Rapid nutrient determination of sugarcane milling by-products using near infrared spectroscopy

This thesis investigates the use of near infrared (NIR) spectroscopic methods for rapid measurement of nutrient elements in mill mud and mill ash. Adoption of NIR-based analyses for carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium and silicon will allow Australian sugarcane farmers to comply with recent legislative changes, and act within recommended precision farming frameworks. For these analyses, NIR spectroscopic methods surpass several facets of traditional wet chemistry techniques, dramatically reducing costs, required expertise and chemical exposure, while increasing throughput and access to data. Further, this technology can be applied in various modes, including laboratory, at-line and on-line installations, allowing targeted measurement.

Properties of artificial grain boundary weak links grown on Y-ZrO 2 bicrystals

Weak links were fabricated by pulsed laser deposition of YBa 2Cu3Ox thin films on Y-ZrO2 bicrystal substrates. They were formed by transferring the bicrystal boundary into the epitaxial film during the film growth. Their properties were determined by the misorientation angle ( theta ) between the two halves of the bicrystal. The transport properties of the weak links were studied as a function of theta and an exponential dependence of the weak link critical current density was observed for angles up to 45 degrees . Clear Josephson effects with good microwave and magnetic field response were observed.

Microstructure of epitaxial YBa2Cu3O7-δ thin films on (001)-tilt Y-ZrO2 bicrystals

The microstructures of the grain boundaries in epitaxial YBa2Cu3O7-δ thin films grown on [001]-tilt yttria-stabilized ZrO2 bicrystal substrates were characterized by TEM and at. force microscopy. The exact boundary plane geometries of the bicrystal substrates were not transferred to the films which instead had wiggling grain boundaries. [on SciFinder(R)]

Artificial grain boundary Josephson junctions : properties and applications

Engineered grain boundary Josephson junctions in YBaCuO were formed on bicrystal Y-ZrO2 substrates. Laser deposited films were patterned into micron size microbridges. The authors obsd. a pronounced correlation between superconducting transport properties of grain boundary junctions and the misorientation angle θ between the two halves of the bicrystal. The crit. Josephson current Ic decreased about four orders of magnitude as θ was increased from 0 to 45 degrees. Clear microwave and magnetic field responses were obsd. at 77 K. At this temp., crit. current times normal resistance products, IcRn, of up to 1 mV were measured for low angle grain boundaries, and Shapiro steps were obsd. up to that voltage. DC SQUIDs were fabricated, and best performance at 77 K was obtained for θ = 32° with a 4-μm strip width. To utilize the higher IcRn value of a lower θ, submicron junctions have to be developed. [on SciFinder(R)]

Effect of an adiabatic fin on natural convection heat transfer in a triangular enclosure

Natural convection thermal boundary layer adjacent to the heated inclined wall of a right angled triangle with an adiabatic fin attached to that surface is investigated by numerical simulations. The finite volume based unsteady numerical model is adopted for the simulation. It is revealed from the numerical results that the development of the boundary layer along the inclined surface is characterized by three distinct stages, i.e. a start-up stage, a transitional stage and a steady stage. These three stages can be clearly identified from the numerical simulations. Moreover, in presence of adiabatic fin, the thermal boundary layer adjacent to the inclined wall breaks initially. However, it is reattached with the downstream boundary layer next to the fin. More attention has been given to the boundary layer development near the fin area.

Local plastic mechanisms in thin steel plates under in-plane compression

Thin-walled steel plates subjected to in-plane compression develop two types of local plastic mechanism, namely the roof-shaped mechanism and the so-called flip-disc mechanism, but the intriguing question of why two mechanisms should develop was not answered until recently. It was considered that the location of first yield point shifted from the centre of the plate to the midpoint of the longitudinal edge depending on the b/t ratio, imperfection level, and yield stress of steel, which then decided the type of mechanism. This paper has verified this hypothesis using analysis and laboratory experiments. An elastic analysis using Galerkin's method to solve Marguerre's equations was first used to determine the first yield point, based on which the local plastic mechanism/imperfection tolerance tables have been developed which give the type of mechanism as a function of b/t ratio, imperfection level and yield stress of steel. Laboratory experiments of thin-walled columns verified the imperfection tolerance tables and thus indirectly the hypothesis. Elastic and rigid-plastic curves were them used to predict the effect on the ultimate load due to the change of mechanism. A finite element analysis of selected cases also confirmed the results from simple analyses and experiments.

