Facilitating professional engagement with planning research

The context for this project is the limited connectivity between applied planning research and professional planning practice. The planning profession, by its very nature, is continually developing plans, policies and strategies to guide place-based management and development. An assumption guiding the research is that sound evidence is useful if not essential to inform good planning practice. This assumption does not hold for all planning practice - statutory planning and other policy implementation activities are, for example, largely informed by existing policy frameworks. However, in most strategic planning or policy development contexts (including statutory reform), an argument for the relevance of an evidence base can be made. While not all research aims to directly inform practice – such as research of a conceptual or theoretical nature – there is a significant amount of applied urban research produced that has discernible implications for policy and practice. Unfortunately, much of the research base that could inform and improve professional planning practice is difficult to access. There are also other barriers to knowledge exchange, including limited professional engagement with research outputs; and limited or poorly tailored research outputs for a professional audience. This project aims to provide recommendations on how to better connect Australian urban planning practice to the evidence base within urban planning research outputs. To do so the project explores barriers to, and opportunities for, better connecting professional planning practice with applied planning research

Characterization of Cardiovascular Risk Factors People Living with HIV in a Veteran Population

Background: CVD is the leading cause of death in PLWH. HIV positive individuals have a 1.5-2-fold greater risk of CVD compared to uninfected individuals, even if complete viral load suppression is achieved. HIV-associated CVD has tripled over the past 20 years, yet scant data is available describing this population. We have characterized CVD risk factors and treatment in PLWH in order to assess and improve cardioprotective treatment. Methods: A retrospective EMR review was conducted for HIV positive patients enrolled at the McGuire VAMC between 12/2018 and 12/2019. Patients were excluded if labs were older than one year from follow-up. Patient demographics was collected along with characterization and treatment of their HIV, hypertension, diabetes, and dyslipidemia. Patient CVD status and risk factors were analyzed, and cardioprotective agent appropriateness was assessed. Results: 242 patients were included in this study. Overall, 91% had HIV viral load ≤ 200. 25% of patients had diabetes, of which 51% were controlled. 86% of patients achieved a blood pressure goal of ≤ 140/90. 40% of patients achieved LDL ≤ 70, with 56% of patients on a statin. 14% of patients had past history significant for cardiovascular event. Conclusion: Characterization of CVD in PLWH should be a high priority and treatment should be closely monitored due to the rising disease state burden. Lack of large clinical trials outlining treatment strategies in this aging population has hindered appropriate patient care. Intensified and targeted cardioprotective strategies are needed due to a high proportion of patients with uncontrolled CVD risk factors.https://scholarscompass.vcu.edu/gradposters/1064/thumbnail.jp

Developing a control system for improving selective polymer laser sintering build speed and part integrity

Designing electronic control systems specific to additive manufacturing machines is a fast evolving practice, developments in which spur continual performance improvements, which in turn improve the quality and economic viability of parts produced (Hu & Kovacevic, 2003). Research methods used for this work comprise of; taking receipt of externally designed and built experimental rigs, recording performance data and making incremental changes in attempts to improve performance. Focus is given to the automation and speed of the processes and research is limited only by the availability of time and funding. This work has investigated several potential significant improvements to SLS cycle times and part quality, with the wider project continuing beyond the scope of this dissertation. Experimentation with serial data transmission protocols using ASCII (American Standard Code for Information Interchange) found it could provide a fast, robust link between central control system elements, which is critical and can be achieved this way without great monetary cost. Distribution of temperature across the build area surface can be optimised with a single control feedback loop to a level acceptable for the use of PA-12 (Polyamide 12) powder, though methods that are more complex may yield better results. Rapid deoxygenation of the build chamber at the beginning of each build cycle offers a slight improvement in cycle time, and proper loop feedback can assist in mitigating safety concerns. Current, commercially available stepper motor control systems are capable of greater accuracy than is necessary in such applications but are limited by the accuracy of their mechanical linkage, which can introduce significant backlash into the system. Powder can be loaded into the machine using augers fed from an external hopper in such a way as to minimise powder waste through uneven feeding. Separating power systems allows individual control of sections of the machine, improving safety, monitoring possibilities and potential for recovering failed builds. A removable build platform, comprising the build piston and associated hardware on a movable trolley frame, significantly reduces the machine cycle time by allowing part removal and cleaning to be performed concurrently with the start of the next build. Visibility of the process status via beacon stacks allows for quick human interaction where required, potentially reducing failure rates and improving cycle times

The Plot Thickens: Using a Plotting Activity to Start Your School Year Strong

Captivating students and setting high expectations for critical thinking are two key classroom goals. This plotting and graphing activity is designed specifically to achieve these goals. Additionally, this activity can be modified for any science course taught at the secondary school level. Support materials including teacher and student printouts are provided at the end of the article. This activity promotes National Science Education Standards A, C, D, and F and Iowa Teaching Standards 1, 3, 4, 5, and 6

Development and Evaluation of a Real-Time Mid-Infrared Photoacoustic Spectrometer for Measuring Silica and Other Mineral Dust Mass Concentrations

Respirable crystalline silica (RCS) continues to be a major health concern for those employed in the mining industry. While there have been improvements in the turn-around time for filter-based measurements of RCS in mine environments, there is a distinct lack of a real-time method for quantifying it. In this study, a new real-time method using photoacoustic spectroscopy with an infrared tunable quantum cascade laser was developed. The most useful spectral region was found to be between 11 m and 13 m, and the wavelength for airborne RCS quantification was determined to be 12.495 m. It was also found that the instrument is capable of accounting for, and quantifying, kaolinite, and coal dust, which are also commonly found in coal mines. A Sensirion SPS30 low-cost air quality sensor was used to monitor particulate matter concentrations, while a TSI Aerodynamic Particle Sizer (APS) was used to record size distributions. The accuracy of this method was determined by comparing the results to the NIOSH filter-based FTIR technique for RCS mass concentration measurement. The filter-based FTIR technique, SPS30, and photoacoustic spectrometer measurements are shown to correlate strongly. The new instrument will also be useful for measuring aerosol light absorption by windblown dust in the thermal infrared atmospheric window