A novel approach based on quantum key distribution using BB84 and E91 protocol for resilient encryption and eavesdropper detection

Quantum cryptography is anticipated to drive substantial advancements in the field of cybersecurity. The impending arrival of quantum cryptography has the potential to compromise current encryption methods, thereby possibly compromising the effectiveness of traditional key management-based security protocols. Quantum cryptography represents a burgeoning area that necessitates thorough examination and scrutiny to validate its efficacy in safeguarding data and securely distributing secret keys. One fundamental quantum key distribution protocol, BB84, encounters challenges when operating with fewer quantum bits (qubits) and bases that only support up to 8 qubits. This limitation weakens the system's security, making brute force, intercept, and resend attacks less challenging. Consequently, this study proposes a method to enhance the security of the BB84 protocol, to reduce susceptibility to attacks and eavesdropping. The proposed improved BB84 protocol utilizes 9, 12, and 16 quantum bits along with two, and three bases to significantly bolster security, allowing authorized parties to prevent the key distribution process and eliminate the use of compromised keys. Additionally, this study has implemented the E91 quantum key distribution protocol utilizing the Entanglement Pair Generation method to produce secure keys. While the existing E91 protocol ensures security through Bell’s theorem and Bell’s inequality, it overlooks the impact of noise, leading to inaccuracies in eavesdropper detection. Hence, this study introduces an additional security measure. Whenever an eavesdropper attempts to measure the quantum state, the proposed E91 protocol collapses its state from |10⟩ to |11⟩, setting the first qubit to |1⟩ and the other qubit to |0⟩, thus providing the eavesdropper with incorrect information, accompanied by a phase angle of 15π/8. This leads to misconception and misconfiguration, preventing eavesdroppers from obtaining useful details about transferred quantum states and compromising the keys. Additionally, considering that the proposed E91 protocol relies on entangled particles and utilizes double qubit gates, which are inherently noisier than single qubit gates and susceptible to quantum decoherence, this study employs error mitigation techniques in the final measurement to predict outcomes more efficiently</p

A Case Study Approach Towards a Salutogenic Job Demands-Resources Understanding and Response to Poor Principal Class Occupational Health Safety and Well-being in the Catholic Education Diocese of Cairns

