Dynamic Properties of an Extended Polymer in Solution

Extended polymers are relevant in a variety of situations ranging from the classic coil-stretch problem to recent single molecule polymer experiments with DNA. We present theoretical calculations and computer simulations of the dynamic properties of extended single polymers. We discuss the effects of tension and hydrodynamics on τ, the fundamental relaxation time of the polymer, and find that tension dominates the behavior of τ. Furthermore, the symmetry breaking caused by extending the polymer “splits” τ, leading to distinct longitudinal and transverse relaxation times. Our results are in agreement with recent experiments, and we discuss implications for the coil-stretch transition

Statutory frameworks, institutions and policy processes for climate adaptation : Final Report

Funded under the National Climate Change Adaptation Research Facility, this study addresses two objectives: To assess the extent to which existing statutory frameworks, associated institutions and policy processes support or impede national adaptation planning and practice, and To make a significant contribution to the development and implementation of a strategic national policy framework. The rationale for conducting this study was two-fold. First, that significant climate change is unavoidable and that it is in Australia’s national interest to adapt to those changes. Climate impacts are many and varied, direct and indirect, hard to predict and quantify generally but particularly at the local scale, and impacts will inevitably affect all sectors and jurisdictions. For this reason, it is a complex policy problem. The IPCC, for example, identifies ten key areas of impact for Australia including increasing frequency and intensity of extreme events such as droughts, bushfires and floods, higher peak temperatures for longer periods of time, and sea level rise. Despite the lack of hard economic data with respect to costs and benefits that might underpin formal business cases to determine precise levels of investment needed for adaptation, the case to adapt is compelling considering the projected effects to Australia’s economy, infrastructure, communities, environment and human life. Second, Australia’s capacity to adapt to climate change will rely on robust, efficient, transparent, fair and flexible institutions which build a resilient and enabling environment in which the necessary behavioural change can occur. While humans and our institutions have a remarkable capacity to adapt to all manner of change, this can occur at great cost to society as a whole or certain segments of it without the guiding hand of judicious policy intervention. This report synthesises our key findings against the two project objectives. In doing so, it focuses on (i) where institutional arrangements currently support or impede climate adaptation policy, and (ii) where revisions or new institutions may be required, and the potential for a strategic national policy framework to achieve those reforms

Helicopter EMS Transport Outcomes Literature: Annotated Review of Articles Published 2007–2011

Helicopter EMS (HEMS) and its possible association with outcomes improvement continues to be a subject of discussion. As is the case with other scientific discourse, debate over HEMS usefulness should be framed around an evidence-based assessment of the relevant literature. In an effort to facilitate the academic pursuit of assessment of HEMS utility, in late 2000 the National Association of EMS Physicians' (NAEMSP) Air Medical Task Force prepared annotated bibliographies of the HEMS-related outcomes literature. As a result of that work, two review articles, one covering HEMS use in nontrauma and the other in trauma, published in 2002 in Prehospital Emergency Care surveyed HEMS outcomes-related literature published between 1980 and mid-2000. The project was extended with two subsequent reviews covering the literature through 2006. This review continues the series, outlining outcomes-associated HEMS literature for the three-year period 2007 through the first half of 2011

Passenger Transmitters as A Possible Cause of Aircraft Fuel Ignition

An investigation was performed to study the potential for radio frequency (RF) power radiated from transmitting Portable Electronic Devices (PEDs) to create an arcing/sparking event within the fuel tank of a large transport aircraft. A survey of RF emissions from typical intentional transmitting PEDs was first performed. Aircraft measurements of RF coupling to the fuel tank and its wiring were also performed to determine the PEDs induced power on the wiring, and the re-radiated power within the fuel tank. Laboratory simulations were conducted to determine the required RF power level for an arcing/sparking event. Data analysis shows large positive safety margins, even with simulated faults on the wiring

Exercise, APOE, and Working Memory: MEG and Behavioral Evidence for Benefit of Exercise in Epsilon4 Carriers

Performance on the Sternberg working memory task, and MEG cortical response on a variation of the Sternberg task were examined in middle-aged carriers and non-carriers of the APOE ε4 allele. Physical activity was also assessed to examine whether exercise level modifies the relationship between APOE genotype and neurocognitive function. Regression revealed that high physical activity was associated with faster RT in the six- and eight-letter conditions of the Sternberg in ε4 carriers, but not in the non-carriers after controlling for age, gender, and education (N = 54). Furthermore, the MEG analysis revealed that sedentary ε4 carriers exhibited lower right temporal lobe activation on matching probe trials relative to high-active ε4 carriers, while physical activity did not distinguish non-carriers (N = 23). The M170 peak was identified as a potential marker for pre-clinical decline as ε4 carriers exhibited longer M170 latency, and highly physically active participants exhibited greater M170 amplitude to matching probe trials

Textile Robotic Interaction for Designer-Robot Collaboration

This late-breaking report describes lab-based robot experiments involving two robot arms scanning and interaction with a set of 12 novel sustainable materials programmed with handfeel gestures inspired by how designers evaluate textile materials. The aim of gathering this data is to spur research in robot perception of soft materials and to contribute towards human-robot collaborative design systems. The complete dataset including scanned images, video of interactions accompanied by the code to produce robot motion paths are made publically available

Workshop on human-centred AI design methods to understand “Textiles Hand”

This collaborative workshop aims to co-generate tactile-based sensorial data for AI design tools. The project teams experienced in AI design methodologies and sensory materials assessment will deliver a material centric design workshop to understand embodied and tacit knowledge of the textiles world. With the contribution of participants, the new design methods to integrate the generated data will be discussed to build on the current state-of-the-art design tools