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The Bionic Interface: Considering the Material Mediated Electrical Stimulation of Stem Cells.
No full textElectromaterials, in the field of tissue engineering, are designed to use an electrical signal to induce specific biological responses in cells and tissues. Using materials to control stem cell fate is a substantial field of research within tissue engineering, where stem cell differentiation is controlled through careful design of the material properties (roughness, topography, stiffness, and surface chemistry); the introduction of electromaterials into this field has added an extra dimensionality along with the ability to provide dynamic, temporally controlled cues through electrical stimulation. While significant research has focused on the cell-material interface for electrical stimulation platforms, the underlying reasons why certain materials outperform others remain poorly understood. Most existing studies emphasise mechanical stiffness and chemical composition, often overlooking the role of electronic charge transport. In this perspective, the focus is shifted to the charge transport properties of commonly used electrically conductive materials-such as metal-based electrode, carbon-based composites, and conjugated polymers-and discusses how these mechanisms modulate cellular responses. It is proposed that a deeper understanding of how materials inject, store, and redistribute charge at the interface can offer a new paradigm in designing electrically active scaffolds for more predictable and effective stem cell modulation.</p
Independence or subservience? The role of independent co-opted directors in corporate tax avoidance
No full textThis study examines how the appointment of independent directors after a CEO assumes office (co-opted directors) affects corporate tax avoidance. While formally independent, such directors may be more aligned with the CEO, potentially weakening board oversight. Using a panel of 7,084 U.S. firm-year observations from 2002 to 2022, we use tenure-weighted co-option measure and employ system GMM, entropy balancing, and a difference-in-differences approach to address endogeneity. We find that firms with higher proportions of co-opted independent directors exhibit significantly lower effective tax rates, indicating more aggressive tax behavior. This relationship is stronger in firms with weak governance, low board meeting attendance, and powerful CEOs. Notably, the audit committee’s independence and expertise do not mitigate this effect. Our findings have important implications for capital markets governance, suggesting that formal director independence may not ensure accountability without structural safeguards against managerial influence in board appointments.</p
A scaffolded work-integrated learning model in a health science undergraduate degree: A sequential approach to industry partner engagement
No full textWhile work-integrated learning (WIL) opportunities provide valuable real-world experience, the growing demand for career-ready graduates necessitates alternative and scalable WIL experiences to accommodate large student cohorts. This article describes and evaluates the Scaffolded WIL and Industry Engagement Model (SWIM), a WIL approach that involves scaffolded and sequential engagement with the same industry partners in multiple units across an undergraduate health science course. It presents the SWIM model as a pilot and analyses the perspectives of an industry partner and unit convenors. The findings highlight that the industry partner valued the comprehensive skill set developed by students, noting its positive impact on employability. Unit convenors report reduced workload in recruiting industry partners for subsequent WIL units and support the use of an online peer feedback tool to foster teamwork skills. This paper illustrates how SWIM presents learning, teaching and research benefits for students, industry partners and unit convenors.</p
Reflecting on Metamodern Slow Film in the 51 Paintings Suite
No full textThis paper is the first of two works that contextually responds to The 51 Paintings
Suite, a long-term study that investigated metamodern affect, trauma memory, and
slow cinema through practice-based film art. It consolidated a significant body of
long-form slow films published between 2012-2023 across public screenings and
online scholarship. The aim of the study was to consolidate perspectives about trauma
memory and slowness through the moving image that led to the discovery of a new
way to model metamodern affect in slow films which I term a ‘structure of reason’.
