Working up a smoking policy

This paper explains how the smoking policy at the Victorian Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (VACCHO) was developed as part of the Goreen Narrkwarren Ngrn-toura - Healthy Family Air project.

Synthesis and characterisation of metal oxyhydroxide and oxide nanomaterials

In this work, a range of nanomaterials have been synthesised based on metal oxyhydroxides MO(OH), where M=Al, Co, Cr, etc. Through a self-assembly hydrothermal route, metal oxyhydroxide nanomaterials with various morphologies were successfully synthesised: one dimensional boehmite (AlO(OH)) nanofibres, zero dimensional indium hydroxide (In(OH)3) nanocubes and chromium oxyhydroxide (CrO(OH)) nanoparticles, as well as two dimensional cobalt hydroxide and oxyhydroxide (Co(OH)2 & CoO(OH)) nanodiscs. In order to control the synthetic nanomaterial morphology and growth, several factors were investigated including cation concentration, temperature, hydrothermal treatment time, and pH. Metal ion doping is a promising technique to modify and control the properties of materials by intentionally introducing impurities or defects into the material. Chromium was successfully applied as a dopant for fabricating doped boehmite nanofibres. The thermal stability of the boehmite nanofibres was enhanced by chromium doping, and the photoluminescence property was introduced to the chromium doped alumina nanofibres. Doping proved to be an efficient method to modify and functionalize nanomaterials. The synthesised nanomaterials were fully characterised by X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) combined with selected area electron diffraction (SAED), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), BET specific surface area analysis, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and thermo gravimetric analysis (TGA). Hot-stage Raman and infrared emission spectroscopy were applied to study the chemical reactions during dehydration and dehydroxylation. The advantage of these techniques is that the changes in molecular structure can be followed in situ and at the elevated temperatures.

Fabrication of macro-mesoporous zirconia-alumina materials with a 1D hierarchical structure

A series of one dimensional (1D) zirconia/alumina nanocomposites were prepared by the deposition of zirconium species onto the 3D framework of boehmite nanofibres formed by dispersing boehmite nanofibres into butanol solution. The materials were calcined at 773K and characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscope (TEM), N2 adsorption/desorption, infrared emission spectroscopy (IES). The results demonstrated that when the molar percentage X=100*Zr/(Al+Zr) was > 30 %, extremely long ZrO2/Al2O3 composite nanorods with evenly distributed ZrO2 nanocrystals on the surface were formed. The stacking of such nanorods gave rise to a new kind of macroporous material without the use of any organic space filler\template or other specific technologies. The mechanism for the formation of long ZrO2/Al2O3 composite nanorods was proposed in this work.

Cultural factors affecting tertiary education access for Bundjalung men

Despite documented changes to mainstream educational systems, Indigenous educational achievements are still at critically low levels across all phases of formal education. According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics (2011) Indigenous students are still less likely than non-Indigenous students to complete their final years of schooling (45% compared with 77% in 2009); tertiary level entry and outcomes are also significantly lower than non-Indigenous entry and outcomes. Although significant research has focused on the area of Indigenous education, in particular, identifying and making recommendations on how to close educational gaps between Indigenous and non-Indigenous people, these studies have failed to bring about the change needed and to engage successfully with Indigenous communities and draw on Indigenous communities’ insights for best practice. This thesis focuses on Indigenous perspectives and takes a closer look at the cultural factors that impact on tertiary education access for Indigenous young men who come from a Bundjalung community on the far north coast of northern New South Wales. To date, this community has not been the focus of serious postgraduate study. Their experiences and the values and ideas of their community have not been investigated. To do this, the study uses an Indigenous methodological framework. It draws on Indigenous Standpoint Theory to analyse data through concepts of the cultural interface and tensions (Nakata, 2007, pp. 195-217). The study’s framing also draws on decolonising methods (Porsanger, 2004; Smith, 1999) and Indigenist research methods (Rigney, 1997). Such methodologies are intended to benefit both the research participants (community members) and the researcher. In doing so, the study draws on Creswell’s (2008) methods of restorying and retelling to analyse the participants’ interviews and yarns about their lives and experiences relating to tertiary educational access. The research process occurred in multiple stages: (1) selection of research sites, (2) granting of access which was requested through consultation with local Aboriginal Elders and through the local Aboriginal Lands Council, (3) conducting of interviews with participants/ data collection, (4) analysis of data, (5) documentation of findings, (6) theory development, and (7) reporting back to the nominated Indigenous community on the progress and findings of the research. The benefits of this research are numerous. First, this study addresses an issue that has been identified from within the local Aboriginal community as an issue of high precedence, looking at the cultural factors surrounding the underrepresentation of Indigenous people accessing tertiary education. This is not only of local significance but has been identified in the literature as a local, national and international area of concern amongst Indigenous peoples (Department of Economic and Social Affairs, 2009; Herbert, 2010; King, 2011). Secondly, the study draws on local Indigenous knowledges and learning processes from within a Bundjalung community to gain inside perspectives, namely the cultural factors that are being expressed from a range of Indigenous community members – young men, community Elders and community members – and finding out what they perceive inhibit and/or promote tertiary education participation within their community. Such perspectives are rarely heard. Finally, recommendations made from this study are aimed at revealing investigative styles that may be utilised by Western institutions to improve access for Indigenous young men living in the Narlumdarlum1 region in the tertiary context.

