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Revealing the limits of laser energy density: A study of the combined effects of process parameters on melt pool and microstructure in WE43 magnesium alloys
No full textAdditive manufacturing (AM) has revolutionized modern manufacturing, but the application of magnesium (Mg) alloys in laser-based AM remains underexplored due to challenges such as oxidation, low boiling point, and thermal expansion, which lead to defects like porosity and cracking. This study provides a comprehensive analysis of microstructure changes in WE43 magnesium (Mg) alloy after laser surface melting (LSM), examining grain morphology, orientation, size, microsegregation, and defects under various combinations of laser power, scan speed, and spot size. Our findings reveal that variations in laser power and spot size exert a more significant influence on the depth and aspect ratio of the keyhole melt pool compared to laser scan speed. Critically, we demonstrate that laser energy density, while widely used as a quantitative metric to describe the combined effects of process parameters, exhibits significant limitations. Notable variations in melt pool depth, normalized width, and microstructure with laser energy density were observed, as reflected by low R² values. Additionally, we underscore the importance of assessing the temperature gradient across the width of the melt pool, which determines whether conduction or keyhole melting modes dominate. These modes exhibit distinct heat flow mechanisms and yield fundamentally different microstructural outcomes. Furthermore, we show that the microstructure and grain size in conduction mode exhibit a good correlation with the temperature gradient (G) and solidification rate (R). This research provides a framework for achieving localized microstructural control in LSM, providing insights to optimize process parameters for laser-based 3D printing of Mg alloys, and advancing the integration of Mg alloys into AM technologies.</p
Leveraging dynamic capabilities for digital transformation: Exploring the moderating role of cost in environmental performance of SMEs
No full textThis research aims to explore how digital dynamic capabilities (digital sensing, digital capturing, and digital transforming capability) enable digital transformation to enhance the environmental performance of SMEs in Oman, focusing on understanding the moderating role of cost in this relationship. Data was collected from 409 SMEs through a survey and analyzed by Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) using SmartPLS 4 software. The results show that digital sensing, digital capturing, and digital transforming capabilities are positively related to digital transformation, where digital capturing capability is the strongest dimension of digital capability. Further, the digital transformation of SMEs has a strong relationship with environmental performance. In addition, the transformation cost weakens the significant relationship between digital transformation and environmental performance. The findings of this study are of paramount significance for policy and decision-makers, SME executives, and researchers interested in digital transformation and environmental performance, particularly in developing countries such as Oman. Deviating from conventional wisdom, this study attempts to develop an inclusive understanding of digital transformation efforts that can serve as a benchmark for SMEs toward more successful and sustainable outcomes.</p
Employability and Career Development: A White Paper for Australian and Chinese Employability Professionals
No full textTo date, there is modest research on studies that compare and contrast Chinese and Australian business school students’ learning experiences for WIL programmes. This white paper is the result of a collaborative research partnership that focused on enhancing employability outcomes for Australian and Chinese business school students. Throughout the white paper, we highlight innovative ways to provide WIL activities for higher education students to achieve a more global outlook, taking into consideration the differences and similarities between Australian and Chinese business students.Not all students will enter their chosen career. This is for several reasons, such as economic challenges, labour market requirements or simply taking multiple pathways to secure graduate employment. Due to the unknown future of the economy, it is important to focus on developing and measuring students’ transferable skills by reimagining WIL assessments and providing high quality support options that is context relevant.Upon entering the job market in a global VUCA (Volatility, Uncertainty, Complexity and Ambiguity) environment, graduates require not only technical skills, but also interdisciplinary and transferrable skills. These include problem solving, critical thinking and analytical skills. Employers value students’ ability to learn new knowledge, operate across diverse knowledge landscapes alongside being adaptable and flexible. To help substantiate this, we have conducted evidence-based research to uncover some of the differences and similarities between Australian and Chinese business students’ employability. Throughout the research, we discovered the main variances are often due to students being educated in different systems, and/or raised within diverse cultures. This result further highlights the need to develop WIL curriculum for culturally specific employment expectations and outcomes.In this white paper, we begin by describing a brief background about WIL, its practice and its effect on graduate employment in an Australian and Chinese context. Next, we provide a detailed list of WIL programmes that are currently operating in our two institutions. In addition, we elaborate on the practicalities and benefits of our WIL programmes for graduate employment. Lastly, we raise some common issues that we encountered when incorporating WIL practice in higher education before presenting a set of key recommendations for the reader’s consideration.The report here is presented in both English and Mandarin.</p
