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Joint 3D beamforming-and-trajectory design for UAV-satellite uplink covert communication
No full textIn this paper,we study uplink covert communication in a space-air system,where an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) transmits sensitive data to a Geosynchronous Earth Orbit (GEO) satellite while preventing the transmission action from being discovered by a warden. We derive the optimal decision threshold of the warden. We investigate the 3-dimensional (3D) beamformer and 3D trajectory design for the transmitter UAV against this optimum warden to maximize the covert transmission rate in the presence of imperfect channel state information and uncertain noise. Due to the non-convex structure and dependence between beamforming vectors and locations of the transmitter UAV,we develop a decoupling method that specifies a feasible flight region of the transmitter UAV at each time slot,enabling the decomposition of the original optimization problem into two sub-problems that optimize the trajectory and beamforming vectors individually. We design an iterative algorithm with a new initialization method to solve the sub-problems alternately with the semi-definite relaxation (SDR) and the successive convex approximation (SCA) technique. Numerical results show that the average covert rate of our design approaches the ideal case without the warden and increases by about 102.3% and 19.1% compared with benchmark schemes that do not employ beamforming or design 2D trajectory,respectively
How valuable is an implementation toolkit for midwives? An exploratory study
Get PDFBackground: Incorporating evidence-based approaches in maternity care throughout the entire trajectory from pregnancy through to the postnatal phase is integral to good public health. Yet, despite developing theories, frameworks, and models to guide midwives’ implementation efforts, implementing new evidence-based practices in midwifery practice settings remains challenging. Methods: An exploratory study design was used to conduct an initial assessment of the appeal and suitability of an implementation ‘how to’ Toolkit for Australian change-leader midwives. We aimed to determine the effectiveness of the intervention by evaluating midwives’ experience of using the Toolkit, and report on the usability of the Toolkit in maternity care. We also sought to establish the degree to which the intervention could reach a broad cross-section of midwives, confirming the usability of the Toolkit across a range of public and private maternity services. Results: Twenty-four midwives participated in our study. Participants provided practical Toolkit evaluation data, contextual information related to Toolkit content, their understanding of what implementation in a healthcare context is, and factors that hindered midwives\u27 implementation efforts in clinical settings. The importance of co-design research and involving end-users in product development were also highlighted as crucial factors underpinning the effectiveness of resources like ours, particularly those designed to support specialist disciplines and the implementation challenges experienced by health practitioners in clinical environments. Conclusions: It is crucial to progress health care practitioners understanding of how to accelerate the implementation and sustainment of new evidence-based practices in clinical settings, including strategies to support organisational readiness, local barriers or challenges, and partnerships between researchers and end-users. Evaluation of our midwifery-specific implementation Toolkit indicates health professionals require tailored materials and information specific to their disciplines and clinical work environments; ideally, packaged in a centalised, open-access format. Future research is required to evaluate the mid-to-longterm impact of our Toolkit on implementation initiatives in midwifery contexts, and to establish the adaptability of our Toolkit in other settings, and with other disciplines
Photo-thermal conversion properties of hybrid NH2-MIL-125/TiN/EG nanofluids for solar energy harvesting
Get PDFNanofluids, engineered by dispersing nanoparticles into base fluids, have demonstrated significant potential in enhancing the performance of solar collectors. Their superior thermal conductivity and improved heat transfer properties lead to more efficient energy absorption and utilization in solar thermal systems. This study comprehensively investigated and compared the performance of ethylene glycol (EG)-based NH2-MIL-125/TiN (MIL/TiN) composite nanofluids, fabricated by a two-step method, with single-component nanofluids in photothermal utilization. The results illustrated that incorporating NH2-MIL-125 (MIL) nanoparticles enhances the stability of TiN nanofluids in EG. Additionally, the thermal conductivity and optical absorption properties of the hybrid nanofluids exhibited a positive correlation with the proportion of TiN nanoparticles. The results showed that hybrid nanofluids demonstrate excellent solar radiation absorption across a broad spectrum from UV to NIR, with minimal heat loss and significant depth penetration. The MIL/TiN (M5) hybrid nanofluid achieved a remarkable photothermal conversion efficiency of 83 %, outperforming that of single TiN and MIL-125(Ti) nanofluids by 19 % and 15 %, respectively. Furthermore, the efficiency distribution within the collector reached 100 % at a height of 3.5 cm with this hybrid MIL/TiN nanofluid, even at a low concentration of 20 ppm. This research highlights a promising nanofluid that can enhance photothermal conversion efficiency in solar thermal systems. It leverages the capabilities of nanoporous materials with superior photothermal properties and optimizes the structural design of solar collectors to minimize heat losses, making it suitable for various applications
Ecological grief: How can we bear this together?
