136986 research outputs found
Sort by
Optimisation of micro pumped-hydro systems in urban setup
No full text© 2025 Arezoo BoroomandniaThe urgent need for sustainable energy solutions around the world has driven significant research into innovative energy storage systems. This PhD thesis explores the potential of using urban Micro Pumped-Storage (MPS) systems as a sustainable and viable alternative to traditional energy storage methods. The research aims to address the critical challenge of expanding energy storage capacity to support the transition to renewable energy sources, focusing on urban environments where space and resources are constrained. Structured around three key research questions, this thesis investigates the feasibility, sustainability, and design and operational optimisation of MPS systems in high-rise buildings, providing a comprehensive framework for their integration into urban energy systems.
The foundation of this research is established based on a systematic review of urban micro-hydro systems (UMHS), including MPS. This review identifies the technical, economic, and environmental challenges and opportunities associated with UMHS. By synthesising existing literature, the paper highlights critical barriers such as economic feasibility and energy generation reliability while identifying overlooked opportunities that could accelerate the adoption of MPS systems. The review underscores the potential of MPS systems to contribute to urban energy resilience through synergies with sustainable stormwater reuse and peak-load shaving. Building on these insights, a multi-objective optimisation model is developed to assess the techno-economic feasibility of MPS systems in high-rise buildings up to 300 meters in height. By evaluating a range of storage configurations, including modular tanks, green roofs, blue roofs, and nearby streams, alongside future energy market scenarios, the study highlights the significant impact of building height, water storage type, and electricity tariffs on the economic and environmental feasibility of MPS systems. For instance, modular tanks and nearby streams lead to the shortest payback periods and the highest net present value, providing a strong case for their adoption in urban settings.
To complete the analysis, the study compares optimised MPS systems with lithium-ion batteries using levelised cost of storage (LCOS) and levelised embodied emissions (LEE). The results show that MPS systems can surpass batteries for specific configurations and building heights, particularly with larger storage capacities. The study also identifies the minimum rooftop area required for MPS to be viable, showing that incorporating nearby streams can enhance the feasibility of MPS in buildings with limited rooftop space. Despite these advantages, the findings highlight that MPS systems are generally less effective than batteries for buildings with rooftops smaller than 1,175 square meters, illustrating the importance of context-specific analysis.
To achieve the decarbonisation goal set as the aim of the study, MPS operations are optimised to maximise energy arbitrage and minimise emissions. Using a multi-objective optimisation model incorporating real-time emission factors, time-varying electricity tariffs, and urban-scale water-energy interactions, this study demonstrates the significant environmental and economic benefits of MPS systems. Key findings include a reduction in operational emissions ranging from 4% to 43%, a decrease in potable water consumption of up to 3,000 cubic meters annually in residential high-rises, and energy savings of 3 to 5 MWh per year. Additionally, the study quantifies the cost of decarbonisation and identifies opportunities for MPS systems to align with sustainability rating tools such as Green Star. Despite these benefits, practical challenges, including operational complexity and legal requirements, are identified as critical areas for further exploration.
In conclusion, this PhD thesis demonstrates that MPS systems are a promising, sustainable energy storage alternative under specific conditions, capable of contributing to urban energy resilience, decarbonisation, and sustainable water management. By addressing economic, environmental, and operational aspects, the research provides a robust framework for the development and deployment of MPS systems in high-rise urban environments in Australia. However, to encourage widespread adoption of micro pumped storage, practical challenges must be overcome, including regulatory barriers, design complexities, and integration with existing urban systems. This work not only advances the understanding of MPS systems but also contributes to the broader discourse on sustainable energy solutions in the built environment, paving the way for resilient and low-carbon urban futures
Unmasking the Silent Syndrome: Leveraging Genomics, EMRs and Reproductive Screening to Diagnose and Manage Alport Syndrome
No full text© 2025 GRAINNE BUTLERAlport syndrome (AS) is a heterogeneous group of genetic disorders caused by pathogenic variants in the COL4A3, COL4A4 and COL4A5 genes coding for Type IV collagen. There is a broad spectrum of associated phenotypes ranging from asymptomatic lifelong microscopic haematuria (MH) to those with kidney failure in adolescence requiring renal replacement therapy and ultimately transplant. Extrarenal involvement can include sensorineural hearing loss which is irreversible and eye changes including anterior lenticonus and peripheral fleck retinopathy. Typically, vision is not affected.