A 'new' capitalism?: The state and restructuring
No full textIndustrial policy is back on the agenda for many countries after years in the wilderness. COVID-19, the climate crisis, and the emergence of a new cold war - what has been described as the polycrisis (Tooze 2018) - has raised concerns about sovereign industrial capabilities for governments and has contributed to a renewal of the state and its intervention in economic, industrial and regional development. In a recent series of publications (Dean 'et al'. 2021, 2024; Rainnie and Snell 2023, 2024) we have traced the reemergence of industrial policy in Australia, its regional and renewables focus and, crucially, the increasing and fundamental militarisation of that policy. In this article, we examine the re-emergence of the state in the industrial policy and industrial development domain, and what has been broadly defined as the 'new state capitalism' (Alami 2023). While some political economists have suggested 'new state capitalism' has emerged out of global economic and environmental crisis and represents a break with the era of neo-liberalism which began in the 1980s, we suggest that the new state capitalism continues to support many of the key tenets of neo-liberalism which prove challenging for meaningful regional and industrial renewal.</p
Leveraging dynamic capabilities for digital transformation: Exploring the moderating role of cost in environmental performance of SMEs
No full textThis research aims to explore how digital dynamic capabilities (digital sensing, digital capturing, and digital transforming capability) enable digital transformation to enhance the environmental performance of SMEs in Oman, focusing on understanding the moderating role of cost in this relationship. Data was collected from 409 SMEs through a survey and analyzed by Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) using SmartPLS 4 software. The results show that digital sensing, digital capturing, and digital transforming capabilities are positively related to digital transformation, where digital capturing capability is the strongest dimension of digital capability. Further, the digital transformation of SMEs has a strong relationship with environmental performance. In addition, the transformation cost weakens the significant relationship between digital transformation and environmental performance. The findings of this study are of paramount significance for policy and decision-makers, SME executives, and researchers interested in digital transformation and environmental performance, particularly in developing countries such as Oman. Deviating from conventional wisdom, this study attempts to develop an inclusive understanding of digital transformation efforts that can serve as a benchmark for SMEs toward more successful and sustainable outcomes.</p
Best practice guidelines and service provision for supporting women with birth-related trauma: A scoping review of international literature
No full textProblemBirth trauma (BT) is a significant public health concern affecting approximately one-third of the 140 million annual births worldwide, yet it lacks a unified approach for effective intervention. This study investigates the global landscape of BT management, focusing on the current best practice guidelines and service provisions for supporting women with birth-related trauma and the practicable actionable gaps that needs to be addressed.MethodsThis scoping review followed the PRISMA Extension for Scoping Reviews guidelines, and systematically searched 13 electronic databases and websites for clinical guidelines, policy documents, care standards, practice recommendations and service provisions related to BT. The search yielded eight guidelines, of which were assessed using the AGREE II appraisal tool. Additionally, eight peer-reviewed articles focusing on current practices and service recommendations were analysed alongside the guidelines using a narrative synthesis approach.FindingsThere are gaps between guideline recommendations and service experiences, barriers and facilitators at the patient, provider, and system levels as well as between research, policy and clinical practice. Of the guidelines included, only three rated high quality (>70 %).DiscussionThere was consistency in recommending trauma-informed care, collaborative care between health professionals, patient and practitioner education and debriefing as an intervention. However, there were inconsistencies in the definition of BT and most lacked details on the steps, structure or practical tools that should be used. Seven key themes were identified regarding gaps between proposed guidelines and actual experiences of women after traumatic birth.ConclusionThere is an urgent need for standardised, evidence-based guidelines that are user-friendly and provide practical advice for implementing trauma-informed care.</p
The management of placenta accreta spectrum with internal iliac artery balloon occlusion: a systematic review and meta analysis
No full textBackground
Placenta Accreta Spectrum (PAS) is characterised by the invasion of the chorionic villi into the myometrium. It arises most commonly from previous caesarean sections (CS) in patients, wherein lower segment scars interrupt the decidualisation of the placenta when preparing for a foetus. Internal Iliac Artery Balloon Occlusion provide a way to block the blood flow to the uterus and in turn improve clinical outcomes for patients with PAS disorders. This review aims to determine the effectiveness of the balloon occlusion technique in reducing blood loss in patients with PAS, the resulting neonatal outcomes, and the proportion of previous CS in PAS patients.
