Processing of fine-grained aluminum foam by spark plasma sintering

Porous materials are now becoming attractive to researchers interested in both scientific and industrial applications due to their unique combinations of physical, mechanical, thermal, electrical and acoustic properties in conjunction with excellent energy absorption characteristics. Metallic foams allow efficient conversion of impact energy into deformation work, which has led to increasing applications in energy absorption devices. In particular, foams made of aluminum and its alloys are of special interest because they can be used as lightweight panels, for energy absorption in crash situations and sound or heat absorbing functions in the automotive industry with the aim to reduce weight to improve crashworthiness, safety and comfort.

Compensatory Ability to Null Mutation in Metabolic Networks

Robustness is an inherent property of biological system. It is still a limited understanding of how it is accomplished at the cellular or molecular level. To this end, this article analyzes the impact degree of each reaction to others, which is defined as the number of cascading failures of following and/or forward reactions when an initial reaction is deleted. By analyzing more than 800 organism’s metabolic networks, it suggests that the reactions with larger impact degrees are likely essential and the universal reactions should also be essential. Alternative metabolic pathways compensate null mutations, which represents that average impact degrees for all organisms are small. Interestingly, average impact degrees of archaea organisms are smaller than other two categories of organisms, eukayote and bacteria, indicating that archaea organisms have strong robustness to resist the various perturbations during the evolution process. The results show that scale-free feature and reaction reversibility contribute to the robustness in metabolic networks. The optimal growth temperature of organism also relates the robust structure of metabolic network.

Descriptive and prescriptive analyses of aid allocation : approaches, issues and consequences

Studies of the interrecipient allocation of aid may be categorized threefold. First, there are those that attempt to explain the observed allocation of aid. Second, there are those that seek to describe or evaluate the allocation of aid against normative criteria. Third, there are those that seek to prescribe the interrecipient allocation of aid by calculating the amounts of aid each country should receive, also based on normative criteria. This article looks at the second and third categories of studies. It commences by looking at the different approaches and a descriptive measure used, and then repeats this exercise for the prescriptive literature. It then looks at differences between the prescribed allocations of the different approaches used in the literature. These allocations are then compared with actual allocations and evaluated against various normative criteria. This reveals significant differences, both between prescribed and actual allocations and the evaluations of the different prescriptive approaches.

Promises of nanotechnology for drug delivery to brain in neurodegenerative diseases

Brain is a delicate organ, isolated from general circulation and characterized by the presence of relatively impermeable endothelial cells with tight junctions, enzymatic activity and the presence of active efflux transporter mechanisms. These formidable obstacles often block drug delivery to the brain across the blood-brain barrier (BBB). Although several promising molecules have the potential in the in vitro settings but lack of in vivo response is probably because the molecule cannot reach the brain in a sufficient concentration. Drug delivery across the BBB is a major limitation in the treatment of central nervous system (CNS) disorders and CNS infections. This review deals with the role of nanobiotechnology in CNS drug delivery, in which three categories of carbon nanotubes, nanowires and nanoparticles (NPs) are explained. The small size of the NPs makes them an ideal choice to penetrate the BBB. Several mechanisms are involved in this process and various strategies are used. There are some concerns about the safety of NP entry in the brain that need to be resolved before human use. Although there is no approved nanotechnology-based CNS drug available the future for such neuro-nanobiotechnology based delivery system developments is promising.

Anomalies in the oversight of Australian auditors

This commentary identifies and comments on anomalies in the oversight of Australian auditors and audit firms. Regulatory and professional oversight and inspection of Australian auditors and audit firms arise from a number of sources, highlighting its multi-faceted nature. This makes it impossible to identify a single body with ultimate responsibility for auditor oversight. Three recent Australian reviews commissioned by the Financial Reporting Council, together with an evaluation of the roles of the various regulatory and professional bodies, are used in this commentary as a platform from which to identify a number of significant anomalies in oversight processes. Major anomalies highlighted arise from the overlapping nature of the duties and functions of the various bodies and the variation in oversight across different categories of audit service providers. Policymakers should closely examine the issues raised in the paper if auditor oversight is to be undertaken in an effective and efficient manner.