To date, there is no cure for AS but fortunately, there is good evidence for the use of medications which result in Renin-Angiotensin-Aldosterone-System (RAAS) blockade. These medications confer a nephroprotective effect and can delay the onset of kidney failure, in some cases by ten to fifteen years although there is now growing interest in the potential of Sodium-glucose co-transporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors and their effects on maintaining kidney function.
An early sign of AS can be the finding of MH. MH is a common incidental finding in paediatrics, but often overlooked. Although most MH self-resolves, persistent MH presents an opportunity for further assessment and consideration of underlying cause.
Large scale population based genomic studies along with reclassification of autosomal dominant Alport syndrome (ADAS) have changed our understanding of AS prevalence. With this, there is an opportunity to consider undiagnosed AS and what strategies could be used to improve early diagnosis and support surveillance and timely use of nephroprotective therapy, where appropriate.
Some key changes are required to support early AS diagnosis:
1. MH needs to be actively noted and routinely followed up to detect those with persistent MH.
2. Clinicians need to be supported and empowered to provide genomic testing to their patients.
3. Incidental opportunities such as MH in pregnancy or secondary findings during Reproductive Genetic Carrier Screening (RGCS) represent critical windows of opportunity to provide proactive healthcare
Examining Screen Time Features for Managing Problematic Smartphone Use and Dependence: An Extension of Technology Acceptance Model
No full textProblematic smartphone use and dependence (PSUD) causes significant concerns, often resulting from excessive and habitual smartphone usage beyond functional needs. This study employs a mixed-methods approach with an explanatory sequential design to investigate the factors influencing PSUD, while explicitly focusing on screen time features for management. By integrating the novel concept of the perceived awareness construct into the technology acceptance model (TAM), this study aims to provide unique insights into the role of awareness alongside perceived usefulness and ease of use in managing smartphone behaviours. The quantitative analysis involved a cross-sectional survey of 415 Australian adults aged 18 and older, while the qualitative analysis was based on a thematic analysis of semistructured interviews with 18 participants. The quantitative findings highlight the importance of awareness and the perceived usefulness of screen time features in identifying and managing smartphone behaviours. Participants who lacked awareness of screen time features faced challenges in effective management of PSUD and reported higher concerns about their smartphone use. The qualitative phase further investigated this notion and validated the importance of perceived awareness in screen time feature adoption to manage PSUD. This study highlights the importance of the perceived awareness construct in TAM for evaluating new technologies adoption, particularly in assessing and improving screen time features for managing PSUD
Process mining over sensor data: Goal recognition for powered transhumeral prostheses
No full textProcess mining (PM)-based goal recognition (GR) techniques, which infer goals or targets based on sequences of observed actions, have shown efficacy in real-world engineering applications. This study explores the applicability of PM-based GR in identifying target poses for users employing powered transhumeral prosthetics. These prosthetics are designed to restore missing anatomical segments below the shoulder, including the hand. In this article, we aim to apply the GR techniques to identify the intended movements of users, enabling the motors on the powered transhumeral prosthesis to execute the desired motions precisely. In this way, a powered transhumeral prosthesis can assist individuals with disabilities in completing movement tasks. PM-based GR techniques were initially designed to infer goals from sequences of observed actions, where discrete event names represent actions. However, the electromyography electrodes and kinematic sensors on powered transhumeral prosthetic devices register sequences of continuous, real-valued data measurements. Therefore, we rely on methods to transform sensor data into discrete events and integrate these methods with the PM-based GR system to develop target pose recognition approaches. Two data transformation approaches are introduced. The first approach relies on the clustering of data measurements collected before the target pose is reached (the clustering approach). The second approach uses the time series of measurements collected while the dynamic user movement to perform linear discriminant analysis (LDA) classification and identify discrete events (the dynamic LDA approach). These methods are evaluated through offline and human-in-the-loop (online) experiments and compared with established techniques, such as static LDA, an LDA classification based on data collected at static target poses, and GR approaches based on neural networks. Real-time human-in-the-loop experiments further validate the effectiveness of the proposed methods, demonstrating that PM-based GR using the dynamic LDA classifier achieves superior F1 score and balanced accuracy compared to state-of-the-art techniques