Get PDFThe impacts of human activity on ecosystems are increasingly evident through ecological degradation and climate change. Despite this, in many jurisdictions across the world, action to address and curtail destructive human activities is slow and resisted at all levels. In this article, we suggest that this resistance is connected to deep ecological grief. We introduce a dual approach to understanding ecological grief, using concepts of unprecedented and unacknowledged grief. Unprecedented grief is felt in response to the loss of our ecosystems and unacknowledged grief connected to the anticipated loss of lifestyle necessary to curtail destructive human behaviour. Drawing upon an ecosocial work praxis, this article then explores how we can use these understandings of ecological grief to take action and make radical changes to prefigure healthier relationships with each other and our ecosystems
Exploring self-employed and salaried worker retirement plans
No full textThis article explores past financial choices, current financial literacy, and the retirement plans of an Australian sample of male and female salaried and self-employed workers, aged about 50 years. Our surveys collected socio-demographic information, financial literacy knowledge, and retirement expectations. Interviews gathered financial decision-making history using the critical incident technique. The data, which comprise 38 case studies, showed that self-employed workers have slightly better financial literacy than salaried workers, but they are less likely to have financial plans for their retirement. The most common types of critical financial incidents were ongoing business-related issues for self-employed workers and finance and superannuation issues for salaried workers
Synthesis of catalysts using radio frequency magnetron sputtering for the electrochemical reduction of CO2 to ethylene gas
No full textCarbon dioxide (CO2) is a significant contributor to climate change in the world today. The catalytic electrochemical reduction of CO2 (eCO2RR) to produce value-added molecules is emerging as a promising strategy to mitigate atmospheric CO2 emissions. For this process, the selection of an appropriate catalyst is crucial in determining product selectivity. Hence, there is substantial research dedicated to identifying catalysts that preferentially produce specific value-added molecules. Copper has been identified as having strong selectivity towards ethylene production. This study examined the viability of the radio frequency (RF) sputtering technique as a novel approach to the development of copper catalysts to selectively produce ethylene gas using H-type electrochemical cell. Key variables, including substrate type, film thickness, substrate temperature, and co-sputtering with other metals were investigated to optimize the efficiency of copper sputtered catalysts for ethylene synthesis. The results demonstrate that the RF sputtering method for catalyst fabrication is effective in promoting ethylene production, achieving a Faradaic efficiency of almost to 20% (19.5%) at -2400 mV vs Ag/AgCl with a 60 nm copper sputtered film at RF = 150 W on a gas diffusion electrode paper substrate held at room temperature
Needs and pathways for strengthening the contribution of qualitative methods toward more effective impact assessment practice
No full textMany jurisdictions are looking to next-generation impact assessment (IA) that includes sustainability considerations that extend beyond biophysical. Subjectivity is inherent in many of these additional impact considerations, and they are often not easily nor effectively quantified. Delivering effective IA within this broadening scope requires new, innovative, and rigorous applications of qualitative methods that enable meaningful inclusion of diverse knowledges, values, and information. While many qualitative methods are available for IA, there remains a significant opportunity to strengthen their contribution toward more effective IA practice. As such, we establish in this paper needs that must be addressed if qualitative methods are to meaningfully contribute to IA and pathways for acting on these needs. Relating findings from a survey, semi-structured interviews, and a world café, the paper specifically identifies six key needs for enhancing the effective use of qualitative methods in IA, and five pathways for addressing these needs that involve all IA actors. We conclude that there are deeply entrenched assumptions about qualitative methods and that shifting these views will be challenging and take time. Together, the identified needs and pathways provide a framework for action to improve the effectiveness of IA and should be considered in IA training and practice
Effect of exercise on bone-related outcomes in patients with cancer affected by bone metastases or bone loss: A systematic review and meta-analysis
