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Collaborative team recognition : a core plus extension structure

- Yu, Shuo, Alqahtani, Fayez, Tolba, Amr, Lee, Ivan, Jia, Tao, Xia, Feng

  • Authors: Yu, Shuo , Alqahtani, Fayez , Tolba, Amr , Lee, Ivan , Jia, Tao , Xia, Feng
  • Date: 2022
  • Type: Text , Journal article
  • Relation: Journal of Informetrics Vol. 16, no. 4 (2022), p.
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  • Description: Scientific collaboration is a significant behavior in knowledge creation and idea exchange. To tackle large and complex research questions, a trend of team formation has been observed in recent decades. In this study, we focus on recognizing collaborative teams and exploring inner patterns using scholarly big graph data. We propose a collaborative team recognition (CORE) model with a "core + extension"team structure to recognize collaborative teams in large academic networks. In CORE, we combine an effective evaluation index called the collaboration intensity index with a series of structural features to recognize collaborative teams in which members are in close collaboration relationships. Then, CORE is used to guide the core team members to their extension members. CORE can also serve as the foundation for team-based research. The simulation results indicate that CORE reveals inner patterns of scientific collaboration: senior scholars have broad collaborative relationships and fixed collaboration patterns, which are the underlying mechanisms of team assembly. The experimental results demonstrate that CORE is promising compared with state-of-the-art methods. © 2022 Elsevier Ltd.

Colloidal carbon interference in the treatability of pulp and paper wastewater by MBR

- Scholes, Emily, Brook-Carter, Phillip, Verheyen, Vincent

  • Authors: Scholes, Emily , Brook-Carter, Phillip , Verheyen, Vincent
  • Date: 2019
  • Type: Text , Journal article
  • Relation: Journal of Environmental Chemical Engineering Vol. 7, no. 5 (2019), p. 1-9
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  • Description: Pulp and paper wastewaters are challenging to treat due to their variability, complexity and toxicity. Membrane Bioreactor’s (MBR’s) provide high-quality filtrates but are subject to periods of low filterability / high capillary suction time (CST) which potentially limit their use in this application. There is a paucity of published literature concerning long-term operational issues in full-scale, industrial MBR’s. We hypothesised that either changes of bacterial population, alteration/reduction of bacterial metabolism or bacterial production of extra-cellular polymers (ESPs) increased CST and reduced filterability. This study, conducted over two years at the 16.4MLD Gippsland Water Factory, was structured to inform this bacterial centric hypothesis. However, no shifts in bacterial population were seen as causative of high CST and microbial stress levels and biological activity were observed to be low during high CST and no sign of toxicity was found. The strongest correlator with CST was the concentration of colloidal Total Organic Carbon of the mixed liquor suspended solids (MLSS) supernatant (following centrifugation). The carbonaceous colloids accumulated in the supernatant were named ‘Non-Centrifugable Total Organic Carbon’ (NCTOC). Their accumulation in the MLSS was found be due to their biologically refractory nature and their retention by the MBR membrane. The accumulation of NCTOC typically followed a period where the influent had a high colour and a high sodium to calcium ratio, which is consistent with a pulping by-product called ‘Black Liquor’. Additional experiments with Black Liquor allowed us to conclude that high CST can be produced by addition of Black Liquor.

Community-diversified influence maximization in social networks

- Li, Jianxin, Cai, Taotao, Deng, Ke, Wang, Xinjue, Sellis, Timos, Xia, Feng

  • Authors: Li, Jianxin , Cai, Taotao , Deng, Ke , Wang, Xinjue , Sellis, Timos , Xia, Feng
  • Date: 2020
  • Type: Text , Journal article
  • Relation: Information Systems Vol. 92, no. (2020), p.
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  • Description: To meet the requirement of social influence analytics in various applications, the problem of influence maximization has been studied in recent years. The aim is to find a limited number of nodes (i.e., users) which can activate (i.e. influence) the maximum number of nodes in social networks. However, the community diversity of influenced users is largely ignored even though it has unique value in practice. For example, the higher community diversity reduces the risk of marketing campaigns as you should not put all your eggs in one basket; the diversity can also prolong the effect of a marketing campaign in the future promotion. Motivated by this observation, this paper investigates Community-diversified Influence Maximization (CDIM) problem to efficiently find k nodes such that, if a message is initiated and spread by the k nodes, the number as well as the community diversity of the activated nodes will be maximized at the end of propagation process. This work proposes a metric to measure the community-diversified influence and addresses a series of computational challenges. Two algorithms and an innovative CPSP-Tree index have been developed. This study also investigates the situation that community definition is not specified. The effectiveness and efficiency of the proposed solutions have been verified through extensive experimental studies on five real-world social network datasets. © 2020 Elsevier Ltd

