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De-risking hydrogen underground storage and unlocking exploration for natural hydrogen
No full textHydrogen is increasingly recognised as a viable energy source for decarbonising hard-to-abate sectors, particularly where direct electrification is impractical. However, several key technical uncertainties must be resolved before large-scale deployment can be achieved. Among these, the behaviour of hydrogen in subsurface environments, both in the context of natural hydrogen accumulations and manufactured hydrogen storage, remains poorly understood. This is especially true in near-surface and carbonate-rich settings, where physical transport processes and geochemical reactivity have yet to be fully characterised.
In this study, I investigate the dynamics of natural hydrogen micro-seepage at surface and assess the geochemical reactivity of dolomitic carbonates under subsurface conditions. Field investigations employed autonomous soil gas monitoring systems at known hydrogen seepage sites, generating continuous, high-temporal-resolution datasets. These data capture the influence of environmental conditions such as barometric pressure, rainfall events, and temperature on hydrogen emissions at the surface.
The results indicate that hydrogen seepage is episodic rather than continuous, and is strongly influenced by groundwater levels. Pulsed emissions were strongly modulated by atmospheric pressure gradients and near-surface hydrological conditions. In particular, suppression of hydrogen flux following rainfall events was observed, highlighting the role of water saturation in modulating diffusion of hydrogen gas through the soil substrate.
To address the limitations of conventional soil gas surveys in high groundwater environments, I developed and field-tested a headspace gas analysis protocol that enables effective sampling of trapped gases under water-logged conditions. This approach proved essential where traditional soil gas sampling methods are not viable, demonstrating that hydrogen gas was trapped in groundwater and required agitation to degas the groundwater. High concentrations of hydrogen were observed in this way, but again, the hydrogen concentrations appeared to be episodic rather than constant.
As soil gas sampling is becoming an important natural hydrogen exploration method, with sub-circular depressions as a focal point, understanding the nature and distribution of drilling-induced artifacts is critical. Soil strength and moisture profiling soil type and spatial analysis were used alongside traditional soil gas sampling techniques to differentiate natural hydrogen anomalies from those arising due to drilling-related artifacts. On this basis, I propose a classification framework incorporating dissipation rate and relationship to soil type and strength as diagnostic criteria. Thus, natural hydrogen micro-seepage can be differentiated from drilling induced artifacts.
Laboratory experiments were conducted on dolomitic carbonate core samples to determine the effect of hydrogen exposure at reservoir conditions. Samples were exposed to high-purity hydrogen under controlled pressure, temperature, and brine salinity conditions representative of the subsurface conditions of the origin field. Mineralogical analysis (XRD, SEM-EDS), petrophysical characterisation (porosity, permeability), and mechanical testing revealed that hydrogen exposure can promote dolomite dissolution and localized replacement by ankerite, accompanied by textural reorganisation of the pore network. The extent of these alterations varied as a function of initial porosity, and accessory mineralogy, with reactions ceasing within three months in the high porosity and permeability samples. These observations have direct implications for reservoir integrity and long-term containment under hydrogen injection conditions, and provide indicator mineralogy for hydrogen exposure in the exploration for natural hydrogen.