Individual, social and environmental correlates of physical activity among women living in socioeconomically disadvantaged neighbourhoods

Women living in socioeconomically disadvantaged neighbourhoods are at heightened risk for physical inactivity, but little is known about the correlates of physical activity among this group. Using a social-ecological framework, this study aimed to determine the individual, social and neighbourhood environmental correlates of physical activity amongst women living in such neighbourhoods. During 2007–2008 women (n = 4108) aged 18–45 years randomly selected from urban and rural neighbourhoods of low socioeconomic status in Victoria, Australia completed the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (long). They reported on individual (self-efficacy, enjoyment, intentions, outcome expectancies, skills), social (childcare, social support from family and friends/colleagues, dog ownership) and neighbourhood environmental (neighbourhood cohesion, aesthetics, personal safety, ‘walking environment’) factors. Multinomial logistic regression was used to examine the odds of increasing categories of leisure time physical activity (LTPA) and transport-related physical activity (TRPA) for each individual, social and environmental factor. In partially adjusted analyses, all individual, social and environmental variables were positively associated with LTPA, while all individual factors, family and friend support and the walking environment were positively associated with TRPA. In fully adjusted multivariable models, all individual and social factors remained significantly associated with LTPA, while self-efficacy, enjoyment, intentions, social support, and neighbourhood ‘walking environment’ variables remained significantly associated with TRPA. In conclusion, individual and social factors were most important for LTPA, while individual, social and neighbourhood environmental factors were all associated with TRPA. Acknowledging the cross-sectional design, the findings highlight the importance of different levels of potential influence on physical activity in different domains, which should be considered when developing strategies to promote physical activity amongst women living in socioeconomically disadvantaged neighbourhoods.

Socio-demographic correlates of prolonged television viewing time in Australian men and women : the AusDiab study

Background: Sedentary behaviors, particularly television viewing (TV) time, are associated with adverse health outcomes in adults, independent of physical activity levels. These associations are stronger and more consistent for women than for men. Methods: Multivariate regression models examined the sociodemographic correlates of 2 categories of TV time (≥2 hours/day and ≥4 hours/day); in a large, population-based sample of Australian adults (4950 men, 6001 women; mean age 48.1 years, range 25-91) who participated in the 1999/2000 Australian Diabetes, Obesity, and Lifestyle (AusDiab) study. Results: Some 46% of men and 40% of women watched ≥ 2 hours TV/day; 9% and 6% respectively watched ≥ 4 hours/day. For both men and women, ≥2 hours TV/day was associated with less than tertiary education, living outside of state capital cities, and having no paid employment. For women, mid and older age (45-64 and 65+) were also significant correlates of ≥2 hours TV/day. Similar patterns of association were observed in those viewing ≥4 hours/day. Conclusions: Prolonged TV time is associated with indices of social disadvantage and older age. These findings can inform the understanding of potential contextual influences and guide preventive initiatives.

International operations strategy of public sector organisations

Public sector organisations in many countries are internationalising their operations into other countries. This internationalisation frequently follows channels such as aid schemes offered by the country's government. An investigation was conducted to determine whether the four categories of stJ'ategy approach in Miles and Snow's typology could be used to categorise the internationalisation operation strategy approach of Australian public sector organisations. Qualitative data collected from eight Australian public sector organisations determined that a set of nine operations strategy dimensions identified from the literature applied to the internationalisation behaviours of Australian public sector organisations. The data also indicated that Miles and Snow's four categories of strategy could be used to describe the combined international operation strategy behaviours of Australian public sector organisations. In addition, it was found that the international operation strategy behaviours of Australian public sector organisations aligned with at least two (and in one case four) of Miles and Snow's strategy categories. Alignment with two of Miles and Snow's strategy categories was quite commonly identified in other empirical studies of this typology.

Picturing the nation : The Celtic periphery as discursive other in the archaeological displays of the museum of Scotland

Using the archaeological displays at the Museum of Scotland in Edinburgh, this paper examines the exhibition as a site of identity creation through the negotiations between categories of same and Other. Through an analysis of the poetics of display, the paper argues that the exhibition constructs a particular relationship between the Celtic Fringe and Scottish National identity that draws upon the historical discourses of the Highlands and Islands of Scotland as a place and a time 'apart'. This will be shown to have implications for the display of archaeological material in museums but also for contemporary understandings of Scottish National identity.

A critical analysis of techniques for risk mitigation in the construction industry

Risks exist in every form of construction project. The risks associated with construction projects are often diverse and varied and the management of these risks is nowadays considered compulsory in order to achieve project success. This paper analyses the diverse strategies of risk mitigation that have been employed in construction projects. These strategies are classified into analysed categories of procurement strategies. contingency and co-operative approach along with the utilisation of a designated risk manager. The analysis showed that in order to improve risk mitigation within the construction industry, there is a requirement tor an industry based standard. This standard will improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the risk mitigation response technique to risk management.

Developing a scholarly approach to the evaluation of assessment practices

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to examine and reflect on current assessment practice in a large undergraduate accounting programme delivered both in Australia and offshore, from the perspective of academics in their first semester at a “new-to-them” university.

Design/methodology/approach – The changing higher education environment and the reality of assessment in the current context are considered, as they raise a number of important issues around assessment practice. Some of the often cited literature linking teaching, learning and assessment, including student-centred learning and Confucian heritage culture, is also discussed. A reflective approach is used where Säljö's five categories of student learning are used as the basis for informed reflection of the assessment used in the “new” academics' first semester at the university. The use of empirical evidence to test these reflections would be the next step in this scholarly approach to teaching and learning.