No full textIntroduction: This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the effects of exercise interventions on bone mineral density (BMD), bone mineral content (BMC), and bone turnover markers in patients with cancer and compromised bone health. Materials and Methods: A comprehensive search of four electronic databases was conducted to identify randomized controlled trials evaluating the effect of exercise intervention compared to supplementation or bone-targeted agents only on BMD, BMC and bone turnover markers. Meta-analyses were performed using random-effects models to calculate effect sizes (ES) with 95% confidence intervals (CI). Results: Eighteen studies were included, involving 1,478 patients with mainly breast and prostate cancer. Meta-analyses of 11 trials showed no significant effect of exercise on whole-body (ES: 0.16, 95% CI: -0.10 to 0.41; p = 0.23), lumbar spine (ES: 0.10, 95% CI: -0.03 to 0.24; p = 0.14), hip (ES: -0.06, 95% CI: -0.77 to 0.64; p = 0.86), or femoral neck (ES: 0.07, 95% CI: -0.08 to 0.21; p = 0.37) BMD. However, individual studies reported improvements in lumbar spine and hip BMD following resistance or high-impact training. In patients with bone metastases, resistance training increased BMD at metastatic vertebrae. Bone turnover markers showed mixed trends, with some studies reporting increased bone formation and reduced resorption, especially after 3 months of intervention. Conclusions: Our results suggest that, while exercise does not significantly increase BMD in patients with cancer and bone impairments when added to standard therapies, there are important variations across studies. High-intensity resistance and impact-loading training may be beneficial for specific bone sites and patient subgroups. Further research is warranted to identify optimal exercise modalities tailored to cancer type, treatment stage, and bone health status, including feasibility for patients with bone metastases
Enhancing phygital customer experience through generative AI: A social listening method for strategic retail decision-making
No full textThe use of Generative Artificial Intelligence (GAI) to transform vast amounts of textual content for strategic insights have been a rapidly growing trend for business researchers. Although various studies have identified applications of GAI in business operations, aspects related to strategic support are yet to be fully developed in the relevant literature. This paper introduces a new GAI-enabled social listening solution that integrates advanced text analytics techniques: (a) Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM)–a specialized form of Recurrent Neural Network (RNN) adept at capturing long-term dependencies through its memory function over time, and (b) Google BERT (Bidirectional Encoder Representations from Transformers). Our solution artifact as a method that utilises bi-directional context to derive a more nuanced understanding from large text datasets to transform user-generated content into actionable insights into customer experiences and strategic recommendations to managers in a context of phygital retailer’s decision support
Validated and culturally specific screening tools and early response programs for the detection and prevention of eating disorders among First Nations peoples in Australia: A scoping review
No full textBackground: Eating disorders (EDs) are complex mental health conditions that can have severe health consequences, exacerbating the overall disease burden and causing significant economic impacts on healthcare systems. Globally, cultural and societal factors influence the presentation and management of these disorders, necessitating culturally specific approaches to screening and prevention. Among First Nations peoples in Australia, the intersection of historical, cultural, and social factors offers both context and strength in addressing EDs, while also presenting distinct challenges in identification and prevention. Objective: This scoping review seeks to map and evaluate existing research on culturally specific and validated screening tools and early response programs tailored for the prevention and detection of EDs among the First Nations population in Australia. The goal is to acquire relevant information and identify gaps that need to be addressed in the literature to develop standardised screening tools and early response programs that are validated, effective, and culturally sensitive. Design: A literature search was conducted through seven online academic databases (PubMed, MEDLINE, PsycINFO, Scopus, Web of Science, CINAHL, and Informit) and included publications from 2009 to 2024. The search strategy focused on ED prevention strategies among First Nations peoples in Australia, with emphasis on screening tools and early response programs. Results: The scoping review found no culturally specific and validated screening tools and early response programs exist that have been specifically developed for First Nations peoples in Australia. After removing the cultural specificity criterion, seven studies were found that utilised six different screening tools and one early response program. Participant demographics across these studies were predominantly Caucasians or non-Indigenous, with First Nations individuals being underrepresented in sample sizes. Conclusion: The findings reveal significant gaps in literature on culturally specific screening tools and early response programs for eating disorders among First Nations peoples in Australia. Existing studies often underrepresent these populations and rely on tools designed for non-Indigenous groups, questioning the generalisability of the effectiveness to First Nations peoples in Australia. This review emphasises the need for future research to adopt culturally competent methodologies led by First Nations peoples. Developing culturally specific tools and programs is crucial for improving health outcomes and achieving equitable mental health within Australian healthcare systems, ensuring that resources are justly distributed