18397 research outputs found
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Design principles for mainstreaming of nature-based solutions in cities: A proposal for future pathways
No full textExamining how city-level governments respond to the coupled climate and biodiversity crises can build an understanding of how to enable urban sustainability transitions. In this paper, we refer specifically to mainstreaming, as an approach for embedding novel sustainability solutions into governance and practice. The focus is to better understand the governance of nature-based solutions in cities, from the perspective of the processes of mainstreaming. Therefore, we define a novel and comprehensive mainstreaming framework that is built from three previous frameworks that describe social-institutional elements of mainstreaming: actors’ roles, institutional spaces, and governance mechanisms. These three elements provide the foundations for conceptually deepening the understanding of mainstreaming processes through an organising framework that distils the principles of mainstreaming and the key considerations for designing mainstreaming. The new framework presented in this paper is useful for understanding the interdependencies of different social-institutional dimensions and dynamics of mainstreaming by defining overarching principles that can be considered as key factors for enabling and accelerating mainstreaming. This is further conceptualised in relation to how mainstreaming pathways can be designed, in other words, how mainstreaming can be mobilised in practice. The conceptual work of this paper is illustrated with examples of how mainstreaming can manifest from a case study of urban forestry governance across metropolitan Melbourne, Australia.</p
Breath-Heart-Brain: Investigating the Relationship Between Autonomic Activity, Interoception, and Emotion Regulation
No full textThis thesis investigated the extent to which slow-paced controlled breathing and heart rate variability are involved with interoceptive processes, emotional state, and emotional regulation. Documenting the underlying neurological and physiological mechanisms associated with controlled breathing was the underlying motivation for this thesis. While breath control practices have been used for millennia across various ancient spiritual traditions, this thesis builds upon the scientific evidence-base for breath practices. This is especially important for those that may benefit from slow-breathing techniques such as anxious individuals, as well as practitioners in the field who advocate for such techniques
The fractured field of leadership development: a case study of stalled professionalisation
No full textMounting global investment in the industry of leadership development ($366 billion US 2019) has reportedly not delivered corresponding improvements in leader or organisational performance. By establishing an industry model, this research identified influences on performance, including stalled professionalisation. Also important were the practitioners designing and delivering leadership development, whose client focus took precedence over evidence or industry change. Other impacts were disconnected theory, intense competition and differentiated client services. Furthermore, no industry group expressed interest in professionalising, measuring results, or improving industry performance. Through identifying these influences, this research provides the industry with strategies to improve leader and organisational performance
Investigating relationships between physical performance, muscle health and gut microbiome in older adults
No full textThis thesis aimed to investigate the effects of a synbiotic (combination of a prebiotic and probiotics) on measures of physical function and muscle health in older adults. Sixty-four community-dwelling older women and men were allocated (1:1) to receive a multi-strain synbiotic or placebo daily for 16 weeks. 16 weeks of synbiotic supplementation resulted in increased lean body mass and significant improvements in muscle strength and physical performance compared with placebo. Compared with placebo, supplementation with synbiotic was associated with improved muscle architecture as assessed by ultrasound. Beneficial links between synbiotic intake and untargeted serum metabolomics were observed.</p
Say-on-pay and financial reporting quality: Evidence from Australia
No full textIn recent decades, policymakers around the world have introduced say-on-pay (SOP) laws to give shareholders a voice in setting executive compensation. This thesis examines the impact of Australia’s SOP regime — the so-called ‘two-strikes’ rule — on the quality of financial reporting. The findings suggest that under certain conditions, the incidence of a ‘strike’ (i.e., 25 percent or more votes against the remuneration report) can erode financial reporting quality, highlighting an unintended consequence of SOP voting. In addition to its scholarly contribution, this thesis has practical implications for investors, regulators, auditors and other corporate stakeholders.</p
Fortifying the Chain: A Deep Dive into Security Enhancements for Blockchain Technology
No full textThis research explores advancements in blockchain technology by analyzing the relationship between interoperability and security, focusing on cross-chain bridges, Bitcoin inscriptions, and Internet of Things (IoT) integration. It identifies significant vulnerabilities in cross-chain bridges, such as oracle manipulations, centralization risks, and deficiencies in smart contracts, while proposing strategic security solutions to mitigate these risks. The proposed solutions aim to foster a more secure and reliable blockchain ecosystem across sectors like finance and IoT by enhancing interoperability and addressing security flaws, ensuring the safe transfer of assets and data across multiple blockchain platforms.</p
“Think Positive? I Already am”: Explorations of Perpetuated Stigma and Resilience Development among HIV-Positive Gay Men in Australia
No full textGay men living with HIV experience stigma related to their dual minority statuses. Despite advancements in HIV biomedicine and societal acceptance of sexual minorities over thirty years, this demographic continues to report poorer psychosocial outcomes compared to the general population. This thesis explores the contributing factors that influence how sexual orientation and HIV stigmas are experienced, adaptive coping responses employed by men, and challenges faced when accessing HIV support services. Findings highlight the continued psychosocial disparities at an individual, sociocultural and structural level. Recommendations from this thesis can assist researchers, clinicians and HIV services in both stigma evaluation and reduction. </p
Advanced Technology for Multi-constraint Online State of Power Estimation for Lithium-ion Batteries in Electric Vehicles
No full textThis thesis develops advanced technology to improve the accuracy of estimating the power capability of lithium-ion batteries in electric vehicles. By addressing challenges in battery modelling, state of charge estimation, and adapting to complex driving conditions, this research enhances the reliability of power estimates. These improvements are crucial for ensuring electric vehicles have sufficient power for demanding driving tasks, ultimately contributing to the advancement of electric vehicle technology and supporting the transition to sustainable transportation.</p
Sustainable Aviation Fuels for Clean Skies: Exploring the Potential and Perspectives of Strained Hydrocarbons
No full textFuel is the lifeblood of the aviation industry. The pressing need to reduce carbon emissions calls for the adoption of sustainable aviation fuels (SAFs) as a feasible alternative, particularly in the absence of widespread hydrogen usage. SAFs with high energy density (HED) hold great promise due to their favorable weight and volume characteristics. This comprehensive review article delves into the history of aviation fuel, essential requirements for aviation fuels, and the imperative for SAF development, focusing on the power-to-liquid (PtL) pathway to produce SAFs. It particularly concentrates on recent advancements in the screening and design of new strained hydrocarbons as high-performance SAFs. By utilizing machine learning (ML) techniques, potential strained hydrocarbon or cycloalkane structures have been identified and optimized, revealing superior potentials for energy content and other critical properties that enhance the efficiency and performance of SAFs. The review also provides a perspective with a forward-looking approach and a route map in the development of new SAFs, including the exploration of strain energy in cycloalkanes through quantum mechanical calculations, the establishment of structure-property relationships for rational design, and the need for a technoeconomic assessment (TEA) of their production. It further highlights the potential new directions in SAF development.</p
Statutory Review of Meetings and Documents Amendments: Final report
No full textReview of the functionality and operability of the current provisions of the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth) regulating the use of technology to enable virtual meetings of shareholders and to provide for the electronic reading, amendment, communication and execution of company documents.</p