Microscopic nature and elemental composition of brown coal fly ash particles from a large coal fired power station

In this study, Australian brown coal fly ash particles have been collected from power station and analysed by scanning electron microscopy to obtain morphological information and elemental composition of individual particles. The most common particles found to be the irregular shape particle aggregates. Other shapes include ball shape with smooth surface and with some attachments; and crystal shape fine particles. The X-ray spectra of each fly ash particle revealed five groups of elemental composition, they are Si-rich particles; Ca-rich particles; Fe-rich particles; particles with Mg-Ca Matrix and particles with Si-Ca matrix. A particle sire distribution analysis has been conducted using particle size analyser and found to have a mean particle size of 21fim. The sample then was separated into fine and coarse fractions using aerodynamic classifier, and the elemental composition of both fractions were determined by ICP-AES. Borate fusion and acid dissolution method was used for sample preparation. It is found that some environmental sensitive elements such as Zn, Pb, Ni, K and Cu are enriched in fine fly ash particles. Ca has much higher contents in fine particles as well. Si and Mg have higher concentrations in coarse particles.

Differences in underpricing returns between REIT IPOs and industrial company IPOs

This paper follows Chan, Stohs, andWang (2001), which argues that the underlying value of the real estate is not by itself the reason for the very substantial differences in underpricing returns between real estate investment trust (REIT) IPOs and industrial company IPOs.We use variables identified in previous studies that have helped explain the underpricing of industrial company IPOs to help explain the underpricing of property trust IPOs. We find that the prospectus forecast dividend yield is a critical variable in the valuation and hence underpricing of REIT IPOs compared to industrial company IPOs. The sentiment towards the market and whether or not the issue is underwritten also impact the underpricing of REITs but the impact is much less than on industrial company IPOs.

Making water public

The recent 11 years of conservative government rule in Australia was marked by what some commentators refer to as a 'hardening of hearts' and a notable decline in the public realm. At the same time, climate change and drought made an increasing impact on Australian environments and society. This paper responds to the overwhelming tendency, which it aligns with a retreat from the concept of public-ness, to instrumentalise efforts to remediate environmental decline. Focusing in particular on water - or the lack of it - in Australia today, the paper draws on innovations in cultural theory and research practice to retum the question of public-ness to centre stage. This involves a reorientation of what it might mean to 'make water public'  that is not reliant on the sole agency of humans.

Virtual villages: networking the global archipelago

In today’s changing economy, moving rapidly beyond industrial and information priorities, the creative arts, industries and enterprises have a powerful capacity for transforming a society’s cultural and economic capabilities and growth. One of the greatest challenges for present and future workplace participants in the context of this rapid change is the need to adapt to changing roles within a capitalism which has moved beyond a focus on the production of commodities to a greater social and economic flexibility. Gee talks of the ‘new capitalism’ requiring ‘shape-shifting portfolio people’ , creative and entrepreneurial individuals who can take on multiple identities. The key to managing this change is to focus on building a capacity to design new identities, affinity groups and networks. The virtual villages project described in this paper is a creative response to building ‘shape-shifting’ skills, focusing on the power of narrative immersion through virtual world environments to explore issues for rural and regional communities. The project aims to assist local communities in geographically diverse regions to develop their capacities for designing new identities through participating in the creation of digital storylines and characters for problem-solving. This will also have the outcome of an expanded affinity group (the project participants and their digital audiences) and potentially global networks (the archipelago). The concept of virtual villages utilizes associational narrative techniques, exploring portals of virtual worlds, thresholds of community discovery and fragments of narrative as the framework. Developing associational narratives which explore and share creative problem solving across diverse virtual villages will provide both individuals and the community with the ‘shape-shifting’ capacity to situate themselves beyond current community networks and identities.

Using iTextbook as an alternate frontend to learning management systems

Learning management systems (LMS) have been a popular tool for delivery of learning content as well as the management of learners and courses. In recent years, the ubiquity of mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets has seen the increased popularity of using them to consume eBooks. While the LMS is popular among administrators, accessing content on mobile devices appear to be the preference of our learners. Furthermore, there are reports on a number of shortcomings with learners using the LMS, e.g., the experience of using LMSes on mobile devices falling short and learners are less engaged interacting with the LMS than with their mobile devices, etc. In this paper, we investigate the idea of using eBooks as an alternative frontend for learners to interact with the LMS. A proof of concept eBook was developed for a data management course to showcase how content on the LMS can be deployed via the eBook interface while connecting our learners to the LMS for learning management. We find that this approach delivers a rich and immersive experience to our learners, as they would expect from their devices. The outcomes also gave us food for thought regarding how LMSes may evolve in the future.

Two studies on Twitter networks and tweet content in relation to Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS): conversation, information, and ‘Diary of a Daily Life’

To date, there is no research examining how adults with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) or Motor Neurone Disease (MND) and severe communication disability use Twitter, nor the use of Twitter in relation to ALS/MND beyond its use for fundraising and raising awareness. In this paper we (a) outline a rationale for the use of Twitter as a method of communication and information exchange for adults with ALS/MND, (b) detail multiple qualitative and quantitative methods used to analyse Twitter networks and tweet content in the our studies, and (c) present the results of two studies designed to provide insights on the use of Twitter by an adult with ALS/MND and by #ALS and #MND hashtag communities in Twitter. We will also discuss findings across the studies, implications for health service providers in Twitter, and directions for future Twitter research in relation to ALS/MND.