The occupational health, safety, and well-being of education leaders, particularly principals, has been in decline in Australia since 2011, as consistently reported by Dr. Philip Riley and his associates. This decline is attributed to the increasing demands and complexity of their roles. Despite various efforts, there is limited evidence of successful interventions within the Australian education sectors. This thesis employs a qualitative, multiple case, case study approach to generate new insights and respond to this crisis within the Catholic Education Diocese of Cairns (CEDC), utilising the Salutogenic model of health and the Job Demands-Resources (JD-R) theory. The research aims to provide an informed salutogenic response to optimise the cultural conditions within the CEDC that guide better management practices for the broader principal class within the CEDC, thereby enhancing their ability to cope with their roles. The study focuses on high-performing experienced principals within the CEDC, employing within-case thematic analysis and between-case and cross-case analysis to identify their culturally adaptive strategies. Understanding the cultural origins and impact of these strategies is facilitated by the Salutogenic model of health and recent updates to JD-R theory, which together provide a new, and refined understanding of the culturally adaptive resources and strategies employed by principals to sustainably manage the complexity and demands of their role. The Salutogenic model of health emphasises culturally adaptive General Resistance Resources (GRRs), a motivation towards pro-active problem-solving behaviours and Sense of Coherence (SOC), which includes comprehensibility, manageability, and meaningfulness. The JD-R theory examines the balance between job demands and resources, identifying burnout resulting from prolonged exposure to job demands that exceed available adaptive resources. Recent updates to JD-R theory include self-regulatory behaviours, both adaptive (recovery, job crafting) and maladaptive (coping inflexibility, self-undermining). Key findings from the study highlight the importance of adaptive cultural and personal resources in coping with job demands. High-performing principals utilise adaptive strategies such as job crafting, emotional intelligence, a proactive personality and recovery to manage stress and strain to maintain well-being. To achieve this, the research identifies four major cross-case themes: Cultural Formation, Active Pursuit of Connected and Trusting Relationships, Wise Mindset, and Clearly Defined Boundaries. Cultural Formation captures the influence of social-cultural and environmental factors in the principals' formative years, including upbringing and professional influences. The study finds that a strong working-class background, stable family environments, and influential role models in education is influential in informing the principals' leadership styles and resilience, especially within the early years of their leadership. Active Pursuit of Connected and Trusting Relationships highlights how principals enthusiastically engage with their communities, leadership teams, staff, peers, and supportive partners to build trust and foster a supportive environment. Strategies include being visible, engaging in meaningful communication, mentoring staff and establishing strong leadership teams. Wise Mindset encompasses the cognitive and motivational resources that principals develop over time, including principled decision-making, finding meaningfulness in their work, proactive personality, resilience, self-reflection, humility, and healthy rebellion. These attributes enable principals to navigate the complexities of their roles efficiently and effectively. Clearly Defined Boundaries are established by principals through routines, processing time, prioritising self-care, and disconnecting from work to maintain a healthy work-life balance. These strategies can take several years to emerge within the principals practice but are critical in allowing them to sustainably manage the demands of the role and engage in healthy restorative behaviours. The study forwards a comprehensive understanding of the mechanisms by which high-performing experienced principals optimise their use of personal and cultural resources through the development of the Wise Principal Model (WPM), which elucidates how principals leverage their adaptive resources to create resource gain spirals, thereby enhancing their capacity to manage job demands and reduce job strain. The WPM highlights the interplay between personal cultural resources, work cultural resources, and personal physical/psychological resources, offering a holistic framework for understanding principal well-being. The study concludes with recommendations for systemic support through targeted professional development, modifications to workplace practices, and access to critical resources. These recommendations aim to create the optimal cultural conditions within which the CEDC principal class better manage their roles whilst also maintaining their health and well-being.</p

Blockchain-based secured data sharing in healthcare: A systematic literature review

Blockchain technology is increasingly recognised for its potential to enhance the security, reliability, and resilience of distributed systems. By ensuring data integrity and protecting against unauthorised access, blockchain creates immutable and transparent records, making it an appealing option for various applications. In the current healthcare landscape, secure data sharing is essential for improving patient outcomes, streamlining healthcare operations, and ensuring compliance with legal standards. This paper conducts a systematic literature review to explore how blockchain can be utilised as a security solution for health data sharing. We assess the strengths and weaknesses of blockchain-based solutions in areas such as secure data management, data sharing, access control, trust and transparency, and authentication and authorisation. Our findings indicate that blockchain has significant potential to secure health data sharing, although we identify certain limitations in blockchain-based access control systems and propose potential solutions. Additionally, this paper provides detailed insights into future research directions in this domain.</p

The attitudes towards non-suicidal self-injury held by nurses who work in general settings in rural and remote Australia

This data management plan covers data relating to a Web-based survey investigating the attitudes of nurses working in rural and remote Australia towards consumers who engage in NSSI. Understanding the attitudes of nurses towards consumers who engage in NSSI in rural and remote Australia provides an opportunity to either improve or maintain comprehensive assessments and the overall healthcare experience for consumers. The survey will collect quantitative and qualitative data. No personal identifiers will be collected during this research.</p

Peanut cultivars' performance under elevated CO2 concentrations

The current atmospheric CO2 concentration is approximately 418 ppm, and future projections suggest it will rise to around 550 ppm by mid-century and could reach 1,000 ppm by the end of the century due to anthropogenic emissions. Plant responses to elevated CO2 are highly variable, with some species showing significant increases in photosynthesis and biomass production, while others exhibit weaker or negligible growth responses. These differences are influenced by species-specific traits, nutrient availability, and environmental conditions. Understanding these variations is crucial for predicting crop performance under future climates and developing management strategies to optimize productivity and quality. This study focused on exploring the physiological changes induced by elevated CO2 and how these changes impacted peanut yield and kernel quality. Open Top Chambers (OTC) experiments were conducted to assess the effects of elevated CO2 on growth, biomass production, yield, and nutritional composition. A study with three commercial peanut cultivars examined the entire crop cycle to evaluate changes in physiological traits, photosynthesis, biomass allocation, and kernel and forage quality. The study analysed the impact of elevated CO2 on peanut agronomy, nutritional composition, to provide insights for developing strategies to mitigate the effects of climate change on food and feed production.</p