Comparison of multiple surrogates for 3D CFD model in tidal farm optimisation

- Moore, William, Mala-Jetmarova, Helena, Gebreslassie, Mulualem, Tabor, Gavin, Belmont, Michael, Savic, Dragan

  • Authors: Moore, William , Mala-Jetmarova, Helena , Gebreslassie, Mulualem , Tabor, Gavin , Belmont, Michael , Savic, Dragan
  • Date: 2016
  • Type: Text , Conference proceedings
  • Relation: 12th International Conference on Hydroinformatics - Smart Water for the Future, HIC 2016; Songdo Convensialncheon, South Korea; 21st-26th August 2016; published in Procedia Engineering Vol. 154, p. 1132-1139
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  • Description: Marine currents have been identified as a considerable renewable energy source. Therefore, in recent years, research on optimising tidal stream farm layouts in order to maximise power output has emerged. Traditionally, computational fluid dynamics (CFD) models are used to model power output, but their computational cost is prohibitive within an optimisation algorithm. This paper uses surrogate models in place of CFD simulations to optimise the layout of tidal stream farm layouts. Surrogates are functions which are designed to emulate the behaviour of other models with radically reduced computational expense. Two surrogate models are applied and compared: artificial neural network (ANN) and k-nearest neighbours regression (k-NN). We measure their suitability by four criteria: accuracy, efficiency, robustness and performance within an optimisation algorithm. The results reveal that the ANN surrogate is superior in every criteria to the k-NN surrogate. However, the k-NN surrogate is also able to perform adequate optimisation. Finally, we demonstrate that optimisation relying solely on surrogate models is a viable approach, with dramatically reduced computational expense of optimisation. © 2016 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license.
  • Description: Procedia Engineering

Comparison of sample preparation methods for the GC–MS analysis of monoethanolamine (MEA) degradation products generated during post-combustion capture of CO2

- Reynolds, Alicia, Verheyen, Vincent, Adeloju, Samuel, Chaffee, Alan, Meuleman, Erik

  • Authors: Reynolds, Alicia , Verheyen, Vincent , Adeloju, Samuel , Chaffee, Alan , Meuleman, Erik
  • Date: 2016
  • Type: Text , Journal article
  • Relation: International Journal of Greenhouse Gas Control Vol. 52, no. (2016), p. 201-214
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  • Description: As the development of chemical absorption technology for post-combustion capture (PCC) of CO2 from coal-fired power station flue gases proceeds towards commercial deployment, the focus on establishing a thorough understanding of the degradation of the aqueous amine absorbents is increasing. However, there is a need to develop and demonstrate robust analytical methods that are capable of measuring the concentrations of amine degradation products in aqueous monoethanolamine (MEA) matrix during pilot-scale PCC. In this study, sample cleanup and derivatisation methods that enable reliable and robust analysis of MEA degradation products by GC–MS are described. Two sample cleanup methods were evaluated: dehydration (by rotary evaporation and molecular sieves) and cation exchange. The cation exchange sample preparation method was preferred for the analysis of organic degradation products in these samples because it achieved higher recovery and repeatability of GC–MS measurements than those obtained with the dehydration method. Furthermore, the cation exchange method resulted in less continued amine degradation during subsequent analysis steps because of its ability to separate acidic analytes from basic analytes, as well as to remove some inorganic interferences. Further improvement of the sensitivity, repeatability and accuracy of this GC–MS analytical method can be accomplished by: (a) increasing the scale of the cation exchange and/or derivatisation procedures; (b) optimizing the derivatisation reaction conditions; and (c) using a narrower bore (e.g. 0.25 mm ID) GC–MS column. The proposed cation exchange and derivatisation procedures can be readily adopted for the quantification of organic degradation products in other aqueous amine absorbents to provide important insights into the degradation of amine absorbents during PCC of CO2. © 2016 Elsevier Ltd