Methods
A systematic review was conducted by searching 4 databases for keywords. A meta-analysis was performed using OpenMeta-Analyst software using arscine transformed proportion, binary random effects and maximum likelihood, as well as RevMan web software, using a continuous, arm-level model.
Results
Fourteen eligible studies were included with data from a total of 927 patients. A statistically significant difference was found for all analyses. A decreased amount of estimated blood loss was found in the balloon group against the control group, neonates were found to have higher 5’ Apgar scores in the control group rather than the balloon group, and a majority of patients were found to have had at least one previous caesarean section.
Conclusion
This review provides evidence that the balloon occlusion technique can provide PAS patients with better clinical outcomes in relation to the amount of blood lost during delivery.</p
Enhancing pharmaceutical supply chains: unveiling the power of digital control tower through stress testing
No full textPharmaceutical supply chain disruptions can hinder patient access to essential treatments. This research uses a system dynamics model to explore strategies for enhancing supply chain resilience. We focus on the role of a ‘digital control tower', an advanced management system that improves visibility through real-time monitoring, data analysis, and better communication. Our findings suggest that digital control towers enable pharmaceutical supply chains to better handle disruptions, with real-time monitoring and rapid responses facilitating swift adjustments and optimised operations. This study highlights the importance of digital control towers in improving the stability and flexibility of pharmaceutical supply chains, reducing delays, and ensuring timely medication delivery.</p
SenseScapes - nature recordings part 1
No full textProject audio files.SenseScapes, an interactive sound installation, was inspired by the issue of noise pollution in the workplace and developed through the expertise of participating academics and the RMIT Vietnam School of Communication and Design's interest in creating interactive design installations on the RMIT University Vietnam campus. The project was framed as a part of the “Interactive Campus” project: “SenseScapes – an audio-visual interactive biophilic eco-system.” The project consisted of three phases: 1) preliminary research and audio samples collection, 2) the creation of an interactive sound installation, and 3) the creation and post-processing of accompanying visuals. The audio samples were collected by the investigators during the field trips around the natural forestry landscapes of Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.This sample was collected during the 1st phase of the project and further utilized in the process of creating an interactive installation.</p
JungleSoundscape003wthAirPlane
No full textProject recordings - JungleSoundscape003wthAirPlaneSenseScapes, an interactive sound installation, was inspired by the issue of noise pollution in the workplace and developed through the expertise of participating academics and the RMIT Vietnam School of Communication and Design's interest in creating interactive design installations on the RMIT University Vietnam campus. The project was framed as a part of the “Interactive Campus” project: “SenseScapes – an audio-visual interactive biophilic eco-system.” The project consisted of three phases: 1) preliminary research and audio samples collection, 2) the creation of an interactive sound installation, and 3) the creation and post-processing of accompanying visuals. The audio samples were collected by the investigators during the field trips around the natural forestry landscapes of Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.This sample was collected during the 1st phase of the project and further utilized in the process of creating an interactive installation.</p