In situ synthesis of TiC-Fe composite overlays from low cost TiO 2 precursors using plasma transferred Arc deposition

A direct conversion of TiO2 into TiC during plasma transferred arc deposition is a cheap and novel approach to produce wear resistant coatings. The present study explored the use of a low cost titanium ore as precursor for titanium carbide in metal matrix composite overlays. The deposited layers were characterized using optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, x-ray diffraction and microhardness testing. A carbothermic reduction of the titanium oxides took place during the deposition of the coating by plasma transferred arc. The overlays produced in this way consisted of fine titanium carbides evenly dispersed in an iron matrix. The opportunities and limitations of this approach are discussed.

High-resolution monitoring of atmospheric pollutants using a system of low-cost sensors

Increased levels of particulate matter (PM) in the atmosphere have contributed to an increase in mortality and morbidity in communities and are the main contributing factor for respiratory health problems in the population. Currently, PM concentrations are sparsely monitored; for instance, a region of over 2200 square kilometers surrounding Melbourne in Victoria, Australia, is monitored using ten sensor stations. This paper proposes to improve the estimation of PM concentration by complementing the existing high-precision but expensive PM devices with low-cost lower precision PM sensor nodes. Our evaluation reveals that local PM estimation accuracies improve with higher densities of low-precision sensor nodes. Our analysis examines the impact of the precision of the lost-cost sensors on the overall estimation accuracy.

Towards development of a quality cost model for automotive stamping

The current work used discrete event simulation techniques to model the economics of quality within an actual automotive stamping plant. Automotive stamping is a complex, capital intensive process requiring part-specific tooling and specialised machinery. Quality control and quality improvement is difficult in the stamping environment due to the general lack of process understanding and the large number to interacting variables. These factors have prevented the widespread use of statistical process control. In this work, a model of the quality control techniques used at the Ford Geelong Stamping plant is developed and indirectly validated against results from production. To date, most discrete event models are of systems where the quality control process is clearly defined by the rules of statistical process control. However, the quality control technique used within the stamping plant is for the operator to perform a 100% visual inspection while unloading the finished panels. In the developed model, control is enacted after a cumulative count of defective items is observed, thereby approximating the operator who allows a number of defective panels to accumulate before resetting the line. Analysis of this model found that the cost sensitivity to inspection error is dependent upon the level of control and that the level of control determines line utilisation. Additional analysis of this model demonstrated that additional inspection processes would lead to more stable cost structures but these structures many not necessarily be lower cost. The model was subsequently applied to investigate the economics of quality improvement. The quality problem of panel blemishes, induced by slivers (small metal fragments), was chosen as a case stuffy. Errors of 20-30% were observed during direct validation of the cost model and it was concluded that the use of discrete event simulation models for applications requiring high accuracy would not be possible unless the production system was of low complexity. However, the model could be used to evaluate the sensitivity of input factors and investigating the effects of a number of potential improvement opportunities. Therefore, the research concluded that it is possible to use discrete event simulation to determine the quality economics of an actual stamping plant. However, limitations imposed by inability of the model to consider a number of external factors, such as continuous improvement, operator working conditions or wear and the lack of reliable quality data, result in low cost accuracy. Despite this, it still can be demonstrated that discrete event simulation has significant benefits over the alternate modelling methods.

Pathways to non-complex assistive technology for HACC clients in WA : full report

The project aims to identify, evaluate and make recommendations to improve the pathways by which West Australian (WA) Home and Community Care (HACC) clients access daily living equipment. Otherwise known as assistive technology (AT), these devices are largely non-complex and often low cost. Funded by HACC and conducted within the context of the WA Assessment Framework (WAAF), the project seeks to answer the following question:

