Application of additive manufacturing in the development of polymeric bioresorbable cardiovascular stents: A review

Polymeric vascular bioresorbable stents (BRSs) have been widely used for the treatment of coronary artery diseases. While additive manufacturing (AM) is changing the landscape of the healthcare sector by enabling the realization of patient-specific stents with highly complex structures. There are, however, challenges associated with the use of polymeric BRS, particularly in-stent restenosis (ISR), related to its poor mechanical properties. Therefore, the aim of this review is to provide an overview of recent advancements in the development of polymeric BRSs designed to meet both mechanical and biological requirements. First, biopolymers as well as shape memory polymers (SMPs) that are suitable for BRSs are highlighted and briefly described. Second, different types of designing structures of vascular stents in addition to introducing effective mechanical metamaterials, e.g., negative Poisson ratio (NPR) structures are addressed. Subsequently, AM methods currently being used to fabricate polymeric BRSs, are discussed and compared with conventional fabrication methods. Lastly, future directions for research are proposed in relation to existing challenges to the realization of a new generation of AM BRSs. Overall, this paper serves as a benchmark for future cardiovascular applications, especially in order to obtain clinically viable polymeric vascular stents by selecting suitable polymers, designs, and AM technologies

Enhancing nutrition information utilisation, confidence, and role legitimacy and adequacy among early childhood education professionals through evidence-based online training

This study evaluated the effectiveness of an online short course based on the Health Promoting Schools Framework and specifically designed for Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) professionals. The short course aimed to enhance ECEC professionals’ nutrition knowledge, confidence, role legitimacy and adequacy to model healthy behaviours, teach healthy food habits and create health-promoting environments. Participants (n = 116) working at Australian ECEC services were assigned to control (n = 62) or intervention (n = 54) groups. Both groups completed a pre-intervention survey. The intervention group accessed the four-week course and completed the post-intervention survey. The control group completed a second survey after four weeks but before accessing the course. Statistical analyses revealed significant positive changes in confidence, nutrition information utilisation and role perception for the intervention group. This study’s findings suggest that evidence-based online nutrition training could be used improve ECEC professionals’ practice to foster better nutrition outcomes for young children

Investigating potential benefits of aerobic vs resistance exercise in improving mental health symptoms in women living with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome. A randomised trial

This study explores the effects of exercise, particularly High-Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) and Resistance training, on psychological symptoms among women diagnosed with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). The intervention programme included structured exercise sessions three times weekly for eight weeks, with participants performing supervised HIIT and resistance training tailored to individual fitness levels. Results indicate gains in muscle mass, muscle strength and reductions in fat mass for participants in the intervention groups. Additionally, participants shared their experience with increased confidence, shifted goals from weight loss to strength gain, and reported improved mental and physical well-being. The implications of this thesis include the opportunity for increased awareness about PCOS management beyond traditional methods like oral contraceptives. Furthermore, the findings advocate for integrating exercise physiology into care plans for PCOS management

Cards against everyday sexisms

This deck of cards has been created using direct quotes from participants who took part in a nation-wide survey about everyday sexisms in Australian Universities. For more information about the project see: www.everydaysexismsau.co

Forecasting data-driven system strength level for inverter-based resources-integrated weak grid systems using multi-objective machine learning algorithms

Shortage of grid-fault level, known as system strength inadequacy, impacts on grid instability and can lead to blackouts. System strength is generally measured by short circuit ratio index at point of coupling (POC) of inverter-based resources (IBRs) and the grid system. Nowadays, accurate knowledge of system strength forecasting for ‘next day’ to ‘next week’ duration is essential to power system operators, owing to the higher-growth of IBRs. However, releavant publications about this subject remain limited when compared with load demand, active and reactive power prediction. Therefore, a data-driven system strength forecasting scheme is presented in this paper to surmount these issues. Multi-objective machine learning (MOML) algorithms are used to obtain the best result. The designed model uses energy management system (EMS) to collect historical online data and complete the training and testing procedures via learning frameworks such as Hedge-backpropagation neural network-based tangent function (Hedge-BPNNT), support vector machine (SVM) and long short-term memory (LSTM). The methodology is developed to predict up to seven days of system strength forecasting levels by using the last thirty-days data status. The designed model is tested on both simulated and experimented cases, confirming higher accuracy performance with reduced computational time when compared to existing literature

Australian media representations of China between 2018 and 2020

This discourse-based doctoral research explored the representations of China in Australian news reports between 2018 and 2020. It examined reports concerning China from the news outlets of News Corp Australia (The Australian, The Daily Telegraph, Herald Sun, The Courier Mail, The Advertiser, Mercury, and Northern Territory News), Nine Entertainment Company (The Australian Financial Review, The Sydney Morning Herald, The Age, and WA today), and the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, from January 1st, 2018 to December 31st, 2020. The thesis focused on the most frequently reported topics – the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), Huawei, and Confucius Institutes (CIs). Drawing upon Systemic Functional Linguistics, transitivity analysis, appraisal analysis, framing analysis, and critical discourse analysis revealed that China’s image was negatively constructed through the negative representations of the BRI, Huawei, and the CIs in Australia. The BRI was represented as a means of China seeking expansion, growing influence, and even global hegemony. It was framed as posing threats and risks, not only to Australia, but also to those countries which had collaborated with China through the BRI projects. Huawei was framed as threatening Australia’s cybersecurity, and national security. The CIs in Australia were framed as having close links with the Chinese government and challenging academic freedom in Australian universities. Appraisal resources were most abundant in the BRI-related news, and the analysis revealed that the BRI was appraised as causing strategic and economic concerns, leading to uneasiness regarding debts, environmental impact, and most importantly, geopolitical implications. The appraisal was associated with the Australian media’s overwhelming reliance on Australian officials’ voices, which were typically negative and critical. This thesis also examined the relationship between Australian media representations of China and the trilateral relationship between Australia, China, and the United States. Australian media coverage of China has the potential to significantly shape public perceptions and evaluations of China, especially when a stereotyped historical China threat discourse prevailed, personal experiences were lacking, and allied countries – in this case the US – shared the same agenda and presented a similar image. The construction of China’s image as a threatening country seeking hegemony and global dominance could be detrimental to the Australia-China relationship, despite the close links of the two countries in terms of trade, economy, education and tourism. This research has illuminated the relationship between language, power and ideology in intercultural reporting and therefore may contribute to a better understanding of the complex role of the media in shaping public perception of an ‘Other’ country. The application of linguistic tools to media studies has contributed to the interdisciplinary studies of language and media

