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The impacts of climate change on water resources of Fitzroy River and Tigris Rivers Basins and identification of adaptation measures
No full textAustralia and Northeast Iraq have scarce water resources which are vulnerable to climate change. Analyses of historical data have revealed that these two regions are experiencing climate change to a degree higher than generally reported elsewhere.
To date the relationship between climate change and its effect on water resources of Australia and Northeast Iraq has been sparsely addressed in the published literature, and almost no attention has been paid to climate change-related water resources issues.
In order to fill that gap, this research work first investigates if there has been a significant change in climate in these two regions, and this has been found to be true. The relationship between climate change and its impact on water resources is explored through the application of the widely used ‘white box’ model SWAT. The model depicts the availability of water resources, classified separately as blue and green waters, for short-term and distant futures for the two regions. Some of the findings are foreboding and warrant urgent attention of planners and decision makers for certain places where (in both regions) the results show that climate change will have major impacts on water resources. The Fitzroy River Basin will experience hotter and wetter weather, while the Iraqi Basin will see hotter and drier weather in the near and distant futures, near being up to 2046-2064 and distant being up to 2080-2100. The research makes some projections of future water resource distributions in the two regions based on climatic scenarios from some widely used General Circulation Model (GCM) ensembles.
The research further investigates how the population is adapting to already changed climates and how it is expected to cope in the future when the shift in climate is expected to be much greater
Transcultural development
No full textBest, T ORCiD: 0000-0001-8849-1411; Muurlink, OT ORCiD: 0000-0002-8251-9521In practice, development too often neglects the perspective of the impoverished when attempting to ameliorate negative socioeconomic conditions that persist. Entrepreneurs, and in particular social entrepreneurs, often attempt to solve social issues through a triple-bottom line approach but in many cases focus on the problem without greater consideration to the cultural context of their intervention. We introduce a new term, transcultural development, to advocate for the inclusion and preservation of cultural norms and rights of receiving cultures in the face of globalization, particularly when conducting projects that attempt to alleviate poverty. Presented is an applied ethnographic study conducted by two faculty members and seven undergraduate students consulting for a non-governmental organization (NGO) social enterprise over a ten-day short-term study abroad trip. The NGO and student group aimed to assist impoverished Guatemalans inhabiting the southwestern coastal plain to develop a new export crop, the pigeonpea ( Cajanus cajan ). Gender norms and rights proved a focal point in demonstrating the importance of conducting social impact assessments regularly to mitigate entrenched or biased views. The transcultural development approach may optimally incorporate an applied anthropological lens to the social aspects of social entrepreneurship
Work–family conflict and job outcome for construction professionals: The mediating role of affective organizational commitment
No full textZhao, X ORCiD: 0000-0003-0153-5173This study developed and tested a model, which involves the effects of work–family conflicts on job satisfaction and job performance of construction professionals, with a focus on the mediating role of affective organizational commitment. A structured questionnaire survey was conducted among construction professionals in China, resulting in 317 valid responses. The results, generated from structural equation modelling, revealed two interrelated dimensions of work-family conflicts, work’s interfering with family life and family life’s interfering with work. We found these two types of work-family conflicts directly, negatively affected affective organizational commitments and job satisfaction but not job performance. Additionally, affective organizational commitment positively affected job satisfaction and job performance, and mediated the effects of work–family conflicts on job satisfaction. This study advances our understanding of how or why work–family conflicts produce dysfunctional effects on employees’ job outcomes in the context of construction projects
Experimental investigation of cosolvent flushing of DNAPL in double-porosity soil using light transmission visualization
No full textAbunada, Z ORCiD: 0000-0002-4143-1603This paper investigates the effect of cosolvent content and flushing velocity on the remediation of dense non-aqueous phase liquid (DNAPL) in double-porosity medium using light transmission visualization technique (LTV). Double-porosity was created using local silica sand and sintered spheres of kaolin, arranged in a periodic manner. The flushing solution consisted of ethanol-water mixtures with various ethanol concentrations ranging from 20% to 65% by volume. The effect of contact time was investigated by changing the flow rates of the flushing solution. The accuracy of the LTV technique was examined by comparing an actual injected volume of DNAPL with the calculated volumes generated from image analysis. The LTV results allowed for the visualization of the DNAPL enhanced dissolution as well as its mobilization. While the removal efficiency increased with the increase of the ethanol content, the removal efficiency was negatively affected by the velocity of flushing solution. Image analysis revealed that the highest DNAPL removal efficiency of 92% was obtained at 65% ethanol content and low flushing velocity. This efficiency decreased to 85%, in the case of high flushing velocity. Overall, this study demonstrated that the LTV technique is a viable laboratory tool that can accurately depict enhanced DNAPL dissolution and DNAPL mobilization due to cosolvent flushing
Nursing care of people with urinary tract disorders
No full textDwyer, TA ORCiD: 0000-0001-8408-7956The Urinary system includes the kidneys, ureter, urinary bladder and urethra. The organ system can be affected by a variety of disorders, including congenital malformations, infections, obstructions, trauma, tumors and neurological conditions. Any portion of the system - from the kidney through to the urethra can be affected can be affected with serious or even life threatening consequences unless the problem is appropriately diagnosed and treated
Cardiopulmonary function and aerobic exercise in Parkinson's: A systematic review of the literature
No full textLedger, SJ ORCiD: 0000-0001-7364-8535Background: Cardiorespiratory impairments are considered the main cause of mortality in the late stages of Parkinson's. Aerobic exercise has been shown to improve pulmonary function in asthmatic patients and in healthy people. However, effects of aerobic exercise on cardiopulmonary function in people with Parkinson's have not been investigated. Therefore, this study aimed to review the effects of aerobic exercise on cardiopulmonary function in people with Parkinson's.
