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Wind-induced structural response of skylights : a eurocode-based assessment
No full textThe installation of structural glass systems, such as skylights and curtain walls, may improve the aesthetic and functional value of a building. These attractive systems have practical benefits like increased efficiency and lower maintenance costs. The importance of structural analysis and design in developing safe and dependable structural glass systems is underscored by this study, which thoroughly evaluates various skylights installed at a height of 15 m located in Doha while subjecting them to a 1.6 kPa wind load. The temperature loading is determined by assuming an initial temperature of 10°C and an ultimate temperature of 50°C. Therefore, the temperature variation is ±40°C. Several acceptance requirements have been met. It is crucial to adhere to design requirements and execute extensive performance testing and verification to guarantee the safety of structural glass buildings. The research also highlights the significance of using sound foundation design and anchoring methods on-site. The findings of this study might serve as a helpful reference for façade engineers responsible for designing structural glass structures, as it highlights the significance of careful analysis, design, and verification in ensuring the safe and dependable performance of such architectural features in a wide range of buildings. The study indicates that proper design regulations and standards, coupled with the use of specialist software tools, precise three-dimensional (3D) models and simulations, and extensive performance testing and verification, are essential in guaranteeing the safety and dependability of skylights. It has been found that the final design of the skylights is safe and structurally sound; this includes the use of fully tempered double glazed unit (DGU) glass of 6 mm (inner lite) + 16 (air gap) + 13.52 (6 þ 1.52 þ 6 outer laminated lite), 120 mm deep Mullions and transoms, and appropriate anchoring mechanisms using chemical anchors
A structural analysis of the nsp9 protein from the coronavirus MERS CoV reveals a conserved RNA binding interface
No full textMiddle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS CoV) and severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS CoV-2) are RNA viruses from the Betacoronavirus family that cause serious respiratory illness in humans. One of the conserved non-structural proteins encoded for by the coronavirus family is non-structural protein 9 (nsp9). Nsp9 plays an important role in the RNA capping process of the viral genome, where it is covalently linked to viral RNA (known as RNAylation) by the conserved viral polymerase, nsp12. Nsp9 also directly binds to RNA; we have recently revealed a distinct RNA recognition interface in the SARS CoV-2 nsp9 by using a combination of nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and biolayer interferometry. In this study, we have utilized a similar methodology to determine a structural model of RNA binding of the related MERS CoV. Based on these data, we uncover important similarities and differences to SARS CoV-2 nsp9 and other coronavirus nsp9 proteins. Our findings that replacing key RNA binding residues in MERS CoV nsp9 affects RNAylation efficiency indicate that recognition of RNA may play a role in the capping process of the virus
Does greenwashing obstruct sustainable environmental technologies and green financing from promoting environmental sustainability? : analytical evidence from the Indian economy
No full textThis study aims at assessing the impacts of green growth, in the form of adopting sustainable energy technologies and financing green projects, on environmental conditions in India. Thus, this study is important from the point of view of India's efforts in formulating strategies linked with achieving the environmental development targets enlisted under United Nations SDG-13 declaration. In this regard, it is assumed that strategies targeted at establishing green growth in India can fail in the presence of greenwashing. To test this hypothesis, a newly introduced econometric technique, namely the Augmented-ARDL techniques of estimation is used. Accordingly, the results obtained firstly suggest the existence of long-run and cointegrated relationship exists between the variables of choice. Secondly, it is very much striking to find out that the the there is an inverse relationship between use of sustainable environmental technologies and environmental sustainability across India. Hence, this particular finding points to the possibility of stimulating geenwashing in the context of technology adoption in order to improve the state of the environment in India. Lastly, financing of green projects is seen to promote environmental sustainability which, in turn, affirms the absence of greenwashing in the context of green financing initiatives
Good practices in COVID-19 risk reduction adopted by Australian construction enterprises
No full textPurpose - This research investigated the impacts of COVID-19 on construction enterprises and good practices adopted by the enterprises in reducing COVID-19 risks. The Sendai Framework (TSF) is widely accepted as a strategic roadmap to reduce disaster risks throughout the life cycle of a disaster. As such, with the aim of enhancing the resilience of Australian construction enterprises, the identified good practices were mapped with TSF priorities to consolidate COVID-19 risk reduction practices that can be adopted by Australian construction enterprises. Design/methodology/approach - Case study research approach was used, and three case studies were conducted with small, medium and large construction enterprises. Small, medium and large enterprises were selected based on the Australian Bureau of Statistics classification of the business size. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews conducted with three executive members from the three enterprises. Data were analysed using content analysis. Findings - The study found that construction enterprises faced demand and supply side impacts. Infrastructure projects, funded by public sector clients and larger enterprises were least affected. Investments and demand for residential and other building projects were reduced by private sector clients, affecting small and medium enterprises. Findings also show that the construction enterprises adopted good practices in identifying, managing, investing on resilience and recovery that align with TSF priorities. All three enterprises agreed on some common good practices on risk identification, risk management and effective recovery. Different views were shared on investments related to disaster resilience. Practical implications - This study contributes to mitigate the COVID-19 impacts on construction enterprises and subsequent economic and social impacts. Originality/value - This research found how Australian construction enterprises survived during COVID-19. The study adopted TSF to construction and COVID-19 context while consolidating COVID-19 risk reduction practices
Effects of simulation-based education module on delirium care in undergraduate nursing students : a quasi-experimental study