Experimental characterisation of Kelvin-Helmholtz rollers over riblet surfaces
No full textThe formation of Kelvin–Helmholtz-like rollers (referred to as K–H rollers) over riblet surfaces has been linked to the drag-increasing behaviour seen in certain riblet geometries, such as sawtooth and blade riblets, when the riblet size reaches sufficiently large viscous scales (Endrikat et al. (2021a), J. Fluid Mech. 913, A37). In this study, we focus on the sawtooth geometry of fixed physical size, and experimentally examine the response of these K–H rollers to further increases in viscous scaled riblet sizes, by adopting the conventional approach of increasing freestream speeds (and consequently, the friction Reynolds number). Rather than continual strengthening, the present study shows a gradual weakening of these K–H rollers with increasing sawtooth riblet size. This is achieved by an analysis of the roller geometric characteristics using both direct numerical simulations and hot-wire anemometry databases at matched viscous scaled riblet spacings, with the former used to develop a novel methodology for detecting these rollers via streamwise velocity signatures (e.g. as acquired by hot wires). Spectral analysis of the streamwise velocity time series, acquired within riblet grooves, reveals that the frequencies (and the streamwise wavelengths) of the K–H rollers increase with increasing riblet size. Cross-correlation spectra, estimated from unique two-point hot-wire measurements in the cross-plane, show a weakening of the K–H rollers and a reduction in their wall-normal coherence with increasing riblet size. Besides contributing to our understanding of the riblet drag-increasing mechanisms, the present findings also have implications for the heat transfer enhancing capabilities of sawtooth riblets, which have been associated previously with the formation of K–H rollers. The present study also suggests conducting future investigations by decoupling the effects of viscous scaled riblet spacing and friction Reynolds numbers, to characterise their influence on the K–H rollers independently
Enabling high-resolution diagnostic oral confocal laser endomicroscopy in mice
No full textTherapeutic prevention of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) will avoid significant morbidity and mortality. To observe and measure the in vivo efficacy of therapeutic challenges, microscopic-level diagnosis without animal sacrifice is required. This study introduces a refined diagnostic methodology for non-invasive cellular-level imaging for diagnosis of micro-lesions by utilizing high-resolution scanning-fibre confocal laser endomicroscopy (ViewnVivo) with topical fluorescence imaging agents. We detail the development and standardization of imaging protocols using a fluorescent, cell-permeable cancer-targeting agent (PARPi-FL) as a cancer-targeting agent and a pan-cytoarchitectural (acriflavine) agent in a pre-clinical murine 4-NQO induced OSCC model. We provide comprehensive methodology for the in vivo identification of the progressive stages of oral carcinogenesis from microscopic lesions, supported by an annotated signature guide correlating with conventional histopathology. Our findings demonstrate that in vivo CLE imaging with both PARPi-FL and acriflavine clearly distinguishes between histologically normal and pathological oral tissue. Tissues with histologic dysplasia and carcinoma demonstrated PARPi-FL positivity and an aberrant nuclear staining pattern with acriflavine, compared to the regularly spaced nuclear staining of normal nuclei. Crucially, this methodology detects microscopic changes not visible to the naked eye, but histologically abnormal. Our observation model of progressive oral carcinogenesis has the potential to accelerate standardised interrogation of early molecular diagnostic applications and novel therapeutic efficacy, whilst reducing the need for animal sacrifice. This will result in faster validated translation to human applications, advancing effective early oral cancer detection and prevention
