University of the Sunshine Coast
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Direct formation and isolation of unprotected α-and β-d-ribopyranosyl urea, α-and β-d-ribofuranosyl urea, and a ribosyl-1,2-cyclic carbamate in carbohydrate melts
No full textSolvent-free melts of unprotected d-ribose and urea generated mainly C1- substituted ribosyl products. The remarkable resolving power of a graphitised-carbon HPLC column allowed products of the reaction formed over a range of heating times and temperatures to be monitored. Heating an uncatalysed mixture of d-ribose and urea at temperatures between 75 °C and 90 °C resulted in complex mixtures of compounds; after 19 h heating at 90 °C, up to ten components could be resolved. At shorter heating times and lower temperatures, the composition and distribution of products varied. By manipulation of the reaction time and temperature, and with the addition of an acid catalyst, it was possible to optimise the yields of selected products. Thus, the acid-catalysed reaction after 1–2 h at 80 °C gave optimal yields of α- and β-d-ribopyranosyl urea, whereas the uncatalysed reaction after 22 h at 75–78 °C in addition produced significant amounts of α-d-ribofuranosyl-1,2- cyclic carbamate [glyco-1,2-oxazolidin-2-one] plus the α- and β-ribofuranosyl ureas. The five compounds were isolated and characterised, demonstrating the significant advantages of this approach; its simplicity, and the ability to produce multiple compounds of biological interest in a single step. LC/MS was used to identify tentatively several other components of the reaction mixture. The unprotected title compounds were prepared, isolated and characterised with water as the only solvent
An exploration of a thermal extension of Burgers model for the simulation of the deformation of asphalt under dynamic stress
No full textAn understanding of the viscoelastic behaviour of asphalt pavements can deliver better pavement design. Contemporary engineering practice is to characterise asphalt viscoelasticity using the dynamic modulus, defined as the magnitude of the complex modulus. This modulus, representing the ratio of stress to strain, is a function of time of stress loading and temperature, and is typically represented using master curves. While the dynamic modulus provides a simple estimation of a strain response to an applied stress, it fails to predict response-lag or degree of permanent deformation. Another approach is to use combinations of standard rheological elements, such as springs and dashpots, to develop rheological models as differential equations that describe observed dynamic responses and behaviours. For example, Burgers standard rheological model is composed of four rheological elements that together, can be used to simulate a broad range of viscoelastic deformation behaviours. While studies have been published in which a variety of rheological models are used to calculate the viscoelastic moduli of asphalt pavements, few studies use those models to simulate the dynamic strain response of asphalt as a function of time, temperature, and loading frequency. This project explored the feasibility of using a rheological modelling approach to simulate the strain response in asphalt to a dynamically applied stress. Experimental strain response data were collected by applying cyclic stress loading to asphalt core samples over a range of temperatures and loading frequencies. The second-order differential equation, that represents Burgers Model, was solved for each experimental data set. The optimum coefficients of the model, for each data set, were determined iteratively using a gradient descent method to minimise the difference between the model solution and the experimental strain response. The optimal step-size for each iteration was determined using the Barzilai-Borwein method. The standard Burgers Model was unable to simulate the stress-strain nature accurately across all experimental datasets, and an extended form of the model, a Generalised Burgers Model GBM), was shown to be more successful. The coefficients of the GBM were assumed to follow an Arrhenius-style function for temperature dependency, and which was further modified to include the influence of driving frequency. Although the resulting model should theoretically be able to simulate the strain response to a dynamic stress loading on asphalt at any specified temperature, acceptably good simulations were only observed in experimental cases where the loading frequency was 3 Hz or slower. Simulation of the strain response to higher-frequency stress loading, using internally-calculated coefficients, proved to be challenging and, in spite of considerable investigation, the modelled behaviour remained erratic for those cases. Investigation of the cases for which the GBM fails indicates that the model appears to be highly sensitive to the coefficient values, and the limited quantity and reliability of experimental data is likely to have limited the accuracy of the calibration of the equations for model coefficients. Overall, the GBM is shown to provide an accurate representation of dynamic strain response when its coefficients are custom-fitted, but lacks stability when coefficients are calculated for the specified conditions using the proposed equations.Submitted in the fulfilment of the requirements of the degree of Master of Science, University of the Sunshine Coast, 2020
How to win the consumer's heart? Exploring appraisal determinants of consumer pre-consumption emotions
No full textEmotions are key drivers of consumption in the tourism and hospitality sector. Therefore, advancing our understanding of the determinants of consumer emotions is critical for tourism and hospitality marketers to effectively influence consumer affect-driven consumption behavior. However, research on the determinants of pre-consumption emotions remains under-explored. This study aims to fill the research gap and proposes a theoretical framework to explain affect-driven behavior. Grounded on the cognitive appraisal theory of emotions, we hypothesize that marketing stimuli are personally appraised based on several dimensions such as novelty and goal relevance. These appraisal dimensions determine the elicitation of positive emotions, leading to behavioral intentions. A total of 655 participants were recruited for an empirical study to test this framework in the context of a tourism event experience. We use an experimental research design to examine consumer appraisals, emotions and behavioral intentions in four conditions: two marketing visual formats (poster vs. video) over two delivery channels (advertising vs. e-word-of-mouth). Research outcomes support the theoretical framework of consumer affect-driven behavior, suggesting that the elicitation of positive emotions beneficially guides consumer behavior in goal striving and novelty seeking. Based on this, emotion-focused marketing implications are recommended, including goal-based segmentation, goal-relevant content development and the use of eWOM as an emotion-enhancing message delivery channel
Dose and setting of rehabilitation received after stroke in Queensland, Australia: a prospective cohort study
No full textObjective:
The aims of this study were to describe patterns and dose of rehabilitation received following stroke and to investigate their relationship with outcomes.
