University of the Sunshine Coast
USC Research Bank - University of the Sunshine CoastNot a member yet
28663 research outputs found
Sort by
Making Sense of Maths
No full textMyOpenMath is a free, open source, online course management system for mathematics and other quantitative fields. MyOpenMath's primary emphasis is to facilitate the creation and implementation of online homework and assessment, although it also supports content delivery on a limited basis. MyOpenMath runs on the open source IMathAS platform, providing free hosted use of this platform in support of free, open textbooks like the ones listed on OpenTextBookStore.com. The intent is to provide classroom use of the platform, without any required cost to students, for schools wanting a managed install of the IMathAS platform, and to provide students self-study opportunities. MyOpenMath.com is operated by the non-profit organization MyOpenMath.
Making Sense of Maths offers support in these topics:
• Positive and negative numbers
• Order of operations
• Factors and prime
• Fractions, decimals and percent
• Indices
• Rounding, significant figures, scientific notation
• Algebra
• Solving equations and transposing formulae
• Multiplication tables
• Communicating mathematics.To sign up for access: Course ID: 46493; Enrolement Key: uscmath
Using Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) to assess humpback whale behavioral responses to swim-with interactions in Vava’u, Kingdom of Tonga
No full textThe Kingdom of Tonga is a one of the few countries worldwide that allow swim-with-whales tourism activities. Most of the tour operators are based in Vava’u archipelago which represents an important breeding ground for Oceania humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae). This study represents an assessment of the effects of swimmer approaches on humpback whales’ behaviour using Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs). UAV flights took place during the 2016 and 2017 whale breeding seasons from onboard research and swim-with-whales vessels. Whales’ behavioural states (resting, travelling, surface-active, socialising, nurturing) were assessed from aerial videos and the proportions of time spent in each state in the presence and absence of swimmers were compared. Whale agonistic behaviours directed towards swimmers and the injury of a swimmer caused by a whale were documented. Results indicate that in-water tourism activities significantly altered the time spent in each behavioural state by humpback whale in Vava’u. Mother-calf pairs decreased the proportion of time spent nurturing, while the time spent travelling increased two-fold when approached by swimmers. These findings indicate a potential energy expenditure increase for humpback whale mothers and their calves in response to swim-with tourism activities in Vava’u. Moreover, whales’ behavioural responses can pose danger of injury to swimmers
Controlled One-pot Synthesis of Nickel Single Atoms Embedded in Carbon Nanotube and Graphene Supports with High Loading
No full textSingle-atom catalysts (SACs) have attracted much attentions due to the advantages of high catalysis efficiency and selectivity. However, the controllable and efficient synthesis of SACs remains a significant challenge. Herein, we report a controlled one-pot synthesis of nickel single atoms embedded on nitrogen-doped carbon nanotubes (NiSA−N−CNT) and nitrogen-doped graphene (NiSA−N−G). The formation of NiSA−N−CNT is due to the solid-to-solid rolling up mechanism during the high temperature pyrolysis at 800 °C from the stacked and layered Ni-doped g-C3N4, g-C3N4−Ni structure to a tubular CNT structure. Addition of citric acid introduces an amorphous carbon source on the layered g-C3N4−Ni and after annealing at the same temperature of 800 °C, instead of formation of NiSA−N−CNT, Ni single atoms embedded in planar graphene type supports, NiSA−N−G were obtained. The density functional theory (DFT) calculation indicates the introduction of amorphous carbon source substantially reduces the structure fluctuation or curvature of layered g-C3N4-Ni intermediate products, thus interrupting the solid-to-solid rolling process and leading to the formation of planar graphene type supports for Ni single atoms. The as-synthesized NiSA−N−G with Ni atomic loading of ∼6 wt% catalysts shows a better activity and stability for the CO2 reduction reaction (CO2RR) than NiSA−N−CNT with Ni atomic loading of ∼15 wt% due to the open and exposed Ni single atom active sites in NiSA−N−G. This study demonstrates for the first time the feasibility in the control of the microstructure of carbon supports in the synthesis of SACs
Adaptation by Herders on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau in Response to Climate Change and Policy Reforms: The Implications for Carbon Sequestration and Livelihoods
No full textThere are changes in livelihood strategies of five Tibetan herder communities in the face of climate change and government policies such as adjustments to use rights and restricted herder mobility. Data collection relied on a mixed-method approach, including household surveys and rural rapid appraisals (PRA). Results indicated that yak husbandry is the main source of livelihood and households have a restricted range of livelihood activities. Major coping strategies varied with production system and resource availability and options for mobility of herds. The perception of a majority of respondents was that land tenure reforms had led to creation of more bureaucracies, forced sedentarization, livelihood insecurity, collapse of pastoral adaptation, poverty, resource use conflicts and hindrance to long-term planning and permanent developments. There is need to amend strategies that threaten the environment and instead promote integration of community best practices initiatives in proven concepts of adaptation to climate change and livelihood vulnerability
