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Preparation of high-performance bismuthene thermoelectric composites doped with graphene using UV-curing 3D printing technology
No full textThermoelectric materials are of tremendous interest due to their capacity to convert waste heat into useful electrical energy. Bismuthene nanosheets (BiNS) have recently emerged as a promising material for thermoelectric applications because of their unique two-dimensional structure and low thermal conductivity. However, the development of efficient and scalable methods for preparing BiNS-based thermoelectric composites with improved performance remains a challenge. In this study, we reported a novel approach to preparing a thin film BiNS-based thermoelectric composite with UV-curing 3D printing technology. The composite was prepared using BiNS as the filler and a UV-sensitive resin as the matrix, which contained 5 vol% graphene as the third phase to enhance the thermoelectric performance of the composite. The results showed that the prepared composite exhibited stable thermoelectric performance, with a maximum power factor of 311.79 ± 13.90 μW/mK2 when the volume fraction of BiNS reached 95 vol%. The electrical conductivity of the composite improved significantly as the volume fraction of BiNS increased from 75 to 95 vol%. The Seebeck coefficient remained essentially unchanged in the range of 70.1–70.7 μV/K. These findings demonstrate the potential of BiNS-based thermoelectric composites prepared by UV-curing 3D printing technology for practical applications in energy harvesting and cooling devices. Highlights: A simple, efficient and scalable method for BiNS thermoelectric composites. UV-curing 3D printing technology was used for fabrication. The BiNS composite exhibited stable thermoelectric performance. The electrical conductivity of the composite improved significantly. This BiNS composite showed great potential in thermoelectric application
[In Press] The relationship between sustained hamstring pain and reorganisation of somatosensory representations : a randomised, controlled study
No full textRecurrent hamstring injuries are highly prevalent amongst sporting populations. It has been hypothesised that pain from an initial hamstring injury may induce reorganisation of somatosensory representations that could contribute to reinjury. However, because of the cross-sectional nature of existing research, it remains unknown whether somatosensory changes are a cause or effect of pain or if they are driven by other potentially confounding factors. Here, we explored the effect of experimentally induced sustained hamstring pain on tasks that interrogate somatosensory and spatial representations. Fifty healthy participants were randomly allocated to an experimental group that performed an eccentric exercise protocol on the right hamstring to induce delayed onset muscle soreness or a control group performing a repetition-matched concentric exercise protocol. The tactile cortical representation was assessed using two-point discrimination and tactile localisation, whereas the proprioceptive representation was assessed using a left–right judgement task. Peripersonal spatial representations were assessed using an auditory localisation task. Assessments were performed at baseline and day 2. No between-group differences in tactile acuity were observed. However, improvements in left–right judgments and worsening of auditory localisation occurred in the experimental group compared with the control group. This study provides preliminary evidence showing that somatosensory changes occur in response to sustained hamstring pain. Experimentally induced, sustained hamstring pain elicited enhancements in proprioceptive processing and deficits in peripersonal spatial processing, suggesting a shift in the allocation of attentional resources from the external (peripersonal) to internal (body) environment. These findings may hold important implications for reinjury risk and rehabilitation following hamstring pain
Thermodynamic and exergoenvironmental assessments of solar-assisted combined power cycle using eco-friendly fluids
No full textA partial cooling supercritical carbon dioxide cycle is used in this study for the application of a solar power tower. Additionally, the organic Rankine cycle (ORC) is considered as a bottoming cycle in the process of recovering wasted heat. Moreover, fluids with zero ozone depletion potential and low global warming potential are considered as operating fluids for bottoming ORC. Exergy, energy and exergoenvironmental analyses were performed in order to evaluate the usefulness of the proposed system to generate electrical power and driven by solar energy. The effect of various independent parameters on system performance is investigated. It is concluded that as direct normal irradiation (DNI) changes from 0.4 to 0.95 kW m−2, the combined cycle’s thermal efficiency, exergy efficiency, and power output increase from 35.16% to 55.43%, 37.73% to 59.42%, and 188 kW to 298.5 kW, respectively for R1224yd(Z) fluid. However, exergoenvironmental impact index falls by 58.79% as DNI rises, while the exergetic stability factor rises by 57.79%. The system’s optimized thermal efficiency is found to be 53.45%. Furthermore, the performance of the combined system can be improved by decreasing the incidence angle of the sun while simultaneously increasing the concentration ratio. The fluid R1224yd(Z) is recommended as the best-performing fluid as compared to the other fluids due to its superior thermal performance
