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Solid Lipid Nanoparticles Delivering a DNA Vaccine Encoding Helicobacter pylori Urease A Subunit: Immune Analyses before and after a Mouse Model of Infection
No full textIn this study, novel solid lipid particles containing the adjuvant lipid monophosphoryl lipid A (termed ‘SLN-A’) were synthesised. The SLN-A particles were able to efficiently bind and form complexes with a DNA vaccine encoding the urease alpha subunit of Helicobacter pylori. The resultant nanoparticles were termed lipoplex-A. In a mouse model of H. pylori infection, the lipoplex-A nanoparticles were used to immunise mice, and the resultant immune responses were analysed. It was found that the lipoplex-A vaccine was able to induce high levels of antigen-specific antibodies and an influx of gastric CD4+ T cells in vaccinated mice. In particular, a prime with lipoplex-A and a boost with soluble UreA protein induced significantly high levels of the IgG1 antibody, whereas two doses of lipoplex-A induced high levels of the IgG2c antibody. In this study, lipoplex-A vaccination did not lead to a significant reduction in H. pylori colonisation in a challenge model; however, these results point to the utility of the system for delivering DNA vaccine-encoded antigens to induce immune responses and suggest the ability to tailor those responses
Upskilling plumber gasfitters for hydrogen: An empirical study using the Theory of Planned Behavior
No full textHydrogen has become an important component of the global transition to zero-carbon economies. Low-carbon and green hydrogen gas and fuel cell technology for domestic household use will depend on skilled practitioners, particularly gasfitters, to convert, install, and maintain hydrogen-based appliances. Upskilling gasfitters to work with hydrogen is critical to transitioning from natural gas to hydrogen for heating and cooking. Yet, limited research exists on training and upskilling trade practitioners in the context of renewable energy and low-carbon technologies. This paper makes a novel contribution to research on upskilling for renewable and low-carbon technologies by drawing on the findings from a survey of 1001 plumbers in Australia. The survey, designed using the Theory of Planned Behavior, aimed to predict behaviors regarding hydrogen training and ascertain social and structural enablers for such behavior. The results show that plumbers have limited awareness of hydrogen, yet have positive attitudes towards upskilling to work with the low-carbon fuel. Perceived benefits to business sustainability, customer service and safety underpin the positive attitudes. The research shows that while plumbers are enthusiastic about upskilling for hydrogen, upskilling policies and programs must ensure key stakeholders who inform plumbers’ ongoing practice are on board and informed about hydrogen training opportunities
Tuning electronic properties of cobalt phthalocyanines for oxygen reduction and evolution reactions
No full textMetal–phthalocyanines are a class of catalytically active materials promising in energy conversion and storage fields (e.g., electrocatalysis). However, understanding and controlling the electrochemical properties in metal–phthalocyanine systems is challenging. Herein, we elucidate the electrocatalytic origins of a series of cobalt–phthalocyanine molecular catalysts and fine-tune their electronic properties at the atomic level, both experimentally and computationally. The interactions between the cobalt center and the local coordination environment are regulated by introducing either electron-donating or electron-withdrawing groups on the phthalocyanine ligand, and the spin–orbit splitting of cobalt is increased by ∼0.15 eV compared with the non-substituted ligand. Specifically, the aminated cobalt phthalocyanine-based electrocatalysts exhibit low free energies in the rate-determining steps of the oxygen reduction (−1.68 eV) and oxygen evolution reactions (0.37 eV). This contributes to the high electrocatalytic activity (e.g., a halfwave potential of 0.84 V and an overpotential of 0.30 V at 10 mA cm−2), featuring a high selectivity of a four-electron pathway (i.e., a negligible by-product of hydrogen peroxide). These catalysts also exhibit exceptional kinetic current density (Tafel slope of 100 mV dec−1) in oxygen reduction reactions, in addition to a superior power density (158 mW cm−2) and a high cycling stability (>1,300 cycles) in Zn–air batteries, outperforming the commercial Pt/C and/or RuO2 counterparts. [Figure not available: see fulltext.
