Real science and school science : endless wonder versus the drive to explore

Science may be simply defined as a way of finding out about how the world works. It is often viewed as objective and being built on a step-wise procedural base. The question arises as to whether school science needs to be different to cutting-edge (‘real’) science since the outcomes have different purposes, one requiring scientific breakthroughs, the other being imitative and simple. The divergence between these two realities of science impacts on the development of science curricula in that relevance for students, rather than purely imitating real science, steers science curricula.

Rich stuff : review of Jeri Kroll and Graeme Harper (eds), Research methods in creative writing

A review of a cutting-edge collection of scholarly articles engaging with contemporary theories of creativity and a gamut of valid and often exhilarating research methods in contemporary creative writing practice.

Identification of unprecedented anticancer properties of high molecular weight biomacromolecular complex containing bovine lactoferrin (HMW-bLf)

With the successful clinical trials, multifunctional glycoprotein bovine lactoferrin is gaining attention as a safe nutraceutical and biologic drug targeting cancer, chronic-inflammatory, viral and microbial diseases. Interestingly, recent findings that human lactoferrin oligomerizes under simulated physiological conditions signify the possible role of oligomerization in the multifunctional activities of lactoferrin molecule during infections and in disease targeting signaling pathways. Here we report the purification and physicochemical characterization of high molecular weight biomacromolecular complex containing bovine lactoferrin (≥250 kDa), from bovine colostrum, a naturally enriched source of lactoferrin. It showed structural similarities to native monomeric iron free (Apo) lactoferrin (∼78-80 kDa), retained anti-bovine lactoferrin antibody specific binding and displayed potential receptor binding properties when tested for cellular internalization. It further displayed higher thermal stability and better resistance to gut enzyme digestion than native bLf monomer. High molecular weight bovine lactoferrin was functionally bioactive and inhibited significantly the cell proliferation (p<0.01) of human breast and colon carcinoma derived cells. It induced significantly higher cancer cell death (apoptosis) and cytotoxicity in a dose-dependent manner in cancer cells than the normal intestinal cells. Upon cellular internalization, it led to the up-regulation of caspase-3 expression and degradation of actin. In order to identify the cutting edge future potential of this bio-macromolecule in medicine over the monomer, its in-depth structural and functional properties need to be investigated further.

Charismatic marine mega-fauna: some recent discoveries and future challenges

 The last 20 years have been exciting times for scientists working with charismatic marine mega-fauna. Here recent advances are reviewed. There have been advances in both data gathering and data-analysis techniques that have allowed new insights into the physiological and behavioural ecology of free-ranging mega-faunal species; some marine mega-faunal species have now become model organisms for cutting edge approaches to identify the underlying mathematical properties of animal search patterns and hence the underlying behavioural processes (e.g. Levy flight versus Brownian motion); the implications of climate change have started to become more apparent with extended time-series of animal movements, abundance and performance; conservation issues have become integrated into marine planning and have resulted in the advent of extended networks of marine protected areas (MPAs) as well as large MPAs that span many 100,000 km2; and collaborative crossdisciplinary teams have started to reveal the importance of ocean currents in animal dispersal, the ontogeny of migration and population genetic structure. Looking to the future, increased data availability (e.g. through data sharing) will likely allow more holistic across-taxa analyses to become routine.
© 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

CD8+ T cells from a novel T cell receptor transgenic mouse induce liver-stage immunity that can be boosted by blood-stage infection in rodent malaria

To follow the fate of CD8+ T cells responsive to Plasmodium berghei ANKA (PbA) infection, we generated an MHC I-restricted TCR transgenic mouse line against this pathogen. T cells from this line, termed PbT-I T cells, were able to respond to blood-stage infection by PbA and two other rodent malaria species, P. yoelii XNL and P. chabaudi AS. These PbT-I T cells were also able to respond to sporozoites and to protect mice from liver-stage infection. Examination of the requirements for priming after intravenous administration of irradiated sporozoites, an effective vaccination approach, showed that the spleen rather than the liver was the main site of priming and that responses depended on CD8α+ dendritic cells. Importantly, sequential exposure to irradiated sporozoites followed two days later by blood-stage infection led to augmented PbT-I T cell expansion. These findings indicate that PbT-I T cells are a highly versatile tool for studying multiple stages and species of rodent malaria and suggest that cross-stage reactive CD8+ T cells may be utilized in liver-stage vaccine design to enable boosting by blood-stage infections.

