Performance analysis of cyber security awareness delivery methods

In order to decrease information security threats caused by human-related vulnerabilities, an increased concentration on information security awareness and training is necessary. There are numerous information security awareness training delivery methods. The purpose of this study was to determine what delivery method is most successful in providing security awareness training. We conducted security awareness training using various delivery methods such as text based, game based and a short video presentation with the aim of determining user preference delivery methods. Our study suggests that a combined delvery methods are better than individual secrity awareness delivery method.

A novel nanoplatform for oral delivery of anti-cancer biomacromolecules

Oral administration of bio–macromolecules is an uphill task and the challenges from varying pH and enzymatic activity are difficult to overcome. In this regard, nanotechnology promises the new hope and offers advantages such as controlled release, target specific delivery, combinatorial therapy and many more. In this study, we demonstrate the formulation of a novel alginate enclosed, chitosan coated ceramic, anti cancer nano carrier (ACSC NC). These NC were loaded with multi functional anti cancer bovine lactoferrin (Lf), a natural milk based protein, for improvement of intestinal absorption, in order to develop a novel platform to carry anti cancer protein and/or peptides for oral therapy. Here we demonstrate the size, morphology, internalisation and release profiles of the nanoparticles (NC) under varying pH as perceived in human digestive system. We further determine the uptake of these particles by colon cancer cell lines by measuring the endocytosis and transcytosis of the NC. These NC can be used for future targeted protein/peptide or nucleic acid based drug delivery to treat difficult diseases including cancer.

Formulation optimization for high drug loading colonic drug delivery carrier

High drug loading (DL) carrier is an effective way to cure the cancerous cells. High drug loading is also one of the key issues in the drug delivery research, especially the colonic drug delivery system by oral administration. The times of drug intake could be remarkably reduced if high drug loading carriers are administered. At the same time, the related formulation materials could be effectively utilized. One major obstacle with the preparation of this system is the difficulty to encapsulate the hydrophilic drug into hydrophobic encapsulation polymer. A design of high drug loading delivery system with biodegradable, biocompatible materials and optimization of the fabrication process is a potential solution to solve the problem. So in this research, 5-Fluorouracil (5-FU) loaded Poly (lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) nanoparticles were prepared by double emulsion and solvent evaporation method. Several fabrication parameters including theoretical drug loading, volume ratio of outer water phase to the first emulsion, pH value of outer aqueous phase and emulsifier PVA concentration were optimized to get a high drug loading nanoparticles. The result shows that with the increase of theoretical drug loading, the actual drug loading increased gradually. When adjusted the pH value of outer aqueous phase to the isoelectric point (8.02) of 5-Fluorouracil, the drug loading exhibited a higher one compared to other pH value solution. Relative higher volume ratio of outer water phase to the first emulsion was also beneficial for the enhancement of drug loading. But the nanoparticles size increased simultaneously due to the lower shearing force. When increased the PVA concentration, the drug loading showed an increase first and following a drop.

Challenges to infrastructure delivery during the economic downturn : a qualitative analysis

Infrastructure plays a key role in creating and maintaining sustainable economic growth and a prosperous community. Infrastructure projects generally require a large amount of capital investment, which motivates involvement from the private sector in the delivery process. The Global Financial Crisis placed enormous pressure on both the public and private sectors, as the ability to borrow money for an extended tenor was greatly reduced. This study adopts a qualitative approach to analyse the challenges facing the delivery of infrastructure projects in an Australian context by considering the impacts of the Global Financial Crisis. It is found that the availability of resources and finance are perceived as the biggest challenges, with resources being more of a concern than finance to interviewees. In addition to these findings, ways in which the private sector can be better involved in the infrastructure delivery is discussed.

Stabilization of highly unsaturated fatty acids and delivery into foods

Highly unsaturated fatty acids derived from fish or algal oils, particularly EPA and DHA, are in high demand as healthy food ingredients in fortified foods. Due to their oxidative instability most food products incorporate stabilized microencapsulated EPA and DHA oils to avoid negative sensory impact associated with oxidation of these fatty acids. Complex coacervation has been particularly successful in stabilizing fish oil and providing an ingredient with a sensory shelf-life consistent with that of the food product. Overcoming the technical challenges associated with the instability of these oils will help drive growth of the omega-3 fortified healthy food ingredient market.

The delivery of a telephone coaching programme to people with type 2 diabetes by practice nurses in Victoria, Australia : a qualitative evaluation

Aim.  To evaluate telephone coaching undertaken by practice nurses in a randomised controlled trial of self-management support for people with type 2 diabetes.

