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Phasing Out Plastic Gift Cards and Its Impact on Carbon Emissions
Get PDFThe purpose of the report is to assess the environmental impact of different types of gift cards: traditional plastic cards with paper packaging, paper-based cards, and digital gift cards. It aims to quantify the potential environmental benefits, such as reductions in plastic and paper usage, carbon emissions, and water consumption, that can be achieved by transitioning to digital gift cards. The report also evaluates the number of trees that could be saved by opting for digital alternatives. This assessment supports the Australian government's National Plastics Strategy and contributes to a broader understanding of the environmental impacts of consumer products, encouraging the adoption of more sustainable practices
MIGHTEE polarization early science fields : the deep polarized sky
No full textThe MeerKAT International GigaHertz Tiered Extragalactic Exploration (MIGHTEE) is one of the MeerKAT large survey projects, designed to pathfind SKA key science. MIGHTEE is undertaking deep radio imaging of four well-observed fields (COSMOS, XMM-LSS, ELAIS S1, and CDFS) totaling 20 square degrees to μJy sensitivities. Broad-band imaging observations between 880 and1690 MHz yield total intensity continuum, spectro-polarimetry, and atomic hydrogen spectral imaging. Early science data from MIGHTEE are being released from initial observations of COSMOS and XMM–LSS. This paper describes the spectro-polarimetric observations, the polarization data processing of the MIGHTEE early science fields, and presents polarization data images and catalogues. The catalogues include radio spectral index, redshift information, and Faraday rotation measure synthesis results for 13 267 total intensity radio sources down to a polarized intensity detection limit of ∼20 μJy bm−1. Polarized signals were detected from 324 sources. For the polarized detections, we include a catalogue of Faraday Depth from both Faraday Synthesis and Q, U fitting, as well as total intensity and polarization spectral indices. The distribution of redshift of the total radio sources and detected polarized sources are the same, with median redshifts of 0.86 and 0.82, respectively. Depolarization of the emission at longer-wavelengths is seen to increase with decreasing total-intensity spectral index, implying that depolarization is intrinsic to the radio sources. No evidence is seen for a redshift dependence of the variance of Faraday depth
Memory benefits when actively, rather than passively, viewing images
No full textSerial visual presentations of images exist both in the laboratory and increasingly on virtual platforms such as social media feeds. However, the way we interact with information differs between these. In many laboratory experiments participants view stimuli passively, whereas on social media people tend to interact with information actively. This difference could influence the way information is remembered, which carries practical and theoretical implications. In the current study, 821 participants viewed streams containing seven landscape images that were presented at either a self-paced (active) or an automatic (passive) rate. Critically, the presentation speed in each automatic trial was matched to the speed of a self-paced trial for each participant. Both memory accuracy and memory confidence were greater on self-paced compared to automatic trials. These results indicate that active, self-paced progression through images increases the likelihood of them being remembered, relative to when participants have no control over presentation speed and duration
Research on the purification efficiency and mechanism for road runoff pollutants in pervious concrete with recycled aggregates
No full textThe use of recycled aggregate (RA) in pervious concrete (PC) is a green approach that can effectively mitigate urban waterlogging, excessive RA, and runoff pollution, thereby enhancing the urban ecological environment. This article focuses on the long-term purification efficiency of runoff pollutants by PC at different porosities and RA dosages. Moreover, the purification mechanism of pollutants by recycled aggregate pervious concrete (RAPC) was revealed utilizing particle size analysis, microstructure, and elemental analysis. Finally, the recovery effects of different maintenance approaches on the purification capacity of RAPC were explored. The results indicate that an increase in the RA dosage reduced the effective porosity of PC, thereby decreasing the permeability of RAPC. In addition, PC with a lower porosity demonstrated a slightly greater purification effectiveness for pollutants. However, the utilization of RA significantly enhanced the purification capacity of PC for various pollutants, primarily by leveraging advantages in terms of pore structure, micromorphology, and surface chemical composition. Additionally, RAPC exhibited nearly 100 % retention effectiveness for particles larger than 68.95 μm but relatively lower purification efficiency for particles ranging from 1.541 to 17.11 μm. In particular, it displayed the poorest purification performance for particles with a diameter of 6.396 μm. The surface of RAPC's pore channels exhibited a loose state with high porosity and appeared rough and uneven with numerous pits and grooves. RAPC had a larger surface area and contained more components, such as SiO2, CaCO3, and Al2O3, than regular PC. Therefore, RAPC possessed a higher purification capacity. High-pressure flushing (HPF) and sodium citrate flushing (SCF) under different maintenance frequencies significantly contributed to the recovery of the purification efficiency of RAPC. However, overall, a lower maintenance frequency led to a less favorable recovery effect. Furthermore, SCF had a better recovery effect than HPF