Graphene ripples generated by grain boundaries in highly ordered pyrolytic graphite

Atomic scale periodic ripples that extend for several nanometers on the surface of adjacent graphitic grains have been observed for the first time on highly ordered pyrolitic graphite by UHV-STM. The ripples emanate from a grain boundary, and are explained in terms of a mechanical deformation due to the elastic strain accumulated along the GB, which is relieved out-of-plane in the topmost graphene layer. We present a molecular dynamics model that accounts for the formation of similar ripples as result of the lattice mismatch induced by two different grain orientations.

Effect of text type on near work-induced contrast adaptation in myopic and emmetropic young adults

Purpose Contrast adaptation has been speculated to be an error signal for emmetropization. Myopic children exhibit higher contrast adaptation than emmetropic children. This study aimed to determine whether contrast adaptation varies with the type of text viewed by emmetropic and myopic young adults. Methods Baseline contrast sensitivity was determined in 25 emmetropic and 25 spectacle-corrected myopic young adults for 0.5, 1.2, 2.7, 4.4, and 6.2 cycles per degree (cpd) horizontal sine wave gratings. The adults spent periods looking at a 6.2 cpd high-contrast horizontal grating and reading lines of English and Chinese text (these texts comprised 1.2 cpd row and 6 cpd stroke frequencies). The effects of these near tasks on contrast sensitivity were determined, with decreases in sensitivity indicating contrast adaptation. Results Contrast adaptation was affected by the near task (F2,672 = 43.0; P < 0.001). Adaptation was greater for the grating task (0.13 ± 0.17 log unit, averaged across all frequencies) than reading tasks, but there was no significant difference between the two reading tasks (English 0.05 ± 0.13 log unit versus Chinese 0.04 ± 0.13 log unit). The myopic group showed significantly greater adaptation (by 0.04, 0.04, and 0.05 log units for English, Chinese, and grating tasks, respectively) than the emmetropic group (F1,48 = 5.0; P = 0.03). Conclusions In young adults, reading Chinese text induced similar contrast adaptation as reading English text. Myopes exhibited greater contrast adaptation than emmetropes. Contrast adaptation, independent of text type, might be associated with myopia development.

Observation of ions and particles near busy roads using a Neutral Cluster and Air Ion Spectrometer (NAIS)

Motor vehicles emit large quantities of ions in the form of both charged particles and molecular cluster ions. While, the health effects of inhalation of charged particles is largely unexplored, the concentrations near busy roads and the distance to which these particles and ions are carried have important implications for the exposure of the large percentage of the population that lives close to such roadways. We measured ion concentrations using a neutral cluster and air ion spectrometer (NAIS) near seven busy roads carrying on the average approximately 7000 vehicles hr-1 including about 15% heavy duty diesel vehicles. In this study, charged particle concentrations were measured as a function of downwind distance from the road for the first time. We show that, at a moderate wind speed of 2.0 m s-1, mean charged particle concentrations at the kerb were of the order of 2x104 cm-3 and, more importantly, decreased as d 0.6 where d is the distance from the road. While cluster ions were rapidly depleted by attachment to particles and were not carried to more than about 20 m from the road, elevated concentrations of charged particle were detected up to at least 400 m from the road. Most of the charge on the downwind side was carried on the larger particles, with no excess charge on particles smaller than about 10 nm. At 30 nm, particles carried more than double the charge they would normally carry in equilibrium. There are very few measurements of ions near road traffic and this is the first study of the spatial dispersion of charged particles from a road.