Odronextamab monotherapy in patients with relapsed/refractory diffuse large B cell lymphoma: primary efficacy and safety analysis in phase 2 ELM-2 trial
No full textThe phase 2, multicohort, ongoing ELM-2 study evaluates odronextamab, a CD20×CD3 bispecific antibody, in patients with relapsed/refractory (R/R) B cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma after ≥2 lines of therapy. Here primary analysis of the diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL) cohort is reported. Patients received intravenous odronextamab in 21-day cycles until progression or unacceptable toxicity, with cycle 1 step-up dosing to mitigate cytokine release syndrome (CRS) risk. The primary endpoint was objective response rate (ORR). Secondary endpoints included complete response (CR) rate, duration of response, progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival. A total of 127 patients were enrolled. At the 29.9-month efficacy follow-up, the ORR was 52.0% and CR rate was 31.5%. Median durations of response and CR were 10.2 and 17.9 months, respectively. Undetectable minimal residual disease at cycle 4 day 15 was associated with PFS benefit. With a step-up of 0.7 to 4 to 20 mg (n = 60), CRS was the most common treatment-emergent adverse event (53.3% (grade ≥3, 1.7%)). No immune effector cell-associated neurotoxicity syndrome was reported. Infections were reported in 82/127 (64.6%) patients (grade ≥3, 38.6%; coronavirus disease 2019, 18.1% (grade ≥3, 12.6%)). In conclusion, odronextamab showed encouraging efficacy in heavily pretreated R/R DLBCL and generally manageable safety with supportive care. Clinical trial registration: NCT03888105
Genetic markers of enhanced functional antibody responses to COVID-19 vaccination
No full textIntroduction: Substantial population-level variation in vaccine-specific antibody responses has been observed following global coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination efforts. Beyond the influence of clinical and demographic features, immunogenetic variation is suggested to underlie divergent serological responses following COVID-19 vaccination of distinct populations.
Methods: Immunoglobulin G1 (IgG1) allotypic markers (G1m) for 121 COVID-19 vaccinated healthy adults were genotyped via Sanger sequencing. Vaccine-specific IgG and Fc gamma receptor (FcγR) engagement were characterised via bead-based multiplex array.
Results Following two COVID-19 vaccine doses, G1m1,17+/+ compared to G1m-1,3+/+ vaccinees had increased IgG and FcγR engagement specific for the antigenically conserved SARS-CoV-2 Spike 2 (S2) domain. IgG targeting antigenically novel SARS-CoV-2 receptor binding domain (RBD) trended higher in G1m1,17+/+ vaccinees, facilitating increased RBD-specific FcγR2a-R131 and FcγR2b binding.
Conclusion Primary COVID-19 vaccination induced increased S2-specific IgG in G1m1,17+/+ vaccinees, potentially facilitating enhanced anti-viral FcγR activation. Validation in larger cohorts may inform optimisation of next-generation vaccination strategies
The contribution of floods to streamflow at yearly timescales: A global assessment
No full textMuch of the world’s population faces significant threats to water security that are likely to be exacerbated under a warmer climate. To understand the impact of climate change on water security, we characterise the relationship between total annual streamflow, a surrogate for water supply, and low frequency flood events. We first calculate the proportion of annual streamflow attributable to flood events at approximately 5000 stations globally, then characterise this relationship as a function of climate and catchment characteristics. To explore the impact of climate changes we investigate trends in these relationships. We find that across the world on average 25% of annual streamflow comes from a single flood event and this proportion is well described by the variability in streamflow and precipitation, which is a function of catchment aridity. In arid to semi-arid catchments, where on average over 40% of annual streamflow comes from a single flood event, we conclude that water availability may be reasonably approximated by focusing on a selection of low frequency events, simplifying the projection of water supply changes under a future climate. Flood generating mechanism is crucial in determining trends of annual streamflow volumes from low frequency events. Where snowmelt is a significant flood process, increasing temperatures are causing a reduction in the proportion of total annual streamflows accounted for by flood events. Where snow is not a significant flood driver, trends are dominated by hydroclimatic variability and aridity, which is expected to be exacerbated with a shift to rainfall driven flooding under climate change