University of New England

Are Socioeconomic Status and Time in Preschool Mediators of Shared Environment Variance in Reading Ability?

While socioeconomic status (SES), time in preschool (TiP) and their interaction are related to reading ability, the results have been mixed. This study assessed whether the shared environment mediated these associations using a longitudinal behavior genetic design. Further, this...

Estimating the Heritability of Intelligence with a Nuclear Twin Family Design

Intelligence, and the favorable life outcomes with which it is associated, are not shared equally between individuals or groups. In an endeavor to better understand the inequality, behavioral genetics (BG) have employed the classical twin design (CTD) to apportion the variability...

Population Pressures, Institutional Quality and Environmental Sustainability in Sub‐Saharan Africa: Nonlinear Dynamics and Regional Heterogeneity

ABSTRACT Rapid population growth, environmental degradation and institutional constraints continue to shape environmental sustainability in Sub‐Saharan Africa (SSA), yet evidence on nonlinear demographic dynamics, governance moderation and regional differences remains limited. Th...

Multi-Isotope Analyses of Colonial Sheep from the Sydney Region, Australia: Implications for Husbandry Strategies

Abstract Stable isotope analyses of faunal remains have demonstrated significant potential to enhance understandings of human-animal relationships during periods of European colonization. Isotopic analyses enable reconstructions of historical livestock management practices, inclu...

Genetic Correlations Between Fleece Shedding and Production Traits Indicate Minimal Trade‐Offs When Breeding for Maternal Shedding Sheep

ABSTRACT Fleece shedding is becoming an increasingly important trait in sheep production systems focused on meat and dairy, where wool has limited economic value and reducing shearing costs is desirable. For inclusion in breeding programmes, a trait must exhibit genetic variation...

Co-creating and testing a bibliotherapy e-storybook for children coping with parental complex post-traumatic stress disorder

The e-storybook was perceived as a useful bibliotherapy tool to support child and family outcomes and to facilitate meaningful conversations about family experiences.

Out of the fire and into the frying pan: Hostile post‐fire thermal conditions reduce activity windows for reptiles

Abstract Climate change and intensified fire regimes are reshaping ecosystems globally. Reptiles, as ectotherms, rely on microhabitat shelters to buffer against thermal extremes, yet the capacity of these shelters to persist or function following fire remains poorly understood. A...

Targeted post-weaning intervention of weaners with low growth rate pre-weaning is a profitable strategy to increase the productivity of Merino sheep

Context The post-weaning period is critical for the lifetime productivity of Merino sheep, yet weaners with low weaning weights present a significant management and economic challenge for producers. Strategies to mitigate poor performance in these ‘tail-end’ animals are essential...

Potential to Fine-Tune the Requirements for Amino Acids, Copper, Zinc, and Manganese to Optimise Growth Performance in Broiler Chickens

Chicken meat is the most widely consumed meat globally, with Australia alone reporting a per capita consumption of 53 kg/person/year. Amino acids and microminerals are essential to poultry nutrition, supporting growth performance and health in broiler chickens, partly mediated by...

Rural Emerging Adults’ Adjustment Experiences Post-Cumulative Extreme Weather Events

This project contains survey questions and analysis files for a paper by Natasha Searles, which constitutes part of her PhD project. The data analysis is conducted in jamovi.

Estimates of genetic parameters for growth traits to develop a genetic evaluation system in Mexican Hampshire sheep

Context The estimation of genetic parameters is an essential component when developing genetic evaluation systems for livestock. A genetic evaluation was conducted for Mexican Hampshire sheep by using a pedigree of 16,478 animals. Aim We estimated genetic parameters for growth tr...

Benthic Community Composition of Coral Reefs Is Associated with the Time Since Last Blast Fishing Event

Blast fishing is a widespread destructive practice that has long-term negative impacts on coral reef ecosystems. To better understand the long-term impact of blast fishing on these ecosystems within Southern Tanzania, in situ surveys were undertaken within a two-year timeframe ac...

Pathway for genetic improvement of Australian beef and sheep by using sustainability indexes to address greenhouse-gas emissions: workshop report

The Australian beef and sheep industries can play a small but important role in helping achieve global emissions targets. Genetic selection of cattle and sheep that emit less methane is an opportunity to make permanent and cumulative change and breeders are demonstrating growing...

Exploring the Genetic Variation of Fleece and Crutch Shedding in Sheep, Recorded at Different Times Within and Across Age Classes

The global value of wool from coarse woolled sheep continues to decline, prompting producers to seek alternatives that reduce or eliminate the need for shearing. Several sheep breeds naturally shed their fleece in response to photoperiod, and these breeds are being crossed with p...

The Views, Perceptions, and Understandings of Military Children in Relation to Their Family and Social Experiences: A Scoping Review

Military children, although a vulnerable population, have received only limited research attention that considers their voices and perspectives, despite their capacity to provide valuable viewpoints from their own direct experiences of life in a military family. This article pres...

Functional Evolution and Modular Behaviour in the Carnivoran Mandible

The relationship between form and function holds a central spot in evolutionary biology, as the changes in such relationship through time, are likely to deeply influence how organisms adapt to the surrounding environment. However, anatomical structures may be interpreted as a com...

The Moduli of the Universal Geometry of Heterotic Moduli

Abstract We study the moduli of the universal geometry of $$d=4$$ d = 4 $$N=1$$ N = 1 heterotic vacua. Universal geometry refers to a family of heterotic vacua fibred over the moduli space. The universal geometry mimics aspects of the original heterotic vacua, in particular holom...

Rice Flowering Date Retrieval from Sentinel-2 and Planet Fusion Imagery

Abstract Estimating the timing of rice flowering is useful for predicting maturity, which subsequently informs management decisions such as field drainage and harvest timing that optimize yield and quality. This study utilized satellite-based remote sensing to identify the highes...

Understanding Anterior Cruciate Ligament Adaptation: Structural, Mechanical, and Healing Considerations

The anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) is both a passive stabiliser and an active mechanoresponsive tissue. Emerging evidence demonstrates that its morphology, material properties, and microstructure adapt to the mechanical milieu imposed by habitual activity, targeted exercise, an...

The lived employment experiences and support needs of persons with Younger Onset Dementia within Australia

Background There is limited evidence on the perspectives and support needs of persons with younger onset dementia (YOD) within employment. This poses challenges for supporting this demographic within the workplace and during their transition to retirement. Objective The aim of th...