Publications by authors named "P M Mawson"

Introduction: Successful organ transplantation in patients with end-stage organ failure improves long-term survival, improves quality of life and reduces costs to the NHS. Despite an increase in the number of deceased organ donors over the last decade, there remains a considerable shortfall of suitable organs available for transplantation. Over half of UK donors are certified dead by neurological criteria following brain stem compression, which leads to severe physiological stress in the donor, combined with a hyperinflammatory state.

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Sex allocation theories predict that under different ecological conditions the production of sons and daughters will affect parental fitness differently. Skewed offspring sex ratios often occur under captive conditions where individuals are exposed to nutritional and social conditions that differ from nature. Here, we analyzed 29 years of offspring sex ratio data from a captive population of an endangered marsupial, the Numbat ().

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The use of anthropogenic resources is becoming increasingly common as species adapt to human-induced environmental changes, but their use can expose species to new risks. Understanding how animals exploit these resources is important for guiding conservation management, particularly where species are threatened. The introduction of canola cropping to breeding areas of endangered Carnaby's cockatoo () has been attributed to an increase in the birds' reproductive success; however, the seed may be protein-limiting for nestling growth and its use by cockatoos has been implicated in the emergence of a new disease.

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Introduction: Sepsis is characterised by a dysregulated immune response to infection, with exaggerated pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory responses. A predominant immunosuppressive profile affecting both innate and adaptive immune responses is associated with increased hospital-acquired infection and reduced infection-free survival. While hospital-acquired infection leads to additional antibiotic use, the role of the immunosuppressive phenotype in guiding complex decisions, such as those affecting antibiotic stewardship, is uncertain.

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Article Synopsis
  • Managed breeding programs for marsupial conservation can be costly and may negatively affect genetics, but biobanking and assisted reproductive technologies (ARTs) can help mitigate these issues.
  • Genetic and economic models showed that using biobanked founder sperm improved outcomes for captive populations of dibblers and numbats by significantly reducing inbreeding, colony size, and costs.
  • Successful biobanking for conservation requires adequate funding, partnerships, and a clear research pathway, with an estimated investment of A$133 million needed for protocols for 15 at-risk Australian marsupial species.
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