Photochromic wool fabric by sol-gel coating

This thesis investigates the possibility of producing photochromic wool fabrics using a silica sol-gel coating method. Silicas made from sol-gel methods are uniquely suited to host photochromic dyes for developing colour-changing wool. The achieved photochromic effects have opened a new product area for fashion effects on wool textiles.

Superhydrophobic fabrics from hybrid silica sol-gel coatings: Structural effect of precursors on wettability and washing durability

Particle-containing silica sol was synthesized by co-hydrolysis and co-condensation of two silane precursors, tetraethylorthosilicate (TEOS) and an organic silane composed of a non-hydrolyzable functional group (e.g., alkyl, flourinated alkyl, and phenyl), and used to produce superhydrophobic coatings on fabrics. it has been revealed that the non-hydrolyzable functional groups in the organic silanes have a considerable influence on the fabric surface wettability. When the functional group was long chain alkyl (C16), phenyl, or flourinated alkyl (C8), the treated surfaces were highly superhydrophobic with a water contact angle (CA) greater than 170°, and the CA value was little affected by the fabric type. The washing durability of the superhydrophobic coating was improved by introducing the third silane containg epoxide group, 3-glycidoxypropyltrimethoxsilane (GPTMS), for synthesis. Although the presence of epoxide groups in the coating slightly reduced the fabrics' superhydrophobicity, the washing durability was considerably improved when polyester and cotton fabrics were used as substrates.

Potential utilisation of assessment centre methodology to enhance student placement outcomes, experiences and employability

Background: Placements are of particular importance due to the richness of learning associated with placement experiences and the wider links they represent to industry and the community. Students often refer to placements as the most significant, productive and memorable component of their training. Importantly, placements also provide the opportunity for students to become work ready, i.e., integrate their knowledge into a new set of employable skills and personal qualities. There is now increased emphasis on employability by employers and universities alike; in fact, it now represents a critical performance measure for Australian universities. Despite these key points, there appears to be inconsistencies in approaches to maximising work placements across and within Universities. Assessment centre methodology may represent a useful approach to standardise and optimise work placements for all stakeholders. Assessment centre methodology has been used successfully for selection purposes in industry for the past 50 years. However, their use as a developmental tool is less prominent. Furthermore, their application in the higher education setting, particularly in the context of placements and student development appears under researched.
Overview of issue: Only one published study was found that reported the use of a developmental assessment centre with a post-graduate sample. That study took place over 10 years ago when the concept of employability was still gaining recognition and work placements were less common. The current paper reviews this unique concept in the context of the existing literature and the current needs of Universities, employers and students.
Discussion: It is argued that the reconsideration of assessment centre methodology for development represents an innovative approach to consistently maximising work placement outcomes, experiences and employability.
Conclusions: Given the importance and increased use of placements, the application of assessment centre methodology within the placement curriculum warrants further research. This methodology represents a standardised approach for implementation within a range of placement programs to enhance student development, placement outcomes and employability.

Photochromic wool fabric by sol-gel coating and photochromism

The application of photochromism in textiles has potential to create new opportunities to develop fancy colour-changing effects in fashionable textiles, as well as smart garments capable of protecting wearers from the effects of UV irradiation and responding to environmental changes. This book presents a coating method for achieving quick and obvious photochromic effects on wool fabrics using conventional photochromic dyes and hybrid silicas. It covers details about fabricating different types of photochromic dye-silica coatings, measuring their optical performance, assessing some physical characterisations of the coatings, and measuring the effects of the coatings on fabric performance.

Synthesis of high surface area amorphous tin-zinc oxides by a sol-gel method

A new method to synthesize conducting oxide nanoparticles with low photocatalytic activity was investigated. Initially, the preparation of amorphous ZnO-SnO2 solid solution nanoparticles was studied using a sol-gel technique. It was found that X-ray amorphous nanopowders with low photocatalytic activity were produced when the precipitates were heat treated below 500 °C. However, FT-IR data showed that the sample may not be an oxide semiconductor. A mixture of ZnO and SnO2 crystalline nanoparticles was also produced at 800 °C and found to have much reduced photoactivity than commercial ZnO nanoparticles having a similar specific surface area.

Local structure and photocatalytic property of sol-gel synthesized ZnO doped with transition metal oxides

ZnO nanoparticles doped with up to 5 at% of Co and Mn were prepared using a co-precipitation method. The location of dopant ions and the effect of doping on the photocatalytic activity were investigated. The crystal structure of nanoparticles and local atomic arrangements around dopant ions were analyzed by X-ray absorption spectroscopy. The results showed that the Co ions substituted the Zn ions in the ZnO wurtzite phase structure and induced lattice shrinkage, while Mn ions were not completely incorporated in the crystal lattice. The photocatalytic activity under simulated sunlight was characterized by the decomposition of Rhodamine B dye molecules. It was revealed that Co-doping strongly reduced the photocatalytic activity but Mn-doping showed a weaker effect on the reduction of the photoactivity.

Utilisation of primary total knee joint replacements across socioeconomic status in the Barwon Statistical Division, Australia 2006-7 : a cross-sectional study

Objectives There are few Australian data that examine the association between total knee joint replacement (TKR) utilisation and socioeconomic status (SES). This study examined TKR surgeries with a diagnosis of osteoarthritis (OA) performed for residents of Barwon Statistical Division (BSD) for 2006–2007.

Design Cross-sectional.

Setting BSD, South-eastern Victoria, Australia

Participants All patients who underwent a TKR for OA, 2006–2007, and whose residential postcode was identified as within the BSD of Australia, and for whom SES data were available, were eligible for inclusion.

Primary outcome measure Primary TKR data ascertained from the Australian Orthopaedic Association National Joint Replacement Registry. Residential addresses were matched with the Australian Bureau of Statistics census data, and the Index of Relative Socioeconomic Disadvantage was used to determine SES, categorised into quintiles whereby quintile 1 indicated the most disadvantaged and quintile 5 the least disadvantaged. Age-specific and sex-specific rates of TKR utilisation per 1000 person-years were reported for 10-year age bands.

Results Females accounted for 62.7% of the 691 primary TKR surgeries performed during 2006–2007. The greatest utilisation rates of TKR in males was 7.6 observed in those aged >79 years, and in 10.2 in females observed in those aged 70–79 years. An increase in TKR was observed for males in SES quintile four compared to quintile 1 in which the lowest utilisation which was observed (p=0.04). No differences were observed in females across SES quintiles.

Conclusions Further investigation is warranted on a larger scale to examine the role that SES may play in TKR utilisation, and to determine whether any social disparities in TKR utilisation reflect health system biases or geographic differences.