Design:
This was a prospective observational cohort study.
Setting:
A total of seven public hospitals and all subsequent rehabilitation services in Queensland, Australia, participated in the study.
Subjects:
Participants were consecutive patients surviving acute stroke between July 2016 and January 2017.
Methods:
We tracked rehabilitation for six months following stroke and obtained 90- to 180-day outcomes from the Australian Stroke Clinical Registry.
Measures:
Dose of rehabilitation – time in therapy by physiotherapy, occupational therapy and speech pathology; modified Rankin Scale (mRS)- premorbid, acute care discharge and 90- to 180-day follow-up.
Results:
We recruited 504 patients, of whom 337 (median age = 73 years, 41% female) received 643 episodes of rehabilitation in 83 different services. Initial rehabilitation was predominantly inpatient (260/337, 77%) versus community-based (77/337, 21%). Therapy time was greater within inpatient services (median = 29 hours) compared to community-based (6 hours) or transition care (16 hours). Median (Quartile 1, Quartile 3) six-month cumulative therapy time was 73 hours (40, 130) when rehabilitation commenced in stroke units and continued in inpatient rehabilitation units; 43 hours (23, 78) when commenced in inpatient rehabilitation units; and 5 hours (2, 9) with only community rehabilitation. In 317 of 504 (63%) with follow-up data, improvement in mRS was most likely with inpatient rehabilitation (OR = 3.6, 95% CI = 1.7–7.7), lower with community rehabilitation (OR = 1.6, 95% CI = 0.7–3.8) compared to no rehabilitation, after adjustment for baseline factors.
Conclusion:
Amount of therapy varied widely between rehabilitation pathways. Amount of therapy and chance of improvement in function were highest with inpatient rehabilitation
Integrating outcomes of IUCN red list of ecosystems assessments for connected coastal wetlands
No full textHuman-induced habitat clearing and pollution are leading drivers of biodiversity loss. Ecosystem assessments are required to identify ecosystems at risk of collapse, but they should account for cross-system linkages and dynamics where necessary. This is particularly true for coastal wetlands (e.g. seagrass, mangroves and saltmarsh), which exhibit high ecological connectivity and have individually suffered global declines over the last century. We use the coastal wetlands of Moreton Bay, Queensland, Australia, as a model system to examine how integrating outcomes of multiple, simultaneously conducted, ecosystem assessments can assist in identifying appropriate management and conservation strategies. We simultaneously conducted separate assessments of seagrass, mangrove and saltmarsh ecosystems against the IUCN Red List of Ecosystems criteria. Despite substantial human population growth in the region, seagrass and mangroves were assessed as Least Concern. Mangroves were found to be rapidly encroaching on saltmarsh. This process, together with past clearing, were the major drivers behind saltmarsh being assessed as Endangered. Given the importance of connectivity among these connected ecosystems, collapse in any one ecosystem can have seascape-wide consequences, highlighting the benefit of conducting multi-ecosystem assessments. Consequently, a fully integrated assessment of the coastal wetlands as a single entity would miss key processes, such as mangrove encroachment, potentially underestimating overall risks. Our study highlights the plight of saltmarsh and the value of conducting simultaneous RLE assessments for multiple ecosystems comprising seascapes. We recommend that connectivity be accounted for explicitly in assessments of other connected, high-risk ecosystems
Mood Profiling in Singapore: Cross-Cultural Validation and Potential Applications of Mood Profile Clusters
No full textMood profiling is a popular method of quantifying and classifying feeling states. Previous research has identified several novel mood profiles in predominantly Western Englishspeaking populations (Parsons-Smith et al., 2017), and replicated the findings in the domain of sport and exercise (Quartiroli et al., 2018; Terry and Parsons-Smith, 2019). The aim of the current study was to investigate if six hypothesized clusters of mood responses were evident in a population of English-speaking sport and nonsport participants in Singapore. A seeded k-means cluster analysis was applied to the mood responses of 1,444 participants (991 male, 440 female, 13 unspecified; aged 18–65 years) who completed the Brunel Mood Scale (BRUMS; Terry et al., 1999, 2003a). The six hypothesized mood profiles (i.e., iceberg, inverse Everest, inverse iceberg, shark fin, submerged, and surface profiles) were identified clearly. Chisquared analyses showed unequal distribution of the profiles by gender, age group, ethnicity, education level, and sport participation. Findings support the cross-cultural generalizability of the six mood profiles in English-speaking sport and non-sport samples in Singapore and contribute to investigation into the antecedents, correlates, and consequences of each mood profile
Women's Football: An Examination of Factors That Influence Movement Patterns
