50716 research outputs found
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Lung Deposition of Biomass Smoke in Women, Children, and COPD Cases in Rural India: MPPD Modelling Insights
No full textBiomass smoke exposure in rural Indian kitchens presents a significant health risk, disproportionately affecting women and children who spend long hours near cookstoves. This study applied the Multiple-Path Particle Dosimetry (MPPD) model to simulate the deposition of PM2.5 from biomass cooking emissions across different kitchen and cookstove configurations, focusing on women, children, and women with pre-existing chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Model inputs were derived from field-measured particle concentrations. Simulations showed that in healthy adult women, approximately 40-45% of inhaled particles deposited in the head region, 20-30% in the tracheobronchial region, and 25-35% in the pulmonary/alveolar region. In children, deposition doses were at least two-fold higher than in women under similar conditions, reflecting higher inhalation rates relative to body weight and narrower airway dimensions. Women with COPD exhibited substantially greater pulmonary deposition, with predicted alveolar region burdens 20–30% higher than their healthy counterparts. This suggests impaired clearance and deeper particle penetration, compounding the risks of chronic respiratory illness. Across kitchen types, separate kitchens with traditional cookstoves posed the greatest hazard, with predicted lung deposition up to three times higher than in open kitchens or improved stove settings. By integrating field exposure measurements with lung dosimetry modelling, this study demonstrates how biomass smoke emissions translate into differential respiratory burdens for vulnerable groups. Children and women with COPD bear the heaviest load, heightening risks of pneumonia, asthma, and disease progression. These findings highlight the urgent need for targeted clean cooking interventions, improved ventilation, introduction of air pollution control technologies and prioritisation of high-risk populations to reduce the health impacts of biomass smoke in rural communities
IVF sonification:making music to the rhythm of life
No full textThis study explores the use of sonification in improving the In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) experience for expectant parents. The authors propose that the sonification of IVF videos, depicting the division of embryonic cells, can aid in enhancing understanding of embryonic development and foster emotional connections with medical imagery. To demonstrate this concept, the authors developed a system for creating emotional music synchronized with IVF videos, using a combination of rule-based methods and a neural network. The system was evaluated through two studies, including an online survey and a semi-structured interview, with participants being shown the sonified IVF videos. Results indicated a strong preference for videos with sonification among expectant mothers and a perceived relationship between the sonification and the video. The study supports previous findings on the trade-off between aesthetics and information conveyed through sonification, and suggests that sonification can improve the overall experience and stimulate curiosity without necessarily imparting new information about the embryos.</p
Western Australian Cultural and Creative Activity: Contribution to state product and industry value add:Final Report
Get PDFThe report provides estimates of cultural and creative activity value add and gross state product (GSP) for all of Western Australia (WA) and for 14 creative domains. It first details the need to deal with different approaches to formulating a satellite account for cultural and creative activity. While we follow methods developed by the Bureau of Communications, Arts and Regional Research (BCARR) in its 2024 refresh of the cultural and creative satellite accounts originally developed by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS), we also include results for Computer Systems Design in order to capture the full extent of the value of creative work in WA.Some caution should be used in interpreting the statistics in this report. These are estimates calculated by our University of Canberra (UC) research team, based on estimates calculated by the FootPrintLab and the ABS. The trends and relative comparisons presented here are highly informative and are the most important findings, but we recommend avoiding any emphasis of standalone numbers taken out of the context of trend and comparative analysis
Investigating the potential for implementing family-centred practices for children with intellectual disability in primary schools in Saudi Arabia: listening to the experiences of families and cross-disciplinary professionals
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A necessary disruption in a disrupted world? Impacts of digital disruption on supply chain management
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