Testing the feasibility of a mobile technology intervention promoting healthy gestational weight gain in pregnant women (txt4two) - study protocol for a randomised controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Overweight, obesity and excess gestational weight gain (GWG) are associated with negative health outcomes for mother and child in pregnancy and across the life course. Interventions promoting GWG within guidelines report mixed results. Most are time and cost intensive, which limits scalability. Mobile technologies (mHealth) offer low cost, ready access and individually-tailored support. We aim to test the feasibility of an mHealth intervention promoting healthy nutrition, physical activity and GWG in women who begin pregnancy overweight or obese. METHODS/DESIGN: txt4two is a parallel randomised control trial pilot recruiting women with a singleton, live gestation between 10(+0) and 17(+6) weeks at the first hospital antenatal clinic visit. Inclusion criteria are pre-pregnancy BMI > 25 kg/m(2) and mobile phone ownership. One hundred consenting women will be randomised to intervention or control groups at a 1:1 ratio. All participants will receive standard antenatal care. In addition, the txt4two intervention will be delivered from baseline to 36 weeks gestation and consists of a tailored suite of theoretically-grounded, evidence-based intervention strategies focusing on healthy nutrition, physical activity and GWG. This includes: mobile phone interactive text messages promoting positive health behaviours, goal setting and self-monitoring; video messages; an information website; and a private moderated Facebook® chat forum. The primary outcome is the feasibility of the intervention. Secondary outcomes include GWG and participants' knowledge and behaviour regarding diet and physical activity during pregnancy. DISCUSSION: Findings will inform the development of larger-scale mHealth programmes to improve the delivery of healthy pregnancy nutrition, physical activity and GWG, that could be widely translated and disseminated. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry: ACTRNU111111544397 . Date of registration: 19 March 2014.

Thermal and rheological characteristics of biobased carbon fiber precursor derived from low molecular weight organosolv lignin

In the present work, electrospinnability as well as thermal, rheological, and morphological characteristics of low molecular weight hardwood organosolv lignin, as a potential precursor for carbon fiber, was investigated. Submicromter biobased fibers were electrospun from a wide range of polymer solutions with different ratios of organosolv lignin to polyacrylonitrile (PAN). Rheological studies were conducted by measuring viscosity, surface tension, and electrical conductivity of hybrid polymer solutions, and used to correlate electrospinning behavior of solutions with the morphology of the resultant electrospun composite fibers. Using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images, the solutions that led to the formation of bead-free uniform fibers were found. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) analysis revealed that lignin-based fibers enjoy higher decomposition temperatures than that of pure PAN. Thermal stability of the lignin-based fibers was investigated by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) indicating a high carbon yield of above 50% at 600 °C, which is highly crucial in the production of low-cost carbon fiber. It was also observed that organosolv lignin synergistically affects thermal decomposition of composite fibers. A significant lower activation energy was found for the pyrolysis of lignin-derived electrospun fibers compared to that of pure PAN.

Why do women of low socioeconomic status have poorer dietary behaviours than women of higher socioeconomic status? A qualitative exploration

In developed countries, persons of low socioeconomic status (SES) are generally less likely to consume diets consistent with dietary guidelines. Little is known about the mechanisms that underlie SES differences in eating behaviours. Since women are often responsible for dietary choices within households, this qualitative study investigated factors that may contribute to socioeconomic inequalities in dietary behaviour among women. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 19 high-, 19 mid- and 18 low- SES women, recruited from Melbourne, Australia, using an area-level indicator of SES. An ecological framework, in which individual, social and environmental level influences on diet were considered, was used to guide the development of interview questions and interpretation of the data. Thematic analysis was undertaken to identify the main themes emerging from the data. Several key influences varied by SES. These included food-related values such as health consciousness, and a lack of time due to family commitments (more salient among higher SES women), as well as perceived high cost of healthy eating and lack of time due to work commitments (more important for low SES women). Reported availability of and access to good quality healthy foods did not differ strikingly across SES groups. Public health strategies aimed at reducing SES inequalities in diet might focus on promoting healthy diets that are low cost, as well as promoting time-efficient food preparation strategies for all women.

'Green' treatment of acid mine drainage - a step towards sustainability

Sustainability is becoming increasingly important in the mining and mineral processing industries and must incorporate the associated waste products. Acid mine drainage (AMD) is one such by-product and is one of the most serious environmental problems facing the minerals industry today. The oxidation of sulphidic mine wastes often continues for a substantial period of time after mine closure, resulting in difficult and costly remediation and rehabilitation works. Mining companies are often reluctant to spend increasing amounts of money on waste treatment when the mine life is limited or even finished. Hence a simple, low maintenance and low-cost method of treating AMD is required. Whilst this paper does not address the issue of AMD, it does propose methods for removal of individual species from AMD with potential benefits, including raising AMD pH.

A novel concept of using biosolids as a biological adsorbent, or ‘biosorbent’, of metals from AMD is being investigated at a laboratory/pilot scale level. Biosolids are a by-product resulting from the biological treatment of wastewater, and have been previously shown to adsorb metals from aqueous solutions. This could lead to an environmentally sustainable or ‘green’ method for treating both AMD discharges and disposing/reusing the biosolids.