Infrared and Raman spectroscopic characterization of the borate mineral hydroboracite CaMg[B3O4(OH)3]2⋅3H2O : implications for the molecular structure

We have studied the mineral hydroboracite CaMg[B3O4(OH)3]2∙3H2O using electron microscopy and vibrational spectroscopy. Both tetrahedral and trigonal boron units are observed. The nominal resolution of the Raman spectrometer is of the order of 2 cm-1 and as such is sufficient enough to identify separate bands for the stretching bands of the two boron isotopes. The Raman band at 1039 cm-1 is assigned to BO stretching vibration. Raman bands at 1144, 1157, 1229, 1318 cm-1 are attributed to the BOH in-plane bending modes. Raman bands at 825 and 925 cm-1 are attributed to the antisymmetric stretching modes of tetrahedral boron. The sharp Raman peak at 925 cm-1 is from the 11-B component such a mode, then it should have a smaller 10-B satellite near (1.03)x(925) = 952 cm-1, and indeed a small peak at 955 is observed. Four sharp Raman bands observed at 3371, 3507, 3563 and 3632 cm-1 are attributed to the stretching vibrations of hydroxyl units. The broad Raman bands at 3076, 3138, 3255, 3384 and 3551 cm-1 are assigned to water stretching vibrations. Infrared bands at 3367, 3505, 3559 and 3631 cm-1are assigned to the stretching vibration of the hydroxyl units. Broad infrared bands at 3072 and 3254 cm-1 are assigned to water stretching vibrations. Infrared bands at 1318, 1349, 1371, 1383 cm-1 are assigned to the antisymmetric stretching vibrations of trigonal boron

The detection of incipient faults in small multi-cylinder diesel engines using multiple acoustic emission sensors

This thesis investigates condition monitoring (CM) of diesel engines using acoustic emission (AE) techniques. The AE signals recorded from a small size diesel engine are mixtures of multiple sources from multiple cylinders. Thus, it is difficult to interpret the information conveyed in the signals for CM purposes. This thesis develops a series of practical signal processing techniques to overcome this problem. Various experimental studies conducted to assess the CM capabilities of AE analysis for diesel engines. A series of modified signal processing techniques were proposed. These techniques showed promising results of capability for CM of multiple cylinders diesel engine using multiple AE sensors.

A Near-Infrared Reflectance Spectroscopy Method for Direct Analysis of Several Chemical Components and Properties of Fruit, for Example, Chinese Hawthorn

Near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) calibrations were developed for the discrimination of Chinese hawthorn (Crataegus pinnatifida Bge. var. major) fruit from three geographical regions as well as for the estimation of the total sugar, total acid, total phenolic content, and total antioxidant activity. Principal component analysis (PCA) was used for the discrimination of the fruit on the basis of their geographical origin. Three pattern recognition methods, linear discriminant analysis, partial least-squares-discriminant analysis, and back-propagation artificial neural networks, were applied to classify and compare these samples. Furthermore, three multivariate calibration models based on the first derivative NIR spectroscopy, partial least-squares regression, back-propagation artificial neural networks, and least-squares-support vector machines, were constructed for quantitative analysis of the four analytes, total sugar, total acid, total phenolic content, and total antioxidant activity, and validated by prediction data sets.

Knowledge, attitudes and practices to reduce exposure among residents living near Danang dioxin hot spot : 2.5 years after a preventative intervention