These films developed an epistemological response to metamodernism that
challenged existing scholarship focused on an ontological structure of feeling. As this
research has reflectively aligned metamodern theory to the production of these films it
sought to establish new knowledge about trauma memory and slow films within
critical studio practice. The outcome of the published study will be reflected through,
first, a significant dossier of practice-based slow films argued to be unique and
significant to the field, second, a new theoretical model to consider trauma through
metamodern affect in slow films; and third, an original and significant advancement
of film-based metamodern scholarship.</p
Unveiling the future of responsible, sustainable, and ethical consumption: a bibliometric study on Gen Z and young consumers
No full textPurpose This study aims to investigate the key research themes and their evolutionary trajectory within the Gen Z and young consumers (GZYC) field, focusing on the interconnected dimensions of responsible, sustainable and ethical consumption. By using thematic maps and co-occurrence networks, the research seeks to identify significant trends and interconnections that shape sustainable behavior among this demographic. Design/methodology/approach This study used a bibliometric analysis of 546 papers sourced from the Scopus and Web of Science databases, following the framework established by Zupic and Cater (2015), Donthu (2024), Donthu et al. (2021) and Lim et al. (2024). Using R and Biblioshiny, the authors conducted performance analysis and science mapping to examine scientific output and conceptual themes within the GZYC field. Findings The performance analysis reveals an annual growth rate of 22.02% in publications, highlighting the increasing research interest in this area. The keyword co-occurrence analysis revealed eight distinct research clusters within the GZYC field, each representing key dimensions of responsible, sustainable and ethical consumption. These clusters encompass themes such as corporate social responsibility, gender and generational differences, green products, food sustainability, pro-environmental behaviors, the sharing economy and collaborative consumption, among others. The thematic maps and evolution revealed that over time, the focus has shifted. The first decade centered on sustainability and young consumers, while the second decade broadened to corporate social responsibility, green advertising and the sharing economy. By 2024, the focus has shifted toward more systemic and psychological perspectives, emphasizing the circular economy, sustainable fashion and materialism of Z consumers. Research limitations/implications This study highlights emerging yet underexplored areas in GZYC sustainable consumption, such as the sharing economy, circular practices and collaborative consumption. While Gen Z expresses ethical values, materialism and social pressures often hinder sustainable behavior. Circular economy adoption, particularly beyond fashion, requires deeper exploration of motivations, barriers and cultural contexts. Corporate social responsibility, green marketing and authentic advertising are key to influencing sustainable purchasing decisions. Moreover, social media plays a pivotal role in shaping green behavior through influencer culture and peer dynamics. Future research should address these factors to bridge the attitude–behavior gap in sustainable consumption. Practical implications This study provides guidance for businesses and policymakers to better engage Gen Z, a generation deeply concerned with sustainability. Managers should integrate eco-friendly practices across products and marketing, embrace circular economy principles and leverage social media and influencers to build trust. Tailoring strategies to gender and generational differences is also key. Policymakers should promote sustainability education, incentivize green purchases and regulate transparent environmental claims to prevent greenwashing. By fostering systemic change and supporting authentic brand engagement, both sectors can align with Gen Z’s values and accelerate the shift toward more responsible and sustainable consumption behaviors. Social implications This study highlights the growing influence of Gen Z in shaping socially responsible consumption patterns. As a socially conscious generation, Gen Z expects brands to reflect values like inclusivity, equity and authenticity. Their preference for ethical sourcing, fair labor practices and transparent communication pressures companies to prioritize social justice alongside environmental goals. Moreover, their digital activism and peer influence can drive collective behavior change, promoting more ethical consumption across society. Encouraging Gen Z’s active participation in sustainability dialogues can foster a culture of accountability and shared responsibility, ultimately contributing to more equitable and socially inclusive consumption systems. Originality/value This research contributes to the GZYC field by providing a novel bibliometric perspective that combines thematic mapping and evolution with keyword co-occurrence network analysis. It offers a comprehensive view of the evolving themes in responsible, sustainable and ethical consumption among GZYC, addressing previously identified gaps in the literature.</p
Photophysics and Applications of Spin Defects in Hexagonal Boron Nitride
No full textOptically addressable spin defects in solid-state material are renowned as robust platforms for the development of quantum technology applications and studying quantum phenomena at room temperature. Until recently, these defects had only been studied in bulk-like 3D crystal hosts such as diamond and silicon carbide, which stabilise their spin properties creating ideal conditions for robust quantum devices. Quantum sensing in particular has driven the development and optimisation of the host material and defect though some applications have been limited by integrability of the bulk-like 3D crystal and the poor stability of near surface defects. Isolation of freestanding single crystal sheets from layered van der Waals (vdW) materials by exfoliation has shown the potential of 2D materials for simple, fully integrated devices on the atomically thin scale. Spin defects in 2D materials have subsequently become of interest for the development of quantum sensing technologies. The thesis at hand starts after the recent discovery of the negatively charged boron vacancy defect and subsequent initial demonstrations of quantum sensing, as well as the isolation of single spin-active carbon emitters in hexagonal boron nitride (hBN). Chapter 1 will review current understanding of spin defects in hBN, using the history of their bulk-like 3D crystal hosted predecessors as a backdrop to motivate their application towards quantum sensing. Then