18624 research outputs found
Sort by
A comparison between porosities measured from specimens with regular and irregular shapes and their accuracy in predicting the strength characteristics of carbonate building stones
No full textPorosity is among the basic physical parameters widely used in evaluating the strength characteristics of building stones. Based on the geometric shape of the stone specimen, there are two procedures for determining the porosity: 1) measurements on specimens with regular shapes and 2) measurements on specimens with irregular shapes. The present study correlates the strength characteristics of stones and porosities measured from specimens with regular and irregular shapes. To this end, samples of carbonate stones were collected from different locations in Iran. The porosity of the samples was measured for specimens with regular (nr) and irregular (nir) shapes. Next, the strength characteristics of the samples, including uniaxial compressive strength (UCS), Brazilian tensile strength (BTS), and point load index (PLI), were determined. Results revealed that for all samples, nr has lower values than nir. Based on the scanning electron microscope (SEM) micrographs, this difference is due to the filling of some pore spaces of the specimens with regular shapes during their preparation by the coring machine. UCS, BTS, and PLI(50) were correlated with nr and nir using simple regression analyses. The accuracy of the correlation equations was compared based on their determination coefficient (R2) and diagonal line (1:1) measures. The findings indicated that nir provides higher accuracy than nr in evaluating the UCS, BTS, and PLI(50) of the samples. The effect of dry density
GRAMP : a gene ranking and model prioritisation framework for building consensus genetic networks
Get PDFDespite significant recent advancements in computational and statistical methods, different methods have specific strengths and weaknesses in the accurate reconstruction of gene regulatory networks (GRNs), making it difficult to determine the best method for each specific problem. To overcome these challenges, ensemble approaches, which combine the strengths of individual inference methods, are valuable. However, existing ensemble methods for GRN inference lack a sophisticated network aggregation method and generally rely solely on ranking approaches. These ensemble methods have no reliable mechanisms to identify highly performing inference methods specific to a given problem. They therefore tend to aggregate weak methods, diminishing the overall accuracy of the approach. Thus, developing a reliable mechanism to identify the most effective methods for specific problems and prioritize them in consensus network building is important. This paper presents a novel ensemble approach for reconstructing GRNs by integrating previously developed diverse GRN inference approaches. A novel network aggregation method called GRAMP, Gene Ranking And Model Prioritisation framework was developed, taking into consideration both local and global gene ranking and the performance of different inference approaches on a specific network. The proposed ensemble approach demonstrated performance superior to those of other state-of-the-art methods, as evidenced by results from simulated datasets and a real-world gene expression dataset. © 2024 The Author(s
Exploring time as a resource for wellness in higher education: Identity, self-care and wellbeing at work
No full textBringing together international perspectives, this book demonstrates the importance of reframing time in higher education and how we can view it as a resource to support wellbeing and self-care. Time is a central part of our lives and structures our days, and yet often we don't think about the socially constructed nature of time or how we might reframe our relationship with time and our work in ways that support our self-care and wellbeing. Exploring Time as a Resource for Wellness in Higher Education suggests an alternative way to look at how we structure our time to better support our wellbeing. Drawing on a range of theoretical and personal perspectives, the authors advocate for a reconsideration and reconceptualization of our relationship with time. By sharing their experiences, the authors encourage readers to notice how they spend their time and offer strategies for an intentional focus on the relationship between time, self-care, and wellbeing. Whether it's making time, having time, or investing in time, this book explores strategies and reflections necessary to grow, maintain, and protect wellbeing. This book is a valuable resource for those working in higher education, offering individual, collective, and systemic suggestions and strategies for navigating the ways we see time and wellbeing. © 2025 selection and editorial matter, Sharon McDonough and Narelle Lemo. All rights reserved
Optimal robust adaptive fuzzy controllers based on sliding surfaces for inverted pendulum systems