Comparisons between impedance-based and time-based switching bipolar radiofrequency ablation for the treatment of liver cancer

- Yap, Shelley, Ooi, Ean, Foo, Ji, Ooi, Ean Tat

  • Authors: Yap, Shelley , Ooi, Ean , Foo, Ji , Ooi, Ean Tat
  • Date: 2021
  • Type: Text , Journal article
  • Relation: Computers in Biology and Medicine Vol. 134, no. (2021), p.
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  • Description: Switching bipolar radiofrequency ablation (bRFA) is a cancer treatment technique that activates multiple pairs of electrodes alternately based on a predefined criterion. Various criteria can be used to trigger the switch, such as time (ablation duration) and tissue impedance. In a recent study on time-based switching bRFA, it was determined that a shorter switch interval could produce better treatment outcome than when a longer switch interval was used, which reduces tissue charring and roll-off induced cooling. In this study, it was hypothesized that a more efficacious bRFA treatment can be attained by employing impedance-based switching. This is because ablation per pair can be maximized since there will be no interruption to RF energy delivery until roll-off occurs. This was investigated using a two-compartment 3D computational model. Results showed that impedance-based switching bRFA outperformed time-based switching when the switch interval of the latter is 100 s or higher. When compared to the time-based switching with switch interval of 50 s, the impedance-based model is inferior. It remains to be investigated whether the impedance-based protocol is better than the time-based protocol for a switch interval of 50 s due to the inverse relationship between ablation and treatment efficacies. It was suggested that the choice of impedance-based or time-based switching could ultimately be patient-dependent. © 2021 Elsevier Ltd

Complex coacervation between flaxseed protein isolate and flaxseed gum

- Kaushik, Pratibha, Dowling, Kim, Barrow, Colin, Adhikari, Benu

  • Authors: Kaushik, Pratibha , Dowling, Kim , Barrow, Colin , Adhikari, Benu
  • Date: 2015
  • Type: Text , Journal article
  • Relation: Food Research International Vol. 72, no. (2015), p. 91-97
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  • Description: Flaxseed protein isolate (FPI) and flaxseed gum (FG) were extracted, and the electrostatic complexation between these two biopolymers was studied as a function of pH and FPI-to-FG ratio using turbidimetric and electrophoretic mobility (zeta potential) tests. The zeta potential values of FPI, FG, and their mixtures at the FPI-to-FG ratios of 1:1, 3:1, 5:1, 10:1, 15:1 were measured over a pH range 8.0-1.5. The alteration of the secondary structure of FPI as a function of pH was studied using circular dichroism. The proportion of a-helical structure decreased, whereas both β-sheet structure and random coil structure increased with the lowering of pH from 8.0 to 3.0. The acidic pH affected the secondary structure of FPI and the unfolding of helix conformation facilitated the complexation of FPI with FG. The optimum FPI-to-FG ratio for complex coacervation was found to be 3:1. The critical pH values associated with the formation of soluble (pHc) and insoluble (pHΦ1) complexes at the optimum FPI-to-FG ratio were found to be 6.0 and 4.5, respectively. The optimum pH (pHopt) for the optimum complex coacervation was 3.1. The instability and dissolution of FPI-FG complex coacervates started (pHΦ2) at pH2.1. These findings contribute to the development of FPI-FG complex coacervates as delivery vehicles for unstable albeit valuable nutrients such as omega-3 fatty acids. © 2015.

Compression limit state of HVAC submarine cables

- Reda, Ahmed, Forbes, Gareth, Al-Mahmoud, Faisal, Howard, Ian, McKee, Kristoffer, Sultan, Ibrahim