The effectiveness of tech support fraud in damaging older individual’s financial security

This study discovers the tactics employed to create detrimental effects upon older people impacted from fraudulent tech-support incidents. It examines social engineering, and financial confusion of older people. This is significant considering adaptations towards digital banking and payment management. This research looked at online and active over 65s. Using largely qualitative approaches over 65s were interviewed and responses validated against cyber-professionals’ responses. This identified three key findings: older adults feel confused and misunderstand tech support scams; threat actors build trust by pretending to offer technical help but use this to deceive their victims; and older adults face serious social and financial challenges because of poor advice and misinformation. This research prompts urgent training, socialisation, and recognition of tech-support deceptiveness

Confirming the validity and reliability of the Placement Evaluation Tool to evaluate midwifery practice placements (PET-Midwifery)

Problem: In Australia, program accreditation requirements include that education providers monitor and evaluate teaching and learning environments and provide evidence of outcomes being used to inform program quality improvement. Yet, closing this loop has proven challenging. Background: The Australian National Placement Evaluation Centre (NPEC) functions to measure the quality of placements through student evaluations. One measure the Placement Evaluation Tool (PET) had not been tested in midwifery student cohorts. Aim: To confirm the validity and reliability of the Placement Evaluation Tool (PET) for midwifery. Design: Survey instrument development. Methods: A three-phase, sequential study involving seven Australian universities and students enrolled in entry level midwifery programs. Findings: The Content Validity Index (CVI) was \u3e 0.90 for relevance and clarity. There was strong concurrent validity between the PET-Midwifery and the MidSTEP CLE scale [r = 0.503, p = 0.01]. Overall satisfaction with placements was high (mean 8.02/10). The PET-Midwifery was found to be reliable: Cronbach\u27s alpha 0.957 with an Intraclass Correlation Co-efficient of 0.957. Discussion: The PET – Midwifery is valid and reliable for midwifery students to evaluate the quality of midwifery practice placements. Administered through the Australian National Placement Evaluation Centre, it is feasible that this tool will allow education providers to monitor and evaluate learning environments and use this information to inform program quality improvement. Conclusion: The PET – Midwifery can offer education providers and midwifery practice placement settings with valuable information to effectively close all evaluation loops, as required for accreditation and to help enhance the quality of midwifery practice education

BGP anomaly detection as a group dynamics problem

Understanding group information and collective behaviors is an ongoing area of research, encompassing natural phenomena and human dynamics. Quantifying interactions and interdependencies at the group level can be valuable for understanding complex and dynamical systems. The Border Gateway Protocol (BGP), the default inter-domain routing protocol for the Internet, operates within a large, complex, and dynamic system vulnerable to security threats. Traditional BGP anomaly detection focuses on single observables from individual Autonomous Systems (ASes), which inadequately addresses the multidimensional, multi-viewpoint nature of the Internet and interdomain routing. This paper introduces a novel approach for quantifying group AS-level information and dynamics. We present the first ever application of Multidimensional Recurrence Quantification Analysis (MdRQA) to any computer system, offering a robust BGP anomaly detection technique that identifies anomalies earlier than traditional single-AS observable methods. This research marks a significant advancement in BGP anomaly detection, treating it as a group dynamics problem within the Internet\u27s complex and distributed system

Innovation through conceptual research: Tips for stoking curiosity

Conceptual research represents a critical step in the theory-building process and contributes innovative ideas that inspire empirical studies. This feature article highlights the importance of such research in academia with examples drawn from the tourism literature. It also critically discusses issues related to publishing conceptual research in premier journals. By using a five-dimension framework of curiosity (i.e., deprivation sensitivity, joyous exploration, social curiosity, stress tolerance, and thrill seeking), scholars can assess researchers’ conceptual topics and readers’ responses when contemplating “what\u27s new” to gauge a paper\u27s publication potential. Several tips are offered to guide like-minded scholars in conducting sound conceptual research: (1) interdisciplinary work offers sterling opportunities for investigators to collaboratively address pain points in society, highlighting tourism as part of the solution; (2) writing science is an art meant to communicate insights to interested parties, and effective message delivery helps to ensure impactful research that will engage stakeholders; and (3) with the proliferation of artificial intelligence, conceptual research presents a chance to bring human (and humanity)-oriented issues to life. Overall, conceptual research opens an avenue through which scholars can make a difference in their and other disciplines as well as for society