Microalgae cultivation in stabilized landfill leachate for simultaneous treatment and biomass production

Background: The high toxicity of landfill leachate has motivated to an investigation of economical and ecological treatment prior releasing into environment. Recently, microalgae have emerged as an alternative method due to its ability to recover nutrient and potential for bio-fuel production. However, the high concentrations of inhibitory compounds and ammoniacal nitrogen in young landfill leachates require high dilutions for microalgae to thrive. Hence, this study aims to evaluate the performance of microalgae by using stabilized landfill leachate with lower to no dilutions in nutrient removal, biomass and lipid production. Methods: Leachate concentrations of 33, 44, 66, 89 and 100 v/v% were initially treated with the microalgae C. vulgaris. Parameters of chemical oxygen demand (COD), ammoniacal nitrogen (NH3–N), orthophosphate (PO43−), total phosphorus (TP) and colour removal were evaluated. Cost analysis was conducted to evaluate the economical appropriateness. Significant findings: The highest removals were achieved at 43.67% of COD, >97% of NH3–N, 79.26% of PO43−, 77.64% of TP and 44.04% of colour. Highest biomass yield obtained was 220 mg/L by 89 v/v% of leachate concentration with 8.14% of lipid yield. Cost of treatment was calculated to be ∼$0.02 per m3 leachate. The feasibility of stabilized landfill leachate treatment without any dilutions using microalgae was attained as they can survive amidst this condition, perform nutrient removals, and produce biomass simultaneously

My ‘normal’ isn't your normal. What is maternal wellbeing? A scoping review

Problem: Many global health strategies are developed to optimise ‘maternal wellbeing’. However, what is meant by this term and therefore how it is interpreted and understood by different groups of people is currently poorly understood. Background: For midwives to provide woman-centred care they must recognise the diverse understandings of what is considered ‘maternal wellbeing’ and be able to identify factors underpinning this. Aim: To identify and synthesise the literature related to the meaning and understanding of the term ‘maternal wellbeing.’ Methods: A search of PubMed, CINAHL Ultimate, OVID and Emcare databases was conducted between 2015 and 2024 for studies related to maternal wellbeing. Data from fourteen studies were charted and thematically analysed. Findings: Two overarching but interrelated themes were identified. One refers to the inner self, and the second to the woman's place in her social world. Theme 1, sense of self, comprises two sub-themes: finding a sense of self and sustaining a sense of self. Theme 2, the sense of place, comprises two sub-themes: sustaining place and making space in place. Discussion: Disconnects between the practice-oriented concept of wellbeing and wellbeing as perceived by women exist. Current maternal wellbeing assessment methods only measure the woman's sense of identity, and sense of self in their changed worlds. Conclusion: Clear articulation of maternal wellbeing is needed to operationalise health strategies, institutional policies, procedures and standards of care that support positive maternal and infant outcomes. Midwives are pivotal to promoting maternal wellbeing during transitions across the pregnancy, birth, and motherhood continuum.</p

The Effect of Leucaena Supplementation on Conception Rates of Heifers In Northern Australia