Living with a person with disability
No full textThis chapter will present short stories about three men who are living with a disability and disability-associated chronic illnesses. By engaging with these stories and the reflective activities in this chapter, the reader will become more acquainted with some of the issues facing people with a disability and will be better equipped to be a more responsive and adaptable health practitioner. Key issues are centred around activity and participation limitations due to disability, the intersection of chronic illness and disability, and a strong desire to achieve personal goals despite the daily challenges these men face. But first, a short introduction to the three men who have shared their stories
Influences of healthcare workers' behaviours towards infection prevention and control practices in the clinical setting : a systematic review
No full textAim: To systematically evaluate empirical studies investigating the influences of healthcare workers' behaviours towards infection prevention and control practices in the Coronavirus clinical space, and to appraise and synthesise these findings. Design: A systematic review of the literature. Methods: The review used a five-step framework described by Khan et al. (Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine, 2003, 96 and 118) of Framing questions for a review; Identifying relevant work; Assessing the quality of studies; Summarising the evidence; and Interpreting the findings. Searches were conducted in CINHAL, MEDLINE, PsychINFO, Scopus, and Google Scholar databases to retrieve relevant peer-reviewed literature published in English between 2019 and 2023. Covidence and Joanna Briggs Quality appraisal tools were used for critical assessment. To improve transparent reporting, this review used a Synthesis Without Meta-analysis (SWiM) in systematic review guidelines, as informed by Campbell et al. (BMJ, 2020, 368). Results: Twenty studies were included in this review, identifying nine themes describing factors influencing HCWs' behaviours towards IPC practices in the coronavirus environment. The overarching influences emerged as knowledge-oriented, person-oriented, and environment-oriented. Conclusion: Healthcare workers' responsibilities at point-of-care involve providing direct care to patients with highly transmissible infections and working in clinical settings that may be ill-designed for IPC practices, increasing the risk of transmission. Given the lack of a definitive solution to eradicate new mutant viruses and that IPC practices are the mainstay of prevention and control of transmissible, measures to improve are imperative. The identified HCWs' domains on behaviours towards IPC are critical in strategies to mitigate risks and further set an opportunity for developing an IPC model congruent with the rapid response required for HCWs during emerging or re-merging mutant virus outbreaks. This is significant, given that HCWs' preparedness with IPC practices at point-of-care is central to patient care, the workforce and community safety
[In Press] Clinicians' power in the inpatient care of anorexia nervosa : a qualitative investigation of consumer perspectives
No full textMedically compromised people with anorexia nervosa are cared for in inpatient settings where clinicians closely monitor health and safety. Clinicians are in a position of power, with the capacity to impose mandated weight gain to achieve medical stabilisation. Consumers are in a vulnerable position, compelled to temporarily relinquish autonomy and to accept coercive practices that often diminish the quality of the therapeutic relationship. Clinicians' position of power in mental healthcare has a dual potential for both healing and harm, and limited attention has been given to consumers' views of clinicians' power. The aim of this qualitative descriptive study was to investigate the consumer perspective of clinicians' power in the inpatient care of anorexia nervosa, establishing insight into the beneficence and maleficence of the power asymmetry. Ten women with anorexia nervosa in the community participated in semi-structured interviews online. The COREQ checklist was used to ensure accuracy and completeness of reporting. Thematic analysis revealed that abuses of power were common in the course of inpatient AN care, however life-saving measures were regarded as defensible. The perception of clinicians' power was determined by the strength of interpersonal relationships and clinicians' clinical competence. To mitigate the potential for harmful experiences, clinicians' use of power must be exercised with close consideration for consumer perspectives, with the integration of person-centred care and trauma-informed care principles
Submission to News Media Assistance Program (News MAP)
Get PDFWe welcome the opportunity to make a submission on the News Media Assistance Program consultation paper. We are Chief Investigators of the Australian Research Council funded project, Addressing Misinformation with Media Literacy through Cultural Institutions and we have carried out a series of media literacy research projects over the past decade. We are making this submission because we believe our current and recent media literacy research projects are strongly aligned with some of the focus areas in the consultation paper. While we wish to make some general comments on the overall aspirations and purpose of the News MAP, our response is focused on the following sections and related questions: Engagement (questions 4.1-4.3); and Media Literacy (questions 10.1-10.5)
Climate change may worsen flooding in Mumbai and Chennai
No full textFor all flood-prone cities of India, there is an urgent need to develop flood inundation maps