Magnetic-responsive upconversion luminescence resonance energy transfer (LRET) biosensor for ultrasensitive detection of SARS-CoV-2 spike protein
No full textUpconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs) are ideal donors for luminescence resonance energy transfer (LRET)-based biosensors due to their excellent upconversion luminescence properties. However, the relatively large size of antibodies and proteins limits the application of UCNPs-based LRET biosensors in protein detection because the large steric hindrance of proteins leads to low energy transfer efficiency between UCNPs and receptors. Herein, we developed a magnetic responsive UCNPs-based LRET biosensor to control the coupling distance between antibody-functionalized UCNPs (Ab-UCNPs) as donors and antibody-PEG linker-magnetic gold nanoparticles (Ab-PEG-MGNs) as acceptors for ultrasensitive and highly selective detection of SARS-CoV-2 spike proteins. Our results showed that this platform reversibly shortened the coupling distance between UCNPs and MGNs and enhanced the LRET signal with a 10-fold increase in the limit of detection (LOD) from 20.6 pg/mL without magnetic modulation to 2.1 pg/mL with magnetic modulation within 1 h. The finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) simulation with cyclic distance change confirmed the distance-dependent LRET efficiency under magnetic modulation, which supported the experimental results. Moreover, the applications of this magnetic-responsive UCNP-based LRET biosensor could be extended to other large-size biomolecule detection
The dehydration effect on energy absorption characteristics of the tropical fruit durian (Durio zibethinus)
No full textThis study explores the influence of dehydration on the energy absorption properties of the mesocarp layer of the tropic fruit durian (Durio zibethinus). Cuboid-shaped mesocarp samples of both fresh and dehydrated durian shells were subjected to axial compression tests. The findings reveal that the fresh mesocarp layer demonstrated heightened densification strain, a stable stress plateau, and enhanced specific energy absorption compared to its dehydrated counterpart. This underscores the crucial role of water and liquid sap in optimizing the energy absorption capacity of the durian mesocarp layer
Public university research engagement contradictions in a commercialising higher education world
No full textThis paper aims to critically assess the impact of public university commercialisation on research engagement and practice relevance. Recent decades have seen dramatic changes in university environments, identities and missions, as well as in government and private sector funding and involvement. As increasingly commercialised and corporatised organisations, universities have increasingly mimicked private sector hierarchical organisation structures, professionally managed and subject to performance management via proliferating management control systems. From accumulated prior research, this paper finds university research now primarily conducted for the private rather than public good, researchers being subject to and tailoring their endeavors to conform with proliferating metrics focused university management control systems. External engagement appears as a university impression management strategy, while internally, researchers are still compelled to pursue a contradictory focus on high-status self-referential journal publication venues. This contradictory environment is found to have produced an increasing distance between university research and professional practice and between research and professional communities
An ω-Free Accelerometer Array Method for 2-D Trajectory Reconstruction
No full textA trajectory can be reconstructed by integrating acceleration and angular velocity (i.e. ω ) sampled by a single inertial measurement unit (IMU) which consists of an accelerometer (ACC) and gyroscope (GYRO). To reduce the system power consumption, a GYRO-free-IMU (GF-IMU) method was proposed which disabled the more power-consuming GYRO and utilized only an ACC array (AA) to obtain acceleration and calculate ω . To alleviate the error accumulation problem in the GF-IMU method, we previously proposed an ω -free ACC pair (OFAP) method which doesn't require the calculation of ω and can estimate the trajectory by solving a constrained optimization problem. However, the constrained problem makes it computationally expensive to generalize the proposed approach for different AA setups with more ACCs. To enhance the scalability and robustness of the system, this paper proposes a new ω -free inertia-based method, namely ω -free AA (OFAA), which transforms the constrained problem into an unconstrained one, and derives its scalable and computational-efficient closed-form solution. In both physical experiments and simulations, compared with conventional inertial methods, the proposed OFAA method has a lower trajectory-reconstruction error per distance traveled and is more robust to errors in raw inertial data, while still having a low energy consumption
