Participatory Data Analytics: Collaborative interfaces for data composition and visualisation

This research proposes the development of interfaces to support collaborative, community-driven inquiry into data, which we refer to as Participatory Data Analytics. Since the investigation is led by local communities, it is not possible to anticipate which data will be relevant and what questions are going to be asked. Therefore, users have to be able to construct and tailor visualisations to their own needs. The poster presents early work towards defining a suitable compositional model, which will allow users to mix, match, and manipulate data sets to obtain visual representations with little-to-no programming knowledge. Following a user-centred design process, we are subsequently planning to identify appropriate interaction techniques and metaphors for generating such visual specifications on wall-sized, multi-touch displays.

Biaxial fiber Bragg grating accelerometer using axial and transverse forces

We demonstrate the first biaxial fiber Bragg grating (FBG) accelerometer using axial and transverse forces. An inertial object is fixed at the middle of two FBGs inscribed in one fiber. The difference between the resonant wavelengths of the two FBGs can distinguish the acceleration in the axial direction, while being insensitive in the transverse direction. The average of the resonant wavelengths of the two FBGs can distinguish the acceleration in the transverse direction, while being insensitive in the axial direction. In the experiments, when the transverse direction was vertical, the crest-to-trough sensitivity at 5 Hz and resonant frequency of the average were 0.545 nm/g and 34.42 Hz, respectively. When the axial direction was vertical, those of the difference were 0.0454 nm/g and 900 Hz, respectively. For each FBG, the crest-to-trough sensitivity at 5 Hz and resonant frequency in the transverse/vertical direction were 24 and 1/26 times those in the axial/vertical direction, respectively.

Tailoring of ion species composition in complex plasmas with charge exchange collisions

A generic approach towards tailoring of ion species composition in reactive plasmas used for nanofabrication of various functional nanofilms and nanoassemblies, based on a simplified model of a parallel-plate rf discharge, is proposed. The model includes an idealized reactive plasma containing two neutral and two ionic species interacting via charge exchange collisions in the presence of a microdispersed solid component. It is shown that the number densities of the desired ionic species can be efficiently managed by adjusting the dilution of the working gas in a buffer gas, rates of electron impact ionization, losses of plasma species on the discharge walls, and surfaces of fine particles, charge exchange rates, and efficiency of three-body recombination processes in the plasma bulk. The results are relevant to the plasma-aided nanomanufacturing of ordered patterns of carbon nanotip and nanopyramid microemitters.

Optimizing I/O cost and managing memory for composition vector method based on correlation matrix calculation in bioinformatics

The generation of a correlation matrix for set of genomic sequences is a common requirement in many bioinformatics problems such as phylogenetic analysis. Each sequence may be millions of bases long and there may be thousands of such sequences which we wish to compare, so not all sequences may fit into main memory at the same time. Each sequence needs to be compared with every other sequence, so we will generally need to page some sequences in and out more than once. In order to minimize execution time we need to minimize this I/O. This paper develops an approach for faster and scalable computing of large-size correlation matrices through the maximal exploitation of available memory and reducing the number of I/O operations. The approach is scalable in the sense that the same algorithms can be executed on different computing platforms with different amounts of memory and can be applied to different bioinformatics problems with different correlation matrix sizes. The significant performance improvement of the approach over previous work is demonstrated through benchmark examples.

Improvement of the mode II interface fracture toughness of glass fiber reinforced plastics/aluminum laminates through vapor grown carbon fiber interleaves

The effects of acid treatment, vapor grown carbon fiber (VGCF) interlayer and the angle, i.e., 0° and 90°, between the rolling stripes of an aluminum (Al) plate and the fiber direction of glass fiber reinforced plastics (GFRP) on the mode II interlaminar mechanical properties of GFRP/Al laminates were investigated. The experimental results of an end notched flexure test demonstrate that the acid treatment and the proper addition of VGCF can effectively improve the critical load and mode II fracture toughness of GFRP/Al laminates. The specimens with acid treatment and 10 g m−2 VGCF addition possess the highest mode II fracture toughness, i.e., 269% and 385% increases in the 0° and 90° specimens, respectively compared to those corresponding pristine ones. Due to the induced anisotropy by the rolling stripes on the aluminum plate, the 90° specimens possess 15.3%–73.6% higher mode II fracture toughness compared to the 0° specimens. The improvement mechanisms were explored by the observation of crack propagation path and fracture surface with optical, laser scanning and scanning electron microscopies. Moreover, finite element analyses were carried out based on the cohesive zone model to verify the experimental fracture toughness and to predict the interface shear strength between the aluminum plates and GFRP laminates.

