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A Critical Review of the Literature on Privately Owned Public Spaces: From Intrinsic Critiques to Systematic Assessment
No full textSince the 1960s, Privately Owned Public Space (POPS) has been studied as a significant development in urban space provision. Through a review of key studies (1980–2023), this paper traces how POPS scholarship has changed from fundamental critiques of privatization to evidence-based assessment of spatial practices. The analysis reveals three phases in the literature's development, demonstrating a shift from early concerns about intrinsic problems of private control to accepting POPS as a distinct type of public space requiring its systematic evaluation. The geographical expansion of research has explored how different cultural, institutional, and urban contexts shape the implementation of POPS and scholarly approaches to studying them.</p
Impact of Green Transformational Leadership on Green Innovation and Entrepreneurial Performance: Role of Innovative Work and Creativity
No full textThe natural resource-based view is applied to explore the impact of green transformational leadership on green innovative work behavior (IWB) and green innovation (GI), thereby enhancing entrepreneurial performance (GEP) in Chinese manufacturing firms. More specifically, innovative work behavior serves as an intervening mechanism between green transformational leadership and entrepreneurial performance. Furthermore, green creativity strengthens the relationship between green entrepreneurial performance and green innovation with innovative work behavior. The SEM results were examined using a convenience sampling approach, with data collected from 619 employees of Chinese manufacturing firms. The findings reveal a significant relationship among green transformational leadership, innovative work behavior, green innovation, and entrepreneurial performance. Green creativity moderating is more effective for manufacturing firms in a dynamic environment characterized by IWB, GI, and GEP. The study advances theoretical and practical knowledge for GI and green entrepreneurial performance in manufacturing firms. It highlights managerial development influencing green innovation, particularly within Chinese manufacturing firms.</p
Educate, advocate, transform: Prison programs influencing social change
No full textInside-Out classes represent a pioneering approach to education within the Victorian (Australian) corrections system, bringing together RMIT University's criminology and justice students with incarcerated individuals as learners. Since their introduction in 2015, these classes have expanded to seven prisons, with 1,000+ participants completing the program. The Inside-Out program fosters a dynamic learning environment, encouraging students to make a lasting, positive impact and challenge established norms. This transformative approach equips participants with valuable skills and inspires them to advocate for systemic change. Following the Inside-Out experience, students and incarcerated individuals transition into prison-based and community-based Think Tanks, engaging in 150+ consultations. These initiatives drive systemic change, led by the voices of incarcerated and ex- incarcerated individuals, reshaping corrections policy in Australia. Partnering with Corrections Victoria, efforts over the past year have included staff training and talks for incarcerated individuals, aiming to foster a fairer and more humane criminal justice system while enhancing social safety.</p
Developing Novel ALOX5 mRNA Nanoparticles To Treat Incurable Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer
No full textLung cancer (LC) remains one of the most prevalent and deadliest malignancies worldwide, with over 2.2 million new cases and 1.8 million deaths reported in 2020. In Australia, LC ranks among the top five causes of death and imposes a significant economic burden. Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) accounts for approximately 85% of all LC diagnoses and is associated with poor prognosis, with five year survival rates below 25%. The two major NSCLC histological subtypes comprise lung squamous cell carcinoma (LUSC) and lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD), which differ in cellular origin, anatomical location, and histopathological features. While cigarette smoking, environmental exposures (e.g., air pollution) and genetic mutations (e.g., oncogene activation and tumour suppressor gene inactivation) are established contributors to LC, chronic inflammation has recently emerged as a key factor in disease progression. The accumulation of tumour associated neutrophils (TANs) and tumour associated macrophages (TAMs) promote inflammation which can support tumour growth and immune suppression. This thesis investigates the inflammatory landscape of NSCLC and explores arachidonate 5-lipoxygenase (ALOX5), a gene encoding the 5-lipoxygenase (5-LO) enzyme expressed in leukocytes as a potential therapeutic target. To explore the role of ALOX5 in the tumour microenvironment (TME), a cohort of LUAD, LUSC and control lung tissue were analysed using immunohistochemistry, immunofluorescence and reverse transcription PCR. ALOX5 mRNA was significantly downregulated in tumour tissue, with the most pronounced reduction in LUSC. CD68+ macrophages were identified as the predominant source of 5 LO within the TME, with significant infiltration of macrophages