26564 research outputs found
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Exoskeleton CAD Model and FEA Results
No full textThis dataset includes all CAD models of the exoskeletons created with SolidWorks. It also contains the FEA results, which were used during the material selection process for the exoskeleton.</p
Mission portfolio: Putting the transfer into transferable skills
No full textThe phrase transferable skills describes skills applicable across diverse contexts, especially within the workplace. However, the literal interpretation of skill transfer is often unclear to students. While educators assume skills acquired in one setting (university) can seamlessly transfer to others (the workplace), reports persist in a skills gap, suggesting graduates lack transferable skills and/or the confidence to apply them in novel situations. Addressing this requires an approach that empowers students to align the skills they have developed via life experiences with their professional identity. Traditional assessments are not best suited to capturing complex competencies, including employability, in a form that can be effectively evaluated. Students’ ability to transfer their skills is more likely with learner-centred strategies that frame unfamiliar situations as learning opportunities. One solution is using portfolios centred on active reflection to help students evidence capabilities and develop a longitudinal view of their experiences aligned with their professional identity. For final-year students transitioning to the workplace via placements, portfolio assessments can build confidence to transfer academic skills to practical applications. This chapter showcases portfolio assessment embedded in three placement courses and a co-curricular program in the STEM disciplines, demonstrating how evidence-based articulation of skills through reflection enables valuable skill transfer to unfamiliar contexts
Analysis of combustion instability and complexity in diesel-biodiesel blends: Effects on performance, emissions, energy, and exergy
No full textDiesel engines are a major source of nitrogen oxides, carbon dioxide, and particulate matter emissions. While biodiesel blends offer potential emission reductions, challenges remain in viscosity, flash point, cold weather performance, and combustion characteristics. This study examines the performance and emission behavior of biodiesel–diesel blends to enhance efficiency and reduce environmental impact. Multiscale entropy analysis was employed to assess combustion instability and complexity, focusing on the influence of fuel composition and engine speed at full load. Experimental investigations were conducted using biodiesel derived from tomato, papaya, and apricot, blended with diesel. The tested fuels included binary and ternary biodiesel–diesel blends with varying levels of complexity. Results indicate that at optimal operating conditions, biodiesel blends enhance energy and exergy efficiency while exhibiting higher carbon dioxide and nitrogen oxide emissions compared to pure diesel. Hydrocarbon emissions decreased under optimized conditions, while fuels with lower chemical complexity demonstrated improved torque output. Diesel, characterized by greater combustion complexity, resulted in lower exergy and useful work. These findings contribute to the understanding of biodiesel application in compression ignition engines, providing insights into performance optimization and emission control strategies.
Keywords: Biodiesel blends; combustion stability; engine emissions; energy efficiency; exergy analysis
Tides of change - Beach accessibility barriers and facilitators for older people and people with disability: An Australian community survey
No full textAim: To determine barriers and facilitators of beach access for older people and people with disability.
Design: Anonymous online cross-sectional survey.
Method: A 39-item online survey (categorical, ordinal, and open response data) was developed to explore perspectives of older people (>65 years) and people with disability or mobility limitation (temporary/permanent) regarding beach access barriers and facilitators. Frequency statistics were used to summarise barriers and facilitators according to environmental and personal factors.
Results: 350 people completed the survey (69% female; age range 2-90 years (mean=52)). Disability/mobility limitation was reported by 88% of respondents, with 77% requiring a community mobility aid. Two thirds (68%) of respondents were unable to visit the beach as often as wanted, with 45% unable to visit at all. The most frequently reported environmental barriers were inaccessible leadup pathways (81%) and limited beach mobility equipment (75%). The most frequently reported personal barrier was difficulty moving on soft sand (87%). If beach access were improved, respondents reported they would visit the beach more often (85%), for longer (83%), and would have an improved experience (91%). The most frequently reported facilitators of beach access included accessible sand walkways (89%) and parking (87%).
Conclusion: Older people and people with disability have limited beach access, primarily due to environmental factors, excluding them from a wide range of health benefits associated with the beach.