No full textThe popularity and professionalism of women's football has increased in conjunction with participation rates over the last 10 years, with projected female participation rates to double worldwide by 2026. Scientific interest has also increased, in part due to Fédération Internationale de Football Association now allowing global positioning system (GPS) units to be worn during all competitive matches, resulting in investigations into the match demands of women's football. Therefore, the purpose of the present review is to provide a summary of the literature specific to the movement patterns of women's football matches. Contemporary scientific investigation using GPS match data has led to a greater understanding of the movement patterns of football. Greater emphasis has been placed on high-speed running and sprinting during matches because of the strong link to scoring opportunities and being a distinguishing factor between international and national along with elite and subelite competition levels. Further research, however, is warranted in regard to accelerations and decelerations, given the high metabolic and mechanical loads and contribution to high-speed running and sprinting. With an influx of research into the movement patterns of match-play, investigators have begun to examine factors affecting match performance such as positional demands, age, level of competition, opponent, scoreline, and phase of the game. An understanding of the factors that influence match demands is vital to ultimately be able to understand the effects on performance and how manipulating these factors may improve football performance and reduce the risk of injury
Are biodiversity provisions outlined in the Forest and Landscape Restoration approach being attained? Case studies from the Philippines and beyond
No full textForest and Landscape Restoration (FLR) has emerged as one of the most important international policy topics in reforestation. It seeks to apply a variety of strategies capable of delivering both societal and environmental benefits and therefore has been identified as the preferred approach in attaining substantial international reforestation commitments. Tailoring strategies to local contexts that meet multiple-stakeholder needs, which also have landscape-scale impacts, makes FLR challenging to implement. Biodiversity conservation is integral to FLR, but it is a component that can be overlooked in an ardent focus on obtaining economic and livelihood objectives. This thesis uses a mixed-methods approach to explore biodiversity restoration within the context of FLR and similar large-scale reforestation initiatives. It relies heavily on the Philippine National Greening Program (NGP), to generate theory on how a national level FLR program is attending to biodiversity conservation, one of its explicit goals. By examining high-diversity nurseries in several other countries, this thesis also takes a broader look at the capabilities of the nursery infrastructure to support biodiversity recovery.Submitted in the fulfilment of the requirements of the degree of Doctor of Philosophy, University of the Sunshine Coast, 2020
No full textChild Sexual Abuse: Forensic Issues in Evidence, Impact, and Management covers the issue of child sexual abuse from several viewpoints. The book approaches child abuse from both victimization and offender perspectives, offering applied perspectives from experts and practitioners in the field, including discussions on policing, child safety and intelligence. This is a significant divergence from the literature most commonly provided in the market. Other sections cover psychological, physical abuse, and neglect, protective factors (at individual and community levels), recognition, responses, biopsychosocial outcomes (dealt with in discrete chapters), public policy, prevention, institutional abuse, children and corrections, treatment, management, and much more. [Book Synopsis
Engaging tourists as citizen scientists in marine tourism
No full textThis paper proposes a framework for engaging tourists as citizen scientists in marine research. Justification for such a framework is driven by the increasing use of citizen science (CS) as a method for collecting data in various research projects. While the tenets of CS exist, few studies have demonstrated how these could be integrated to address the challenges and benefits of engaging tourists as scientists. A systematic review focused on CS-based literature within environmental management, tourism and marine tourism revealed 18 models. Key themes, those repeatedly identified, were extracted. These were adapted to inform the proposed theoretical framework for engaging tourist scientists. The key themes were clarified and incorporated into the framework to enhance the value of marine research by engaging tourists. Important features considered were the singularity and sporadic nature of tourist participation, training and engagement as well as the reliability of data collected by citizen scientists. The framework informs the unique requirements of research in marine environments and the under-utilised potential of tourist scientists