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Interviewing out lesbian, gay and bisexual creatives and executives about getting queer stories in mainstream Australian scripted television
No full textIn recent years, an expectation has emerged in Australian television production culture to include an out queer positionality as a key creative when developing gender and sexually diverse stories. However, the hidden labour of out queer writers, producers and commissioners has long been part of these processes. This paper illuminates how queer labour is a significant contributor to these stories appearing in Australian scripted television. It draws new insights through analysis of my interviews with 10 out lesbian, gay and bisexual television professionals. It argues interviewing queer television professionals offers specific insights for production culture research about how these representations make it onscreen. Through examining my interviews with publicly out television professionals, this paper argues the value of their positionality in researching production culture. It reveals how their positionality faced challenges and supported opportunities as they sought to advocate queer stories in Australian scripted television.</p
Engineering Nylon-Cork Thermoplastic Composites for Additive Manufacturing: Performance Optimization through Tailored Interface
No full textThis research focuses on formulation design, process development and performance evaluation of novel engineering thermoplastic composite materials based on the combination of nylon-12 (PA-12) and cork particles. This study is motivated by the global push to produce more environmentally friendly engineered products using sustainable resources. The study explores and demonstrates the potential of waste cork particles as a high-volume filler in PA 12-based thermoplastic composites to manufacture lightweight and customized products. The primary objective of this project is to explore the feasibility of developing high-performance, eco-friendly thermoplastic composites specifically intended for 3D printing, with a particular focus on fused filament fabrication (FFF)/ Fused Deposition Modelling (FDM). The methodology used in this study includes exploring how the chemical nature of compatibilizer modulates the interface (the two-dimensional boundary between two surfaces), the interphase (the three-dimensional region between two phases) and the effects of these changes on the thermorheological characteristics, processing properties, morphological behaviour, physical properties and performances. The compatibilizers examined in this study include: (i) Octadecanamide (ODA), (ii) polyethylene-graft-maleic anhydride (PE-g-MA), (iii) polypropylene-graft-maleic anhydride (PP-g-MA), and (iv) (3-aminopropyl)triethoxysilane (APTS). Both the Fourier transform infrared (macro ATR-FTIR) microspectroscopy and the synchrotron macro ATR-FTIR techniques were used to critically examine the cork compatibilizer-PA-12 interfaces. The results indicate that cork is more evenly distributed in the PA-12 matrix when a small amount of compatibilizer is added to PA-12-Cork composites. In particular, the mechanical properties of the Nylon-12 composites with APTS have been substantially improved when compared with the composites without compatibilizers or with other types of compatibilizers. Several experiment-based analytical techniques showed that with the use of APTS, the mechanical properties of the composites are strengthened as it improves the interfacial adhesion through covalent and hydrogen bonding between the cork and polymer chain. The surface hydroxyl groups on the cork form a covalent bond with Si–OH terminations formed by the three hydrolysable ethoxy groups on APTS. To understand the processing characteristics of the PA-12-Cork composites with different compatibilizers, their rheological behaviour was assessed in detail using an oscillatory rheometer and the data were thoroughly analysed using different formalisms based on empirical, phenomenological, and 1 molecular origin, including the Carreau-model, time-temperature superposition (TTS), Han plot, and van Gurp–Palmen (vGP) plot. The ultimate objective of the project is to optimize the formulations and processing parameters for PA-12-cork composites and assess their potential to be a source of filament for 3D printing. The critical FDM parameters, such as extruder and bed temperatures, print speed, layer height, infill density, nozzle diameter, print bed adhesion and cooling fan speed, retraction, and layer adhesion, are optimized. It is observed that APTS is an effective compatibilizer for PA-12-cork composites. The melt rheology of PA-12 and its composites exhibit non-Newtonian shear thinning behaviour and thermorheological complexity and higher cork content further enhance such shear-thinning properties. Considering, processability, 3D printing and final properties a ~ 15 vol% cork is observed to be the optimum. The properties of the filament and the 3D-printed product are assessed thoroughly. Using the optimized composition, filaments for 3D printing using FFF have been produced and their properties including thermal stability, crystallization behaviour, filament extrusion morphology, and mechanical properties are evaluated. It is confirmed that 3D printed nylon-12/cork composite products can offer better mechanical properties, flexibility and elongation at break when compared to compression moulded samples. This study provides valuable insights into the composite's feasibility for 3D printing and potential applications. This research emphasizes the importance of a thorough understanding of interfacial interactions, rheological properties, thermal characteristics and morphological features in utilizing cork by-products, aiding in the valorization of cork for lightweight engineering thermoplastic components. Overall, the study's findings show that the PA-12-cork composites that are created are both very effective for 3D printing and sustainable. These composites can be applied in a variety of engineering domains, such as FDM for producing robust, lightweight thermoplastic composites for a variety of commodity and engineering applications. These findings are promising for the development of 3D printing thermoplastics, given the quick progress of additive manufacturing and the limits of many engineering polymers in the process.</p