No full textInverted pendulum systems as under-actuated unstable nonlinear benchmarks are favorite test-bed models to consider various control approaches due to their special features. In this paper, optimum stabilization of three kinds of these systems, including single, series-type double and parallel-type double inverted pendulum, would be considered by developing a novel robust fuzzy control approach and a new nature-inspired meta-heuristic method. To this purpose, the structures of the fuzzy systems are designed by employing the singleton fuzzifier, Mamdani product inference engine and center average defuzzifier to handle the considered dynamics from initial conditions to desired values. Besides, sliding surfaces formulated by employing the system errors and their derivatives are used as the inputs for the fuzzy systems as well as for the adaptive gradient descent mechanism. Next, the whale optimization algorithm (WOA) is implemented to properly determine the design parameters of the sliding surfaces, fuzzy systems and adaptive rules. Eventually, the effectiveness and ability of the presented scenario are illustrated through the simulations performed on the considered inverted pendulum systems and comparisons with other similar approaches. © The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature 2024
Exercise response and exhaled volatile organic compounds
No full textA growing body of research features the variability of responses to exercise training, frequently showing approximately 30-40% of participants do not experience meaningful improvements in fitness (also known as ‘nonresponse’). Hence, researchers have focused on investigating determinants of responsiveness to optimise exercise interventions at a personalised level and mitigate the prevalence of nonresponses. This PhD thesis aims to advance knowledge of these factors and provide future directions for research into potential biomarkers for monitoring exercise response. Interindividual variability in response to exercise is determined by a combination of biological (e.g. age, sex, genetics), environmental (e.g. lifestyle, diet, physical activity), and methodological factors (e.g. exercise dose, study design, statistical approach). While genetics are a large component of interindividual variability, studies comparing exercise response in twins indicate genetics may not play as substantive role as originally thought. Additionally, mRNA expression is tissue-specific, expensive, and invasive. Therefore, to improve the incidence of exercise fitness response it is imperative cost-effective, practical, and less invasive molecular predictors of exercise response are identified. This work highlights the potential of exerkines, circulating cell-free DNA, and metabolomic profile changes in blood, saliva, and breath as candidate biomarkers. Exercise studies mainly use reporting measures at the group level (e.g. mean, standard deviation). However, central tendency measures fail to highlight the interindividual variability and capture the proportion of nonresponses. This thesis demonstrates the merit of applying statistical frameworks for assessing interindividual variability and classifying individual responses to exercise training. A study examined whether progressively increasing treadmill run intensity would improve the proportion of positive cardiorespiratory fitness responders compared to constant intensity training. The findings show a significantly higher proportion of positive responders in the progressive overload group, however, a notable percentage of participants (~33%) did not exceed the technical error and smallest worthwhile change threshold (128.2mL). The following study examined the impact of different supervision types on individual responses to exercise training in tertiary education employees. Personal supervision led to the most significant improvements in cardiorespiratory fitness, muscular strength, and body composition compared to non-personal supervision and unsupervised training. Analysis of individual responses indicated a reduced incidence of non-responses for muscular strength and total fat loss, but not V̇O2peak, for personal supervision compared to other supervision types, suggesting that personal supervision can improve individual responses to exercise training. Additionally, the analysis supports evidence that outcome responses do not aggregate consistently within participants. These findings, in combination with the first study, highlight the need to develop measures capable of screening and predicting the likelihood of response to exercise. Breath analysis is a promising non-invasive method for monitoring physiological and metabolic adaptations. Consequently, a breath testing method was piloted to identify potential exhaled volatile organic compounds for monitoring exercise response. Using glass tubes and solid-phase microextraction fibres paired with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, a non-targeted analytical approach was employed to speculate for volatile organic compounds of interest. The descriptive analysis highlights compounds from endogenous, exogenous, and mixed origins before, 10 minutes and 24 hours after a standardised 20-minute treadmill run. Metabolites of interest included monoterpenes, alkenes and dienes, ketones, aldehydes, alcohols, organosulfur, alkanes, amines, and amides. The presence of certain metabolites was transient and highlighted the confounding influence of the environment on breath sampling. In a follow-up study, the reliability of two commonly abundant