  • Authors: Reda, Ahmed , Forbes, Gareth , Al-Mahmoud, Faisal , Howard, Ian , McKee, Kristoffer , Sultan, Ibrahim
  • Date: 2016
  • Type: Text , Journal article
  • Relation: Applied Ocean Research Vol. 56, no. (2016), p. 12-34
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  • Description: An industry accepted standard does not currently exist for determination of compression limits in a subsea cable. This has resulted in most manufacturers specifying that subsea cables are not permitted to be axially loaded in compression.Additionally industry guidance does not exist regarding the consequences of inducing compression forces within subsea cables and the resulting effect on cable integrity. Industry recommended practice and guidance also does not have any information regarding experimental test arrangements to determine allowable compression levels within a subsea cable. This lack of modelling/testing guidance along with manufacturer recommendations of zero compressive loads within subsea cables results in overly conservative and restrictive design parameters for subsea cable installation and use.Due to the complex interaction within a subsea cable structure, such as contact interaction and friction between cable strands, theoretical modelling has been unable to provide reliable stress predictions and therefore an experimental testing regime is required if compression limits within the cable are to be appropriately determined. This paper describes combined axial and bending test arrangements that can be used as a guideline for determination of allowable compression limits for subsea cables. © 2016 Elsevier Ltd.

Compulsive exercise and its relationship with mental health and psychosocial wellbeing in recreational exercisers and athletes

- Cosh, Suzanne, McNeil, Dominic, Tully, Phillip

  • Authors: Cosh, Suzanne , McNeil, Dominic , Tully, Phillip
  • Date: 2023
  • Type: Text , Journal article
  • Relation: Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport Vol. 26, no. 7 (2023), p. 338-344
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  • Description: Objectives: Better understanding of compulsive exercise is needed in sports medicine. Whilst compulsive exercise may impact mental health, the limited research exploring the relationship between compulsive exercise and psychosocial outcomes is equivocal. The majority of studies have examined eating disorder populations where the eating disorder pathology might account for distress. This study explores relationships between compulsive exercise and mental health. Design: Cross-sectional observational study. Methods: Australian recreational exercisers and athletes (N = 1157; Mage 36.4, standard deviation = 12.9, 77 % female) recruited through sporting organisations, clubs, and gyms, completed measures of compulsive exercise, depression, anxiety, stress, life satisfaction, social physique anxiety, and self-esteem. Regression analyses examined relationships between dimensions of compulsive exercise and wellbeing. Results: After adjustment for eating disorder symptoms and sporting level, compulsive exercise was associated with increased risk of clinically-significant anxiety, depression, and stress symptoms. Compulsive exercise was also associated with lower life satisfaction and self-esteem, and higher social physique anxiety. Notably, different dimensions of compulsive exercise had varying relationships with outcomes, and avoidance and rule-driven behaviour and lack of exercise enjoyment were associated with poorer mental health and wellbeing. Conclusions: Results suggest that compulsive exercise is uniquely associated with a range of psychosocial and mental health outcomes. Results support the need to improve identification and treatment of compulsive exercise in sport and exercise settings. Results highlight that mental health intervention is an important component of treatment, and treatments targeting symptoms related to avoidance and rule-driven behaviour, and anhedonia may be valuable treatment components for those with compulsive exercise. © 2023 The Author(s)

Concussion assessment and management — what do community-level cricket participants know?

- Kodikara, Dulan, Plumb, Mandy, Twomey, Dara

  • Authors: Kodikara, Dulan , Plumb, Mandy , Twomey, Dara
  • Date: 2023
  • Type: Text , Journal article
  • Relation: Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport Vol. 26, no. 9 (2023), p. 448-453
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  • Description: Objectives: To explore Australian cricket participants' knowledge of concussion assessment and management, and awareness of current concussion guidelines. Design: Cross-sectional survey. Methods: Novel and validated surveys were disseminated online, among over 16 year Australian cricket players and officials at the end of the 2018/19 cricket season. Data were collected on knowledge and awareness of concussion and analysed using descriptive statistics and crosstabulations. Further comparisons were made for the players between injured and non-injured, and helmet wearers and non-helmet wearers using Fisher's exact statistical test. Results: Both players (n = 224, 93 %) and officials (n = 36, 100 %) demonstrated strong knowledge of the importance of immediately evaluating suspected concussions. In comparison with players without helmets (n = 11), those using helmets (n = 135) considered replacing their helmets after a concussion to be vital to concussion assessment (p = 0.02). Overall, 80–97 % of players and 81–97 % of officials understood the importance of many factors regarding concussion management. When concussion management knowledge was compared by injury status, injured players (n = 17, 94 %) believed someone with a concussion should be hospitalised immediately, in contrast to non-injured players (n = 154, 69 %) (p = 0.04). Players (63 %) were less aware of concussion guidelines than officials (81 %). Conclusions: Overall, the knowledge of concussion assessment and management was satisfactory. However, there were discrepancies among players on some aspects of awareness of concussion guidelines. Increasing players' familiarity and experience in using the concussion guidelines is warranted. Targeted campaigns are needed to further improve concussion recognition and treatment at community-level cricket, so all participants play a role in making cricket a safe sport. © 2023