observed in LUSC biospecimens. Similarly, there was a significant influx of MPO+ neutrophils in both NSCLC subtypes, positively correlating with classic neutrophil chemokines IL-8 and C-X-C motif chemokine ligand (CXCL)-1 expression. Although CD8+ T cell numbers were elevated in tumour biospecimens, the neutrophil-to lymphocyte ratio (NLR) was significantly increased and negatively correlated with ALOX5 expression. These findings suggest that ALOX5 downregulation may promote neutrophil accumulation and cytotoxic T cell suppression, reinforcing inflammation in the TME and positioning ALOX5 as a potential biomarker for immune imbalance. Given the suppression of ALOX5 in NSCLC and its predominant expression in macrophages, we developed a lipid nanoparticle (LNP)-based mRNA delivery platform to target these cells. Our LNP library was formulated with the helper lipid monoolein (MO), in combination with cationic ionisable lipids SM-102 (SM) or ALC-0315 (ALC). LNPs were tested in immortalised mouse alveolar macrophages (MH-S), loaded with enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) mRNA and labelled with Cy5 dye, with cell localisation and mRNA transfection quantified via flow cytometry. LNPs formulated with equal parts, 50 mol% MO and SM or ALC were not toxic to MH-S macrophages and displayed the strongest cellular association. However, only the SM/MO formulation produced detectable GFP fluorescence signal, attributed to its gyroid cubic (Q2G) phase, which we have identified as the optimal structure for macrophage transfection. We further enhanced the efficacy of our LNPs by formulating them with the addition of cholesterol, where 20 mol% cholesterol (CHL20) increased MH-S transfection efficiency to 70%. While higher cholesterol content reduced transfection in MH-S macrophages, 40 mol% cholesterol LNPs (CHL40) proved optimal for transfecting primary monocyte derived macrophages, yielding two novel LNP formulations optimised for mRNA delivery to immortalised and primary macrophages. As we have identified ALOX5 to be supressed in NSCLC and developed a LNP formulation that successfully transfects macrophages, we proceeded to determine if we can transfect macrophages within the lung in mice. To assess in-vivo delivery, LNPs were administered intravenously (IV) or intranasally (IN) in mice. IV-delivered LNPs localised to multiple organs: lung, heart, liver, spleen and kidneys, but transfection was limited to the liver and spleen. IN delivered CHL40 LNPs remained immunologically inert and was restricted to the lungs of treated mice, efficiently bypassing the upper airways. CHL40 and Pfizer LNPs achieved efficient lung transfection, producing diffuse luciferase activity across the entire tissue, with CHL40 LNPs localising with 75% of bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) cells in treated mice. With this work we have identified novel LNP formulations that can transfect specific organs according to the administration method and lipid composition. In summary, this thesis identified that ALOX5 expression is markedly reduced in lung tumours, and inversely associated with TANs and the NLR, implicating this gene as an important regulator of the TME in NSCLC. We propose that ALOX5 is both a biomarker and therapeutic target. We confirmed that macrophages were the main source of 5-LO in the TME, therefore we optimised novel LNPs capable of delivering mRNA payloads to immortalised and primary macrophages in-vitro. We built upon this work with targeted transfection of lung tissue using our LNPs. This work provides foundational evidence for reconstituting ALOX5 expression in TAMs via the application of novel LNP formulations as a potential strategy for treating NSCLC.</p
5G and Consumer Adoption: The Quiet Revolution
No full textThis representative national survey of Australians reveals that consumers are experiencing 5G as a gradual transition rather than a revolution.The main reason people have 5G is because they upgraded their phone. Non-users are not interested in signing up to 5G mobile in the short-term. Instead, the majority expect to roll over when their plans expire. Despite early promises of a 5G revolution, the technology is being adopted through routine plan upgrades rather than marketing-driven adoption.Higher incomes and postgraduate education are associated with 5G use but the differences are small. Users and non-users share a broadly similar demographic profile. Once Australians do switch to 5G, satisfaction is high. The report also reveals popular consumer use cases for 5G home internet and 5G mobile.We also discuss the fixed-line market where we see early signs that 5G Home Internet is becoming a viable alternative to the NBN. Dissatisfied NBN consumers and younger users are significantly more likely to consider switching. However, consumer intentions suggest that a significant switchover from fixed-line internet to wireless is unlikely in the near term.</p
Novel Pharmacological Strategies to Treat Cigarette Smoking-induced Atherogenesis in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