Development of modified inorganic adsorbents for radioactive iodine removal and biomolecule adsorption

Development and application of inorganic adsorbent materials have been continuously investigated due to their variability and versatility. This Master thesis has expanded the knowledge in the field of adsorption targeting radioactive iodine waste and proteins using modified inorganic materials. Industrial treatment of radioactive waste and safety disposal of nuclear waste is a constant concern around the world with the development of radioactive materials applications. To address the current problems, laminar titanate with large surface area (143 m2 g−1) was synthesized from inorganic titanium compounds by hydrothermal reactions at 433 K. Ag2O nanocrystals of particle size ranging from 5–30 nm were anchored on the titanate lamina surface which has crystallographic similarity to that of Ag2O nanocrystals. Therefore, the deposited Ag2O nanocrystals and titanate substrate could join together at these surfaces between which there forms a coherent interface. Such coherence between the two phases reduces the overall energy by minimizing surface energy and maintains the Ag2O nanocrystals firmly on the outer surface of the titanate structure. The combined adsorbent was then applied as efficient adsorbent to remove radioactive iodine from water (one gram adsorbent can capture up to 3.4 mmol of I- anions) and the composite adsorbent can be recovered easily for safe disposal. The structure changes of the titanate lamina and the composite adsorbent were characterized via various techniques. The isotherm and kinetics of iodine adsorption, competitive adsorption and column adsorption using the adsorbent were studied to determine the iodine removal abilities of the adsorbent. It is shown that the adsorbent exhibited excellent trapping ability towards iodine in the fix-bed column despite the presence of competitive ions. Hence, Ag2O deposited titanate lamina could serve as an effective adsorbent for removing iodine from radioactive waste. Surface hydroxyl group of the inorganic materials is widely applied for modification purposes and modification of inorganic materials for biomolecule adsorption can also be achieved. Specifically, γ-Al2O3 nanofibre material is converted via calcinations from boehmite precursor which is synthesised by hydrothermal chemical reactions under directing of surfactant. These γ-Al2O3 nanofibres possess large surface area (243 m2 g-1), good stability under extreme chemical conditions, good mechanical strength and rich surface hydroxyl groups making it an ideal candidate in industrialized separation column. The fibrous morphology of the adsorbent also guarantees facile recovery from aqueous solution under both centrifuge and sedimentation approaches. By chemically bonding the dyes molecules, the charge property of γ-Al2O3 is changed in the aim of selectively capturing of lysozyme from chicken egg white solution. The highest Lysozyme adsorption amount was obtained at around 600 mg/g and its proportion is elevated from around 5% to 69% in chicken egg white solution. It was found from the adsorption test under different solution pH that electrostatic force played the key role in the good selectivity and high adsorption rate of surface modified γ-Al2O3 nanofibre adsorbents. Overall, surface modified fibrous γ-Al2O3 could be applied potentially as an efficient adsorbent for capturing of various biomolecules.

Supported gold nanoparticles as photocatalysts utilising the full solar spectrum for organic synthesis

This thesis is an innovative study for organic synthesis using supported gold nanoparticles as photocatalysts under visible light irradiation. It especially examines a novel green process for efficient hydroamination of alkynes with amines. The investigation of other traditional reduction and oxidation reactions also adds significantly to the knowledge of gold nanoparticles and titania nanofibres as photocatalysts for organic synthesis.