Method: A systematic search was conducted using MEDLINE, AMED, and CINHAL Plus, and relevant associated keywords, from January 1970 to January 2020. Inclusion criteria for the studies were: aerobic exercise as part of the intervention, pulmonary function test and/or cardiopulmonary exercise test as outcome measures.
Results: In total, 329 citations were identified from the search, of which nine were included in this review. In general, aerobic exercise was found to have positive effects on cardiac function for people with Parkinson's, but there is a lack of studies on the effects of aerobic exercise on pulmonary function.
Conclusion: People with early stages of Parkinson's may experience positive effects of aerobic exercise on cardiac fitness. Further research is needed in this area, particularly into the effects of aerobic exercise on pulmonary function in early stages of the disease
Light reflection loss reduction by nano-structured gratings for highly efficient next-generation GaAs solar cells
No full textDas, NK ORCiD: 0000-0002-3396-4194This paper mainly focuses on increasing the conversion efficiency of GaAs solar cells by reducing the light reflection losses. The design of nano-structured gratings and their light trapping performance are modelled and optimised by using the finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) method. The sunlight directly impinges on the solar panel or cells, then a portion of the incident sunlight reflects back to the air from the surface of the panel, thus leading to a reduction in the light absorption capacity of the solar cells. In order to proliferate the light absorption capacity of solar cells nano-grating structures are employed, as they are highly capable of capturing the incident sunlight compared to a conventional (or flat type) solar cell, which results in generating more electrical energy. In this study, we design three different types of nano-grating structures, optimise their parameters and their performance in light capturing capacity. From the simulation results, we confirm that that it is possible to reduce light reflection losses up to 27%, by using the nano-grating structures, compared to conventional type solar cells. This reduction of reflection losses helps to improve the conversion efficiency of next-generation GaAs solar cells significantly for a sustainable green Earth
Frost‐affected lentil (Lens culinaris M.) compositional changes through extrusion: Potential application for the food industry
No full textNaiker, M ORCiD: 0000-0002-6844-8325Background and objectives
Lentil (Lens culinaris M.) is a high value, highly nutritional grain which originated in Middle‐East. More recently lentil has gained favor in Western countries due to the high value in production and the benefits they provide agronomically; however, growing lentil in countries such as Australia, Canada, and the United States is not without its challenges. One is the high probability of damage due to radiant frost either before flowering or during pod‐filling. The effects of which is most noticeable in the appearance of the seed reduce the value and usability of crops. On the other hand, a generation of well informed, health‐conscious, and environmentally concerned consumers has driven the demand for affordable and healthy food alternatives. Such demand has resulted in a growing industry for protein extraction and novel food production. If used for protein extraction or novel food production, the visual appearance of seeds is no longer an important quality trait. Lentil seeds damaged through frost that still retain a high nutritional composition may be the perfect candidate for a low‐cost substrate in novel food production while improving the outcomes for growers and industry alike.
Findings
This study used as a model extrusion technology to investigate the use of flour derived from Grade 1 (premium quality) and downgraded frost‐damaged lentil and to monitor compositional changes during extrusion. The study concentrated on how total protein, individual carbohydrates, and phenolic acids changed through high‐temperature, high‐pressure extrusion. Overall flours made from composite lentil–wheat flour had significantly higher concentrations of protein and carbohydrates than the base wheat flour. No significant differences were observed for total protein or carbohydrates between Grade 1 and frost‐damaged flours; however, extrusion significantly reduced total protein concentration as well as maltose and glucose concentration but did not alter the concentration of fructose, sucrose, or the raffinose family oligosaccharides (RFOs). As expected, phenolic acids, procyanidin, kaempferol glycoside, and kaempferol trihexoside were detected in lentil–wheat composites but not in wheat. All phenolic acids significantly increased with increasing concentrations of lentil flour in composite; however, their concentration decreased as a result of the extrusion process. Differences in concentrations of procyanidin and kaempferol glycoside were detected between Grade 1 and frost‐affected lentil in both the composite flour and the extrudate.