Field observations and laboratory experiments together offer a novel framework for understanding hydrogen behaviour in both natural and engineered subsurface systems. By combining validated field protocols with environmental diagnostics, we improve not only the detection of near-surface hydrogen seepage but also our capacity to anticipate how reservoirs might respond to hydrogen over time. These results reduce uncertainty in subsurface hydrogen applications and lay the groundwork for practical guidelines and regulatory standards in this fast-evolving area of geoscience
Faculty of Radiation Oncology 2022 workforce census
No full textIntroduction: This paper reports the key findings of the Faculty of Radiation Oncology 2022 workforce census. This is the first census since the COVID-19 pandemic and questions have been updated to assess the impact on RANZCR trainees and fellows. This report focuses on the analysis of respondents from Australia, New Zealand and overseas members, with a separate paper to follow focusing exclusively on New Zealand respondents. Method: The census was conducted in mid-late 2022 with many questions repeated from previous censuses. New questions were asked about theranostics, working remotely, hypofractionation and the impact of COVID-19 on work practices. Results: The census was sent to 591 radiation oncologists with an overall response rate of 52%. Almost half of respondents (n = 94/210; 45%) indicated that COVID-19 had no impact on the uptake of hypofractionation. Hypofractionation was most used by respondents in breast and prostate treatment (n = 134/200; 67% and n = 112/194; 58% respectively). Five respondents (n = 5/270; 2%) currently practise in theranostics, with the majority treating thyroid cancers within the public sector. Just under half (n = 81/167; 49%) of invited trainees responded. The majority felt that COVID-19 had a negative impact on their training. There has been a decrease in the number of new fellows seeking to complete further fellowships. Employment remains at very high levels for new fellows (\u3e 98%). Conclusion: The impact of COVID-19 on local practices and workloads was not as significant as seen overseas. There continues to be an increasing trend of radiation oncologists working in the private sector. The lack of indigenous representation within our profession continues to be an area that needs further attention
Accelerating precision exercise medicine in cancer patients using pooled individual patient data: POLARIS experience
No full textNumerous exercise oncology trials have been completed, greatly informing exercise recommendations for patients with cancer. Exercise medicine can be administered in various types, doses, and schedules at various time points. Advancing precision exercise medicine requires understanding of how the effects of different exercise interventions vary by characteristics of individual patients. The Predicting OptimaL cAncer RehabIlitation and Supportive care (POLARIS) study provides an international infrastructure and shared database to perform pooled analyses of individual patient data (IPD) from multiple randomized controlled trials. This commentary aims to highlight the value of pooled IPD analyses, summarize key findings from published pooled IPD analyses on the effects of physical exercise on various outcomes, and provide guidance to advance precision exercise medicine for patients with cancer. POLARIS currently includes IPD from 52 exercise trials. Findings to date indicate that exercise interventions in patients with cancer have beneficial effects on physical fitness, fatigue, health-related quality of life, self-reported cognition (posttreatment), sleep disturbances, and symptoms of anxiety and depression. Additionally, it was determined that the exercise effects varied by characteristics of the patients, including the initial value of the outcome, age, marital status, and education level, and by characteristics of the intervention, including exercise supervision and specificity. Future research opportunities to advance precision exercise medicine for patients with cancer include pooling of trial data from understudied populations, data on clinical outcomes, and biomarkers, as well as applying machine learning models for identifying combinations of covariables that modify intervention effects and predictions of individual treatment effects
Catch me if you can: Microplastics hidden in plain sight
No full textMicroplastic (MP) pollution is widely recognised as a pressing environmental issue, yet certain major sources remain under-addressed. This paper focuses on three significant but often overlooked contributors: paint particles, textile fibres, and tire wear particles (TWP). Together, these sources account for over 25 % of global MP emissions, nearly 3 million tonnes annually, yet they are rarely singled out in research or regulation. Each presents unique analytical and regulatory challenges due to their complex compositions, diffuse emissions, and strong ties to daily life. We enumerate current knowledge on their environmental pathways, emission estimates, and detection methods, highlighting the need for multi-method analytical approaches to overcome sampling and identification limitations. Monitoring remains constrained by technical barriers, particularly for pigment interference in paint particles, fibre contamination, and the heterogeneous nature of TWP. Despite their significant impact, policy responses remain limited. The current draft of the Global Plastics Treaty acknowledges these sources under the general MP category but lacks specific measures. Effective mitigation will require enhanced regulatory frameworks, product redesign, expanded Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), and greater investment in innovation. Moreover, system-level interventions, societal and behavioral changes, such as improved public transport can help reduce TWP at source. In addressing these “hidden in plain sight” pollutants, this paper calls for coordinated national and global action to reduce their release and integrate them into broader MP policy agendas. Only through such targeted efforts can we ensure these overlooked pollutants no longer escape meaningful regulation and environmental accountability