Tuning the surface structure of nitrogen-doped TiO2Nanofibres : an effective method to rnhance photocatalytic activities of visible-light-driven green synthesis and degradation

Nitrogen-doped TiO2 nanofibres of anatase and TiO2(B) phases were synthesised by a reaction between titanate nanofibres of a layered structure and gaseous NH3 at 400–700 °C, following a different mechanism than that for the direct nitrogen doping from TiO2. The surface of the N-doped TiO2 nanofibres can be tuned by facial calcination in air to remove the surface-bonded N species, whereas the core remains N doped. N-Doped TiO2 nanofibres, only after calcination in air, became effective photocatalysts for the decomposition of sulforhodamine B under visible-light irradiation. The surface-oxidised surface layer was proven to be very effective for organic molecule adsorption, and the activation of oxygen molecules, whereas the remaining N-doped interior of the fibres strongly absorbed visible light, resulting in the generation of electrons and holes. The N-doped nanofibres were also used as supports of gold nanoparticle (Au NP) photocatalysts for visible-light-driven hydroamination of phenylacetylene with aniline. Phenylacetylene was activated on the N-doped surface of the nanofibres and aniline on the Au NPs. The Au NPs adsorbed on N-doped TiO2(B) nanofibres exhibited much better conversion (80 % of phenylacetylene) than when adsorbed on undoped fibres (46 %) at 40 °C and 95 % of the product is the desired imine. The surface N species can prevent the adsorption of O2 that is unfavourable for the hydroamination reaction, and thus, improve the photocatalytic activity. Removal of the surface N species resulted in a sharp decrease of the photocatalytic activity. These photocatalysts are feasible for practical applications, because they can be easily dispersed into solution and separated from a liquid by filtration, sedimentation or centrifugation due to their fibril morphology.

Moisture and tensile strength properties of starch-sugar cane nanofibre films

There is an increasing need for biodegradable, environmentally friendly plastics to replace the petroleum-based non-degradable plastics which litter and pollute the environment. Starch-based plastic film composites are becoming a popular alternative because of their low cost, biodegradability, the abundance of starch, and ease with which starch-based films can be chemically modified. This paper reports on the results of using sugar cane bagasse nanofibres to improve the physicochemical properties of starch-based polymers. The addition of bagasse nanofibre (2.5, 5, 10 or 20 wt%) to (modified) potato starch (‘Soluble starch’) reduced the moisture uptake by up to 17 % at 58 % relative humidity (RH). The film’s tensile strength and Young’s Modulus increased by up to 100 % and 200 % with 10 wt% and 20 wt% nanofibre respectively at 58% RH. The tensile strain reduced by up to 70 % at 20 wt% fibre loading. These results indicate that addition of sugar cane bagasse nanofibres significantly improved the properties of starch-based plastic films

Plasma nanoscience : setting directions, tackling grand challenges

This review paper presents historical perspectives, recent advances and future directions in the multidisciplinary research field of plasma nanoscience. The current status and future challenges are presented using a three-dimensional framework. The first and the largest dimension covers the most important classes of nanoscale objects (nanostructures, nanofeatures and nanoassemblies/nanoarchitectures) and materials systems, namely carbon nanotubes, nanofibres, graphene, graphene nanoribbons, graphene nanoflakes, nanodiamond and related carbon-based nanostructures; metal, silicon and other inorganic nanoparticles and nanostructures; soft organic nanomaterials; nano-biomaterials; biological objects and nanoscale plasma etching. In the second dimension, we discuss the most common types of plasmas and plasma reactors used in nanoscale plasma synthesis and processing. These include low-temperature non-equilibrium plasmas at low and high pressures, thermal plasmas, high-pressure microplasmas, plasmas in liquids and plasma–liquid interactions, high-energy-density plasmas, and ionized physical vapour deposition as well as some other plasma-enhanced nanofabrication techniques. In the third dimension, we outline some of the 'Grand Science Challenges' and 'Grand Socio-economic Challenges' to which significant contributions from plasma nanoscience-related research can be expected in the near future. The urgent need for a stronger focus on practical, outcome-oriented research to tackle the grand challenges is emphasized and concisely formulated as from controlled complexity to practical simplicity in solving grand challenges.

Heating and plasma sheath effects in low-temperature, plasma-assisted growth of carbon nanofibers

Plasma sheath, nanostructure growth, and thermal models are used to describe carbon nanofiber (CNF) growth and heating in a low-temperature plasma. It is found that when the H2 partial pressure is increased, H atom recombination and H ion neutralization are the main mechanisms responsible for energy release on the catalyst surface. Numerical results also show that process parameters such as the substrate potential, electron temperature and number density mainly affect the CNF growth rate and plasma heating at low catalyst temperatures. In contrast, gas pressure, ion temperature, and the C2H2:H2 supply ratio affect the CNF growth at all temperatures. It is shown that plasma-related processes substantially increase the catalyst particle temperature, in comparison to the substrate and the substrate-holding platform temperatures.