Assessment of body composition in Indian adults: comparison between dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry and isotope dilution technique

Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) and isotope dilution technique have been used as reference methods to validate the estimates of body composition by simple field techniques; however, very few studies have compared these two methods. We compared the estimates of body composition by DXA and isotope dilution (18O) technique in apparently healthy Indian men and women (aged 19–70 years, n 152, 48 % men) with a wide range of BMI (14–40 kg/m2). Isotopic enrichment was assessed by isotope ratio mass spectroscopy. The agreement between the estimates of body composition measured by the two techniques was assessed by the Bland–Altman method. The mean age and BMI were 37 (SD 15) years and 23·3 (SD 5·1) kg/m2, respectively, for men and 37 (SD 14) years and 24·1 (SD 5·8) kg/m2, respectively, for women. The estimates of fat-free mass were higher by about 7 (95 % CI 6, 9) %, those of fat mass were lower by about 21 (95 % CI 218,223) %, and those of body fat percentage (BF%) were lower by about 7·4 (95 % CI 28·2, 26·6) % as obtained by DXA compared with the isotope dilution technique. The Bland–Altman analysis showed wide limits of agreement that indicated poor agreement between the methods. The bias in the estimates of BF% was higher at the lower values of BF%. Thus, the two commonly used reference methods showed substantial differences in the estimates of body composition with wide limits of agreement. As the estimates of body composition are method-dependent, the two methods cannot be used interchangeably

Decomposition of the environmental Kuznets curve : scale, technique, and composition effects

This study decomposed the determinants of environmental quality into scale, technique, and composition effects. We applied a semiparametric method of generalized additive models, which enabled us to use flexible functional forms and include several independent variables in the model. The differences in the technique effect were found to play a crucial role in reducing pollution. We found that the technique effect was sufficient to reduce sulfur dioxide emissions. On the other hand, its effect was not enough to reduce carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions and energy use, except for the case of CO2 emissions in high-income countries.

A novel method of Fiber Bragg Grating (FBG) strain modulation and its application in FBG accelerometers

This thesis has systemically investigated the possibility of improving one type of optical fiber sensors by using a novel mechanism. Many parameters of the sensor have been improved, and one outcome of this innovation is that civil structures, such as bridges and high-rise buildings, may be operated more safely and used longer.

Business transformation management : composition and orchestration of management services

This research develops a better understanding on how large-scale and complex IT-enabled business transformations are managed. Evidence from three global case studies suggest that business transformations can be composed and orchestrated like a jazz band, where improvisation plays a fundamental role to maintain the melody, harmony and rhythm of such initiatives. The thesis details how the jazz metaphor can assist senior management on how to reuse and reconfigure capabilities as services for transforming organizations. To the academic body of knowledge, the thesis provides a study on the use of management services as a theoretical lens to examine Business Transformation Management.

Sources and composition of sub-200 nm sea spray aerosol inferred from volatility and hygroscopicity

Enrichment of marine organics in remote marine aerosols can influence their ability to act as cloud condensation nuclei (CCN), which are sites for water vapour to condense into cloud droplets. This project identified the composition and hygroscopicity of sea spray aerosol (SSA) formed at the ocean surface due to bursting of entrained air bubbles. SSA from organically enriched waters in the southwest Pacific and Southern Oceans were investigated. Results indicate that current emission schemes may not adequately predict SSA CCN, influencing the representation of cloud formation in climate modelling.

Rethinking board composition: Balancing competence and compatibility in director selection

Board composition is critical to board effectiveness. Shaping an effective board begins with the selection of directors. While much attention has been paid to the skills and qualifications directors require, there has been less focus on the necessity for board members to interact and work well together. This exploratory study offers insights into what qualities directors look for when selecting new members and the approach adopted to identify and select them. The findings of 10 in-depth interviews with Australian directors suggest new members are selected both on competencies and compatibility. Yet not all selection approaches adequately assess candidates for these two criteria. As a result many appointments fail to realise the selection criteria reducing capacity to reach its full potential.

Elemental composition of ambient fine particles in urban schools : sources of children’s exposure

Currently, there is a limited understanding of the sources of ambient fine particles that contribute to the exposure of children at urban schools. Since the size and chemical composition of airborne particle are key parameters for determining the source as well as toxicity, PM1 particles (mass concentration of particles with an aerodynamic diameter less than 1 µm) were collected at 24 urban schools in Brisbane, Australia and their elemental composition determined. Based on the elemental composition four main sources were identified; secondary sulphates, biomass burning, vehicle and industrial emissions. The largest contributing source was industrial emissions and this was considered as the main source of trace elements in the PM1 that children were exposed to at school. PM1 concentrations at the schools were compared to the elemental composition of the PM2.5 particles (mass concentration of particles with an aerodynamic diameter less than 2.5 µm) from a previous study conducted at a suburban and roadside site in Brisbane. This comparison revealed that the more toxic heavy metals (V, Cr, Ni, Cu, Zn and Pb), mostly from vehicle and industrial emissions, were predominantly in the PM1 fraction. Thus, the results from this study points to PM1 as a potentially better particle size fraction for investigating the health effects of airborne particles.