Integrating interpersonal skill development in an MBA accounting course
No full textDespite recognition of the high value placed on interpersonal skills (IPS) by education, business and government stakeholders, this area of skills development only has a limited place within MBA programs. This paper introduces and tests the effectiveness of a mock-business simulation named ‘Practice Aspects of Management’ incorporated into an early-stage accounting course within an MBA Program, with the aim of accelerating students’ IPS development. We investigate whether embedding a client interface simulation within an MBA course can improve the IPS that employers are now seeking. Following the science of training and Bedwell and colleagues’ ‘stepping stones’ to assist IPS integration within existing MBA programs, we outline a successful initiative to address the IPS deficits. We contribute to the literature by detailing how IPS can be integrated into an accounting course and utilised to equip students with both the technical and IPS attributes now desired by employers
Growth Areas Liveability Scorecard for Sydney
No full textThis report is the first series of Growth Areas Liveability Scorecard Reports developed in partnership with the National Growth Areas Alliance. The Growth Area Liveability Scorecards have been developed for the capital cities of Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne, Sydney and Perth include indicators and maps from the Australian Urban Observatory measuring the liveability of 21 Australian cities. The Scorecards focus on the fastest growing Local Government Areas located in outer metropolitan and peri-urban regions of Australia’s five largest capital cities. The Growth Area Liveability Scorecards identify differences between Growth Areas and Non-Growth Areas across Australian capital cities. Results are based on previous City Liveability Scorecards developed by the Australian Urban Observatory @ RMIT University and are based on 2021 indicator results. More detailed neighbourhood, suburb, and Local Government Area results across Australian cities are available online at auo.org.au.</p
Alien Bodies: Choreographic Worlding toward Unfamiliar Corporeality
No full textAlien Bodies is a research project that contributes to performance studies by investigating the persistence of deeply embedded cultural inscriptions on performing bodies. This practice-based PhD explores how choreographic methods can cultivate novel or unknown corporeal experiences through performance work, addressing how gendered stereotypes remain sticky even when subjected to choreographic transformation. Drawing upon phenomenological, contemporary feminist, and posthuman perspectives and guided by the key research question: How might choreographic practice explore unfamiliar corporeality in performance? In a bid to circumvent ingrained patterns and unspoken norms through radical unfamiliarity and corporeal estrangement. This study develops two interconnected approaches: choreographic worlding and alien embodiment. It examines how a hybrid human-alien perspective may generate transformative experiences that broaden conventional frameworks around identity, agency and embodied knowledge. Underlying the major performance work Alter Edith that forms this study is a methodology that proposes perspectives and practices to expand choreographic applications beyond traditional hierarchies and institutional models, suggesting alternative modes of experience and subjective self-determination through alien embodiment. The experimental methodology constructs layered performance experiences through four interconnected method pools: Moving, Making, Performing, and Reflecting. Experimental techniques—including bodily distortion, sensory saturation, temporal warping, and spatial disorientation—culminate in Alter Edith, a surreal exploration in which an alien protagonist navigates cyclic simulations of human tasks through strange, episodic gestures. Alter Edith examines the idea of subjectivity as contingent and relational, where identities are actively constructed and reshaped in real-time with an audience. Alien embodiment is posited to offer a compelling means of engaging with human experience from a position of radical unfamiliarity. The findings open a model for exploring ethical and communal approaches to performance-making while interrogating Western heteronormative structures through an approach that centres embodied knowledge as a primary form of inquiry. The synthesis of choreographic worlding and alien embodiment generates new possibilities for multisensory performance environments that suspend normative reality, enabling emergent forms of embodied knowledge.</p