Fine-tuning large language models for improved health communication in low-resource languages
No full textBackgroundThe reported study illustrates a methodology for compiling training datasets to fine-tune Large Language Models (LLMs) for healthcare information in Vietnamese, a low-resource language. The objective is to bridge the gap in medical information accessibility and enhance healthcare communication in developing countries by adapting LLMs to specific linguistic nuances and domain needs.MethodThe methodology involves selecting a base model, compiling a domain-specific dataset, and fine-tuning the model with this dataset. Three open-source models were selected. The dataset, comprising approximately 337,000 prompt-response pairs in Vietnamese, was compiled using existing datasets, data crawled from Vietnamese medical online forums, and distilled from Vietnamese medical textbooks. The three models were fine-tuned using the Low-Rank adaptation (LoRA) and Quantized Low-Rank adaptation (QLoRA) techniques. Models’ performances were evaluated using BertScore score, Rouge-L score, and the "LLM-as-a-Judge" method.ResultsThe fine-tuned models showed enhancements in performance over their base versions across evaluation metrics in BertScore score, Rouge-L score and “LLM-as-a-Judge” method, confirming the effectiveness of the fine-tuning process. This study details the process of fine-tuning open-source LLMs for health information inquiries in Vietnamese, demonstrating its potential to improve healthcare communication in low-resource languages. Deploying the fine-tuned LLM on-premise enhances data privacy and security. However, the significant computing power and costs required pose challenges, especially for organizations in developing countries.ConclusionThis case study highlights the unique challenges faced by developing countries using low-resource languages. Initiatives are needed to emphasize efforts to bridge healthcare gaps in underserved areas and contribute to global health equity.</p
Characterization of sustainable bacterial cellulose fabricated with Vietnamese ingredients for potential textile applications: Tensile and handle properties
No full textThere has been growing demand for biomaterials due to their natural origin, nontoxicity and biodegradability properties. Bacterial cellulose (BC) is one such material with potential for a wide range of applications in medicine, packaging, food, tissue engineering, cosmetics, fashion and textile. This research has attempted to explore the potential of BC in fashion and textile applications fabricated with the indigenous ingredients available in Vietnam. A range of BC samples were fabricated and characterized for various properties such as pH, thickness, areal density, bursting strength, stiffness, drape and crease recovery angle to explore potential applications in fashion and textile. The results showed that the pH of BC samples was mostly acidic, with a pH range of 2.6 to 4.4. Hence, they were treated with commonly available bases to bring the pH within the skin-friendly range for textile applications. Some bursting strength results showed closer values for the textile sample, indicating its potential for textile applications. However, the stiffness and drape values of the BC samples were significantly higher, and crease recovery was significantly lower, indicating its appropriateness for applications where higher stiffness and lower crease recovery properties are desired. Keeping the properties in mind, the authors successfully designed products such as wallets and decorative paintings using the harvested BC samples.</p
Does geopolitical risk increase carbon emissions and public health risk?
No full textIn recent years, geopolitical risk has been on the rise and it has numerous economic consequences. Given that this paper aims to investigate the environmental and public health consequences of geopolitical risk. More specifically, we examine the effect of geopolitical risk on carbon emissions and their combined impact on public health risk. Using data from a sample of 17 countries spanning the period 1990–2018, and the generalized quantile regression and panel corrected standard errors methods, our study documents that geopolitical risk raises carbon emissions and these two together amplify public health risks in the selected sample countries. Our results are robust in alternative model specifications and hold after controlling for foreign direct investment inflows, financial development, internationalization of trade, per capita income, and total population. Given that, these findings offer important policy implications and add a new dimension to the empirical literature.</p
Handmade Histories: An Analysis of Australian Comics Procured from Zine Fairs, Comics Fairs and Market Days and Published in 2022
No full textWhat kinds of comics were sold and procured from Australia's zine fairs, comics fairs and market days in 2022? The research team for Folio, a comics oral history project, visited Australian zine fairs, comics fairs and market days between February and October 2022 at a time when many such marketplaces had resumed trade for the first time after 2 years of COVID lockdowns. The research team identified 144 comics that were clearly identifiable as being published in 2022, and then investigated this cross-section of Australia's comics life in 2022, finding a frequent focus on COVID; mental health, disability and chronic illness; online life; place; and climate disaster. Beyond the documentation of these comics and themes from an important but easily-missed quadrant of Australian comics publishing, the research team considers this comics environment – with its links to other publishing cultures, its incorporation of anomalies – for its research potential.</p