Conservation conundrums and the challenges of managing unexplained declines of multiple species

- Lindenmayer, David, Wood, Jeff, MacGregor, Christopher, Foster, Claire, Barton, Philip

  • Authors: Lindenmayer, David , Wood, Jeff , MacGregor, Christopher , Foster, Claire , Barton, Philip
  • Date: 2018
  • Type: Text , Journal article
  • Relation: Biological Conservation Vol. 221, no. (2018), p. 279-292
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  • Description: The conventional approach to conserving threatened biota is to identify drivers of decline, instigate actions to mitigate threatening processes, and monitor interventions to test their effectiveness and ensure target species recover. In Australia, predation by introduced predators is a threatening process for many native mammals. Here we report the results of a 15 year monitoring study in an iconic Australian reserve, Booderee National Park, where exotic Red Fox (Vulpes vulpes) populations have been controlled through an intensive poison baiting program since 2003. Unexpectedly, we documented the collapse of native mammal fauna during this period, including fully arboreal species that should be largely unaffected by fox predation – such as the nationally Vulnerable Greater Glider (Petauroides volans) and Common Ringtail Possum (Pseudocheirus peregrinus). We used path analysis to explore potential causes of these unexpected declines. We found no compelling evidence to support hypotheses that competition with increasing native species, native predator release, or increases in native herbivores underpinned mammal declines. Beyond the path analysis, data from other studies completed both inside Booderee National Park and outside (where intensive fox baiting does not occur yet depleted fauna species remain), allowed us to rule out several drivers of change. The temporal declines we documented for arboreal marsupials were not anticipated nor explained by any clear mechanism. We propose the use of experimentally-guided reintroductions and translocations to: (1) restore empty niches such as the currently vacant apex mammal predator niche, (2) reconstruct the now depleted arboreal marsupial guild, and (3) further test key hypotheses associated with mammal decline. We also suggest that given the potential for perverse outcomes following large-scale management interventions (even those where there is high confidence of success), wildlife managers should consider maintaining reference areas (where there is no management intervention). Finally, as the declines we documented were unexpected and rapid, there is a clear need to develop more sensitive early warning signals to alert conservation managers to impending problems, allowing them to alter management regimes before major declines occur. © 2018 Elsevier Ltd. **Please note that there are multiple authors for this article therefore only the name of the first 5 including Federation University Australia affiliate “Philip Barton is provided in this record**

Contemporary pedogenesis of severely degraded tropical acid sulfate soils after introduction of regular tidal inundation

- Johnston, Scott, Keene, Annabelle, Bush, Richard, Burton, Edward, Sullivan, Leigh, Smith, Douglas, McElnea, Angus, Martens, Michelle, Wilbraham, Steve