Religion, heritage and the sustainable city : Hinduism and urbanisation in Jaipur

The speed and scale of urbanisation in India is unprecedented almost anywhere in the world and has tremendous global implications. The religious influence on the urban experience has resonances for all aspects of urban sustainability in India and yet it remains a blind spot while articulating sustainable urban policy.This book explores the historical and on-going influence of religion on urban planning, design, space utilisation, urban identities and communities. It argues that the conceptual and empirical approaches to planning sustainable cities in India need to be developed out of analytical concepts that define local sense of place and identity. Examining how Hindu religious heritage, beliefs and religiously influenced planning practices have impacted on sustainable urbanisation development in Jaipur and Indian cities in general, the book identifies the challenges and opportunities that ritualistic and belief resources pose for sustainability. It focuses on three key aspects: spatial segregation and ghettoisation; gender-inclusive urban development; and the nexus between religion, nature and urban development. This cutting-edge book is one of the first case studies linking Hindu religion, heritage, urban development, women and the environment in a way that responds to the realities of Indian cities. It opens up discussion on the nexus of religion and development, drawing out insightful policy implications for the sustainable urban planning of many cities in India and elsewhere in South Asia and the developing world.

A community based systems diagram of obesity causes

INTRODUCTION: Application of system thinking to the development, implementation and evaluation of childhood obesity prevention efforts represents the cutting edge of community-based prevention. We report on an approach to developing a system oriented community perspective on the causes of obesity. METHODS: Group model building sessions were conducted in a rural Australian community to address increasing childhood obesity. Stakeholders (n = 12) built a community model that progressed from connection circles to causal loop diagrams using scripts from the system dynamics literature. Participants began this work in identifying change over time in causes and effects of childhood obesity within their community. The initial causal loop diagram was then reviewed and elaborated by 50 community leaders over a full day session. RESULTS: The process created a causal loop diagram representing community perceptions of determinants and causes of obesity. The causal loop diagram can be broken down into four separate domains; social influences; fast food and junk food; participation in sport; and general physical activity. DISCUSSION: This causal loop diagram can provide the basis for community led planning of a prevention response that engages with multiple levels of existing settings and systems.

Enabling cloud computing in emergency management systems

Emergencies, including both natural and man - made disasters, increasingly pose an immediate threat to life, health, property, and environment. For example, Hurricane Katrina, the deadliest and most destructive Atlantic tropical cyclone of the 2005 Atlantic hurricane season, led to at least 1,883 people's death and an estimated loss of - 108 billion property. To reduce the damage by emergencies, a wide range of cutting-edge technologies on medicine and information are used in all phases of emergency management. This article proposes a cloud-based emergency management system for environmental and structural monitoring that utilizes the powerful computing and storage capability of datacenters to analyze the mass data collected by the wireless intelligent sensor network deployed in civil environment. The system also benefits from smartphone and social network platform to setup the spatial and population models, which enables faster evacuation and better resource allocation.

Seduction and demise in East Berlin: Digital prototype for an immersive opera

‘Seduction and Demise in East Berlin – a digital prototype for an immersive opera’ is a reflective case study of how digital technologies can be successfully applied to facilitate dynamic mediated partnerships and collaborations resulting in cutting-edge industry standard outcomes in the fields of design, performance and digital media. The ongoing use of online interaction throughout the development of the prototype facilitated a grammar of participation, collaboration and output between third year tertiary design students from Deakin University and independent Opera Company the Beggars Opera Co-Operative (BegOpCoOp), resulting in the achievement of positive professional outcomes for both project partners. Through this process, students at Deakin University Visual Communication Design department developed a normative working model that enabled a swift engagement with and response to the creative and strategic challenges that come with applying contemporary design practice in a current industry context. BegOpCop, as the industry partner, were able to use the digital collaborative process as a springboard to interrogate and innovate their own practice as producers of contemporary operatic repertoire and to develop exciting new digital and design-savvy creative collateral with which to seek further production partners, taking them to the next professional level as a growing arts organisation.