Take home messages:
•Barrier and facilitator diversity highlights the importance of person-centred and co-designed beach access.
•Equipment prescription and services will be key to improve beach access.
Summary
Older people and people with disability face many barriers to beach access. Overcoming these barriers may be associated with increased time spent at the beach and therefore improved health outcomes. Elements of an accessible beach should include consideration of the built environment, physical equipment, and services to support beach use
Profiling key phytoconstituents in screw-pressed nigella solid residue and their distribution in products and byproducts during oil processing
No full textNigella sativa L. (generally known as black cumin) is a medicinal plant prized for its therapeutic and nutritional benefits. Its seed oil is used extensively in pharmaceuticals, nutraceuticals, cosmetics, and cooking. However, extracting oil to satisfy the world’s needs leaves behind plenty of solid residues. The seeds of Nigella are loaded with health-benefiting phytoconstituents, but so might their extraction residues. While much research on seeds and oil has been carried out, there is relatively little information about solid residue, particularly regarding health-benefiting phytoconstituents. Additionally, there is a knowledge gap relating to how phytoconstituents transfer from seeds to solid residue during oil extraction and any loss of key phytoconstituents that may occur during this transfer. Understanding the health-benefiting phytoconstituents in Nigella solid residue is crucial for unlocking its full potential for value-added applications in health and nutrition. Moreover, understanding the dynamics of these phytoconstituent transfers is essential for optimizing extraction processes and preserving the nutritional and therapeutic value of the derived products. Therefore, this study investigated the composition of the screw-press solid residues of different Nigella genotypes grown under similar environmental conditions. The results showed moderate variation in the levels of potential health-benefitting phytoconstituents in Nigella solid residues regarding total phenolic content (TPC) (720.5–934.8 mg GAE/100 g), ferric reducing antioxidant capacity (FRAP) (853.1–1010.5 mg TE/100 g), cupric reducing antioxidant capacity (CUPRAC) (3863.1–4801.5 mg TE/100 g), thymoquinone (TQ) (156.0–260.1 mg/100 g), saturated fatty acid (SFA) (2.0–2.2 mg/g), monounsaturated fatty acid (MUFA) (2.0–3.6 mg/g), and polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) (8.2–12.1 mg/g). Notably, TPC, FRAP, and CUPRAC had high transfer rates into the solid residue (78.1–85.9%, 65.4–75.7%, and 84.5–90.4%, respectively), whereas TQ, SFA, MUFA, and PUFA showed lower transfer rates (15.9–19.3%, 7.5–8.9%, 12.0–18.3%, and 6.5–7.5%, respectively). When summing the values of individual phytoconstituents transferred into oil and solid residue from their respective seeds during processing, it was found that only 80.6–88.3% of TPC, 74.2–84.4% of FRAP, 86.3–92.3% of CUPRAC, 54.4–64.9% of TQ, 68.5–92.4% of SFA, 76.2–90.6% of MUFA, and 51.6–76.6% of PUFA were transferred from the total value present in their respective seeds
Comprehensive multi-scale optimisation of rum fermentation
No full textThis study applied response surface methodology (RSM) to optimise process parameters for rum fermentation. The primary aim was to enhance ethanol productivity through refined molasses conditioning and fermentation. Polyacrylamide flocculants were evaluated for molasses clarification, identifying an optimised blend which significantly outperformed individual flocculants. Statistical analyses revealed Flopam AN 956 SH as the top performer based on settling behaviour and mud qualities. Mixture modelling exposed optimised flocculant formulations that outperformed individual flocculants, indicating synergistic interactions. A central composite design (CCD) systematically evaluated the effects of temperature, oxygenation, and nutrient supplementation on yeast growth kinetics. It determined that 5 ppm O2, 32.19 °C, and 2.5% nutrients maximised the specific growth rate at 0.39 h−1 and ethanol yield at 9.84% v/v. The models characterised interactions, revealing nutrient–oxygen synergies that stimulated metabolism. Overall, fermentation efficiency and assurance for ethanol yield were increased through comprehensive multi-scale optimisation utilising factorial designs, validated analytics, and quantitative strain characterisation.</p
Feasibility study of hybrid energy system towards decarbonisation