  • Authors: Johnston, Scott , Keene, Annabelle , Bush, Richard , Burton, Edward , Sullivan, Leigh , Smith, Douglas , McElnea, Angus , Martens, Michelle , Wilbraham, Steve
  • Date: 2009
  • Type: Text , Journal article
  • Relation: Geoderma Vol. 149, no. 3-4 (2009), p. 335-346
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  • Description: Marine tidal inundation was partially restored to a severely degraded tropical acid sulfate soil landscape after having been excluded for over 30 years. The effects on soil acidity and iron-sulfide mineral reformation were investigated by comparing the geochemistry of soils before and after five years of regular tidal inundation. The soil pH increased by 2-3 units and titratable actual acidity (TAA) decreased by ∼ 40-50 μmol H+ g- 1 within former sulfuric horizons. Relict acidity remained at depth (> 1 m) in the underlying sulfidic horizons. δ34S data indicate that tidal inundation caused exchange of marine solutes within former sulfuric horizons, but not within underlying sulfidic material. There was considerable reformation of pyrite within former sulfuric horizons after tidal inundation with reduced inorganic sulfur increasing by ∼ 60 μmol g- 1. Acid-volatile sulfide also accumulated, but mainly near the soil surface (up to 16 μmol g- 1). Reduction of Fe(III) minerals strongly influences the geochemistry of the tidally inundated soils. After tidal inundation the soil pH and Eh closely followed the iron redox couple and there was non-sulfidic solid-phase Fe(II) up to 600 μmol g- 1. There was also substantial diagenetic enrichment of poorly crystalline Fe-oxides near the soil surface following tidal inundation, with reactive Fe spanning 400-1800 μmol g- 1. While the decreases in soil acidity documented here are likely due to a combination of marine alkalinity inputs and reduction of both Fe and SO42-, the relative importance of each process remains to be determined. This study demonstrates that marine tidal inundation can be an effective landscape-scale strategy for ameliorating severe acidity associated with drained acid sulfate soils. © 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Control of a microgrid using robust data-driven-based controllers of distributed electric vehicles

- Khemmook, Panya, Prompinit, Krisada, Surinkaew, Tossaporn

  • Authors: Khemmook, Panya , Prompinit, Krisada , Surinkaew, Tossaporn
  • Date: 2022
  • Type: Text , Journal article
  • Relation: Electric Power Systems Research Vol. 213, no. (2022), p.
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  • Description: Current advancements in power electronic converters have paved a way to shift the attention from the traditional internal combustion engine to electric vehicles (EVs). In previous research works, the EVs are normally represented by an aggregate model or a first order transfer function, and they are mostly used for the frequency regulation in microgrids (MGs). These may not be valid assumptions since the EVs consist of various distributed units and power electronic converters. To make it more practical, distributed EV models with a function of MG voltage control should be further considered. This paper proposes an approach for MG voltage and frequency regulations using data-driven-based controllers for distributed EVs. Without requiring any MG parameters, information of uncertainties with respect to operation changes are monitored such that major stability indices, i.e., damping and robustness, can be automatically calculated. Considering these indices, the adaptive control technique is applied to design the controllers. The proposed adaptive data-driven-based controller is compared to a controller designed by considering dynamics of full-converter models. Simulation results are validated in a MG with renewable energy sources and distributed EVs under various operating points and uncertainties. © 2022 Elsevier B.V.

Control of the sheep blowfly in Australia and New Zealand - are we there yet?

- Sandeman, Mark, Levot, Garry, Heath, Allen, James, Peter, Greeff, Johan, Scott, Max, Batterham, Philip, Bowles, Vern

  • Authors: Sandeman, Mark , Levot, Garry , Heath, Allen , James, Peter , Greeff, Johan , Scott, Max , Batterham, Philip , Bowles, Vern
  • Date: 2014
  • Type: Text , Journal article
  • Relation: International Journal for Parasitology Vol. 44, no. 12 (2014), p. 879-891
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  • Description: The last 50. years of research into infections in Australia and New Zealand caused by larvae of the sheep blowfly, Lucilia cuprina, have significantly advanced our understanding of this blowfly and its primary host, the sheep. However, apart from some highly effective drugs it could be argued that no new control methodologies have resulted. This review addresses the major areas of sheep blowfly research over this period describing the significant outcomes and analyses, and what is still required to produce new commercial control technologies. The use of drugs against this fly species has been very successful but resistance has developed to almost all current compounds. Integrated pest management is becoming basic to control, especially in the absence of mulesing, and has clearly benefited from computer-aided technologies. Biological control has more challenges but natural and perhaps transformed biopesticides offer possibilities for the future. Experimental vaccines have been developed but require further analysis of antigens and formulations to boost protection. Genetic technologies may provide potential for long-term control through more rapid indirect selection of sheep less prone to flystrike. Finally in the future, genetic analysis of the fly may allow suppression and perhaps eradication of blowfly populations or identification of new and more viable targets for drug and vaccine intervention. Clearly all these areas of research offer potential new controls but commercial development is perhaps inhibited by the success of current chemical insecticides and certainly requires a significant additional injection of resources.

