the Q-learning technique are exploited to estimate the controllability and observability probabilities along with obtaining the corresponding optimal control sequences. Finally, all the theoretical results are elaborated via a genetic regulatory p53-Mdm2 network.
Neuromodulation by repetitive paired-pulse TMS at late I-wave intervals in older adults
(Springer Nature, 2025) Liao, W.Y.; Hand, B.J.; Rinaldi, G.; Semmler, J.G.; Opie, G.M.
The efficacy of indirect (I) wave periodicity repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (iTMS) on the excitability of primary motor cortex (M1) in young adults can be modified by changing the late I-wave interval. Given that late I-wave activity is altered in older adults, this could contribute to age-related changes in M1 plasticity. To assess this possibility, the present study investigated the effects of iTMS using three late I-wave intervals (4.0, 4.5, and 5.0 ms) on M1 excitability in 17 older adults (69.6 ± 5.7 years; 10 females), which was compared to findings obtained previously in 17 young adults (27.2 ± 6.4 years, 12 females). Changes in M1 excitability were assessed using motor evoked potentials (MEPs) recorded from the right first dorsal interosseus to index single-pulse MEP1.0mV and paired-pulse short-interval intracortical facilitation (SICF). To increase sensitivity to different intracortical circuits, both measures were also recorded using posterior-anterior (PA) and anterior-posterior (AP) TMS currents. Within older adults, PA MEP1.0mV and SICF were facilitated following iTMS (both P < 0.0001) and these were not different between iTMS ISIs (both P > 0.077). In contrast, AP MEP1.0mV and SICF were potentiated by iTMS4.0 and iTMS5.0 (both P < 0.023). iTMS5.0 potentiation of AP circuits was also increased in older adults compared to young adults (both P < 0.004). These results suggest complex, timing-dependent effects of advancing age on the plasticity of the late I-wave circuits.
Protecting children from tobacco products in retail environments: A review of Australian tobacco control laws
(Wiley, 2025) Rooney, T.; Okninski, M.; Morphett, K.; Richards, B.; Gartner, C.
Issues Tobacco retailing remains highly prevalent in Australia and so represents a potential source of exposure to tobacco marketing for children, despite national laws that restrict tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship. This study sought to answer the question of how comprehensively the current Australian regulatory framework protects children from potential exposure to tobacco marketing in retail settings. Approach We reviewed and summarised Australian tobacco control laws (federal, state and territory) for provisions related to protecting children from supply or advertising/promotion of tobacco products in retail settings. We analysed the laws for differences between jurisdictions and considered how comprehensively they protect children from exposure to tobacco product marketing in retail environments. Key Findings We found several gaps in the laws that leave children exposed to tobacco product marketing in retail environments. For example, some jurisdictions allow children to sell tobacco products and some do not undertake controlled purchase operations to monitor compliance. No jurisdiction currently restricts the location or number of tobacco retailers, or the types of retailers who can sell tobacco (including toy stores). Implications There are opportunities to strengthen tobacco retailing regulations in Australia to better distinguish tobacco from everyday consumer products and to protect children from tobacco marketing in retail environments. Conclusions Even in countries with strong tobacco advertising and promotion restrictions, such as Australia, weaknesses in tobacco laws leave children exposed to tobacco product retailing in ways that normalises tobacco product sales and use. Tobacco retailing laws should be strengthened to denormalise commercial tobacco products.
Pulsed Field Ablation for Atrial Fibrillation in Patients with Cardiac Implantable Electronic Devices
(Elsevier, 2025) Abbas, M.; Emami, M.; Kamsani, S.H.; Ariyaratnam, J.P.; Wilson, L.; Stolcman, S.; Schirripa, V.; Pattu Valappil, S.; Fitzgerald, J.; Evans, S.; Pina, A.; Gawałko, M.; Jayakumar, M.; Wong, C.X.; Young, G.D.; Sanders, P.
Background Multiple studies have demonstrated the safety of pulsed-field ablation (PFA) systems; however, patients with cardiac implantable electronic devices (CIEDs) have been excluded because of concerns about the impact of strong electrical fields on device function and integrity. Objective This study assesses the effect of PFA on the function and integrity of CIEDs. Methods Patients with atrial fibrillation undergoing ablation were studied at 2 sites. PFA was performed to achieve pulmonary vein and posterior wall isolation. CIEDs were interrogated before and after PFA to assess function (threshold, sensing), integrity (impedance), and arrhythmia episodes. Real-time interrogation of the CIEDs was also performed to evaluate the effect of PFA electrical noise on the CIEDs. Results In the last 24 months, we performed 329 PFA procedures, using 4 different PFA systems; 35 of them in patients with CIEDs. The mean age was 70.0 ± 8.8 years, 40.0% female. Results of post-procedural testing revealed no significant changes in lead impedance, pacing threshold, or sensing of intrinsic activities. Results of real-time interrogation of the CIEDs revealed that PFA electrical noise was often found when the PFA catheter is in proximity (eg, right pulmonary veins and posterior wall). Moreover, PFA electrical noise resulted in ventricular pacing inhibition for 2.5 and 3.7 seconds in 2 patients and atrial pacing inhibition for 2.1 seconds in 1 patient. Conclusion The function and integrity of CIEDs were not compromised by PFA in this study patient cohort; however, transient ventricular pacing inhibition was observed.