Da Nang Airbase in Viet Nam served as a bulk storage and supply facility for Agent Orange and other herbicides during Operation Ranch Hand 1961-1971[1]. Studies have shown that environmental and biological samples taken around the airbase site have elevated levels of dioxin [1-3]. Residents living in the vicinity of the airbase are at risk of exposure to dioxin in soil, water and mud and particularly through the consumption of local contaminated food. In 2009, a pre-intervention cross sectional survey was undertaken. This survey examined the knowledge, attitudes and practices (KAP) of householders living near Da Nang Airbase, relevent to reducing dioxin exposure through contaminated food. The results showed that despite living near a severe dioxin hot spot, the residents had very limited knowledge of both exposure risk and measures to reduce exposure to dioxin[4]. In response, the Vietnam Public Health Association (VPHA) and Da Nang Public Health Association implemented a risk reduction program at four residential wards in the vicinities of the Da Nang Airbase in 2010. A post intervention KAP survey was under taken in 2011, and the results showed that knowledge of the existence of dioxin in food, dioxin exposure pathways, potential high risk foods, and preventive measures was significantly enhanced. This new study monitored KAP 2.5 years after the intervention through a 2013 survey of food handlers from 400 households that were randomly selected from the four intervention wards. The results show that most of the positive outcomes remained stable or had increased; some KAP indicators decreased compared to those in the post-intervention survey, but were still significantly higher than the pre-intervention levels. In 2014, these findings will be incorporated with qualitative assessments and the results of laboratory analysis of dioxin concentrations in foods in Da Nang and Bien Hoa dioxin hot spots to comprehensively assess the sustained effects of the intervention.

A 3D virtual medical imaging suite : bridging the academic-clinical training boundary

Aims The Medical Imaging Training Immersive Environment (MITIE) system is a recently developed virtual reality (VR) platform that allows students to practice a range of medical imaging techniques. The aim of this pilot study was to harvest user feedback about the educational value of the application and inform future pedagogical development. This presentation explores the use of this technology for skills training and blurring the boundaries between academic learning and clinical skills training. Background MITIE is a 3D VR environment that allows students to manipulate a patient and radiographic equipment in order to produce a VR-generated image for comparison with a gold standard. As with VR initiatives in other health disciplines (1-6) the software mimics clinical practice as much as possible and uses 3D technology to enhance immersion and realism. The software was developed by the Medical Imaging Course Team at a provider University with funding from a Health Workforce Australia “Simulated Learning Environments” grant. Methods Over 80 students undertaking the Bachelor of Medical Imaging Course were randomised to receive practical experience with either MITIE or radiographic equipment in the medical radiation laboratory. Student feedback about the educational value of the software was collected and performance with an assessed setup was measured for both groups for comparison. Ethical approval for the project was provided by the university ethics panel. Results This presentation provides qualitative analysis of student perceptions relating to satisfaction, usability and educational value as well as comparative quantitative performance data. Students reported high levels of satisfaction and both feedback and assessment results confirmed the application’s significance as a pre-clinical training tool. There was a clear emerging theme that MITIE could be a useful learning tool that students could access to consolidate their clinical learning, either during their academic timetables or their clinical placement. Conclusion Student feedback and performance data indicate that MITIE has a valuable role to play in the clinical skills training for medical imaging students both in the academic and the clinical environment. Future work will establish a framework for an appropriate supporting pedagogy that can cross the boundary between the two environments. This project was possible due to funding made available by Health Workforce Australia.

New graduate occupational therapists' perceptions of near-misses and mistakes in the workplace

Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to explore the perceptions of near-misses and mistakes among new graduate occupational therapists from Australia and Aotearoa/New Zealand (NZ), and their knowledge of current incident reporting systems. Design/methodology/approach - New graduate occupational therapists in Australia and Aotearoa/NZ in their first year of practice (n=228) participated in an online electronic survey that examined five areas of work preparedness. Near-misses and mistakes was one focus area. Findings - The occurrence and disclosure of practice errors among new graduate occupational therapists are similar between Australian and Aotearoa/NZ participants. Rural location, structured supervision and registration status significantly influenced the perceptions and reporting of practice errors. Structured supervision significantly impacted on reporting procedure knowledge. Current registration status was strongly correlated with perceptions that the workplace encouraged event reporting. Research limitations/ implications - Areas for further investigation include investigating the perceptions and knowledge of practice errors within a broader profession and the need to explore definitional aspects and contextual factors of adverse events that occur in allied health settings. Selection bias may be a factor in this study. Practical implications - Findings have implications for university and workplace structures, such as clinical management, supervision, training about practice errors and reporting mechanisms in allied health. Originality/value - Findings may enable the development of better strategies for detecting, managing and preventing practice errors in the allied health professions.