The ART of Engagement Placemaking for Nature and People in Cities
No full textUrban spaces require the engagement of citizens to create and shape them into unique signifiers of connection, residence and activity in cities and regions. In an increasingly urban and climate change-challenged world, there is a necessity to build connections between spaces, people and environment. Australian cities built on Indigenous country need to find modes of engagement that reconcile the tensions caused by historical yet enduring invasion of space and place. Placemaking is one mechanism by which connections can be forged and bridges built between these tensions, and become, in and of itself, a mode of community engagement for all citizens. This chapter will interrogate this idea, and specifically explore whether the use of public art as placemaking can catalyse community engagement with place, environment and culture in cities. As such, placemaking itself can lead to powerful community engagement and become a tool that generates narratives around and connection to urban ecologies and hence integration between people and place in cities
Journal of Criminological Research, Policy and Practice: Volume 6, Issue 1: Special Issue: Fraud and Fraud Prevention: International Perspectives
No full textNo abstract avaiable
Expression of Gibberellin Metabolism Genes and Signalling Components in Dwarf Phenotype of Breadfruit (Artocarpus altilis) Plants Growing on Marang (Artocarpus odoratissimus) Rootstocks
No full textBreadfruit (Artocarpus altilis) is a traditional staple tree crop throughout the tropics. The species is an evergreen tree 15–20 m; there are currently no size-controlling rootstocks within the species. Through interspecific grafting, a dwarf phenotype was identified in breadfruit plants growing on Marang (Artocarpus odoratissimus) rootstocks, which displayed ~60% reduction in plant height with ~80% shorter internodes. To gain insight into the molecular mechanism underlying rootstock-induced dwarfing, we investigated the involvement of gibberellin (GA) in reduction of stem elongation. Expression of GA metabolism genes was analysed in the period from 18 to 24 months after grafting. In comparison to self-graft and non-graft, scion stems on marang rootstocks displayed decrease in expression of a GA biosynthetic gene, AaGA20ox3, and increase in expression of a GA catabolic genes, AaGA2ox1, in the tested 6-month period. Increased accumulation of DELLA proteins (GA-signalling repressors) was found in scion stems growing on marang rootstocks, together with an increased expression of a DELLA gene, AaDELLA1. Exogenous GA treatment was able to restore the stem elongation rate and the internode length of scions growing on marang rootstocks. The possibility that GA deficiency forms a component of the mechanism underlying rootstock-induced breadfruit dwarfing is discussed
Health theory of coping
No full textObjective:
There have been multiple criticisms against commonly used theories of coping limiting their usefulness in research and practice.
Method:
This paper describes and evaluates a new functional conceptualisation of reactions to reduce distress or unpleasant emotions, the Health Theory of Coping.
Results:
The theory recognises that all coping reactions are adaptive and may initially reduce distress and categorises these strategies as either healthy or unhealthy, depending on their likelihood of adverse consequences. Categories are conceptually clear, mutually exclusive, comprehensive, functionally homogenous, functionally distinct, generative and flexible, overcoming limitations of previous theories. The theory captures a hierarchy of strategies across the continua of internality, intensity, and adversity. Healthy coping categories are self‐soothing, relaxing or distracting activities, social support, and professional support. Unhealthy categories are negative self‐talk, harmful activities, social withdrawal, and suicidality. All coping strategies fit within one of these categories.
Conclusions:
The categorisation of coping strategies as either healthy or unhealthy is empirically supported. The Health Theory of Coping has clinical utility in stigma reduction, suicide prevention, and treatment of physical and psychiatric illnesses
Structure elucidation and absolute configuration of metabolites from the soil-derived fungus Dictyosporium digitatum using spectroscopic and computational methods
No full textFollowing the discovery of a new class of compounds that inhibit the mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma translocation 1 (MALT1) protease in a prior study, further chemical investigation of the Dictyosporium digitatum fungus resulted in the identification of 16 additional metabolites, including 12 undescribed compounds (1–12). The constitution and relative configuration of these new molecules were established by comprehensive NMR and HRMS analyses. Their absolute configurations were determined by employing Mosher's ester analysis and TDDFT ECD calculations. Two sesquiterpenes, dictyosporins A (1) and B (2), possess an undescribed eudesmen-type of structural scaffold. The ability of the isolated compounds to inhibit MALT1 proteolytic activity was evaluated, but none of them exhibited significant inhibition