Conclusions
The extrusion process has the effect of altering the composition of the raw material. This was evident by a decrease in protein percentage phenolic compounds and to a lesser effect the water‐soluble carbohydrates. No changes in RFOs was observed. The complete loss of glucose and a significant reduction in maltose provide a healthier carbohydrate profile as the carbohydrates are low fermentable sugars. The reduction in phenolic acids a result of extrusion may help to reduce the antinutritional activity particularly in grains where the concentration of phenolic acids is high. This study found that functionality of downgraded lentil is similar to the premium grade, and more expensive raw material. This knowledge may assist in reducing the increasing issue of food waste where often downgraded products are not used in the production of food.
Significants and novelty
In order to meet world food security needs, it is predicted that global food production will need to increase by at least 70% by 2050. Therefore, the utilization of all possible protein sources including downgraded pulses, such as lentil, will become increasingly more important. Furthermore, due to climate change increasingly more variable weather conditions will result in the production of below optimum grains. Understanding how to best utilize both premium and downgraded grains is a desirable outcome to minimize food waste
Determinants of pro-environmental behaviours: A cross country study of would-be managers
No full textBhattacharyya, A ORCiD: 0000-0002-0816-0063Purpose: This cross-cultural based paper aims to provide an understanding of the determinants contributing to adopting pro-environmental behaviour by ‘would-be managers’ represented by MBA students studying in two highly carbon emitting yet contrasting countries – India and Australia. The paper particularly examines the effects of personal values, moral obligation, attitudes, and subjective norms on pro-environmental behavior of such would-be managers. Design/methodology/approach: In predicting the pro-environmental behavior of would-be managers, a conceptual model was developed by combining Schwartz’s (1992) value theory and Homer and Kahle’s cognitive hierarchy model of value-attitude-behaviour (VAB). Data was collected from 476 respondents consisting of 342 MBA students from India and 134 MBA students from Australia. Partial least square based structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) was used in analysing the data. Findings: The findings reveal that the inclination of pro-environmental behaviour of would-be managers can be predicted by their personal value, moral obligation, attitudes and subjective norms, thereby providing both theoretical and empirical supports to our model in understanding the determinants of pro-environmental behaviour. Practical implications: The findings are critical in developing strategies for building capacity and willingness of would-be managers to adopt pro-environmental behaviour. In so doing, business schools may use these findings in designing effective CSR/sustainable development contents in their curriculum which will not only help educators to nurture classroom discussion but also sensitize students’ critical thinking in addressing issues of climate change as well as improving environmental well-being. Originality/value: Conceptually, this paper proposes a comprehensive framework to understand the determinants of pro-environmental behavior. Empirically, it applies a novel and appropriate method for predicting such behavior in two contrasting yet highly carbon emitting countries – an important issue that receives little attention in current CSR/sustainable development literature
Trajectory optimization of flying energy sources using Q-Learning to recharge hotspot UAVs
No full textBokani, A ORCiD: 0000-0001-5160-7724; Hassan, JA ORCiD: 0000-0002-0939-2106; Hoseini, S ORCiD: 0000-0002-3105-4218Despite the increasing popularity of commercial usage of UAVs or drone-delivered services, their dependence on the limited-capacity on-board batteries hinders their flighttime and mission continuity. As such, developing in-situ power transfer solutions for topping-up UAV batteries have the potential to extend their mission duration. In this paper, we study a scenario where UAVs are deployed as base stations (UAV-BS) providing wireless Hotspot services to the ground nodes, while harvesting wireless energy from flying energy sources. These energy sources are specialized UAVs (Charger or transmitter UAVs, tUAVs), equipped with wireless power transmitting devices such as RF antennae. tUAVs have the flexibility to adjust their flight path to maximize energy transfer. With the increasing
number of UAV-BSs and environmental complexity, it is necessary to develop an intelligent trajectory selection procedure for tUAVs so as to optimize the energy transfer gain. In this paper, we model the trajectory optimization of tUAVs as a Markov Decision Process (MDP) problem and solve it using Q-Learning algorithm. Simulation results confirm that the Q-Learning based optimized trajectory of the tUAVs outperforms two benchmark strategies, namely random path planning and static hovering of the tUAVs