No full textChronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a progressive respiratory condition characterised by persistent airflow limitation and chronic lung inflammation, primarily driven by exposure to noxious particles and gases such as cigarette smoke (CS). Repeated CS exposure induces oxidative stress and disrupts pulmonary barrier integrity, leading to the “spill-over” of inflammatory mediators into the systemic circulation. This systemic inflammation contributes to vascular dysfunction and platelet activation, which are key drivers of cardiovascular disease (CVD) - a major comorbidity in COPD.This thesis investigated the mechanistic links between CS-induced oxidative stress, systemic inflammation, and vascular pathology using a validated preclinical model of COPD. It further evaluated the therapeutic potential of antioxidant and lifestyle-based interventions, including apocynin, carnosine supplementation, and exercise intervention, with a focus on sex-specific responses. In Chapter 3, apocynin - a NADPH oxidase inhibitor - was shown to attenuate CS-induced airway inflammation, preserve endothelial-dependent vasodilation, and reduce platelet activation, highlighting oxidative stress as a modifiable trait in COPD. Chapter 4 demonstrated that carnosine supplementation or exercise alone reduced airway inflammation and partially restored vascular function, while Chapter 5 revealed that their combination produced synergistic benefits. The combined intervention significantly preserved body weight, improved endothelial function, and prevented platelet activation, outperforming either treatment alone.Chapter 6 explored sex-specific responses to CS and intervention. Males exhibited heightened neutrophilic inflammation, vascular dysfunction, and platelet adhesion, whereas females showed greater lymphocytosis and epithelial thickening. The combined therapy mitigated these effects in both sexes, though the magnitude and mechanisms of response varied, underscoring the importance of sex as a biological variable in COPD research.In conclusion, this thesis provides mechanistic evidence that CS-induced oxidative stress and systemic inflammation drive vascular dysfunction and platelet activation in COPD. It establishes that combining carnosine supplementation with exercise offers a promising strategy to protect vascular integrity and reduce systemic inflammation. The observed sex differences further support the need for personalised therapeutic approaches in COPD management.</p
Structural Health Monitoring in Bridge Management System
No full textLike all engineered structures, road bridges deteriorate over time due to corrosion, repeated traffic loadings, environmental effects, and natural hazards such as floods and earthquakes. As vital links in Australia’s transport network, their structural integrity has traditionally been monitored through scheduled in-person inspections. Bridge assets are scheduled for inspections every two to five years unless a significant defect or abnormal condition is detected. The rapid increase in traffic, particularly from heavy vehicles, is accelerating the deterioration rate and reducing the service life of bridges concurrently. Although this traditional regime provides a safe network, it lacks predictive capability and is costly to maintain. Therefore, developing a comprehensive management system is essential to optimise resource allocation and support long-term maintenance planning. In recent years, the Structural Health Monitoring (SHM) system has gained significant global prominence for its ability to gather structural response data, manage risks, trigger assessment and maintenance of unsatisfactory underperformed bridges. SHM systems enable organisations and engineers to assess the real-time performance of the bridge structures by continuously or periodically collecting structural response data. This research proposed an advanced Bridge Management System (BMS) framework that integrates SHM system to enable predictive bridge condition and enhance decision-making for bridge networks. An effective BMS comprises five major modules: an Inventory Module, an Inspection Module, a Deterioration Module, a Capacity Assessment Module, and a Maintenance, Repair and Rehabilitation (MR&R) Module. In this study, the proposed BMS provides a facility for systematic inspection and management of a network of bridges in Australia. It provides a powerful decision-support tool for the road authorities and asset owners to proactively prioritise maintenance interventions, optimise life-cycle costs, and ultimately ensure the structural safety and serviceability of the infrastructure assets. By incorporating the Markov Chain deterioration model, SHM-based load rating evaluation, and Life-Cycle Cost Analysis, a Multi-objective Index is used to prioritise the maintenance actions in MR&R planning. The proposed system was validated through a case study of the Boronia Road Bridge by providing a data-driven basis for load rating assessments to ensure structural integrity.</p
Filmic memorials: a long term study of place and domestic cinema
No full textFilmic Memorials (2005–2025) is a twenty-year practice-based research project comprising twenty long-form slow films that reconfigure vintage family home movies into a sustained investigation of place. Drawing on Standard 8 and Super 8 footage filmed by the artist’s grandfather and father across Europe, the Americas, and Australia from 1954 to 1988, the project develops a topographical methodology to analyse spatial memory within the moving image. It proposes a reconceptualisation of home movies as domestic cinema—not as amateur or nostalgic artefacts, but as formally grounded works capable of engaging with phenomenological themes of identity, time, and memorialisation. The project foregrounds intersubjectivity between viewer and film, arguing that temporality reshapes the affective dimensions of screen space. Its significance lies in establishing a new theoretical approach to place in film, producing 20 hours of original slow cinema works, and receiving peer-reviewed exhibition at major international venues including ACMI, ACCA, and the Reina Sofia Museum</p