Findings – The reflections reveal a disparity between reality and the ideal in relation to assessment practice. Issues regarding timely feedback to students and timing of assessments can result in summative assessment when it has the potential to be formative. This paper has provided an opportunity for “new” academics to engage with the higher education literature early in their careers.

Originality/value – This paper is a resource for academics beginning to engage with the higher education literature around assessment, teaching and learning and can also be used to inform and improve the teaching and learning practices of many academics in higher education.

Fracture of DP590 steel : a multi-scale modeling approach

Advanced high strength steel sheets are one of the higher strength advance material developed by the steel industry for automotive bodies. One of the categories of this advanced high strength steel is Dual Phase (DP) steel. This steel consists of a two phase microstructure where soft and hard phase acts together to offer a high strength composite effect. The combination of high strength and ductility exhibited by these sheets allows the design and manufacture of complex parts. However, during forming certain grades of DP steel sudden cracking can occur without any intimation of necking. This abnormal forming behavior is difficult to accurately predict because most classical modelling approaches are not designed for such micro-structurally heterogeneous materials. These modelling approaches are generally based on an average representation of the material behaviour in a continuum mechanics formulation. This works for materials that are homogenous, or at least could be assumed to be homogenous at scales lower than the naked eye can see. However, for a material like advanced high strength steel, the microstructure plays a significant role in dictating the mechanical behavior at the macro-scale. This paper studies the forming and fracture behavior through multi-scale modeling of DPO590 steel. It is found that the sufficient accuracy can be achieved from multi-scale modeling when comparing with experiments.

Developing a theory of sport-based entrepreneurship

Entrepreneurship is an integral part of sport but less is known about how different types of entrepreneurship facilitate innovation. The aim of this paper is to develop a theory of sports-based entrepreneurship that incorporates different sub-categories of entrepreneurship such as social, technological and international. Specifically, the article connects the entrepreneurship and sport management literatures by proposing a theory of sport-based entrepreneurship, which can be used as a theoretical framework for future research. In addition, the paper provides a unique insight for sports practitioners and public policy planners wanting to focus on entrepreneurial ways to manage sport-based organizations.

Football's culture of intoxication : implications for health promotion

Objectives: The objective of this is article is to examine some of the strategies and interventions designed to encourage responsible alcohol consumption within Australian Rules football clubs.
Design: Qualitative research was undertaken with fans of four fans of football teams who compete in the South Australian National Football League (SANFL). In total, 93 interviews were conducted with male (80) and female (13) fans across these clubs. Interview data were thematically analysed with the assistance of the NVIVO software package. To elicit additional insight about the social meanings of drinking, researchers visited football games and a range of social functions.
Results: Analysis of the qualitative data suggests that formal interventions implemented by football clubs often prove ineffectual in encouraging responsible alcohol consumption, with more effective strategies aimed at dissuading heavy drinking being operationalized at an informal level by drinkers themselves through a number of ‘everyday’ or ‘lay’ strategies. Such strategies correspond to the broad analytical categories of ‘keeping safe’, ‘minimising damage’ and ‘taking charge’.
Conclusion: This focus on the role of lay strategies in informing health behaviours makes an important contribution to how we understand health promotion initiatives in relation to harmful drinking in sport and other contexts.

Inventing (a) life: deconstruction and the praxis and poiesis of narrative

Deconstruction often sits awkwardly between the realm of literary studies and criticism, and philosophy proper. This paper explores the contribution that a deconstructive literacy might have for those engaged in writing narrative, as a practice and a product. Taking up Kristeva's reading of Arendt, and the Aristotelian categories of praxis and poiesis, it will be argued that the act of narrating life amounts to both the actual generation of the life it purports to describe, while also being a praxis in itself, one that need not produce anything, since the very act of engaging in/with it, leaves atraceless trace that itself is 'full of meaning'. Narrative, however, will not rest in either pole of Aristotle's binary structure. For Arendt, Kristeva will remind us, narrative is an activity that is very 'human', where we engender not just zoe, mere physiological life, but bios, a living that is not colonised by ends alone, and instead finding in itself a value, a fulfilment in its own process. Applied to the activity of story-making (autobiographical or otherwise), and also to pedagogical practice in the academy, this dual potential of narrative (at once to produce and to be an end unto itself) reframes the Beruf (calling) of creative writing. Deconstruction, in other words, assists us in appreciating the very ethical consequences of the labour of deciding where and when the story begins and ends, and who the protagonist is. Recalling us to the ontological implications of the thought of différance, this paper will attempt to demonstrate how the action of articulating the edges of story can be read as akin to that which turns the
featureless flux of time into bios, or human life that, according to Arendt, is what goes missing under totalitarianism.