18397 research outputs found
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An Investigation Of Hydrodynamic Slip And Its Effect On Nanoscale Electro-osmotic Flow
No full textNanofluidics, which is the study of fluid flow at the nanoscale, offers enormous potential in the development of devices that can push the frontiers of technology, biology, and medicine. The present thesis explores an important nanoscale flow phenomenon known as hydrodynamic slip/friction, and proposes an efficient method to compute the hydrodynamic friction that exists in the fluid-solid interface of nanofluidic systems. The thesis also subsequently discusses the effect of slip on the nanoscale electro-osmotic flow and presents an electro-hydrodynamic model that can accurately predict the optimal counterion concentration that results in a maximum electro-osmotic flow rate.</p
Understanding Private Sector Whistleblower Protection in Australia: A Legal Pragmatic Approach
No full textThis thesis investigates private sector whistleblower protection in Australia following the amendments made to the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth) by the Treasury Laws Amendment (Enhancing Whistleblower Protections) Act 2019 (Cth), and also private sector responses to the new legal requirement of developing whistleblower policies. The overall analysis in this thesis provides direction for understanding future challenges that may be encountered under the new regulatory regime and in the operationalisation of the legal obligations it imposes at the corporate level. The findings will interest corporate and public policymakers in developing future private sector whistleblower amendments or revised protection in Australia.</p
Interactive relationships of Type 2 diabetes and bipolar disorder with cognition: evidence of putative premature cognitive ageing in the UK Biobank Cohort
No full textType 2 diabetes (T2D) is disproportionately prevalent in bipolar disorder (BD) and is associated with cognitive deficits in psychiatrically healthy cohorts. Whether there is an interaction effect between T2D and BD on cognition remains unclear. Using the UK Biobank, we explored interactions between T2D, BD and cognition during mid and later life; and examined age-related cognitive performance effects in BD as a function of T2D. Data were available for 1511 participants with BD (85 T2D), and 81,162 psychiatrically healthy comparisons (HC) (3430 T2D). BD and T2D status were determined by validated measures created specifically for the UK Biobank. Diagnostic and age-related associations between T2D status and cognition were tested using analyses of covariance or logistic regression. There was a negative association of T2D with visuospatial memory that was specific to BD. Processing speed and prospective memory performance were negatively associated with T2D, irrespective of BD diagnosis. Cognitive deficits were evident in BD patients with T2D compared to those without, with scores either remaining the same (processing speed) or improving (visuospatial memory) as a function of participant age. In contrast, cognitive performance in BD patients without T2D was worse as participant age increased, although the age-related trajectory remained broadly equivalent to the HC group. BD and T2D associated with cognitive performance deficits across the mid-life period; indicating comorbid T2D as a potential risk factor for cognitive dysfunction in BD. In comparison to BD participants without T2D and HCs, age-independent cognitive impairments in BD participants with comorbid T2D suggest a potential premature deterioration of cognitive functioning compared to what would normally be expected
Uncovering the Digital Divide in the Western Parkland City: Findings Report for Western Parkland City Digital Equity and Inclusion Program
No full textThis report delivers findings from targeted research through a localised Australian Digital Inclusion Index (ADII) survey to measure digital inclusion across Western Parkland City and benchmark the digital divide between Western Parkland City and the rest of Greater Sydney. Building on the knowledge of the Program team and participants, this report presents findings from a representative sample of 2,402 residents using the Australian Internet Usage Survey (AIUS) that informs the Australian Digital Inclusion Index (ADII)
A Policing perspective of high-risk repeat family violence
No full textThis research explored the complexities of policing high-risk repeat family violence in the Southern Metropolitan Region of Victoria, Australia. It identified that drugs, alcohol, mental health, the Family Violence Intervention Order process and the underpinning gendered philosophy of the Duluth Model adopted by Victoria Police had restricted police members in providing a balanced approach for all victims of high-risk repeat family violence.
This researcher proposes combining elements of the Duluth and Straus Models to develop an Integrated Family Violence Management Model to assist Police, the Government and Judiciary to provide a more balanced approach in the management of family violence
Using Narrative Identity to Better Understand Learning Dispositions to Support University Students
No full textThe overarching goal of the study reported in this thesis was to gain an insight into learning dispositions (i.e., motivation, engagement, and self-regulation in learning) using the narrative conception of identity (i.e., narrative identity) to identify ways of offering better support to university students. Current literature on the first-year experience showed that there remains a paucity of research investigating the link between identity and learning dispositions and proposed that assisting students in developing their identities could prove fruitful to their educational journey. As such, the investigation of these concepts is important in the quest to better understand and support students’ needs. Overall, this study shed light on the intricate nature of student identity development and provided essential insights for all stakeholders in the higher education sectors to support their students' progress and growth
Experimental Investigation of Waste Clay Bricks as an Alternative to Cement in Pavement Construction
No full textThe primary sustainability challenge in the concrete pavement industry is the high energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions associated with ordinary Portland cement (OPC) manufacturing. This research focused on developing low-carbon binder material to fully replace OPC in concrete using waste clay bricks. Waste clay bricks sourced from construction and demolition waste was processed and combined with other industrial wastes such ash fly ash and slag, and alkaline activators to produce alternative cements. This research was able to develop pavement concrete with similar or better mechanical, durability and serviceability performance and superior environmental performance compared to conventional concrete with OPC
The Role of Angular Momentum in the Evolution of Star-forming galaxies
No full textThis thesis contains a detailed investigation of the dynamics of galaxies in a cosmic epoch where many important evolutionary processes occur. To do this, I used sophisticated observational techniques to measure the amount of rotation in these systems. This way I made a thorough examination of the characteristics of the data and provided suggestions for future studies that use similar datasets and similar techniques. By building up a large sample of galaxies with detailed observations, I also found interesting trends, which will benefit from further studies by scientists working in the field
Evaluation of potential rainwater tank outcomes using generalised equations and future performance of rainwater harvesting systems
No full textOptimisation of rainwater tank outcomes has always been a challenge for the users, as the water savings depend on several factors such as annual rainfall, rainfall distribution in a year, roof area, tank size and rainwater demand. To overcome this hurdle, this research presents the development of robust equations for calculating expected annual water savings through rainwater tanks, which consist of variables like annual rainfall, rainwater demand, tank size, and roof area. Moreover, as the development of such equations for every location is a tedious task, the usefulness of using such equations for neighbouring locations warrants attention. This research investigates the spatial sensitivity of four generalised equations developed earlier for Brisbane to be used for any random location in Brisbane.
Also, due to the onslaught of climate change, the rainfall pattern is likely to get altered in future and this may affect the performance of a rainwater harvesting system (RWHS). However, studies related to the effects of climate change on RWHS are limited. This research examined the future performance of rainwater tanks in Brisbane under two different climate change scenarios: RCP4.5 (optimistic scenario) and RCP8.5 (pessimistic scenario)
Financial abuse: The weaponisation of child support in Australia
No full textThis report draws on post-separation lived experience to demonstrate the insidious ways that the Australian Child Support Scheme can be used and abused to jeopardise the financial safety of recipient parents and their children. This abuse primarily affects women, who continue to carry the burden of unpaid care work in Australia (and internationally) and are overrepresented as victim-survivors of family violence.
In this report, we explore the ways that the Child Support Scheme can be used to financially abuse women, and the devastating impacts of this abuse on mothers’ and children’s lives. The findings show that separated mothers endure lasting impacts to their financial security, emotional and mental wellbeing, food security, and housing safety through child support-facilitated financial abuse, sometimes long after separation.</p