No full textAim: To examine the effects of a delirium education module on undergraduate nursing students’ knowledge of and perceived confidence and competence in delirium care. Background: Delirium is common in intensive care units (ICUs) and leads to poor clinical outcomes. The under recognition of delirium is a major problem in ICU medicine. Nurses, as first-line health care providers, can address this by recognizing patients who are experiencing delirium. Since undergraduate nursing students will be the future ICU nurses, it is important to deliver the knowledge regarding delirium care. However, education about assessing delirium in ICUs among undergraduate nursing students is lacking. Design: Quasi-experimental study. Methods: A total of 74 undergraduate students were divided into an intervention group (n=34) and a comparison group (n=40). A 2-hour simulation-based delirium education module integrated into a critical care curriculum was delivered to the intervention group only. The classroom-based intervention was administered at a medical university in northern Taiwan. Study outcomes were measured using a structured survey including (1) a 16-item delirium care knowledge quiz, (2) confidence in delirium care scale and (3) competence in delirium care scale. The survey was distributed to students before and after the module in December 2020. The Mann–Whitney U test, chi-square test and Fisher’s exact test were adopted to test the differences of all variables between groups. A generalized estimating equation model was used to investigate the adjusted treatment effects. Results: The participants had a median age of 22 years and 81% were female. The delirium education module yielded greater knowledge (B = 3.04, 95% confidence interval = 2.20–3.88), confidence (B = 4.20, 95% confidence interval = 2.67–5.73) and competence (B = 4.82, 95% confidence interval = 3.33–6.30) in delirium care when the treatment and control groups were compared. Conclusions: For undergraduate nursing students, simulation-based education module is effective in improving the knowledge of and confidence and competence in delirium care. It is recommended that this be included in critical care nursing curricula
Faith and toleration in neoliberal times : Australia as a case study
No full textThis chapter uses Australia and its recent national inquiries on religious freedom to explore issues of faith and toleration in a neoliberal context. While the debate on religious freedom is happening independently from a social and economic assessment, faith-based organisations, as a form of support to a reduced welfare state, are growing and are providing more and more to those in need. This chapter highlights a change of discourse in the Australian public sphere with regard to freedom of religion, from one which is about tolerating and even celebrating all beliefs and religious practices to one which allows religious individuals and groups to discriminate in the name of religion. This, as presented, is more than a simple debate on freedom of expression as it can lead to social consequences against minority groups deemed excluded from welfare provision in the name of religion and, paradoxically, in the name of freedom of expression
Stability analysis of switched stochastic nonlinear systems with state-dependent delay
No full textThis paper is devoted to solving the problem of stochastically weakly locally exponential stability of switched stochastic systems with state-dependent delay. Different from the previous works, we introduce the state-dependent delay, which is a random variable dependent on the system state so that the bound of the delay is unknown. In addition, we also consider the influence of switching on the stability of the system. By using multiple Lyapunov-Krasovskii functionals and some novel stochastic analysis techniques, we obtain sufficient conditions for stochastically weakly locally exponential stability of the hybrid system. Two examples are provided to verify the correctness of the proposed results
Global distributed fault-tolerant consensus control of nonlinear delayed multiagent systems with hybrid faults
No full textThis paper is concerned with the distributed leader-following fault-tolerant consensus control problem of uncertain nonlinear delayed multiagent systems with hybrid faults including actuator faults and sensor faults. The faults are described as unknown time-varying functions, which can cause uncertain changes in the fault coefficients of sensors and actuators. In this case, we put forward a novel distributed consensus algorithm. First, we transform the consensus problem into the stability one of a single system by utilizing the sensor fault model and directed topology. Then, the dynamic gain is devised to compensate for uncertain parameters. Based on the backstepping control method, a distributed dynamic controller is designed via measurement data of non-ideal sensors. By means of a new Lyapunov function, it is strictly proved that the designed controller can render all agents realizing the full-state consensus in the global sense. Moreover, the proposed algorithm allows that nonlinear dynamics include the state delays, and can be expanded to a fully distributed result. Finally, an example of application in chemical reactor systems is presented to confirm the effectiveness of our theoretical results
Privacy-aware anomaly detection in IoT environments using FedGroup : a group-based federated learning approach
No full textThe popularity of Internet of Things (IoT) devices in smart homes has raised significant concerns regarding data security and privacy. Traditional machine learning (ML) methods for anomaly detection often require sharing sensitive IoT data with a central server, posing security and efficiency challenges. In response, this paper introduces FedGroup, a novel Federated Learning (FL) method inspired by FedAvg. FedGroup revolutionizes the central model’s learning process by updating it based on the learning patterns of distinct groups of IoT devices. Our experimental results demonstrate that FedGroup consistently achieves comparable or superior accuracy in anomaly detection when compared to both federated and non-federated learning methods. Additionally, Ensemble Learning (EL) collects intelligence from numerous contributing models, leading to enhanced prediction performance. Furthermore, FedGroup significantly improves the detection of attack types and their details, contributing to a more robust security framework for smart homes. Our approach demonstrates exceptional performance, achieving an accuracy rate of 99.64% with a minimal false positive rate (FPR) of 0.02% in attack type detection, and an impressive 99.89% accuracy in attack type detail detection
Criminal Procedure in Australia
No full textThis important book combines commentary with primary sources to provide a contextualised approach to the legal principles underpinning criminal procedure in Australia. It offers a unified and comprehensive analysis of the law relating to policing, criminal prosecutions, pretrial and trial issues, sentencing and criminal appeals. In addition, the book examines the extensive Commonwealth, state and territory legislation and case law in the fields of police investigation and Crown prosecutor’s powers and duties across all jurisdictions