[In Press] Severe and enduring anorexia nervosa and the proposed "terminal anorexia" category : an expanded meta synthesis
No full textThis updated meta-synthesis explores further dimensions of the lived experience of severe and enduring anorexia nervosa (SE-AN) since recent contention regarding proposed “terminal anorexia nervosa (T-AN)”. The paper aims to update the original synthesis and to situate participant responses to the category of “T-AN”. Thus, extending the proposed conceptualization of the SE-AN experience. A systematic search identified published scholarship (between August 2022 and July 2023), derived from five bibliographic databases. A comprehensive methodology combining Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis and a meta-ethnographic framework enabled the synthesis of meta-themes across 9 new studies. These meta-themes were mapped onto the primary synthesis to further develop upon the earlier LE conceptualization of SE-AN. Nine extracted papers expanded the voices to 447 people within 45 studies. All papers affirmed and enriched the previous themes, and a novel theme was generated from the recent papers. The new theme, “walking on a knife’s edge, caught between worlds“, informed an expanded conceptualization of SE-AN, termed the Web of Hope. Thus, demonstrating how participants held onto hope in the face of the SE-AN experience. Death, dying and “terminality”, were notably absent in the 36 papers in the previous meta-synthesis. Since the proposal of the category of “terminal anorexia” in 2022, studies on the lived experience of SE-AN increasingly focused on how people hold onto hope alongside SE-AN. The findings further drive the field to reflect on therapeutic interventions, labelling and diagnosis, in the face of unknowns, on the premise of “first, do no harm”
Adult Media Literacy in 2024: Australian Attitudes, Experiences and Needs
Get PDFIn January-April 2024 we surveyed 4,442 adult Australians to learn more about their media uses and abilities, their attitudes toward new technologies like generative artificial intelligence (AI), as well as their experiences of – and interest in – media literacy educational opportunities. This report follows on from our inaugural 2021 Adult Media Literacy survey. Our survey findings show that most adult Australians use different types of digital media on a regular basis, but their overall confidence in their media abilities is quite low, with very little change since 2021. For example, most adult Australians are not confident about their ability to: identify false and misleading information online, create a video and post it online, edit a digital photo, change social media privacy settings, or seek help from relevant authorities if they are being harassed online. We find that there is overwhelming demand among Australians for adult and school-based media literacy education. However, many Australians have not received any form of media literacy education or support across their lifetime from anyone other than friends and family. The findings demonstrate the need for more media literacy educational resources and support to address the media interests, needs, deficiencies and concerns of adult Australians
Widening Access to Medicine: A Realist Review
No full textThe under-par7cipa7on of students from disadvantaged popula7on groups in medical educa7on reflects broader complex structural and societal issues, highligh7ng that widening access (WA) selec7on pathways into medicine are highly context dependent. While much literature on WA pathways exists, to date this is limited to small, mostly descrip7ve, single-site studies; hence there is a need for more robust and theory-driven approaches to yield transferable findings. This realist review sought to develop explanatory theory on designing and implemen7ng selec7on pathways that successfully widen access to medicine and increase cohort diversity
Development of a new computer simulated environment to screen cognition : assessing the feasibility and acceptability of Leaf Cafe in younger and older adults