Conductive, self-healing and adhesive cellulose nanofibers-based hydrogels as wearable strain sensors and supercapacitors
No full textConductive hydrogels show high potential for application in different areas including wearable electronic devices, human-computer interaction, electronic skin, and intelligent robots. Herein, a simple one-pot method was used to develop a conductive hydrogel by mixing cellulose nanofibers (CNF), polyvinyl alcohol (PVA)-borax and sodium chloride (NaCl) doped poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):poly (styrene sulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS). The CNF was introduced into PVA-borax gel system, obtaining a hydrogel with improved mechanical, self-healing, and adhesion properties via dynamic boron-ester bonding and multiple hydrogen bond crosslinking. The as-assembled strain sensor was highly sensitive (GF=3), when stretching quickly, it had a fast response time (170 ms) and wide strain sensing range (0–300 %). Moreover, the sensor accurately monitored joint movement and weak muscle throbbing in real time when attached to human skin. Furthermore, supercapacitors were assembled with hydrogel and carbon cloth electrodes, the hydrogel-based supercapacitor has an area specific capacitance of 23.57 mF/cm2 with a high cycle life of > 5000 cycles. This study offers guidance for constructing cellulose-based conductive hydrogel systems and promotes their application in flexible sensors and supercapacitors.</p
Affect lability scale (ALS-18) and ADHD: incremental validity of depression, depression/anxiety and anger in the predictions of inattention and hyperactivity/impulsivity in adults
No full textAbstract
Affect lability, or difficulties in emotional regulation, has been suggested to be a defining factor in ADHD presentations, with previous studies identifying a relationship between affect lability and ADHD. However, the relationship between different dimensions of lability and ADHD dimensions has not been explored. This study aims to examine whether the three affect lability dimensions– depression/elation (D), depression/anxiety (D/A), and anger (A)– have incremental validity in predicting ADHD symptoms of inattention (IA) and hyperactivity/impulsivity (HI). A total of 558 adults aged 18–65 (Mage = 32.75; 18.8% men) from the general community completed the ALS-18 and the Current Symptom Scale (CSS). A structural equation model (SEM) approach was used to evaluate incremental validity. For a comprehensive evaluation, three different SEM models corresponding to different orders of entry of the predictors were computed to assess the incremental validity of the three ADHD dimensions. Overall, the findings showed that both D/A and D provided comparable incremental validity in the predictions of IA and HI, whereas A did not predict IA and HI. Therefore, D/A and D are important affect lability dimensions for the prediction of ADHD. These results suggest that not all components of affect lability were equally important in explaining ADHD symptoms, indicating the need to consider specific dimensions of affect lability for a more accurate understanding and treatment outcomes. Future research should further explore these relationships, incorporating broader affect lability dimensions and larger samples to generalize findings more effectively.</p
Rethinking regulatory responsibility: equitable participation in work-integrated learning
No full textThe final report of the Australian Universities Accord consultation process highlighted the impact of work-integrated learning requirements on students’ ability to complete professional qualifications, conceptualising equity in terms of a need to ensure ‘equitable participation’. This article uses the case of social work education to explore regulatory impediments to equitable participation. Professionally accredited social work degrees include some of the lengthiest work-integrated learning requirements in Australia. Prior research has identified deleterious consequences of work-integrated learning requirements for students, attributing responsibility for mandatory requirements to professional accreditation standards. Academic accreditation policy offers a different perspective on responsibility. Interpretive policy analysis of recent advocacy and subsequent policy responses illustrates how different interpretations of responsibility for effecting change can generate roadblocks to implementation. This article situates work-integrated learning in the regulatory context, identifying conflicting policy interpretations as an implementation challenge for the commitment to equitable participation.</p
Phase Characterization and Bioactivity Evaluation of Nucleic Acid-Encapsulated Biomimetically Mineralized ZIF-8.
No full textMetal-organic frameworks (MOFs) provide diverse applications across a wide range of scientific disciplines, including drug/nucleic acid (NA) delivery. In the subclass of MOFs, zeolitic imidazolate framework-8 (ZIF-8) is well regarded due to its exceptional physicochemical properties. Biomolecules can be encapsulated and released under precise conditions within ZIF, making it an important material for materials science and biomedical applications. Different solvents and synthesis methods influence the ZIF's topologies and framework structures. The physicochemical properties of plasmid-encapsulated ZIF (plasmid@ZIF) can be controlled by tuning the precursors and biomolecular concentration. Using plasmid@ZIF, this study demonstrated that nucleic acids can be loaded precisely and released with a controlled bioactivity within cells. It was found that the ZIF phases substantially influenced both NA delivery into the cell and physicochemical properties. As a result of this study, we better understand MOFs' potential in NA delivery, and it emphasizes the importance of precisely controlling their physicochemical properties.</p