No full textTo combat global greenhouse gas emissions and ensure energy security the role of renewable energy is crucial. Implementation of renewable energy-based hybrid energy system at diesel-energy based remote places is vital for decarbonisation offering beneficial use of underutilised resources. In this study a hybrid energy system design is examined including solar, hydrogen, bioenergy and electric vehicle loads that provides a novel energy system at Tennant Creek, Northern Territorry of regional Australia. HOMER Pro software is used to model, optimize and evaluate the best system combination considering net present cost (NPC) and levelized cost of energy (LCOE). Besides, sensitivity analysis is performed considering the reduction of renewable component costs and variation of biodiesel price. Result shows, by increasing the capacity of photovoltaic and battery and adding fuel cell, and biodiesel generator in the carbon-based generator based simulated existing system can reduce the system cost by 19.72 % and the energy cost by 19.70 % offering 68.33 % lower emissions. Exclusion of carbon-based generators provided excellent environmental performance with zero and sulphur emission, however at the highest cost. Promisingly, the sensitivity analysis at a 50 % reduction of battery cost provided a reduction of this system cost up to 19 % and almost 90 % emission reductions
What are the Experiencs of Registered Nurses working in Residential Aged care Facilities
No full textAim: To explore the experiences of registered nurses working in residential aged are facilities in Australia. Background: The number of aged care residents with high acuity and complex care needs in aged care facilities is steadily increasing. However, despite the Aged Care Royal Commission’s recent mandated staffing determination, the number of registered nurses employed in aged care has declined. Instead, non-qualified care workers now make up 70% of the aged care workforce. This shift, coupled with organisational challenges such as inadequate education, inappropriate skill mix, and suboptimal registered nurse to resident ratios, has negatively impacted the ability of registered nurses to deliver high-quality care. Additionally, attracting qualified nurses to specialise in gerontological care in residential aged care facilities remains a persistent challenge due to the sector’s low-status, poor renumeration, and lack of career advancement opportunities. Research Design: This study employed a qualitative narrative inquiry methodology to explore the experiences of registered nurses working in residential aged care facilities in Australia. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews with eight registered nurses from around Australia who had worked in residential aged care facilities with at least 12 months of experience in the setting. The interviews were transcribed verbatim and analysed using Braun and Clarke’s six-step guide to thematic analysis. These themes were then interpreted through the lens of Clandinin and Connelly’s three-dimensional framework, focussing on the interconnected concepts of temporality, sociality, and place. Findings: The findings identified three major themes and eight subthemes and highlighted how work intensification impacted on delivery of care to older residents in aged care. The major themes identified included staff shortages, lack of education and training, and compromising care. The findings highlighted the challenges registered nurses faced due to the many constraints placed upon them working in residential aged care including, paperwork and documentation, compromising care, inadequate staffing, lack of support and lack of education and training. Conclusion: Registered nurses working in residential aged care facilities experienced many challenges related to working in the sector including a lack of support, conflicting roles and demands, inadequate staffing, and a lack of time in maintaining relationships, and providing quality care. Recommendations to support registered nurses included designing clear career pathways, increasing the education and training by having an educator on site, and collaborating with stakeholders and universities to foster partnerships that align curricula with industry needs and strengthen support networks for nurse graduates entering the aged care workforce.</p
Trial 2 conducted at CQIRP
No full textThis is a CTR vs AVG trial with Eimeria vaccine challenge. DNA extraction was performed from all the samples that were collected. The DNA library was sequenced and analysed using Rstudio.
Oocytes counting was performed. FITC-D analysis was done to check for gut leakage.
Histomorphological analysis was performed.
Performance data was also analysed.</p
An exploration into the competence of Australian speech language pathologists in augmentative and alternative communication
No full textSurvey data investigating the knowledge, confidence, attitudes, training and competence of SLPs in AAC.
Semi-structured interview data investigating the training, competence and attitudes of SLPs in AAC.</p