No full textBackground: Existing traditional cognitive screening tools for dementia have various limitations, including overreliance on tests assessing verbal memory and, to a lesser extent, on some aspects of executive functioning. Comprehensive neuropsychological assessment is sensitive to impairment but time-intensive and expensive. Virtual reality may provide a dynamic and unique understanding of cognitive performance and increase the ecological validity of cognitive assessment. The use of virtual reality in screening for cognitive function in older persons is promising, but evidence for its use remains sparse. Objective: Our primary aim was to examine the feasibility and acceptability of a newly passesses cognition in an engaging, efficient, and ecologically relevant way. The secondary aim was to assess the ability of the module to discriminate between performances of younger and older adults. Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out in Sydney, Australia, targeting adults aged 18 years and above. Participants completed a traditional cognitive screening tool (Telephone Interview for Cognitive Status-Modified, TICS-M) and Leaf Café, a low-immersive virtual reality module designed to evaluate learning and memory, perceptual-motor function, and executive functioning. The total performance score for each participant, ranging from 0 to 180, was correlated with their cognitive performance assessed by TICS-M, using Pearson’s correlation coefficient. Following module completion, participants were presented with an open and closed-question survey to capture their perceptions, attitudes, and feedback on the module, encompassing practicality, acceptability, and enjoyment. Both descriptive and content analyses were employed to interpret the obtained data. Results: A sample of 131 participants (mean age 54.9 years, SD = 20.8, range 20–85) took part. The majority were female (71.8%) and born in an English-speaking country (75.8%). The mean amount of time spent in the module was 32.8 min (SD = 13.3) with a mean module score of 107.6 (SD = 38.7). Most participants completed the highest level (5; 80.5%). There was a significant correlation between Leaf Café total scores with TICS-M cognitive scores overall, and for both younger (aged 18–64 years) and older adult (aged 65 + years) groups. No significant difference was found on performance between age groups on TICS-M performance, however, younger adults had significantly better performance on the Leaf Café module than older adults (M = 124.1 vs 95.9; p < .001). Participants had similar response proportions regarding user experience with most agreeing that the module was easy to use (84%) and to navigate (85%). Compared with younger adults, older adults had lower rates of agreement on the module’s design (36.8% vs 64.3%; p = .020) and support experienced (20.5% vs 53.6%; p = .007). Participants highlighted the significance of practicality and the cognitive challenges presented by the module, in terms of memory strain and user interface concerns. Feedback encompassed different opinions on the usefulness of music, with suggestions for improvements centred around clearer instructions, varied game dynamics, and considerations for diverse user needs. Conclusions: Leaf Café is a feasible and acceptable tool to be used for screening for cognitive impairment in older adults and has real-world assessment value. Further verification on the game’s utility in detecting cognitive impairment is required
[In Press] Long-term dissolved organic carbon changes in Woronora drinking water system in Australia
No full textAssessing historical records of DOC concentrations (DOC) in drinking water sources is important for water utilities to understand long-term planning for infrastructure needs. This study investigates 15 to 20 years of historical data of the Woronora water supply catchment in Australia inclusive of the water filtration plant (WFP), the lake from where the water was drawn for WFP supply, and the two primary river inputs. The DOC at each site ranged from 0.8 mg L-1 to 13.9 mg L-1, with the highest and lowest concentrations observed in Waratah Rivulet. The DOC in the lake and WFP significantly (p0.05). UV254 also showed increasing trends at Woronora River, Lake Woronora, and Woronora WFP, indicating an increase in aromatic DOC compounds in all three sites. Waratah Rivulet, however, transported more than 60% of the total DOC load into Lake Woronora due to high flow volumes (more than 65% of total annual system flow). Annual DOC load to the lake is positively correlated with annual rainfall (R2>0.92; p73%) of the samples had SUVA254 greater than 2 L mg -1 m-1 in all four sites indicating a dominance of hydrophobic DOC. The terrestrial plant-derived DOC has increased in Lake Woronora, predominantly influenced by historical rainfall magnitude. The results underscore the importance of considering the impact of increased DOC at the treatment plant intake for the planning and operation of the Woronora water supply system
Scholarship disabled : experiences of ableism within Australian higher education