This project investigated the perceptions and trends related to the use of leucaena (Leucaena leucocephala) supplementation ad libitum in northern Australia. Leucaena is a long-lived tree legume that contains up to 25% of crude protein (CP) and up to 15 kJ/g of metabolisable energy (ME), with a range of uses including forage for cattle, shade, green manure, firewood, and erosion control. As a legume species, leucaena fixes atmospheric nitrogen in the soil and has other environmentally favourable benefits such as increased sequestration of carbon. A survey questionnaire was distributed to determine how leucaena is used in the management of breeder herds and the current perceptions by cattle producers in northern Australia. The hypothesis was that cattle producers in northern Australia do not use leucaena as a supplement for female cattle. However, the evidence found in this experiment contradicted the notion that cattle producers in northern Australia are not using leucaena for female cattle, as (n = 31) of respondents acknowledge using leucaena as a supplement in breeder herds. Moreover, a field experiment was undertaken in central Queensland to collect data on the conception rates of heifers (n = 234) (Bos indicus and Bos indicus crossbreed) with a completely randomised design by stratified by liveweight, fed with and without leucaena ad libitum supplementation over a 90-day period at the commencement of the breeding season in October, 2023. A trans-rectal examination was conducted to determine the percentage of heifers that became pregnant using fetal age or evidence of fetal loss, to assess the effect of feeding leucaena supplement in female cattle. At the same time, the fat depth (P8) was measured in cm, and heifer liveweight (LW) was recorded. The specific objective of this activity was to understand how leucaena as a supplement could improve conception rates. The hypothesis was that conception rates of heifers grazing leucaena ad libitum are lower than heifers grazing pasture with a protein supplement in northern Australia. Nonetheless, there was no effect of leucaena on conception rates, evidence of fetal loss, or significant difference in the likelihood of pregnancy occurring for heifers in the current study. As a result, heifers can be used for breeding as early as yearling-mated, accelerated reproductive maturity through leucaena offered ad libitum to increase liveweight gain (LWG) since the weaner period, reducing the time window to have mature reproductive heifers in a breeder herd in northern Australia.</p

Data set for Investigation of Performance and Emissions Characteristics of Diesel Engine using Waste Plastic Derived Fuels through Pyrolysis and Post-treatments

The demand for fossil fuel in today’s world is increasing at a higher pace with rapid population growth and industrial development. The reserve for petroleum-based fossil fuels is finite which necessitates searching for alternative fuels. At the same time the use of waste plastics in modern world is increasing at a higher pace. To reduce environmental pollution and keep economy moving it is crucial to find out smart ways of managing ever increasing amount of waste plastics in Municipal Solid Waste (MSW). Pyrolytic oil from waste plastic has high potential to be used as a substitute for conventional diesel due to its higher heating values and fuel properties. For my PhD research, mixed waste plastics were used for pyrolysis in a pilot pyrolizer and operated in batch mode. In my PhD research project optimization of pyrolysis process, characterization of obtained waste plastic pyrolytic oil has been discussed followed by post treatment procedures (mainly distillation and hydrotreatment) available for valorising Waste Plastic Oil (WPO).The pyrolytic liquid has lighter colour after distillation and hydrotreatment compared to crude oil state and significant improvement of other properties has been achieved. A four-cylinder, indirect injection, naturally aspirated, compression ignition diesel engine was tested for performance, emission, and combustion characteristics by using WPO and its blends (with diesel fuel). The results were compared with results obtained by using neat diesel fuel. From the study a conclusion was reached that waste plastic oil has potential to replace commercial petroleum-based fossil fuels and can be used as a drop in fuel for diesel engine.</p

Trait empathy and the treatment of asylum seekers in Australia

Objectives: Attitudes towards asylum seekers in Australia tend to be negative, and this prejudice is prevalent and not always well understood. There is also widespread support for policies about how to process asylum claims that are criticised globally for being overly punitive. The present study explored the relationships between trait empathy and both prejudice towards asylum seekers and support for a range of policies pertaining to the treatment of asylum seekers who claim asylum to be resettled in Australia. Method: A sample of 193 Australians completed self-report measures assessing classical and conditional forms of prejudice, four facets of trait empathy and support for integrative policies (i.e. community processing) and separative policies (i.e. offshore detention and “turn back the boats” policies). Results: The results revealed that higher levels of prejudice were associated with support of separative policies, whilst higher levels of empathy were associated with support of integrative policies. Conclusions: The results of this study have real-world implications regarding the prejudice and discrimination that is often specifically directed towards Australia’s asylum seekers, with ramifications for the ongoing debates about how governments can and should handle the ever-increasing number of asylum seekers and refugee claimants.</p