Desiring education, exhibiting agency, experiencing systemic obstacles: Re-examining the perceptions and experiences of education among Indigenous and non-Indigenous students in Australia
No full textWe present new findings from a Western Australian mixed-methods study exploring a sample of Indigenous and non-Indigenous secondary school students’ (N = 536) experiences and perceptions of school. Respondents hailed largely from remote or regional Western Australia, although approximately half attended boarding school. This article presents findings of multivariate analysis of responses to the Multi-Dimensional Student Perceptions of School Questionnaire (MSPSQ) and identifies that Indigenous and non-Indigenous students in this study were found to be equally likely to report a positive perception of the benefit of education and the importance of attending and completing year 12, and equally likely to experience family support for education. Yet, student experience of positive school culture, career development opportunities and access to study environment significantly differed across schools. Despite equivalencies across groups regarding perceived importance of completing school, Indigenous students were significantly less likely than non-Indigenous students to express an intention to go on to further education beyond year 12
Exploring convergence and divergence in seemingly contrasting perspectives on training perceptual-cognitive abilities for sports performance through moderated dialogue
No full textCurrent Opinion article considers the diverging perspectives of two academics on the trainability and role of perceptual-cognitive abilities in sports performance, specifically applied to agility and sidestepping. This work uses a moderated dialogue approach between these two authors, each representing differing viewpoints: one advocating for the role of perceptual-motor skills through representative learning environments and another emphasising physical resilience. The article explores how fostering scientific discourse through moderated questions posed by a third party can be used to identify convergences and divergences in these perspectives. Both perspectives agree on the complexity of agility, the value of coupling perceptual skills with motor actions in representative environments, and the role of action capabilities in shaping affordances. However, they diverge on the best methods for assessing and training these skills, with contrasting views on the practicality of representative assessments and training transfer to in-game scenarios. The authors propose that the current article forms the first stage for future collaborative research to test hypotheses through adversarial collaboration in order to better understand how perceptual-cognitive skills are integrated with physical training and assessed for practical application in sports settings. By fostering mutual understanding, the article highlights the potential of adversarial debate in advancing scientific practices within the domain of sports performance, as well as how this method can form the basis for joint hypothesis testing between adversaries
Navigating prediabetes in a foreign country: A qualitative study of self-management experiences among Chinese-speaking immigrants in Australia
No full textAim: Chinese-speaking immigrants in Australia have a higher risk of type 2 diabetes and face more barriers to accessing quality healthcare compared to non-culturally and linguistically diverse populations. This study aimed to explore the self-management experiences of Chinese-speaking Australians with self-reported lived experience of prediabetes following immigration. Design: Qualitative study. Methods: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 10 purposively selected Australian Chinese-speaking immigrants aged over 40 years. Data collection was undertaken in Perth, Western Australia between April and August 2024. Data were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis. Results: Three themes are presented in this paper: (1) An acculturation journey: Reshaping cultural identity and social connections in immigrant lives, (2) Embodying prediabetes: Cognitive reconstruction and emotional adaptation in the transition to the patient role and (3) Decision-behaviour dynamics: Mapping agency and adaptiveness in self-management processes. Participants demonstrated dynamic adjustment through the processes of self-awareness, adaptive behaviours, self-reflection and self-attribution of health outcomes. Conclusion: Chinese-speaking Australians navigating prediabetes following immigration underwent a complex process of reconstruction across cognitive, cultural and psychological domains. Prediabetes self-management was shaped by cultural values, acculturation, dietary preferences, emotional resilience, local and distant social networks and resource availability. These findings underscore the importance of empowering both individuals and communities through evidence-based and culturally appropriate strategies. Implications and Impact: Participants experienced profound transformations in their cultural adaptation, prediabetes cognition, social support networks and emotional–psychological landscape. Future interventions must address identified barriers (e.g., cooking burden, comorbidities, stress), facilitators (e.g., leisure travel, family support), motivations (e.g., cultural heritage, health risk perception) and challenges (e.g., knowledge–behaviour gap, digital health information) that shape self-management behaviours. A community empowerment approach, utilising evidence-based content, flexible delivery formats and existing cultural networks, should be adopted to offer promising pathways for prediabetes health education. Reporting Method: The study adhered to the Consolidated Criteria for Reporting Qualitative Research guidelines. Patient or Public Contribution: Limited patient and public involvement was incorporated, with two community representatives providing feedback on interview questions and recruitment strategies