No full textIntroduction Federal legislative requirements require Australian universities to apply ‘reasonable’ adjustments so that disabled undergraduate students can apply, enroll, participate, and be assessed in their studies. This has allowed increasing numbers of disabled undergraduate students to become part of the university community. Nevertheless, disabled undergraduate students still face barriers to equitable education opportunities and experiences. While there is significant research on disabled students, research on disabled staff in higher education is an emerging topic. The academy seems promising for disabled staff, particularly academics; a workplace that widely espouses to be inclusive, equitable, and welcoming of diversity. Yet disabled university staff continue to face significant social, cultural, and institutional barriers working against their workplace participation. There remains a gap between policy and the workplace experiences of disabled staff in the academy. Methodology In 2019, we formed a cross-institutional team of disabled and non-disabled Australian academics that we named “Scholarship Disabled”. From the beginning, our desire has been to explore and examine the experiences of disabled professional and academic staff in Australian higher education. After gaining a small grant, we were able to launch our pilot study, which focused on a large, multi-site university within one of Australia’s largest capital cities. Survey (n=20) and interview (n=8) data were collected. While the participant numbers are small, our pilot study provides us with greater insight into the issues facing disabled staff in the academy and assists us to refine the study for a larger project. The interview transcripts and open-ended survey questions were manually coded in NVivo and subjected to thematic analysis. We focus here on the qualitative data. Results Our participants noted that within the academy, they are meant to be ‘ideal’ workers—someone who internalizes ‘work’ as their identity, labors long hours, is constantly available for workplace demands, and is highly productive. However, disabled workers note they are not provided the resources and support to become the ideal worker; an expectation that they find ableist. Disabled staff within higher education report that they are expected to exceed their capacity and to accept the impact on their health and wellbeing, and consistently experience requests for reasonable adjustment denied. Furthermore, by not being an ideal worker, leadership and promotion opportunities are denied to them, and they are often seen as unproductive, inflexible, or lack a willingness to work hard. In the face of such barriers, disabled staff often felt that they needed to overcompensate. The pacing and scheduling of working life in the academy was reported as misaligning with the time it took to do tasks, and this was particularly profound for disabled academics whereby their temporalities are neglected in the rigid metricisation of their productivity and performance. Conclusion Disabled workers in the academy consistently face marginalization and are ignored or considered to be ‘problematic’ when raising their concerns. The neoliberalization of Australian higher education, which has resulted in reduced funding and increased workloads performance expectations, has entrenched these issues. Notably, what disabled staff consistently face are structural problems, with a reluctance of managers to provide suitable working conditions even then these are available. Therefore, disability is seen as an individual problem, and the disabled person as burdensome. This entrenchment of ableism works against claims of the academy being inclusive, equitable, and welcoming diversity. In the face of such difficulties, it is unsurprising that some of our participants had not disclosed their disability within the workplace, with the fear of what disclosure could mean. Our work reveals the need for an inclusive revolution within higher education
[In Press] A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials to reduce burden, stress, and strain in informal stroke caregivers
No full textObjectives: To understand the nature and effectiveness of interventions aimed at improving informal stroke caregiver burden, stress, and strain. Data sources: In line with Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines, a systematic search of CENTRAL, CINAHL, MEDLINE, Embase, APA PsycInfo, and Web of Science was conducted in May 2022. Review methods: Studies were eligible if they included an intervention designed for informal stroke caregivers, reported on caregiver burden, strain, or stress, were published in English, and used a randomized controlled trial design. An updated search was conducted in June 2024. The methodological quality of studies was appraised using the Cochrane risk-of-bias tool for randomized trials. The data were pooled, and a meta-analysis was completed for caregiver burden and strain outcomes. Results: Nineteen studies met inclusion criteria and were meta-analyzed. Interventions ranged from 4 days to 12 months. Most studies incorporated educational and/or support components. Meta-analyses revealed nonsignificant effects on caregiver burden or strain. Significant between-group differences for caregiver strain and burden were, however, found in seven studies. Conclusion: Limited studies, small sample sizes, and conflicting results made definitive conclusions on the most effective intervention characteristics for improving caregiver outcomes difficult. Of the 19 studies, seven found significant between-group differences for caregiver outcomes postintervention, and these tended to incorporate educational components and comprised between seven and nine sessions. Further high quality research is required to identify optimal format, duration, and frequency for improving caregiver outcomes