Converting optimum compaction properties of fine-grained soils between rational energy levels

- Soltani, Amin, Azimi, Mahdieh, O'Kelly, Brendan, Horpibulsuk, Suksun

  • Authors: Soltani, Amin , Azimi, Mahdieh , O'Kelly, Brendan , Horpibulsuk, Suksun
  • Date: 2023
  • Type: Text , Journal article
  • Relation: Transportation Geotechnics Vol. 42, no. (2023), p.
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  • Description: This study introduces a practical energy conversion (EC)-type modeling framework capable of converting the optimum compaction properties of fine-grained soils between any two rational compaction energy levels (CELs). Model development/calibration was carried out using a database of 242 compaction test results — the largest and most diverse database of its kind, to date, entailing 76 fine-grained soils (covering liquid limits of 16–256%), with each soil tested for at least three different CELs. On establishing the framework, an independent database of 91 compaction test results (consisting of 34 fine-grained soils tested for varying CELs) was employed for its validation. The proposed EC-based models employ measured optimum water content (OWC) and maximum dry unit weight (MDUW) values obtained for a rational CEL (preferably standard Proctor) to predict the same for higher and/or lower compactive efforts (covering 214–5416 kJ/m3). The 95% lower and upper statistical agreement limits between the predicted/converted and measured OWCs were obtained as

Coronary artery disease : Why we should consider the Y chromosome

- Molina, Elsa, Clarence, Elyse, Ahmady, Farah, Chew, Guatsiew, Charchar, Fadi

  • Authors: Molina, Elsa , Clarence, Elyse , Ahmady, Farah , Chew, Guatsiew , Charchar, Fadi
  • Date: 2016
  • Type: Text , Journal article , Review
  • Relation: Heart Lung and Circulation Vol. 25, no. 8 (Aug 2016), p. 791-801
  • Relation: http://purl.org/au-research/grants/nhmrc/1009490
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  • Description: Coronary artery disease (CAD) is one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality globally. In the last few years our understanding of the genetic and molecular mechanisms that promote CAD in individuals has increased with the advent of the genome era. This complex inflammatory disease has well-defined environmental risk factors. However, in the last 10 years, studies including genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have clearly demonstrated a genetic influence on CAD. Recently, studies on the human Y chromosome have also demonstrated that genetic variation within the male-specific region of the Y chromosome (MSY) could play a part in determining cardiovascular risk in men, confirming the notion that the increased risk for CAD in men cannot be fully explained through common CAD risk factors. Here, we review the literature about the pathophysiology of CAD, its potential causes and environmental risk factors known so far. Furthermore, we review the genetics of CAD, especially the latest discoveries regarding the implication of the Y chromosome, the most underexplored portion of the human genome to date, highlighting methods and difficulties arising in this research field, and discussing the importance of considering the Y chromosome in CAD research.

Coronary artery disease predisposing haplogroup I of the Y chromosome, aggression and sex steroids - Genetic association analysis

- Bloomer, Lisa, Nelson, Christopher, Denniff, Matthew, Christofidou, Paraskevi, Debiec, Radoslaw, Thompson, John, Zukowska-Szczechowska, Ewa, Samani, Nilesh, Charchar, Fadi, Tomaszewski, Maciej

  • Authors: Bloomer, Lisa , Nelson, Christopher , Denniff, Matthew , Christofidou, Paraskevi , Debiec, Radoslaw , Thompson, John , Zukowska-Szczechowska, Ewa , Samani, Nilesh , Charchar, Fadi , Tomaszewski, Maciej
  • Date: 2014
  • Type: Text , Journal article
  • Relation: Atherosclerosis Vol. 233, no. 1 (2014), p. 160-164
  • Relation: http://purl.org/au-research/grants/nhmrc/1009490
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  • Description: Objective: Amongst middle-aged men, haplogroup I is associated with approximate to 50% higher risk of coronary artery disease than other paternal lineages of Y chromosome. We hypothesised that carriers of haplogroup I had higher levels of aggression and estrogens and/or lower levels of androgens early in life and thus might be more prone to cardiovascular disease than men with other lineages of Y chromosome. Methods: We reconstructed phylogenetic tree of the Y chromosome in > 1000 young apparently healthy white men from the general population. Each Y chromosome was classified into one of 13 most common European lineages. Androgens (DHEA-S, androstenedione, total testosterone) and their metabolites (total estradiol, estrone) were measured by radioimmunoassays. Information on five dimensions of aggression (total, physical, verbal, anger and hostility) was collected using Buss and Perry questionnaire. Results: Approximately 17% men inherited haplogroup I from their fathers. Carriers of haplogroup I showed lower scores of verbal aggression than men with other haplogroups (beta = -0.72, SE = 0.29, P = 0.012) and when further compared to carriers of most common R1a lineage and other haplogroups (beta = -1.03, SE = 0.34, P = 0.003). However, these associations did not survive a correction for multiple testing. Sex steroids did not show even nominal level of association with haplogroup I. Conclusion: Our data show no overall association between haplogroup I and sex-related phenotypes in young white men. These results also suggest that the previously identified association between haplogroup I and coronary artery disease is not likely mediated by unfavourable profile of sex steroids or heightened aggression early in life. (C) 2014 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) prevention : virtual classroom education for hand hygiene