in Chapter 2 we assess the viability of the boron vacancy defect for the detection of paramagnetic ions using spin relaxometry, leveraging the near atomic proximity between the spin defect and the sensing target as enabled by the vdW nature of hBN. As a part of this chapter we identify shortcomings of the boron vacancy defect which we use as motivation for the importance of focusing our efforts on the carbon emitters. However, as there is little consensus on the origins of the carbon emitters spin properties, in Chapter 3 we focus on reconciling a photodynamic model to explain optically detected magnetic resonance (ODMR) with a microscopic model for the defect structure. We identify anomalous spin properties to arise from a weakly coupled spin pair system and attribute ODMR to a general charge transfer mechanism which may be extended to other defect systems in materials other than hBN. Finally, with our newfound understanding of the carbon emitters, in Chapter 4 we take advantage of their unique spin properties and demonstrate a simple radiofrequency analysis device.</p
Evacuation Behaviour in Bushfires: Evidence from Parkerville, WA
No full textThis report presents the findings of a research project titled ‘Investigating Bushfire Evacuation Travel Behaviour in High-risk Communities’, led by RMIT University and funded by the Australian Research Council (FT220100618). The report focuses on understanding residents’ evacuation decision-making during the Parkerville Fire that occurred in the Shire of Mundaring in 2023. The research highlights important aspects about household response during the 2023 fire, including residents’ risk perceptions and previous fire experiences prior to the 2023-2024 fire season, the information that they received or sought out during the fire, their decisions to evacuate (or not) and why, their travel behaviour and when they returned home (specific to evacuees), as well as providing an overview of the recovery process.</p
Aimless Research Institute
No full textBackground My research explores art and technology and the ongoing relationship to the human body the broad field of this research is ‘art & technology’ and the narrow field is ‘representations of the body’. In addition the research relates to the discourses of media, photography and the emerging field of AI generated art Contribution My contribution was a short essay and images called Extreme AI. The research identifies a gap in the knowledge of the relationship of AI and contemporary art and the human body and notions of error and chance The work explores themes of body abjection, the uncanny and the visceral body as represented in AI. The focus of the journal was ideas around serendipity and my focus was how serendipity, error, mistakes in relationship to the body and notions of chance can relate to thinking about AI image creation Significance The essay appeared in the self published 1st edition of the Journal from aimless Research Institute, Melbourne and included contributions by 9 other writers/artists. My contribution to the journal extends out understanding of how we can think about the emerging practice of AI generated Art</p
Social Media and Sex Education: Negotiating Religion, Culture, Politics, and Postcolonial Legacies
No full textThis thesis explored the role of social media in shaping sex education in Malaysia, where sexuality is deeply regulated by religious, cultural, political, and postcolonial forces. Rather than adopting Western paradigms that often framed non-Western sex education as inadequate, this study highlighted how social media became a crucial alternative space for sex education. Drawing on qualitative data from decision-makers, social media users, and content creators, the research examined how individuals accessed, produced, and circulated sexual health information online through surveys, semi-structured interviews, and focus group discussions. Using sexual citizenship as its theoretical lens, the study analysed how digital engagement was informed by Malaysia’s religious norms, political ideologies, and postcolonial legacies. Grounded in Malaysian socio-cultural realities, it challenged Western assumptions and argued for more contextually rooted, religiously and culturally informed approaches to sex education. Findings revealed that while social media enabled new forms of sexual expression, it also posed challenges. Users navigated language barriers, religious sensitivities, and the dominance of English-language content. Many engaged in religious and cultural fact-checking and formed private, trusted networks to access sex education discreetly. Content creators occupied a precarious position, balancing audience trust, platform moderation, and socio-political risk. They cultivated legitimacy through religious literacy and moral credibility, while strategically challenging normative limits. This thesis argued that social media facilitated locally situated, digitally mediated forms of sexual citizenship, shaped by lived experiences of resistance and care. By disrupting Western-centric assumptions through a Malaysian-centred analysis, this research contributed to broader discussions on sex education and digital cultures.</p
Data & Dice: AI GM Assistant for Adaptive Storytelling
No full textAny computer game with a story has difficulty balancing the tension between narrative and agen-cy. Strong narrative structure weakens agency, and strong agency weakens narrative structure. Narrative improvisation, adapting the story based on player reactions, is a difficult task for a game designer. Narrative improvisation, however, is regularly practised by the human game masters (GMs) of tabletop roleplaying games. This thesis uses literature research, interviews with human GMs about worldbuilding and what they do when players make unexpected choices, and AI neural networks to design a game master assistant (GMA) that generates narrative elements, and even entire narratives. The GMA is a digital tool that uses OpenAI’s GPT-4 model to create adventures for tabletop roleplaying games which adapt dynamically to player decisions. Based on a brief description of the world setting, the theme(s), and the genre, the tool creates fictional or historical settings, adven-tures, characters, factions, and items, laying them out in a scenario guide for a game master. It uses traditional narrative structures as well as creating different "worlds" of facts, beliefs, and moral values within the world of the setting. By sending brief prompts, GMs can generate game elements in real-time based on player actions and decisions, and the element is generated for the chosen game system and setting, inserted in the current beat, and saved to local storage. The GMA simulates the creative aspect of a game master, and is intended as a precursor for an agent being incorporated into a computer game to facilitate more responsive stories.</p