The role of the facilitator in a project/design based learning environment

The Project Oriented Design Based Learning (PODBL) is a teaching and learning approach (TLA) that is based on engineering design activities undertaken during a project. PODBL encourages independent learning and a deep approach to student learning outcomes. The Centre for Advanced Design in Engineering Training (CADET) is a new engineering building with cutting edge technology facilities at Deakin University. It acts as a catalyst for a pedagogical change in the way that Engineering is delivered. This paper is focused on the role of the facilitator in a project/design based learning environment and it also looks in to appropriate staff development training for a project/design based learning environment.

The Pinoke Project Performance

The Pinoke Project is a 6 week creative development to create a full-length transmedia dance performance at the cutting edge of artificially intelligent technology, elite contemporary dance practice, and publication. This process will be a collaboration between creative coders, 3D graphics and motion artists, a dance/choreographer, and an embedded dance critic who will work with an artificially intelligent robot, Pinoke, on the creative development of a new stage production as well as the documentation and dissemination of the process. This project is supported by the Victorian Government through Creative Victoria.

Carbon Nexus at Deakin University: a globally unique carbon fiber and composite research facility in Australia

Carbon Nexus, the new cutting-edge open-access carbon fiber and composites research facility at Deakin University, recently commenced operations. The two carbon fiber processing lines are allowing researchers to investigate new methods for manufacturing carbon fiber which can lower energy inputs, maximise output, and increase fiber performance. The lines are also enabling industrial partners to validate new technologies at industrial scale. With a focused research program driven by a cross-functional research team, Carbon Nexus aims to reduce the cost of producing carbon fiber and increase the rate of manufacturing composite parts.

Real time cyber attack analysis on Hadoop ecosystem using machine learning algorithms

Big Data technologies are exciting cutting-edge technologies that generate, collect, store and analyse tremendous amount of data. Like any other IT revolution, Big Data technologies also have big challenges that are obstructing it to be adopted by wider community or perhaps impeding to extract value from Big Data with pace and accuracy it is promising. In this paper we first offer an alternative view of «Big Data Cloud» with the main aim to make this complex technology easy to understand for new researchers and identify gaps efficiently. In our lab experiment, we have successfully implemented cyber-attacks on Apache Hadoop's management interface «Ambari». On our thought about «attackers only need one way in», we have attacked the Apache Hadoop's management interface, successfully turned down all communication between Ambari and Hadoop's ecosystem and collected performance data from Ambari Virtual Machine (VM) and Big Data Cloud hypervisor. We have also detected these cyber-attacks with 94.0187% accurateness using modern machine learning algorithms. From the existing researchs, no one has ever attempted similar experimentation in detection of cyber-attacks on Hadoop using performance data.

Integrating internet-of-things with the power of cloud computing and the intelligence of big Data analytics- a three layered approach

This paper is written through the vision on integrating Internet-of-Things (IoT) with the power of Cloud Computing and the intelligence of Big Data analytics. But integration of all these three cutting edge technologies is complex to understand. In this research we first provide a security centric view of three layered approach for understanding the technology, gaps and security issues. Then with a series of lab experiments on different hardware, we have collected performance data from all these three layers, combined these data together and finally applied modern machine learning algorithms to distinguish 18 different activities and cyber-attacks. From our experiments we find classification algorithm RandomForest can identify 93.9% attacks and activities in this complex environment. From the existing literature, no one has ever attempted similar experiment for cyber-attack detection for IoT neither with performance data nor with a three layered approach.

Painterface: an integrated responsive architectural interface

Interface design is one of the main research areas in human-computer interaction (HCI). In computer science, many HCI re-searchers and designers explore novel interface designs with cutting-edge technology, but few investigate alternative interfaces for existing built environments, especially in the area of architecture. In this pa-per, we investigate alternative interface designs for existing architectural elements—such as walls, floors, and ceilings—that can be created with off-the-shelf materials. Instead of merely serving as discrete sensing and display devices integrated to an existing building’s surface, these liquid and thin materials act as interventions that can be ‘painted’ on a surface, transforming it into an architectural interface. This interface, Painterface, is a responsive material intervention that serves as an analogue, wall-type media interface that senses and responds to people’s actions. Painterface is equipped with three sensing and responsive capacities: touch, sound, and light. While the inter-face’s touch capacity performs tactile sensing, its sound-production and illumination capacities emit notes and light respectively. The out-comes of this research suggest the possibility of a simple, inexpensive, replaceable, and even disposable interface that could serve as an architectural intervention applicable to existing building surfaces.