- Ng, Yuet, Or, Pui

  • Authors: Ng, Yuet , Or, Pui
  • Date: 2020
  • Type: Text , Journal article , Editorial
  • Relation: Nurse Education in Practice Vol. 45, no. (2020), p.
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  • Description: Coronavirus disease (COVID-19), has spread rapidly in Asia, Europe, the Middle East and the Americas. Considering the recent outbreak of COVID-19, some precautionary measures have been announced, including campus class suspensions. Nursing campus courses have also been suspended, and there may be a learning gap between hand hygiene theory and clinical training for nursing students. A virtual classroom education approach may help address the learning gap by providing ongoing theoretical strengthening of hand hygiene during clinical nursing training. This editorial proposes a 3-step virtual classroom education approach to support nursing educators in online theoretical hand hygiene enhancement. © 2020 Elsevier Ltd

COSMA-RF : new intelligent model based on chaos optimized slime mould algorithm and random forest for estimating the peak cutting force of conical picks

- Zhou, Jian, Dai, Yong, Du, Kun, Khandelwal, Manoj, Li, Chuanqi, Qiu, Yingui

  • Authors: Zhou, Jian , Dai, Yong , Du, Kun , Khandelwal, Manoj , Li, Chuanqi , Qiu, Yingui
  • Date: 2022
  • Type: Text , Journal article
  • Relation: Transportation Geotechnics Vol. 36, no. (2022), p.
  • Full Text: false
  • Reviewed:
  • Description: Since conical pick cutting is a complex process of multi-factor coupling effects, theoretical model construction for cutting force prediction is a quite difficult task. In this paper, various novel intelligent models based on chaos-optimized slime mould algorithm (COSMA) and random forest (RF) are proposed for this task. In the proposed COSMA-RF methods, the chaos algorithms with the ergodicity and randomness are introduced to chaotically determine the initial position to form a COSMA, and the SMA and COSMA are used to tune the hyperparameters of RF and mean square error are assigned as a fitness function. Consequently, 205 data samples having seven variables (tensile strength of the rock

Crack propagation prediction of CFRP retrofitted steel plates with different degrees of damage using BEM

- Yu, Qian Qian, Zhao, Xiao, Chen, Tao, Gu, Xianglin, Xiao, Zhigang

  • Authors: Yu, Qian Qian , Zhao, Xiao , Chen, Tao , Gu, Xianglin , Xiao, Zhigang
  • Date: 2014
  • Type: Text , Journal article
  • Relation: Thin-Walled Structures Vol. 82, no. (2014), p. 145-158
  • Full Text: false
  • Reviewed:
  • Description: Although carbon fibre reinforced polymer (CFRP) materials have proven effective in strengthening steel structures especially when used to improve fatigue behaviour, further study is required to investigate their effectiveness when applied at different stages of crack propagation in steel elements. This paper presents a numerical study on CFRP retrofitted steel plates with different degrees of damage using the boundary element method (BEM). The numerical results compared well with the experimental data, which demonstrated that the BEM is reliable for crack propagation analysis of CFRP laminate retrofitted steel plates. Finally, a parametric analysis was conducted to investigate the influence of bond length, bond width, CFRP stiffness and adhesive shear modulus on stress intensity factor (SIF) values. © 2014 Elsevier Ltd.