Sport participation and the pursuit of active and healthy lifestyles: Everyday athletes’ relationships with eating and exercise
No full textPurpose – Athletes are more likely to experience eating and exercise disorders than non-athletes. Little is known about the incidence of eating and exercise disorders amongst non-elite participants, many of whom participate outside of club governance and support structures. The aim of this paper is to explore eating and exercise attitudes and behaviours amongst participants in both formal and informal sport and, in so doing, generate insights to inform future educational initiatives that seek to promote healthy and active lifestyles. Design/methodology/approach – An online survey was completed by 110 participants, 9 of whom were interviewed for the second phase of the study. Questions related to sport participation, eating choices, attitudes, feelings and behaviours regarding eating and exercise and probed issues of self (dis)satisfaction with their lives and appearance. Findings – Although 69% of participants consider themselves to be healthy and 62% consider themselves fit, only a minority (26%) were satisfied with their body weight and body shape. Furthermore, most participants (67%) reported feeling some level of anxiety or distress if they did not have access to food that they consider to be healthy, and 88% reported feeling some guilt after eating food they consider to be unhealthy. Originality/value – With literature relating to eating and exercise attitudes and behaviours having focussed mainly on formal sport participation and patterns of participation changing, studies that direct attention to informal sport participation are needed. Results indicate the need for educational initiatives to promote healthy engagement with exercise and food amongst everyday athletes
Work while you learn: Evaluating a paid employment model for postgraduate midwifery students in diverse contexts
No full textBackground: Postgraduate midwifery student employment models are lacking robust evaluation of how the paid employment model serves as a workforce strategy in Western Australia. Aim: The aim of this study was to evaluate a paid employment model for postgraduate midwifery students, that was implemented in metropolitan, rural, and regional areas in a Western Australian context. Methods: A convergent parallel design collected both quantitative and qualitative data. This study used a survey design with quantitative and qualitative questions within a well-established process evaluation framework. Results: All midwifery students reported benefits of the paid model of employment, which included financial stability while studying and feeling valued by belonging to one institution. Challenges were identified as reduced or lack of exposure to some experiences and heavy workloads. Conclusion: The postgraduate midwifery students in this study were positive about the introduction of a paid employment model in the public, private and regional / rural hospital settings. The findings reported negatives and benefits for the students, and for the future workforce
Secure performance of STAR-RIS assisted NOMA system with channel correlation and imperfect SIC
No full textSimultaneously transmitting and reflecting reconfigurable intelligent surfaces (STAR-RIS) and non-orthogonal multiple access (NOMA) are two promising technologies for extending coverage and enhancing spectral efficiency in multi user wireless communication systems. However, their integration also introduces significant security challenges. Most existing studies on the physical layer security (PLS) of STAR-RIS assisted NOMA systems rely on idealized assumptions, such as independent fading channels and perfect successive interference cancellation (SIC), which fail to reflect realistic propagation environments. To address this gap, we propose a novel analytical framework to evaluate the joint impact of channel correlation and imperfect SIC on the secrecy performance of STAR-RIS assisted NOMA systems. Specifically, we derive the statistical characteristics of the cascaded channel gains for both legitimate users and the eavesdropper under correlated channels. Using the moment-matching method, we obtain closed-form expressions for the cumulative distribution functions (CDFs) of the signal-to-interference-plus-noise ratios (SINRs) of the legitimate users and the probability density function (PDF) of the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) at the eavesdropper. These results enable our derivation of exact closed-form expressions for the secrecy outage probability (SOP) and the analysis of the asymptotic SOP in the high-SNR regime, from which we determine the secrecy diversity order. Our theoretical analysis and simulation results reveal that: (i) The STAR-RIS assisted NOMA system outperforms its OMA counterpart in terms of secrecy performance. Notably, the secrecy advantage for the near user becomes more pronounced at high SNRs, while for the far user, the advantage is more evident at low SNRs under channel correlation. (ii) The detrimental effect of imperfect SIC diminishes as the target secrecy rate decreases. (iii) The secrecy diversity order is influenced by both the number of STAR-RIS elements and the level of channel correlation