Functional requirements for guided bone regeneration/guided tissue regeneration membrane design: Progress and challenges
No full textGuided tissue regeneration (GTR) and guided bone regeneration (GBR) membranes are critical for reconstructing periodontal/bone defects, but existing membranes face limitations in osteogenic potential, antibacterial efficacy, degradation kinetics, mechanical stability, and immunomodulation within the complex oral microenvironment. This review aims to explore cellular interactions between alveolar bone regenerative cells and GBR/GTR membranes, membrane design strategies based on biological functions, and advancements in material engineering to overcome current clinical challenges. A comprehensive search strategy was implemented across PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science databases, as well as clinical trials registers. Data pertinent to membrane synthetic methodology, biological behavior, tissue regeneration outcomes were retrieved from the original studies. A qualitative assessment was performed. Overall, ideal GBR/GTR membranes must meet several functional requirements: (i) Clinical necessities include biocompatibility, selective permeability for nutrient exchange, and clinical operability. GTR aims to create and maintain a stable isolated space to protect blood clots, thereby enabling blood clots and the newly formed tissue to effectively block the migration of epithelial cells. GBR demands rigid space maintenance to resist mucosal compression in edentulous ridges, with greater emphasis on mechanical stability for large bone defects. Degradation kinetics must align with slower bone formation (3–6 months). (ii) Appropriate surface properties (roughness, morphology, stiffness, wettability, charge) and porosity/pore size are critical for cell behavior. (iii) Membrane‐based biological regulation can promote cell adhesion and migration, and balance osteoclastogenesis and osteogenesis. Optimization strategies include incorporating bioactive substances for bone regeneration, immunomodulatory agents for anti‐inflammatory responses, and antibacterial additives for clinical performance. GBR/GTR membranes require multifunctional integration of barrier functionality, tailored biodegradation, mechanical robustness, and proactive bioactivity (osteogenic, angiogenic, immunomodulatory, and antibacterial). Future designs must prioritize understanding cell‐material interactions to develop membranes that dynamically synchronize with the regenerative microenvironment. This review provides a foundation for developing next‐generation membranes that effectively address complex oral microenvironment challenges and significantly improve clinical outcomes in bone defect reconstruction. Optimized membranes will enhance space maintenance, reduce infection rates, mitigate premature degradation, and improve predictability in reconstructing periodontal and alveolar bone defects, ultimately advancing regenerative outcomes in implant dentistry and periodontal surgery.</p
Gelora: Embodied Alienation (2025) at iNVENTX
No full textBackground: This research emerges from the intersection of posthuman studies, AR technology, and diaspora aesthetics, investigating how experiences of alienation can become generative forces for connection. The central hypothesis explores whether camera-mediated elemental rituals based on East Asian cosmology can transform fallen botanical matter into sites of uncanny recognition, where participants confront hybrid creatures that blur boundaries between plant and body, self and other. The research question asks: How can technological resurrection of discarded organic matter create new forms of posthuman kinship? Contribution: The work contributes a novel framework for understanding alienation as a renewable resource rather than a condition of isolation. By developing an AR system where participants perform embodied gestures—scanning, dragging elemental dots, waiting for emergence—to resurrect "Gelora" (alien-hybrid beings), the research establishes new methodologies for interactive digital art that merge cultural cosmologies with technological interfaces. This approach demonstrates how SUSTAINAISSANCE principles can transform decomposition into digital resurrection, creating sustainable futures through embracing rather than resisting metamorphosis. Significance: The work's SILVER award at MMU's INVENTX flagship event—among 54 peer-reviewed international submissions from five countries—validates its innovative approach to transforming alienation into connection. Within this competitive context fostering interdisciplinary conversations and cross-cultural exchanges, the research significantly advances discourse on conscious technological interaction. By proving estrangement can serve as foundation for posthuman kinship, the work provides crucial methodologies for artists, educators, and researchers seeking to create meaningful encounters with hybrid digital-organic entities. Its recognition at INVENTX confirms the broader relevance of using embodied technological rituals to open pathways between present awareness and speculative transformation.</p