compounds, acetone and isoprene, and their dynamic responses across time points are reported. The reliability analyses showed that acetone has poor reliability and consistency within individuals, while isoprene shows moderately good reliability and consistency. Isoprene levels significantly decreased 10 minutes after exercise and returned to baseline after 24 hours, aligning with existing theories on their dynamics. In summary, this thesis aims to highlight the prevalence of non-response to generic training regimens by reporting the relative importance of progressive increases in exercise intensity and the impact of supervision type on individual responses to exercise training. Additionally, this thesis reports on the potential of breath analysis to be a viable biomarker of trainability and suggests future directions for research in this area.Doctor of Philosoph
The influence of age and exercise training status on left ventricular systolic twist mechanics in healthy males—an exploratory study
Get PDFAge-related differences in twist may be mitigated with exercise training, although this remains inconclusive. Moreover, temporal left ventricular (LV) systolic twist mechanics, including early-systolic (twistearly), and beyond peak twist (twistpeak) alone, have not been considered. Therefore, further insights are required to ascertain the influence of age and training status on twist mechanics across systole. Forty males were included and allocated into 1 of 4 groups based on age and training status: young recreationally active (YRA, n = 9; 28 ± 5 years), old recreationally active (ORA, n = 10; 68 ± 6 years), young trained (YT, n = 10; 27 ± 6 years), and old trained (OT, n = 11, 64 ± 4 years) groups. Two-dimensional speckle-tracking echocardiography was performed to determine LV twist mechanics, including twistearly, twistpeak, and total twist (twisttotal), by considering the nadir on the twist time-curve during early systole. Twisttotal was calculated by subtracting twistearly from their peak values. LV twistpeak was higher in older than younger men (p = 0.036), while twistpeak was lower in the trained than recreationally-active (p = 0.004). Twistpeak is underestimated compared with twisttotal (p < 0.001), and when early-systolic mechanics were considered, to calculate twisttotal, the age effect (p = 0.186) was dampened. LV twist was higher in older than younger age, with lower twist in exercise-trained than recreationally-active males. Twistpeak is underestimated when twistearly is not considered, with novel observations demonstrating that the age effect was dampened when considering twistearly. These findings elucidated a smaller age effect when early phases of systole are considered, while lower LV systolic mechanics were observed in older aged trained than recreationally-active males. © 2024 by the authors
EYE: End of year exhibition 2024: Visual Arts Graduate Exhibition
No full textSAT 16 - SUN 24 NOV 2024 ARTS ACADEMY VISUAL ARTS GRADUATING STUDENTS' EXHIBITION Please join us to celebrate the exhibition opening of our graduating students on Fri 15 Nov @ 5.30, for 6pm, at the Post Office Gallery, Ballarat. All welcome! Image: Rachel Clark Home, 2024 (detail) digital print on paper H15 x W30 x D15 cm Courtesy the artist Showcasing a rich mix of work by graduating Bachelor of Visual Arts, Bachelor of Education and Bachelor of Arts (Honours) students, EYE not only reflects the breadth and depth of students’ ideas, skills and concepts, but also launches the creative careers of the next hot crop of contemporary artists of our region
A literature review of the design, modeling, optimization, and control of electro-mechanical inlet valves for gas expanders
Get PDFThe ever-growing concerns about global warming and the rapid depletion of fossil fuels have triggered a rising interest in the research for cleaner, more efficient, and cost-effective energy generation. Organic Rankine cycle systems have immense potential to become a strong alternative to conventional methods of energy generation. However, such systems’ efficiency is limited by the performance of the incorporated gas expanders or prime movers. Conventional gas expanders often utilize ports or cam-operated valves. Ported expanders offer limited efficiency and controllability and produce high emissions, causing a large amount of heated and compressed gas to be wasted. Cam-operated valves, in contrast, increase expansion performance compared to ported expanders; however, they have no variability and adaptability to changes in system parameters such as gas pressure, temperature, dryness fraction, and load variation, to name a few. On a positive note, this issue can be addressed by adopting a variable timing and fast-operating, control valve with an accurate and adaptive control mechanism at the expander inlet. A properly designed and controlled valve can greatly improve the system performance of gas expanders and pave the way for an efficient low-cost alternative energy generation. This manuscript provides a comparative review of recent progress on the design, modeling, optimization, and control aspects of valves for gas expanders. A clear pathway on the scope of further development is also drawn based on the present state of the art. © 2024 by the authors