Background.  Qualitative evaluation of the processes that take place in randomised controlled trials has the advantage of providing information on those variables that contribute to the success or failure of the randomised controlled trial. This additional information can be used to improve or modify chronic disease management programme designs.

Methods.  Grounded theory was used to analyse transcriptions of telephone coaching sessions between practice nurses and patient participants in the randomised controlled trial.

Findings.   Analysis of transcriptions found that patient participants had complex multiple medical conditions to manage, as well as maintaining their daily lives. Two approaches to working with this complexity by practice nurses emerged. We characterised one as ‘treat to target’ and the other as ‘personalised care’. While each approach shapes identities available to patients within the relationship with the practice nurse, the impact or effectiveness of these approaches on outcomes has yet to be reported.

Conclusions.  Telephone coaching takes place in complex social contexts as well as complex medical conditions. People with type 2 diabetes must manage their diabetes care and their care of other conditions within their social contexts. This means a constant negotiation of priorities.

Relevance to clinical practice.  Awareness of how health professional support for patients’ self-management becomes a relationship and element of the negotiated identity of patients is important in adapting clinical guideline-based protocols to achieving targets in the management of chronic illness.

Anytime, anywhere, anyplace : articulating the meaning of flexible delivery in built environment education

This paper describes a process for negotiating aspects of flexible learning through the consideration of flexibility from student, teacher and institutional perspectives. The process aimed to reconcile, in an Australian school of architecture, the competing demands of learner’s increasing flexibility demands, teacher’s attributes and pedagogical objectives and the structural limitations that militate against the delivery, resourcing and maintenance of flexibility. Results indicated that the only categories of flexibility (out of time, content, access/entry requirements, pedagogy and delivery) that were demanded by students were pedagogy (but only in the choice of working in groups) and delivery; whereas teachers were merely willing to offer flexibility in delivery. Thus, what students desired of teaching, and what teachers were able to provide, were multiple mediums of knowledge delivery that allowed students flexibility in when and where they could learn. These findings, it is suggested, have relevance for course redesign throughout the creative/visual arts.

The diffusion of policy in contexts of practice : flexible delivery in Australian vocational education and training

Significant changes have occurred over the last decade within the Australian Vocational Education and Training (VET) system. Not least amongst these has been a shift from a predominantly traditional face-to-face classroom model of programme delivery to more flexible models informed by the needs of clients. To lead this revolution, in 1991 the Australian Commonwealth and State Ministers for Training established the Flexible Delivery Working Party. A series of reports followed that sought to develop a policy framework, including a definition of flexible delivery, and its principles and characteristics. Despite these efforts, project funding and national staff development initiatives, several difficulties have been experienced in the ‘take-up’ of flexible delivery; problems that we argue are related to how the dissemination of innovative practice is conceived. Specifically, the literature and research on the diffusion of innovations points to the efficacy of informal social networks ‘in which individuals adopt the new idea as a result of talking with other individuals who have already adopted it’ (Valente, 1995, p. ix). Following a discussion of these issues, the article concludes by arguing the need for research of innovative practice transfer within VET in Australia, using qualitative case study in order to develop an in-depth and rich description of the process, and facilitate greater understanding of how it works in practice.

Long-distance delivery of bacterial virulence factors by Pseudomonas aeruginosa outer membrane vesicles

Bacteria use a variety of secreted virulence factors to manipulate host cells, thereby causing significant morbidity and mortality. We report a mechanism for the long-distance delivery of multiple bacterial virulence factors, simultaneously and directly into the host cell cytoplasm, thus obviating the need for direct interaction of the pathogen with the host cell to cause cytotoxicity. We show that outer membrane–derived vesicles (OMV) secreted by the opportunistic human pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa deliver multiple virulence factors, including b-lactamase, alkaline phosphatase, hemolytic phospholipase C, and Cif, directly into the host cytoplasm via fusion of OMV with lipid rafts in the host plasma membrane. These virulence factors enter the cytoplasm of the host cell via N-WASP–mediated actin trafficking, where they rapidly distribute to specific subcellular locations to affect host cell biology. We propose that secreted virulence factors are not released individually as naked proteins into the surrounding milieu where they may randomly contact the surface of the host cell, but instead bacterial derived OMV deliver multiple virulence factors simultaneously and directly into the host cell cytoplasm in a coordinated manner.