The result of a laboratory-scale study of the biosorption of Zn(II) is presented in this paper. Physical parameters including reaction kinetics, mixing speed and solution pH were investigated. Solution pH also rose an average of 2 pH units over the 24 hour equilibrium time – a valuable side effect when treating acid mine drainage. The outcome of the study highlights the usefulness of biosolids as a biosorbent for the removal/recovery of metal ions from acid mine drainage. A simple, low-cost treatment technology requiring low maintenance would be beneficial to the mining industry to address some issues relating to AMD and would help integrate environmental and economic considerations into sustainable environmental management.

Haptic handwriting aid for training and rehabilitation

This paper reports a method of controlling a user's hand through the process of writing. Developed predominantly for enabling users to re-learn the skill of writing after a stroke, the process could also be used for teaching children hand/eye coordination, motor skills, movement and position awareness in writing. Utilising low cost haptic technology and custom control software, the system has the potential to increase writing skills in stroke sufferers in the privacy and comfort of their own home.

Providing health services to migrants and refugees settling in Victoria, Australia: an analysis of the complexity, cost and policy implications for public health

The aim of the research was to identify factors related to the increased costs of providing health services to clients from a non-English speaking background (NESB), using a cross-sectional analysis of the administrative records of clients using community health services in the Northern Metropolitan region of Melbourne for the 2001/2002 financial year. The higher cost of providing services to NESB clients was influenced by four factors: increased consultation time, group attendance to an appointment, increased interpreting costs and the type of service provider. Family members and multilingual staff play a significant role in providing informal interpreting services or low-cost support for NESB consultants, and these activities should receive appropriate support. Additional funding is needed to support interpreting requirements when dealing with the health needs of NESB clients.

OzBot TM - Haptic augmentation of a teleoperated robotic platform for search and rescue operations

A continued increase in computing power, sensor capability, software functionality, immersive interfaces and hardware modularity has given robot designers seemingly endless potential in the area of mobile robotics.  While some mobile robotic system designers are focusing on expensive, full-featured platforms, developers are realising the advantages of emerging technology in providing small, low-cost mobile reconnaissance vehicles as expendable teleoperated robotic systems.  The OzBot^TM mobile reconnaissance platform presents one such system.  The design objectives of the OzBot^TM platform focus on the development of inexpensive, lightweight carry-case sized robots for search and rescue operations, law enforcement scenarios and hazardous environment inspection.  The incorporation of Haptic augmentation provides the teleoperator with improved task immersion for an outdoor search and rescue scenario.  Achieved in cooperation with law enforcement agencies within Australia, this paper discusses the performance of the first four revisions of the OzBot^TM platform.

Print versus website physical activity programs: a randomized trial.

Background: Mediated physical activity interventions can reach large numbers of people at low cost. Programs delivered through the mail that target the stage of motivational readiness have been shown to increase activity. Communication technology (websites and e-mail) might provide a means for delivering similar programs. Methods: Randomized trial conducted between August and October 2001. Participants included staff at an Australian university (n=655; mean AGE=43, standard deviation, 10 years). Participants were randomized to either an 8-week, stage-targeted print program (Print) or 8-week, stage-targeted website (Web) program. The main outcome was change in self-reported physical activity. Results: There was no significant increase in total reported physical activity within or between groups when analyzed by intention to treat (F [1,653]=0.41, p=0.52). There was a significant increase in total physical activity reported by the Print participants who were inactive at baseline (t [1,173]=−2.21, p=0.04), and a significant decrease in the average time spent sitting on a weekday in the Web group (t [1,326]=2.2, p=0.03). Conclusions: There were no differences between the Print and Web program effects on reported physical activity. The Print group demonstrated slightly larger effects and a higher level of recognition of program materials.

Exploiting ungrounded tactile haptic displays for mobile robotic teleoperation

Teleoperated mobile robotics offer potential use in a variety of different real-world applications including hazardous materials handling, urban search and rescue and explosive ordnance handling and disposal. Recent research discusses the use of Haptic technology in increasing task immersion and teleoperator performance. This work investigates the utility of low-cost, ungrounded tactile haptic interfaces in mobile robotic teleoperation. In order to achieve the desired implementation using only tactile sensation presents distinct challenges. Innovative haptic control methodologies providing the teleoperator with intuitive motion control and task-relevant haptic augmentation are presented within this paper.