Developing starch-based polymer composites

This project aim was to replace petroleum-based plastic packaging materials that pollute the environment, with biodegradable starch-based polymer composites. It was demonstrated that untreated sugar cane bagasse microfibres and unbleached nanofibres significantly improved the physical, mechanical and chemical properties of starch films, while thermal extrusion of starch with alcohol improved the stiffness and the addition of aconitic acid cross-linked the film making it moisture resistant and extensible.

Neulemallien muodikkuus : Näkyvätkö kansainväliset muotitrendit suomalaisten käsityölehtien neulemalleissa?

The aim of this work was to study, whether international fashion trends show in knit designs in Finnish craft magazines and how trends are modified. Women s knitted clothes and accessories in autumn winter season 2005 2006 were analyzed. Future research, trends, fashion, designing and knitting provides theoretical basis for this study. The trend material of this study came from Carlin Women s knitwear winter 2005 2006, which is fashion forecast for Women s knitwear. In addition to the trend book, I selected two international fashion magazines to reinforce this study. Fashion magazines were L´Officiel, 1000 models, Milan New York winter 05/06, No 52, April 2005 and Collezioni Donna, Prêt-à-porter autumn-winter 2005 2006, No 107. Finnish craft magazines in this study were MODA s issues 4/2005, 5/2005, 6/2005 and Novita s issues autumn 2005, winter 2005 and Suuri Käsityölehti s issues 8/2005, 9/2005, 10/2005. For the base of the analyze I took themes from the trend book. From fashion magazines I searched knitwear designs and these designs were sorted out by themes of trend book. To this trend and fashion material I compared knit designs from craft magazines. I analyzed how fashion trends show in knit designs and how they are modified. I also studied what features of trends were shown and which did not appear in knit designs of the craft magazines. For analyzing trend pictures and knit designs in craft magazines I applied qualitative content analysis and image analysis. According to the results of this research, effects of trend can be recognized in knit designs of craft maga-zines, although the fashion trends have been applied very discreetly. Knit designs were very similar re-gardless of magazine. The craft magazine data included approximately as many designs from Novita and MODA. In Suuri Käsityölehti provided only fifth of the designs data. There were also designs in MODA and Suuri Käsityölehti, which were made of Novita s yarns. This research material includes yarns of 15 different yarn manufacturers. Although half of all knit designs were knitted from Novita s yarn. There were 10 different yarns from Novita. Nevertheless Novita s yarn called Aino was the most popular. Finnish craft magazines have not respond to popularity of knitting. Magazines do not provide any novelty designs for knitters. Knit designs in Finnish craft magazines are usually practical basic designs without any innovativeness.

Metal cholate hydrogels: versatile supramolecular systems for nanoparticle embedded soft hybrid materials

This work describes the formation of hydrogels from sodium cholate solution in the presence of a variety of metal ions (Ca2+, Cu2+, Co2+, Zn2+, Cd2+, Hg2+ and Ag+). Morphological studies of the xerogels by electron microscopy reveal the presence of helical nanofibres. The rigid helical framework in the calcium cholate hydrogel was utilised to synthesize hybrid materials (AuNPs and AgNPs). Doping of transition metal salts into the calcium cholate hydrogel brings out the possibility of synthesising metal sulphide nano-architectures keeping the hydrogel network intact. These novel gel-nanoparticle hybrid materials have encouraging application potentials.

Monitoring A Micromechanical Process In Macroscale Carbon Nanotube Films And Fibers

The evaluation of mechanical properties of carbon nanotube (CNT) fibers is inherently difficult. Here, Raman scattering-a generic methodology independent of mechanical measurements-is used to determine the interbundle strength and microscopic failure process for various CNT macroarchitectures. Raman data are used to predict the moduli of CNT films and fibers, and to illustrate the influences of the twisting geometries on the fibers' mechanical performances.

Netzmaterial und Selektivität in der Ostseedorschfischerei

Since some time fishing gear scientists express their concern over an observed tendency of the commercial fishery to proceed from codend netting yarns of 3 to 4 mm to higher values or to switch to the use of double instead of single yarn. A recent large EU-financed project collected statistical evidence on the detrimental effect of such behaviour on the selectivity of the codends. In this context data on cod are very scarce. German-Polish experiments in the Baltic from 1999 to 2001 aimed at filling this gap. The investigations prove a clear evidence of a negativ ecorrelation between netting yarn diameter and selectivity factor and/or L50. In addition they demonstrate a clear negative effect on selectivity when switching from single to double yarn The effects are of an order of magnitude that counteracting effects as catch size are masked and support the decision of the IBSFC to define maximum yarn diameters both for single and double yarn netting. A measuring instrument for the enforcement of these new regulations was introduced right in time.